HTY 301:Career Explorations: Home

Getting an idea of what to do after you graduate will help you chart a path to your future. 

First, take time to write yourself a letter to your future professional self. The letter should be written in Times New Roman, double-spaced, and 12 point font. Margins should be 1". The letter should be at least 1.5 pages long, but no more than 2 pages. You will refer back to this letter and the resources you used again, so be prepared to do a thorough job. Use a minimum of four online resources, including O-Net. Include a reference page on online resources you used to help guide your letter's answers. 

 Answer the following questions in the letter:

1. Where do you see yourself living? (urban area, i.e. San Diego; country area i.e. Strawberry Banks, Maine, etc.) Be as specific as possible. If you are not sure, spend some time thinking about what region of the U.S. you would prefer, and then hone in on a few counties, cities, or smaller towns. Spend a paragraph or two on your location, cost iof living, possible employers, etc., and on what makes it attractive for you. 

For example, Saint Petersburg, Florida and its surrounding areas, including Largo, Clearwater, and Sarasota have a number of possible opportunities with museums, a "living " history center, several small history nonprofits, a fair number of corporations that employ corporate archivists, and a few colleges - as well as opportunities with the state of Florida, local libraries and cultural centers, cities, and Pinellas county. All these options make Pinellas county/St Pete attractive for someone with a history degree if they wish to live in an urban area. Cost of living and quality of life are ok, although with a history degree the cost of living may be too prohibitive. Average home prices have increased 30%, to $350,000 in the last two years and increasing insurance premiums make it less affordable than other possible locations that are comparable, such as Brunswick, Georgia. 

2. Are you working in a hands-on position as a solo employee or in a team of some kind? Are you running your own non-profit? Are you a supervisor?

3. Are you developing educational programming, working with volunteers or students? Are you doing any field work? 

4. What are your primary "tools"? (equipment, software, computers, etc.)

5. Does any of your work involve local/state/national/overseas travel?

6. Are you expected to create "educational artifacts", webpages, videos, etc.?

7. Are you presenting at conferences or writing for publication?

8. Did you go to grad school to continue your education? If so, how did you decide on where to go? Be specific. 

9. If you did not go to grad school, what internships, volunteer work, part-time work, summer opportunities, or other activities did you do to prepare for your next step after graduation?

10. Is your work more office-based, or are you in more of an "outside" setting, such as a park or living history center?

11. What else do you see yourself doing five years from now?

12. Can you think of other questions that come to mind as you review these questions? Feel free to answer them.