Masters in History no Job?

Question

I have a Masters in History and no job. Any suggestions? I've considered going back to school for the PHD my GPA was a 3.7. I'm writing a book but considering the historical fiction pathway instead of straight history. Any suggestions?

I actually taught for 7 years in a public highschool. I thought that it would be easier to move into college level teaching. I've been considering doing an MBA in human resources or marketing, or perhaps going into the personal care industry or nursing. I love history but it's really an impractical major.

Answer 1

I was exactly in your position. My grade point average was 3.75 and earned a M.A. in history. Perhaps because I love teaching but had difficulty with the public schools, I pursued and earned a Ph.D. It is not worth the paper it is written on. You will spend a lot of money and time on a doctorate in history. Jobs are available for part-time or adjunct, but the pay is pitiful. If you put in work hours for money it is LESS than minimum wage. That is not even including if you commute. Adjunct teaching is so lowly colleges will not even CONSIDER paying for gas.

I wish I had thought through my situation. I do not think my statements exaggerate. It is possible if you have attended extremely prestigious colleges, and have a lot of publications, ALREADY, then getting a Ph.D. could get you an adequate faculty position. Just recognize that when you apply for a position that has a liveable wage, there probably will be about 50 applicants; maybe more. I would also stress the Ph.D. in history is much more demanding time wise, academic work, and travel than the masters.

As far as the job market is concerned the Ph.D. and writing have it all stacked against you. I would recommend getting into another area. Public teaching would be a possibility, as well as working at historical sites, such as public parks, as a ranger.

I wish someone had been frank with me. The graduate school will see you as a cash cow, but unless you have a lot of money to spend I would think realistically. Best wishes for whatever you decide.

Answer 2

I also have an MA in history and then went on for a Ph.D., not sure what I could do with an MA. I wish I had thought it through. My field is/was Korean history (I am technically still enrolled), so the work was incredibly difficult with all the languages (Korean, Chinese, Japanese). I finished everything but the dissertation and will probably never finish it. So, my advise is: if you really want to teach history at the university level then go for it but be prepared for a LOT of work and stress and money (unless you can land scholarships/grants). I had the GI Bill so money wasnt a big issue. I kind of wish money had been an issue, it might have made me stop and think it out more. If you dont want to teach university then a doctorate in history is not necessary and would take years away from you and tons of money. Also, if you do want to teach university and go for a phd then start thinking ahead and write scholarly articles while in school. Publications on your resume are de rigeur. Without them you simply will not be competitve. Think carefully about your field too. Some fields like American history and European history are saturated with phds. Other fields are relatively easier to land jobs in...like maybe history of science or something more specialized. But again, I would emphasize, if you have your eyes on a career do not go for a doctorate unless your ambition is teaching at university.

By the way, historical fiction writing also interests me but I am not sure of the market situation. I am working on an historical novel and a biography, but hopes do not pay today. You dont even want to know what my job is now...aiiigg.

Best of luck.

Answer 3

I also have a degree in history, but right now I am retired. I did nto teach, I have written, but spent most of my time in sales. Since I grew up in electronics, I had no problem selling sophisticated electronics equipment and made mega bucks off of that.

Apply for jobs that can use other skills that you have. The history degree will not get in your way. Business degree graduates are not articulate enough to handle sales jobs. Most can't think on their feet and most would not know when and how to close the sale. Don't sell copiers, get into something so sophisticated that other sales people are scared of it.

However, if you want a degree, a PhD in history will not necessarily get you a job. I would get an MBA purely for the act of having one.

Now if you want to write, and I don't know what your field is, write, but do the book in your spare time and write about thigns that have a general historical interest. String for a newspaper writing articles about day trips out of whatever town you live in where people can see historical sites. Get you a digital camera, go tot he sites, gather all the information that you need for an article, photograph what is interesting, and take it to a newspaper that you are stringing for.

If you don't know what stringing is, it is an independent journalist who gets paid by the column inch of the articles he has printed. I am sitting here looking at a 72 column inch story done by a stringer which includes in that 72 inches on 6x8 photograph. That is a couple or three hundred bucks, and you can string for as many news papers that you want to, sending different articles to each.

I am retired and bored and have a minor in Journalism, German, Art History, and Anthropology. I have also been a photographer for over 45 years, and I am thinking about doing that just because retirement is nothing but organized boredom.

Answer 4

Aren't those research skills going to earn you more money in other areas? Think about the news industry - TV or print. I know my course catalog gave a full list of jobs for historians.....I teach. The job security is good, the pension plan is solid, and I can recoup from the jobs stress by traveling during the summer. Yes, public schools are not what the public thinks they are but the beneficial aspects of the job outweigh some of the alternatives. Find a good district with a good contract - the pay is often the one aspects of the job that keeps you coming back each year.

Answer 5

I love historical fiction and actually was going to school for a major in history as well. Have you considered teaching?

I had always wanted to be an archeologist but getting into the profession without any contacts is really hard. Talk to some of your old professors, perhaps they can suggest something.

Answer 6

Give up on getting a job teaching history at the college level unless you have published several history books.

You talk to anyone running a faculty job search anywhere and they are getting on average 200 applicants.

Many History MAs and PhDs want to know why the number of PhDs and the focus of their education are out of balance with job prospects and career expectations. Many want to know why they were accepted into and paid for a program when there is a glut of History Majors with no jobs.

Between 1983 and 2006, the number of doctorates earned annually in the History tripled.

The percentage of History MAs and PhDs finding jobs continues to shrink.

For History PhDs overall, after five years only about 7% of graduates hold a full time job.

Answer 7

About the only thing I can think of is teaching or narrating on the History Channel.

Answer 8

Appy for a teaching job. You may have to take some teaching credits but it is a reliable job with benefits.

Answer 9

You can be a bartender or drive a taxi.

Honestly, I'm not sure what sort of job one would expect with a history major.

Answer 10

I say give up and blow your credit rating...that will make job hunting easier for you.