After the Degree: Finding work with a History degree
Many students pursue a degree to improve employment prospects or receive specialised training, but some do it simply for the love of a subject.
So what happens when it comes time for those graduates to start their careers?
We spoke to two graduates about how they find work with a History degree and how they approach the job market with no defined path.
Adam Cowley
- University of Manchester, 2012
- History BA
- Store Manager - Majestic Wine - Milton Keynes
Adam Cowley knew early on in his History degree that he wanted to pursue a career in Retail Management when he finished at the University of Manchester.
"I always wanted to go into a management role," he says. "It was one of the options that I wanted to pursue while I was at university and retail offers the biggest opportunities for that."
But it wasn't a direct path - Adam explains that he spent some time working as a currency broker before deciding to change careers to something that got him out from behind a desk. "I enjoyed the job and I was good at it but I hated being stuck in an office," he says. "I wanted to do something that wasn't being sat in a chair looking at a computer screen all day."
He finally did find the right position for him: Store Manager at Majestic Wine in Milton Keynes.
"I oversee the everyday running of the store, handling stock, staff and the sales of the store," he says. "This is the main driving point of my role, to make sure the store is achieving target and growing."
Majestic Wine run a Trainee Manager position for graduates which allows them to take on responsibilities within the company almost immediately. Adam says it's not surprising that he and many other History graduates find their way into management positions.
"I think you find quite a lot of people with History in management positions. History is a very specific subject in terms of the study, but it is more the skills you acquire through your study that count."
"This could be time management or bringing together lots of different bits of information in order to make a decision. In Management, it is always about making a decision from certain information and acting on it."
Adam says the skills he learned completing his degree have a very practical application to his role at Majestic Wine - and to his management style.
"When you're managing you need to be able to get your message across to your staff and your superiors about what you're planning to do," he says. "So you are constantly writing sales plans and forecasts and you've got to make a valid point very quickly. It's making an argument for why you are doing a good job, why you can do a better job and what your plan is."
It hasn't all been easy. Adam admits there were some elements of the role he struggled with.
"When you do a History degree, and your A Levels before that, you're not normally doing subjects that involved with figures because it's all about your writing and the written argument," he says. "You need to get back up to speed with your maths and figures as your degree doesn't prepare you for that, but it doesn't take long."
Adam has some advice for graduates considering pursuing management careers in retail or other industries: use what you've got.
"Use the skill you've learnt to attack it. Even if what I've been saying sounds a bit cliché - it's true. Use those skills you've gained from your degree - they are completely relevant to the business world and to management."
"It's about having the confidence to think 'I've got this degree, I can go into management and it is a massive avenue open to me.'"
Victoria Payne
- University of Birmingham, 2015
- Ancient History BA
- Position: Job hunting Graduate
Victoria left university a few months ago and is looking to land her first graduate job. She loved her time spent at university studying something she is passionate about - Ancient History - but is now looking for a change.
"I really want to do something creative," she says. "I thought about going into a History-related career like Archiving or a Curating, but I really want to do something different. One of the careers I am looking at is Marketing and Advertising."
Victoria did not pick her degree with any career in mind, but because it was something she enjoyed.
"I know a lot of people do business management degrees and find them tough - and they are great because you can get a graduate job much easier - but I really wanted to do something I loved. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made."
Victoria didn't know when she started her degree which career path she wanted to pursue, but several work experience placements while at university opened her eyes to the creative opportunities available in Advertising and Marketing.
"I did some work experience for an Estate Agent's in Devon and I got into writing the editorial for the houses and managed the editorial work they did. This made me aware I liked writing and advertising things."
"After that I did some more work experience in Birmingham, where I got a Marketing and Social Media placement within a legal recruitment agency. There I managed their social media, their Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and I also made a social media portfolio to show them what I was able to do."
Victoria was inspired by her work experience and believes the skills she developed during her degree will enable her to pursue Marketing as a career path.
"I did many presentations while at university, which I think could help with selling a portfolio or a brief," she says. "I am also able to communicate clearly and be persuasive both orally and in writing. I am able to work without direct supervision and manage my time. My university degree had on average seven contact hours per week and the rest of the time it is up to you to do the work."
Victoria admits that she is taking an unconventional approach to the Marketing industry.
"I think going into a degree and coming out wanting a different career is quite brave," she says. "There is a slight risk - I could have done a Master's degree in History and continued further in my education, but I really wanted to go into the job market and wanted to do something completely different to my degree."
With Victoria's skills and ambitions, it is only be a matter of time before her career opportunity comes along.
"I do think finding my work experience and getting it off my own back has really given me an advantage and helped me with my search," she says.