Alternative Postgraduate Careers

Alternative Careers – Using Your Postgraduate Degree

#alt-ac

#Alt-Academy was created by and for people with deep training and experience in the humanities, working or seeking employment — generally off the tenure track, but within the academic orbit — in universities and colleges, or allied knowledge and cultural heritage institutions such as museums, libraries, academic presses, historical societies, and governmental humanities organizations.

mediacommons.futureofthebook.org/alt-ac/

http://storify.com/briancroxall/alt-ac-advice/

• I randomly and aimlessly decided to do a Ph.D.• During my Ph.D. I became more interested in

records than history• I felt I wanted to spend more time with those

records• I tried for a post in the Public Record Office but

was unsuccessful• I managed to get a job in the British Library

which was completely unrelated to my interests

• While I was in the British Library• I did a lot of cataloguing• I was a trade union representative, so learned a lot

about other parts of the Library• I organised exhibitions and loans• I had a chance to write some books• I helped plan the new library building• I learned about library systems• I became involved in digitisation of manuscripts and in

planning web sites

• I went to the University of Sheffield to promote the study of Freemasonry

• The library bug bit me again, and I went to Lampeter as Librarian

• But did I want to help rebuild higher education in south-west Wales?

• Came to Glasgow – crossing back across divide again

• Then to London

• Is this really #alt-ac or is it #ac?• Is #alt-ac just libraries, archives, museums?• The range of potential jobs is immense:• Auction houses; picture research; theatres; records

management; oral history; family history; house history; publishing; public history; document storage; law; parliament; British Council; exhibitions

• Many ideas at public history websites: http://www.history.org.uk/resources/public_resource_2914_76.html

• Consider a professional qualification: ARA or CILIP• National institutions• Not all the best jobs need to be curatorial e.g.

exhibitions• Volunteering• Many of the best jobs may not yet have been invented• Useful websites: • www.cilip.org.uk/jobs-careers• www.museumsjobs.com/uk• http://www.nationalmuseums.org.uk/jobs/

Go to the library. Meet the cool info pros who work there & get new ideas about what to do with your degree/passion. #altacadviceStewart Varner3 months ago

@briancroxall Most #alt-ac jobs are newly minted & there is rarely a blueprint. Embrace the unknowns & have courage. #atlacadviceshanakimball3 months ago

#altacadvice: attend as many workshops, lectures, events, & parties thrown by the community you're interested in joining as you can.ericdmj3 months ago

#altacadvice Thinking "I really want Job X, but maybe this #alt-ac job I don't much care abt will bridge me there" is a Bad Idea. It shows.ericdmj3 months ago

Learn to do a job talk that ISN'T a dissertation talk. #altacadvice (VITAL for acad libs, so much so I make my libschool students do 'em)RepoRat3 months ago

#altacadvice Work to understand the culture of the org/field if you're stepping out of the academy (e.g. into museums) for the first time.ericdmj

#altacadvice To be really successful in an #alt-ac job search, you should CHOOSE this path. Don't consider it just a plan B. #jobmarketBriancroxall

True, gotta be ready to leap:RT @wynkenhimself: Serendipity doesn't exist for people who aren't ready to take advantage of it. #altacadvicesherah1918

@briancroxall Never use the "alt-ac" in an application: present yourself as the best "ac" for the job, not the best "alt-ac" #altacadvicefoundhistory3 months ago