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Historians Occupation Detailed Description

Historians career

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Historians

The main tasks and work activities of Historians are to conduct historical research, collect archival data, instruct college students in social sciences or humanities disciplines, prepare scientific or technical reports or presentations. In general, for the Historians, reading Comprehension, critical Thinking, writing, active Listening and other 10 skills are required.
Historians Job Description
EducationMost of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Related ExperienceExtensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Job TrainingEmployees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
ExampleThese occupations often involve coordinating, training, supervising, or managing the activities of others to accomplish goals. Very advanced communication and organizational skills are required. Examples include pharmacists, lawyers, astronomers, biologists, clergy, neurologists, and veterinarians.
The following chart shows the education/training levels for Historians jobs. 9.43% of Historians have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 15.24% of Historians have Post-Secondary Certificate.
Less than a High School Diploma
8.98%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
9.43%
Post-Secondary Certificate
15.24%
Some College Courses
17.95%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
0.45%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
47.95%

Tasks and Work Activities of Historians

  • Organize data, and analyze and interpret its authenticity and relative significance.
  • Gather historical data from sources such as archives, court records, diaries, news files, and photographs, as well as from books, pamphlets, and periodicals.
  • Trace historical development in a particular field, such as social, cultural, political, or diplomatic history.
  • Conduct historical research as a basis for the identification, conservation, and reconstruction of historic places and materials.
  • Teach and conduct research in colleges, universities, museums, and other research agencies and schools.
  • Conduct historical research, and publish or present findings and theories.
  • Speak to various groups, organizations, and clubs to promote the aims and activities of historical societies.
  • Prepare publications and exhibits, or review those prepared by others, to ensure their historical accuracy.
  • Research the history of a particular country or region, or of a specific time period.
  • Present historical accounts in terms of individuals or social, ethnic, political, economic, or geographic groupings.
  • Determine which topics to research, or pursue research topics specified by clients or employers.
  • Organize information for publication and for other means of dissemination, such as via storage media or the Internet.
  • Research and prepare manuscripts in support of public programming and the development of exhibits at historic sites, museums, libraries, and archives.
  • Advise or consult with individuals and institutions regarding issues such as the historical authenticity of materials or the customs of a specific historical period.
  • Translate or request translation of reference materials.
  • Collect detailed information on individuals for use in biographies.
  • Interview people to gather information about historical events and to record oral histories.
  • Recommend actions related to historical art, such as which items to add to a collection or which items to display in an exhibit.
  • Coordinate activities of workers engaged in cataloging and filing materials.
  • Edit historical society publications.
  • Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Interpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersTranslating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
  • Thinking CreativelyDeveloping, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
  • Documenting/Recording InformationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsIdentifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Processing InformationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the PublicPerforming for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
  • Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsAnalyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsDeveloping constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Interacting With ComputersUsing computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
  • Conduct historical research.
  • Collect archival data.
  • Instruct college students in social sciences or humanities disciplines.
  • Prepare scientific or technical reports or presentations.
  • Collect information from people through observation, interviews, or surveys.
  • Prepare materials for preservation, storage, or display.

Skills and Abilities for Historians

  • Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • WritingCommunicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
  • Active ListeningGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Active LearningUnderstanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
  • Social PerceptivenessBeing aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  • InstructingTeaching others how to do something.
  • Judgment and Decision MakingConsidering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • Complex Problem SolvingIdentifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • Learning StrategiesSelecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
  • CoordinationAdjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  • MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Written ComprehensionThe ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Written ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
  • Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Inductive ReasoningThe ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  • Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Category FlexibilityThe ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
  • Fluency of IdeasThe ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
  • OriginalityThe ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
  • Selective AttentionThe ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
  • Assistive listening devicese.g. Analog-to-digital converters
  • Inkjet printerse.g. Computer inkjet printers
  • Laser printerse.g. Computer laser printers
  • Scannerse.g. Data input scanners
  • Digital voice recorderse.g. Digital audio recorders
  • Digital camerase.g. Digital still cameras
  • Notebook computerse.g. Laptop computers
  • Microfiche or microfilm viewerse.g. Microfiche readers
  • Microfiche or microfilm viewerse.g. Microfilm readers
  • Microphonese.g. Microphones
  • Personal computerse.g. Personal computers
  • Photocopierse.g. Photocopying equipment
  • History and ArcheologyKnowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
  • English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Customer and Personal ServiceKnowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • ClericalKnowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
  • GeographyKnowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
  • Education and TrainingKnowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
  • Sociology and AnthropologyKnowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
  • Communications and MediaKnowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.