History Graduate CV Example
A history graduate CV demonstrates your research abilities, critical analysis, and exceptional written communication skills for careers in education, heritage, media, or public service.
Recommended template: ClassicPro
Key Skills to Include
Quick Tips
- Emphasise transferable skills such as research, analysis, and written communication.
- Include your dissertation topic and any original research contributions.
- Mention relevant extracurricular activities such as debating, journalism, or historical societies.
- Tailor your CV to show how historical thinking skills apply to your target career.
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Upgrade to ProHow to Write Your History Graduate CV
A history graduate CV must demonstrate the highly transferable skills that historical study develops: research, critical analysis, written and oral communication, and the ability to construct persuasive arguments from complex evidence. While history is not a vocational subject, its graduates are valued across many sectors for their intellectual rigour and communication abilities. Your CV should translate academic skills into professional language that resonates with employers in your target industry.
CV Structure
Use a reverse-chronological format with your profile, relevant experience, education, and skills sections. If your experience includes voluntary museum work, freelance writing, or research assistantships, present these prominently. Include your dissertation topic in your education section or as a standalone entry if particularly relevant. Keep the CV to one or two pages.
CV Format
Choose a clean, elegant template that reflects the academic and cultural sectors you may be targeting. Ensure your writing is polished and free of errors — as a history graduate, the quality of your written communication is under particular scrutiny. Use consistent formatting and save as a PDF.
CV Profile Examples
Heritage-Track Graduate
History graduate from the University of York with a first-class degree and a passion for public history and cultural heritage. Experienced in archival research, exhibition curation, and public engagement through a voluntary role at a local museum. Seeking a graduate position in museum curation, heritage management, or cultural policy.
Public Sector Graduate
Analytical and articulate history graduate from the University of Edinburgh with a 2:1 degree and strong skills in policy research, report writing, and evidence evaluation. Active member of the university debating society and experienced in constructing persuasive written and oral arguments. Targeting Civil Service Fast Stream or graduate policy analyst roles.
Media-Focused Graduate
History graduate from Queen Mary University of London with a 2:1 degree and freelance experience writing historical features for an online publication. Skilled at translating academic research into engaging, accessible content for general audiences. Seeking a graduate role in journalism, content creation, or editorial work with a focus on history and culture.
State your degree, university, and classification. Highlight your strongest transferable skills and any relevant practical experience. Conclude with the type of role or sector you are targeting. Avoid generic statements and focus on what makes you distinctive.
Key Skills for Your History Graduate CV
Historical Research
Conducting systematic research across primary and secondary sources to investigate historical questions and develop evidence-based arguments.
Archival Research
Locating, evaluating, and interpreting original documents, manuscripts, and records held in archives and special collections.
Critical Analysis
Examining historical sources and historiographical debates to assess reliability, bias, and interpretive significance.
Academic Writing
Producing clear, well-structured, and persuasive written arguments supported by evidence and scholarly conventions.
Source Evaluation
Assessing the provenance, context, and reliability of primary and secondary historical evidence.
Oral Presentation
Delivering confident and well-prepared presentations on research findings to academic and public audiences.
Independent Study
Managing self-directed research projects, setting objectives, and delivering written outputs to deadlines.
Attention to Detail
Maintaining accuracy in referencing, data recording, and factual analysis across research and written work.
Digital Research Tools
Using online databases, digitised archives, and bibliographic management software for academic research.
Work Experience Examples
Include all relevant experience, whether paid or voluntary. Museum work, archival research, teaching, journalism, and administrative roles all develop transferable skills. Describe your responsibilities and achievements clearly, emphasising outputs such as written work produced, events organised, or research completed.
Volunteer Curatorial Assistant
York Castle Museum
Volunteered for six months assisting the curatorial team with collections research, exhibition development, and visitor engagement activities.
Responsibilities
- Conducted provenance research on artefacts in the social history collection, cross-referencing catalogue records with archival documents.
- Assisted with the development of a temporary exhibition on wartime York, drafting interpretive text panels and selecting objects for display.
- Supervised visitor engagement activities during school holiday programmes, delivering short talks on exhibition themes.
- Catalogued new donations to the collection using the museum's collections management system, ensuring accurate records.
Achievements
- Drafted interpretive text for five display panels that were used in the final exhibition with minimal editorial revision.
- Received commendation from the lead curator for thorough provenance research that uncovered a previously undocumented link between two collection items.
Freelance History Writer
HistoryExtra Online
Contributed four feature articles on British social history topics for an online publication with a readership of over 500,000 monthly visitors.
Responsibilities
- Researched, wrote, and submitted 1,500-word feature articles on assigned historical topics within agreed deadlines.
- Consulted academic sources, archives, and specialist publications to ensure factual accuracy and scholarly rigour.
- Adapted writing style to suit a general readership, making complex historical arguments accessible and engaging.
- Responded to editorial feedback, revising articles to meet the publication's style and tone requirements.
Achievements
- One article on Tudor apprenticeship practices was featured on the publication's home page and attracted over 12,000 page views in its first week.
- Established an ongoing freelance relationship with the editor, receiving commissions for two additional articles.
Education & Qualifications
List your degree with classification and highlight your dissertation topic and grade. Include relevant modules that demonstrate the breadth or depth of your historical knowledge. Follow with A-levels, noting History and English grades. Mention any academic prizes or scholarships.
BA History
An undergraduate degree developing advanced research, analytical, and communication skills through the study of historical periods and themes.
MA History (Optional)
A postgraduate qualification demonstrating specialised research expertise and advanced scholarly capabilities.
PGCE (Optional)
A Postgraduate Certificate in Education for history graduates pursuing a career in secondary school teaching.
A-Levels
Advanced-level qualifications demonstrating subject interest and academic ability relevant to history and humanities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What careers can I pursue with a history degree?
How do I demonstrate transferable skills on my history CV?
Should I include my dissertation on my history CV?
How can I gain experience relevant to careers in heritage or museums?
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