JOB AND INTERNSHIP LISTINGS
Whether you are still in school, a recent graduate of a public history program, or looking to change positions, NCPH offers a job listing, updated weekly, to aid in your search. NCPH has also developed a Best Practices for Job Postings document for employers posting jobs with NCPH and elsewhere.
ADDITIONAL CAREER LINKS:
- “Tips for Finding a Job in Preservation” website from the National Trust for Historic Preservation Career Center
- “Careers in Public History,” webpage from the American Historical Association
- “Beginning a Job Search” webpage
- PreserveNet, the Preservationist’s resource
- Cultural Resource Network
- Idealist non-profit job listings
- Archives Gig
- Museum Jobs in the UK
- American Association of State and Local History Career Center
- American Association of Museums JobHQ
- Canadian Heritage Information Network
- Ask A Manager, a resource for general career advice
Social Media Presence
NCPH maintains organizational accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. A few of our committees also manage related Twitter accounts, follow them for more specific content: NCPH Consultants Committee, NCPH Committee on Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA), NCPH New Professional and Student Committee, NCPH Government Historians Committee.
If you are an NCPH member, there are additional social media perks. You can request to join the NCPH Members’ Forum on Facebook, where you can ask questions, share successes or concerns, publicize a project or event, or just catch up with public history friends. Meanwhile on Instagram, you can sign up to do a week-long takeover of the account, where you can share posts and stories about your work. Send us a Direct Message on Instagram or email us at [email protected] if you’re interested!
SURVEY OF PUBLIC HISTORY PROFESSIONALS
In 2008, the NCPH participated in a Survey of Public History Professionals (SPHP)*, prepared by staff at NCPH and AHA. These organizations sought to learn more about the demographics, training, employment conditions, and expectations of public history practitioners. Each participating association helped to distribute the survey across the public history community and will share the aggregated, anonymous data that is collected. The first report, written by John Dichtl [NCPH] and Robert B. Townsend [AHA] appeared as an article in the September 2009 edition of Public History News and in the September 2009 issue of Perspectives on History.
Survey sponsored by: American Association for State and Local History, American Association of Museums, American Historical Association, Association of Personal Historians, Australian Historical Association, Canadian Historical Association, National Council on Public History, Oral History Association, Organization of American Historians, Society for History in the Federal Government
PUBLIC HISTORY CAREERS REPORT AND SURVEY
In 2016-17, the Joint Task Force on Public History Education and Employment surveyed alumni of MA programs in public history and closely related fields to obtain information about career trajectories and employment experiences. The survey obtained 1,488 responses. “Career Paths in Public History,” a report prepared by the Joint Task Force, summarizes the major findings of the survey. The survey data shows that most graduates of public history programs find employment in the field within a year of graduating; the majority of public historians remain in the field over time; and public historians report relatively high levels of job satisfaction. Comments submitted by respondents, however, express significant concerns about the conditions of public history employment, competition for jobs, and the future of the field. The report is here. Three appendixes present the survey questions, the survey data, and comments submitted by respondents.
Resources for Gender Discrimination and Sexual Harassment
The NCPH Board-led Sub-Committee on Gender Discrimination and Sexual Harassment has compiled a list of resources to help those who work in the field of public history. The document includes links to websites, articles, books, and more that aim to both support those who have experienced gender discrimination or sexual harassment and to guide organizations in developing their own policies and best practices related to these issues. This is a living document that will be periodically updated. If you have questions or suggestions on resources to be added please email us at [email protected].
Other Resources
Check out the Around the Field posts on our blog, History@Work. Around the Field is posted every other week with the most up-to-date links for workshops and learning opportunities, calls for proposals for conferences , awards, and publications.