New Hiring Practices for History Institutions

Recently, I have made it a habit to regularly explore online job banks in hopes of minimizing the post-graduation unemployment period. Unfortunately, the majority of history-related job postings can be categorized under three categories…

1. part-time position
2. underpaid, entry-level position that requires advanced education
3. senior-level position that requires a lifetime of experience

History institutions repeatedly take the safe route and hire veterans with years of experience. Unfortunately, this pattern recycles old ways of thinking. Inside the classroom, students discuss new research and innovative methods, but how can these ideas promptly rise to the top of the industry? History graduates regularly find employment in non-management positions, but by the time they gain the necessary experience for higher-level positions they assimilate into the traditional mold and perpetuate standard practice.

The @phillyhistory team has proposed new and bold ideas, but by the time we enter positions to implement change, the field will look vastly different.

Furthermore, the lack of immediate opportunities for history graduates deters many college students from majoring in the field. Since our economy favors students with STEM backgrounds, does this correlate with poor museum and historic site visitation? In the Philadelphia area, for example, if more students majored in history, would institutions see more visitors? The poor job market for history majors delegitimizes the field, and I’m afraid institutions suffer from the lack of young, history curious folks.

Perhaps institutions can salvage the industry by hiring more recent graduates with fresh perspectives. Not only would this introduce new ideas, but it would also raise the reputation of a history degree. With more students interested in history, they will explore different sites and increase visitation.

^{100% of the SBD rewards from this #explore1918 post will support the Philadelphia History Initiative @phillyhistory. This crypto-experiment conducted by graduate courses at Temple University's Center for Public History and MLA Program, is exploring history and empowering education. Click here to learn more.}