Oral historians are scholars who collect, preserve, and interpret oral testimonies to provide first-person perspectives on historical events and experiences. They work in a variety of settings, including universities, museums, libraries, archives, and government agencies. This blog will explore strategies for individuals seeking careers in oral history to develop their skills and achieve success.

Let’s get started:

Earn a bachelor’s degree in history or a related field

Obtaining a bachelor’s degree in history or a related field can assist oral historians in developing their careers in a number of ways. It provides a sturdy foundation in historical knowledge and research methods, which is essential for oral historians who must be able to comprehend and interpret the historical context of the stories they collect.

It also imparts critical thinking and writing skills, which oral historians need to critically analyze oral history interviews and write clear and concise reports, articles, and books about their research.

Additionally, it exposes students to a variety of historical sources and viewpoints, which helps oral historians develop a broad understanding of history and appreciate the diversity of human experience.

Finally, it prepares students for entry-level positions in oral history, as many employers require candidates to have a bachelor’s degree in history or a related field for these roles.

Overall, a bachelor’s degree in history or a related field can give oral historians a significant advantage in the job market and help them to build a successful career in the field.

Gain experience interviewing people

Oral historians typically spend a significant amount of time conducting interviews. They may interview individuals, families, communities, or groups of people. Oral historians may also spend time researching the historical context of the interviews they conduct. You can gain experience interviewing people by volunteering to conduct oral history interviews for a local museum or archives, or by participating in an oral history project as part of your coursework.

Consider Pursuing a Graduate Degree in Oral History or Public History

A postgraduate degree in oral history is a more specialized degree that focuses on the study of oral sources, such as interviews, life stories, and folktales. Students learn how to collect, transcribe, analyze, and interpret oral sources. They also learn about the history of oral history and the different ways that oral history can be used to understand the past. This will give oral historians the opportunity to learn more about oral history theory and practice, and to develop research and writing skills.

When choosing a graduate program in oral history or public history, there are a few factors to consider:

• The faculty and their research interests. Make sure to choose a program with faculty who have expertise in the areas of oral history or public history that you are interested in.
• The curriculum and course offerings. Make sure that the program offers the courses that you need to achieve your academic and career goals.
• The resources of the program. Does the program have an oral history center or archive? Does the program have a strong public history presence?
• The cost of tuition and other expenses. Graduate programs can be expensive, so it is important to consider the cost of tuition, living expenses, and other fees when choosing a program.

Network with other Oral Historians

Networking is an important part of building any career, but it is especially important for oral historians. Oral history is a collaborative field, and oral historians often rely on each other for support, advice, and collaboration opportunities.

Here are a few tips on how to network with other oral historians and build your oral history career:

• Attend oral history conferences and workshops. This is a great way to meet other oral historians from all over the world and learn about new trends and developments in the field.
• Join professional organizations such as the Oral History Association. These organizations offer opportunities for networking, professional development, and collaboration.
• Volunteer or intern at an oral history project. This is a great way to gain experience and meet other oral historians.
• Reach out to oral historians whose work you admire. Let them know that you are interested in their work and would like to learn more about it.
• Be active on social media. There are many online communities for oral historians. Join these groups and participate in discussions.
• Attend the opening reception and other social events. This is a great way to meet people and start conversations.
• Volunteer to help with the conference or workshop. This is a great way to meet people and get involved in the community.

Apply for Jobs

Applying for jobs is an important part of building any career, but it can be especially important for oral historians. Oral history is a competitive field, and oral historians need to be able to demonstrate their skills and experience to potential employers.

Here are some places to apply for jobs on oral history:

• University websites: Many universities have oral history centers or programs that offer positions for oral historians, archivists, librarians, and other professionals.
• Museum websites: Many museums have oral history programs or exhibits that hire oral historians, curators, and educators.
• Library websites: Many libraries have oral history archives and offer positions for oral historians, archivists, and librarians.
• Government websites: Many government agencies have oral history programs or hire oral historians to conduct research and document oral histories.
• Nonprofit websites: Many nonprofits have oral history programs or hire oral historians to conduct research and document oral histories.

In addition to the above, you can also search for oral history jobs on popular job search websites such as LinkedIn, Monster, and CareerBuilder.

Develop your Interviewing Skills

Improving your interviewing skills is essential for building your career as an oral historian. Oral historians rely on interviews to collect oral histories, which are first-person accounts of historical events and experiences. By improving your interviewing skills, you can become a more effective oral historian and build a more successful career in the field.

Here are some additional tips for improving your interviewing skills:

• Practice regularly. The more you practice interviewing, the better you will become at it. Try to practice interviewing with friends, family members, or colleagues.
• Get feedback. Ask others for feedback on your interviewing skills. This will help you to identify areas where you can improve.
• Watch other oral history interviews. Pay attention to the techniques that other oral historians use. This can help you to develop your own interviewing style.
• Read about oral history interviewing. There are many books and articles available on oral history interviewing. Reading about this topic can help you to learn more about different interviewing techniques and to develop your own interviewing skills.

Improving your interviewing skills takes time and effort, but it is an important investment for oral historians. By following the tips above, you can improve your interviewing skills and build a more successful career in the field.

Be Organized and Efficient

Oral historians must juggle a multitude of tasks, including managing interview transcripts, research materials, and project deadlines. To succeed in their careers, they must be able to effectively manage their time and stay organized.

 Here are some tips for being organized and efficient as an oral historian:

• Develop a system for organizing your interview transcripts and research materials. This could involve using a filing system, a database, or a combination of both.
• Create a project plan for each oral history project that you work on. This will help you to stay on track and to meet your deadlines.
• Set aside time each day to work on your oral history projects. This will help you to make progress on your projects and to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
• Take breaks throughout the day. This will help you to stay focused and to avoid burnout.
• Delegate tasks when possible. This will free up your time so that you can focus on the most important tasks.

Be a Good Writer

Oral historians must be proficient writers to thrive in their careers. They need to craft clear, concise, and engaging reports, articles, and books about their research, as well as grant proposals, funding applications, and other professional documents.

Here are some tips for being a good writer as an oral historian:

• Be clear and concise. Avoid using jargon and overly complicated language.
• Be engaging. Use vivid language and tell stories to make your writing more interesting to read.
• Be accurate. Make sure to fact-check your work carefully.
• Proofread your work carefully. Before you submit your work for publication or share it with others, be sure to proofread it carefully for any errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

Be Passionate about Oral History

The best oral historians are driven by a genuine interest in hearing people’s stories and preserving them for future generations. Their passion motivates them to invest the long hours and hard work necessary to produce high-quality oral history projects. They are more likely to think creatively and develop innovative ways to collect, preserve, and share oral histories. Interviewees can often sense an oral historian’s passion, which can make them more comfortable sharing their stories. Overall, being passionate about oral history helps oral historians build more successful and fulfilling careers.

Here are some tips for developing and maintaining your passion for oral history:

• Read books and articles about oral history. This is a great way to learn about the different theories, methods, and applications of oral history.
• Attend oral history conferences and workshops. This is a great way to learn from other oral historians and to network with potential collaborators.
• Volunteer or intern at an oral history project. This is a great way to gain hands-on experience in oral history research and interviewing.
• Start your own oral history project. This is a great way to pursue your passions and to make a contribution to the field of oral history.

Job Outlook

The job outlook for oral historians is projected to grow faster than average over the next decade. This growth is expected to be driven by increasing demand for oral history services from museums, libraries, archives, and government agencies.

If you are interested in a career as an oral historian, there are many opportunities available. With the right education, experience, and skills, you can make a significant contribution to the preservation of history and the sharing of people’s stories.