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When I began my undergraduate studies in history I thought that the only "jobs" out there for historians were in teaching. However, I have since found that there are many other avenues one can take and land some pretty exciting opportunities. Don't forget about the government (both state and Federal) as employers of historians. Many Federal agencies have historians among their ranks including places you might not think of like the CIA and the FBI. And some of those people with degrees in history may not be labeled "historians" but they could be analysts or any number of other career fields that involve researching, analyzing and evaluating information. The US military has a good many historians working with them, in particular the US Air Force (my current employer). Working with the military can give one some very exciting opportunities. The Department of Interior (BLM, Bureau of Reclamation, and the National Park Service) have a large number of historians working for them. In fact, when people think about historians in the government one of the first agencies they think of is the National Park Service. Competition for non-teaching jobs in history is just as intense as it is for the few teaching jobs out there. The most important thing I found for breaking into the field is to have experience!!! Work for an archive, a CRM contractor, get published, and have a WIDE background within the field of history. Don't get the idea that simply because you have a fancy college degree that you're going to be scooped up for the job because you qualify for it. A PhD in medieval religious practices in the Albanian countryside is not necessarily going to get you a job working in American history. Get as much experience under your belt as you can before you apply. And, don't simply think that because a GS-7 entry level historian requires ten hours of history courses means that an undergrad degree will get you the job. There are plenty of people out there with MAs and PhDs who are applying for those entry level jobs as well. Again, get hands-on experience, that will make the difference between simply meeting the requirements and landing the job. The best way to learn about where these jobs are, and to apply for them, is through the Office of Personnel Management website: http://www.usajobs.opm.gov There are two different types of announcements on the OPM site. One is for those with prior Federal service. The other is for those without it. When jobs are posted, they can be for any of three different categories: Agencywide, Governmentwide, and All Sources. If you do not have your career status with the Federal government you can only apply for those open to "All Sources." When I was in college, several people with the National Park Service told me that the best way to get a permanent, career position with the NPS was to accept a position with another agency to get my status. The one most commonly referenced is the IRS working as a clerk. Once you get your "status," then you can compete for those jobs open "governmentwide." You have to look at the long range goal here. Sure, you may want to be the world's greatest historian, but you're not going to land that first job unless you are admitted to the playing field. Sometimes to simply get your foot in the door you have to find the back door or climb through a window. Doug Beckstead //SIGNED// Douglas Beckstead, YA-2, DAF Historian, 3 WG/11 AF/ANR/ALCOM/JTF-AK Commercial: (907) 552-5217 DSN: (317) 552-5217 Fax: (907) 552-2684
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