KEY POINTS:
The opportunity to write the history of Waikato Hospital is the icing on the cake for honours history graduate John Armstrong.
He fell in love with history after starting at Waikato University as a mature student.
"I decided after years of gutting eels that I wanted to know more about what goes on in life. I was 29 when I started studying."
Armstrong landed the book contract following a previous summer job recording oral histories of past hospital employees.
History has changed his life and the way he thinks. "History isn't just about dates but about the meanings behind things. It has made me realise there is no one cause of anything. It is about keeping your eyes open and looking for alternative points of view."
Waikato University head of history Giselle Byrnes says history study includes skills of formulating research questions, locating and critically analysing source materials and effectively communicating the results of research.
Kerry Taylor, Massey University senior lecturer in history, says it is a misconception that arts degrees will not lead to employment.
"Aside from traditional roles in teaching, museums and archives, our history graduates also go into banking, parliamentary research units, Department of Labour, Ministry of Social Development, libraries, Crown forestry research and Treaty research," says Taylor. "This is because core history skills are useful whether working on business problems, historical land claims or writing advice for an MP."
At Statistics New Zealand, history graduates are employed as statistical analysts - work that is not historical research.
"Statistical analysts' work includes research, survey design, data analysis and evaluation, writing reports for statistical releases, consultation with internal and external clients, project leadership, and representing Statistics New Zealand at conferences," says Alan McIntyre, Statistics New Zealand human resources manager. "We are looking at the overall skill set. We want strong analytical skills and judgment, a high level of motivation and excellent communication skills."
McIntyre says history graduates bring strong analytical and critical thinking skills, research and written communication skills and the ability to access and synthesise information to form logical arguments.
"A Victoria University history and statistics honours graduate is working on a sustainable development project within our geography, regional and environment team. The work involves researching perspectives on measurement and methodology, then analysing which is the best approach. The project involves communicating with a wide range of stakeholders, including academics, central government and the general public."
There is definitely an increase in professional historian work opportunities, says Byrnes.
"Modern technology has not only created a contemporary information explosion, it has also made the past more available to people and there is an increasing demand for people with the skills to make sense of the material human beings have left behind."
History graduates are one of the largest graduate groups employed at Archives New Zealand, says John Roberts, group manager of archives management.
History bachelor graduates typically enter entry level professional roles where they deal with the core business of providing support for researchers, developing systems, helping select material, describing and cataloguing.
For Roberts, the attraction of a history graduate is twofold. First, they have the skills of any good university graduate - an analytical mind, the ability to marshal ideas, to think in the abstract and see patterns in materials in front of them.
"And they also have a high sensitivity to the significance of historical resources and the framework of New Zealand history in particular," says Roberts. Archives New Zealand also need people who can communicate to non-academic people without using jargon and technical language.
"We are also looking for people that are innovative and can make judgments and operate without rigidly defined practices. And because our material is of high significance to Maori, we need people that value that partnership too."
Roberts says postgraduate qualifications develop higher research skills, which are valuable, but that doesn't preclude bachelor degree graduates from roles.
A common career track into Archives New Zealand is to do a history degree, then library qualifications at masters level.
"You develop historical insights, then add tools of information management and science which are becoming increasingly important in today's digital world."
A quick survey of job descriptions from organisations requiring specific history knowledge suggests postgraduate qualifications are preferred. In some cases, such as museum roles, volunteer work may also be needed.
Statistics New Zealand doesn't specifically recruit for postgraduate qualifications but McIntyre says postgraduate qualifications often equip candidates with strong time management, planning and research skills which are highly transferable.
As an honours graduate, Armstrong is pragmatic about why he undertook postgraduate study.
"I simply felt I needed to distinguish myself from the crowd of bachelor degree graduates.
"I would have done a masters but the book was too good an opportunity to miss."
