I just graduated this spring, and I always wanted to work in museums, specifically in archives. I did an academic year as an intern for my universities history department, as well as taking Museology, Public History, and anthropology classes. I like where I live and my family is here, so I'm hesitant to move, but so far the pickings are very slim.
Does anyone have any career advice for an intimidated recent grad?
EDIT: Thank you all for responding! I'm sorry it took me a little while to respond, I was both a bit bashful and was having some computer problems. Library science MA has so far been the most suggested route, but my local university, where I got my BA, does not offer one. I also live in a very secluded place (Hawaii, I live in Hawaii) and while Manoa is very close, there is no way I would be able to afford living there. I'll admit it, I'm afraid of being on my own, and I don't think I'm capable of it yet. But, that does not mean I give up, and will start making plans to become a bit more independent, and I will continue to invest in my community museums/societies.
Thank you all for responding (and upvoting!), and I hope to speak with some of you in the near future!
I'm an archivist, I'd be happy to chat with you in PMs if you'd like to get more specific about your situation. (Without knowing where you live I can't tell you if you need to move or not, really! Your area may be relatively under-served, or it may be glutted. No idea.)
The first basic thing to know is that archivists since the 90s or so are decreasingly from a strictly history background, they're MLIS degree holders. Often faculty-level archivists have a degree in library science and a masters or PhD in history. You'd find a few archivists working still who didn't go to library school, but they're mostly older. A degree in history doesn't actually prepare you to do the day-to-day work of an archivist (archival processing, metadata creation, digital preservation, analog preservation, reference, "politely" telling people not to take their Starbucks into the reading room), it prepares you to "make" and interpret history, which is a different skillset. There's one really good archival science masters program under the history dept out West (blanking on who right now) but now, archives are in the library, so you need that degree.
So my career advice is, unfortunately, start looking at library schools!
Do you have a county historical society or a local state historical society? I got involved with that after receiving my bachelors in History.
As others have said tho, start looking at Library Sciences if you want to work in a big place. I'm pretty happy at my local history center, but we're fortunate enough to have a great philanthropic environment.
You're going to need to pursue that masters to find a position, fortunately as others are saying studying to become an archivist is pretty employable. Get your MLIS and work from there. It'll open up government positions and academic positions in a number of different places. On the unfortunate side of things your history degree, much like my own, is a great skill set, it lets you learn to do tons of stuff, but it won't really do much for you on its own. Go to graduate school now, don't wait. Without being specific about employers - I worked in an educational position on an hourly level for four years, I produced a lot of content that was consumed by a lot of students, the job never went anywhere. There was no upward mobility and the employer wasn't interested in anything but exploiting me as a low cost resource.
If you're reading some of this and thinking, "I'm never going to be able to afford graduate school!" You might consider picking up a certification and doing some ESL work in East Asia. It can be pretty rewarding financially and culturally.
I'm also an archivist and would be happy to talk to you about getting into graduate school and shifting gears.
Given your education clues and your purple hair I would think that you are sensitized to and interested in the human condition, social culture, even development. The State Department, Foreign Services, might see your values as their values and send you on a career of adventures. This effectively blows away staying at home, but oh the letters you could write them! It's an 18-month hiring process, so get crackin.
I graduated a few years ago with a history degree as well. I work in the financial sector as a back office support type of job for a bank. You really can do pretty much anything if you are just looking for a job. History specific jobs are hard to come by, from my experience.
Get your masters! And when you do your masters thesis make sure you choose the most renown professor or better yet the chair of the history dept!! This will seem like the worst idea ever when you notice the difference In work and time your peers needed to complete their masters thesis compared to yours. But there is a reason for the extra punishment you willingly agree too.... My peers were able to get office jobs or go for their PhDs; I on the other hand now teach history and geography as a college professor ;)
OP, I hope you get a few responses, glad you got one from someone knowledgeable in your proposed field. Have you considered becoming a teacher while you engage in your interest as a volunteer? You have put huge restrictions on yourself and then you ask for other people's help. My suggestion is to remove all self imposed restrictions to give others opportunities for giving suggestions.