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How to find jobs for historians in the Netherlands?

How do you find jobs that match your interests and skills as a historian? You have no idea where to start. Where can you search? How do you determine if something suits you? In this blog, an overview of websites with jobs for historians in the Netherlands and tips for finding a job that suits you.

One place where you’re sure to find jobs for historians is www.historici.nl/vacatures

But only a small fraction of the jobs you qualify for appear there. Searching with the word “history” or “historian” on general job sites doesn’t yield much either.

That’s because the number of jobs asking for knowledge of history is limited. You will find mostly vacancies for positions in research, teaching or museums.

Fortunately, studying history has given you knowledge and skills that can be applied much more widely than just to the subject of history.

Dutch websites with vacancies for historians

Archives, arts and culture: www.culturele-vacatures.nl

Consultancy: www.consultancy.nl/vacatures

Academic teaching/research/support: www.academictransfer.nl

HBO (applied universities) teaching/research/support: www.werkenbijhogescholen.nl

Journalism: https://www.villamedia.nl/vacatures

High school education: www.meesterbaan.nl & https://onderwijs-banen.nl

NGOS: www.oneworld.nl (click on vacaturebank)

Government: www.werkenvoornederland.nl

Municipalities: www.gemeentebanen.nl (and for every province/municipality: www.werkenvoor… followed by the name of the province/municipality)

Regional websites: www.noorderlink.nl & www.twentsekracht.com

Postings in government or education: http://www.maandag.nl among others

This overview is not comprehensive, since you find historians in all kinds of places 😉

How to search for jobs for historians?

If you are looking for a job that you will enjoy doing, I would like to warn you in advance about the pitfall of taking vacancies too much as your starting point.

My suggestion is that you first dwell on what energises you.

Ask yourself questions like:

  • What motivates you in your work?
  • What do you get out of bed for?
  • What do you enjoy doing?
  • What are you good at?

The answers to these questions provide just as important input to your search as your degree. After all, you are more than your degree. You have a unique set of qualities and values that set you apart from your peers. They largely determine whether you will value your work positively.

Okay, but how do I set up my search?

So rather than using your studies as the main keyword, try using keywords that are about what you want to do or what motivates you.

When it comes to your qualities, think of words like: writing, communicating, collaborating, analysing, etc.

Choose your own words.

When it comes to values you want to see reflected, think of words like: integrity, creativity, societal awareness, justice, etc.

Choose your own words.

With these kinds of words, you are not so much looking for job titles as in the underlying descriptions of jobs. As a result, you are immediately searching for job content and the characteristics of organisations.

Look closely at what they are looking for and the company profile. Save descriptions that appeal to you and evaluate:

  • What appeals to you?
  • Why exactly do these texts suit you?
  • What new insights does it provide about where you come into your own?
  • What next steps can you take to find out what suits you?

Don’t linger on these websites too long

Job websites are a huge resource you can keep searching in. This can make you feel despondent. So when looking for interesting jobs, use several sources of information. Especially sources that give you more clarity about whether something suits you.

My golden tip is: go and talk to people who might have interesting jobs. Or go and experience the job yourself by shadowing them for some hours. That gives so much more information than just a job ad.

Where such a interaction can also be a remedy for: if often think that you are not suitable for a job anyway. Research first, then draw conclusions 🙂