History - Introduction
Potential careers
Graduates from the Department of History move into an amazingly diverse range of graduate occupations, reflecting the high regard in which employers hold the interpretive, analytical and communication skills gained by studying this subject.
Some go into careers related to the subject such as Archivist, Heritage Manager, Museum/Gallery Conservator, Teacher, Academic Librarian, Information Officer etc. Others go into careers that utilise the general skills gained from studying History such as Administrator (in the Civil Service, Local Government, Education, NHS etc), Solicitor, Barrister, Journalist etc. A significant number also enter the financial services sector, mostly in accountancy, but also in financial advice, pensions, insurance, taxation and banking. Other destinations include the media, social research, marketing, events management, recruitment consultancies, charities etc.
A significant proportion go on to further study after graduation. Many selecting Masters degrees in a specialist area of History but others select subjects with a vocational focus to train for some of the careers mentioned above.
What graduates do - short term and longer term career paths
Understanding what recent graduates from your subject have gone on to do can be a valuable source of information to help in career planning, but bear in mind that what you choose to do will be a personal decision based on many other factors such as: what you are good at, what you enjoy and what you want from work.
History - what University of Sheffield graduates do six months after graduation
This data was collected six months after graduation, so although useful, it doesn't provide a reliable indicator of longer term career paths. Some graduates are still in transition and may be in short term jobs, mainly in administrative, retail and customer service roles, developing further skills and experience while at the same time job hunting, travelling or taking time out.
Graduate case studies
Read about the longer term career paths of University of Sheffield History graduates.
What do graduates do? - the national picture
The national Prospects website provides an overview of the graduate jobs market.
Our appoach to employability
The University of Sheffield is committed to developing your employability.