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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Create Your History
Resume in 5 Easy Steps

  • Step 1: Add Contact Info

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  • Step 2: Include Work Experience Details

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  • Step 3: Provide Education Details

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  • Step 4: Select Your Skills

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  • Step 5: Fill in Your Background

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Get Expert Writing Recommendations for Your History Resume

LiveCareer’s history resume examples show you how to craft a document that will get you noticed. Our Resume Builder helps you execute it by offering something that your history books might not — pre-written, industry-specific phrases for history resumes. These phrases, penned by certified resume writers, simplify the resume creation process. Change our suggestions as needed to fit your resume or use the phrases as they are.

Here are five examples of dynamic text that the Resume Builder might suggest to show your history qualifications:

  • Connected current events to historical details in order to enhance cultural knowledge and awareness.
  • Capitalized on developing education trends by facilitating adoption of digital services.
  • Informed tour groups about geographical history and important events with entertaining presentations.
  • Implemented outreach and engagement strategies to increase new student registration by 20%.
  • Supervised the preservation of tools, jewelry and human remains at archaeological digs worldwide.

6 Dos and Don’ts for Writing a History Resume

  • Do use metrics to illustrate your work experience and accomplishments. If you currently teach Egyptian history to 100 students across six classes, use these numbers to paint a better picture for hiring managers. It’s more vivid than something such as “taught Egyptian history to undergraduates.”
  • Do detail any special training you have or areas you specialize in. History jobs are varied. One might require in-depth knowledge of Victorian England, while another might call for training in oral histories. Any papers, articles, seminars or classes you have completed in a specific area (or several) could bolster your chances of getting a position.
  • Do customize your resume for each application. No two job postings are the same so study each before you apply to learn which skills and experience are critical for the role. A well-written job description should show you exactly how to tweak your resume to customize it for each role.
  • Don’t rely on jargon. Selective jargon may be appropriate on some resumes, but it’s best to keep your resume as clear and straightforward as possible, even if you are applying for a highly specialized role. The person doing the hiring may have limited knowledge of certain terms so keep the industry jargon and acronyms to a minimum to ensure your experience is understood.
  • Don’t use passive language. Resumes are not the place for passive writing. Use engaging, active verbs to highlight your job tasks and achievements. For example, saying that you were responsible for “spearheading” a project is more eye-catching than saying you were “responsible for” it.
  • Don’t rely simply on credentials. Competition for history jobs can get fierce, and many applicants may have credentials similar to yours. Use metrics, clear writing and smart organization to make your resume stand out. A long list of publications may unnecessarily weigh down your resume. Choose the most important or relevant.

Beat the ATS with These History Resume Skills

History job candidates should write their resumes with an applicant tracking system (ATS) in mind. Larger employers, like universities, are more likely to use these programs, but plenty of smaller schools, tourist sites, museums, nonprofits and businesses will deploy an ATS too.

Include industry-specific skills and keywords on your resume to maximize the odds of a human reading it. Otherwise, an ATS is unlikely to rank your resume highly, no matter how qualified you are. LiveCareer’s resume examples make it easy for you to use specific language on your history resume. Examples of ATS-friendly keywords might include:

  • Archaeological equipment
  • Cultural resource identification
  • Site excavation
  • Presentation and lecturing skills
  • Historical research
  • Data collection and analysis
  • Classroom management

History Resumes for Every Professional Level

Entry-Level
Volunteer Researcher Resume Example Functional Build my Resume

Volunteer Researcher

This volunteer researcher employs a functional resume format and a clean and aesthetically-pleasing style to present the applicant’s qualifications. By using a functional layout, the job seeker is able to organize and present experience in a way that focuses on skills rather than on work experience, which is perfect for entry level positions. Build my Resume

Mid-Career
Archaeology Technician Resume Example Chronological Build my Resume

Archaeology Technician

The combination resume format is an excellent choice for job seekers who want to show off both their impressive skill set and their work experience. This history resume example demonstrates how to craft descriptions of your work that are succinct, and how to craft a list of the most relevant skills. Build my Resume

Executive-Level
Associate Director Of Archaeology Resume Example Chronological Build my Resume

Associate Director of Archaeology

It can be difficult to describe a storied career, but the chronological resume format used for this associate director of archaeology resume example delivers. This format demonstrates his impressive career trajectory to show employers his steady work history and increased level of responsibility from role to role. It’s rounded out by a brief list of sought-after skills, making this resume example easy for a recruiter to scan and assess. Build my Resume

More history resume samples

Find resume examples for your desired history career. Get access to expert writing recommendations, do’s and don’ts and everything you need to write a perfect resume.

historian
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Recommended
History Cover Letter

If you find this sample helpful, we have many more history cover letter examples.

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Resume Success Stories

Statistics and Facts About History Jobs

Typical Job Titles

  • History Teachers, Postsecondary
  • Historians
  • Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
  • Archivists
  • Curators
  • Archaeologists
  • Tour Guides and Escorts
  • Atmospheric, Earth, Marine and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
  • Anthropology and Archaeology Teachers, Postsecondary
  • Area, Ethnic and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary

Source: O*NET

Median Pay (2019)

History Teachers, Postsecondary$75,170 annual
050K100K

Archaeologists

Hourly$30.61
Annual$63670
050K100K

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

Annual$61660
050K100K

Curators

Hourly$26.24
Annual$54570
050K100K

Archivists

Hourly$25.94
Annual$53950
050K100K

Tour Guides and Escorts

Hourly$13.27
Annual$27600
050K100K
Source: O*Net

Education Level Required

  • Anthropology and Archaeology Teachers, Postsecondary: Doctoral degree
  • Curators: Master’s or doctoral degree
  • Archaeologists: Master’s or doctoral degree
  • Archivists: Master’s degree
  • Historians: Bachelor’s, master’s degree or some college
  • Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education: Bachelor’s or master’s degree
  • Tour Guides and Escorts: High school diploma, associate degree or bachelor’s degree

Source: O*NET

Projected Rates of Job Growth (2018 to 2028)

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education4%-6% (average)
History Teachers, Postsecondary4%-6% (average)
Historians4%-6% (average)
Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary4%-6% (average)
Tour Guides and Escorts7%-10% (faster than average)
Curators7%-10% (faster than average)
Archivists7%-10% (faster than average)
Archaeologists7%-10% (faster than average)
Anthropology and Archaeology Teachers, Postsecondary7%-10% (faster than average)
01020
Source: O*Net

Number of Projected Job Openings (2018 to 2028)

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education80300
Tour Guides and Escorts11600
History Teachers, Postsecondary2400
Curators1700
Archivists1000
Archaeologists800
Anthropology and Archaeology Teachers, Postsecondary700
Historians400
050K100K
Source: O*Net

Race and Ethnicity for History Teacher Education Degree Recipients (2017)

White495% degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino59% degrees awarded
Unknown47% degrees awarded
Black20% degrees awarded
Two or More Races11% degrees awarded
050100150200250300350400450500
Source: DataUSA

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