The study of people is at the heart of History – their feelings, attitudes, prejudices and motivation. This understanding is very useful in the ‘people professions’, from receptionists, hairdressers and beauticians, to teachers, the health service, social work and personnel.
History teaches interviewing and inquiry skills, which fit an historian for jobs which find out information – TV researcher, investigative reporter, market research, police etc.
Historians know how to read documents, ignore irrelevancies, separate propaganda from the truth, and circumstantial from hard evidence. This is essential for people such as lawyers, administrators and politicians.
History requires extended, logical, reasoned debate in writing. It is essential for any job which requires writing reports, the civil service, law, journalism etc.
Historical knowledge is essential for certain jobs, such as Artist, Architect, Designer, Librarian, Archaeologist, Archivist, Tourist Guide etc.
Historical skills such as cause and consequence, change and continuity etc., are essential in any job which requires analysis and strategy – which includes jobs such as the Army, teaching, advertising, medicine, banking and accountancy.
A pupil who has studied the Industrial Revolution will go into industry aware of its structures and parameters – for instance, accounts, markets, wages and working conditions, health, safety and trade unions.
The study of History teaches information handling, communicating ideas, flexibility and tolerance – skills now regarded as essential in industry. Historians solve problems and evaluate solutions, often by doing problem-solving group-work; skills essential in management in industry and the public services, and in research and development teams in science and engineering.
John D. Clare, 'History IS Important ... for getting a job'