Experts Weigh In On Current Job Market Trends
October 16, 2021
Given the change of course that has happened in the world, we wanted to provide expert opinions on what aspiring graduates can do to start off their careers in an uncertain economic climate. We wanted to know what skills will be more important, where the economy is doing relatively well, and if there will be any lasting effects on the job market.
Companies are looking for candidates that can handle the new responsibilities of the job market. Recent graduates actually have an advantage because they are comfortable using newer technologies and have been communicating virtually their whole lives. They can take what they've learned and apply it immediately.
We spoke to professors and experts from several universities and companies to get their opinions on where the job market for recent graduates is heading, as well as how young graduates entering the industry can be adequately prepared. Here are their thoughts.
Our Panel of Experts
University of Kentucky
University of Arkansas at Monticello
Saint Mary's College
Macalester College
Louisiana State University at Shreveport
Angelo State University
University of Illinois
Eladio Bobadilla Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorUniversity of Kentucky
History, Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino Studies
What skills stand out on History Instructor resumes?
Eladio Bobadilla Ph.D.: History instructors should be able to formulate and pose thoughtful questions, write instructive and thought-provoking lesson plans, communicate clearly and effectively, and assess student work fairly and constructively. A good history instructor should also think empathetically not only about the past and the teaching material but also about the way students approach questions about the past. And of course, history instructors need to be good writers and teachers.
What soft skills should all History Instructors possess?
Eladio Bobadilla Ph.D.: In my opinion, empathy is the most important soft skill for a historian or history instructor. Teaching and writing about the past, at its core, is about being able to put oneself in a different time, place, and context and interpreting the world from that perspective. Being able to make sense of change over time also requires a great deal of empathy in order to understand who and what drove social, political, and economic change. Context, critical to history, can only be understood through empathy.
What hard/technical skills are most important for History Instructors?
Eladio Bobadilla Ph.D.: Writing skills are essential. A good historian must be able to communicate with other specialists and non-specialists alike and to write educational, accessible, and nuanced material for public consumption.
What skills will help History Instructors earn the most?
Eladio Bobadilla Ph.D.: Increasingly, history teaching and writing includes substantial knowledge of and engagement with new technologies and tools. Having both soft and hard skills will be invaluable in the future, as historians combine old methods with new technologies. While the ability to research, to write, and to communicate the significance of context and change over time will always be the core skills needed by historians and history instructors, other skills such as mapping skills, data, and statistical analysis, and user experience knowledge will be a plus in the future and will help people with those skills earn more.
Clinton Young Ph.D.
Professor of History, Interim Dean of Social and Behavioral SciencesUniversity of Arkansas at Monticello
School of Social and Behavioral Sciences
What skills stand out on History Instructor resumes?
Clinton Young Ph.D.: History graduates should be strongest when it comes to the ability to research complex issues, from crafting arguments supported with concrete factual evidence to having highly developed critical thinking and writing skills. These should all be honed in history courses students have taken in college. Students who have taken World History classes, in particular, should also have the cultural competence and sensitivity to adapt and thrive in an increasingly globalized economy with colleagues from around the world.
What soft skills should all History Instructors possess?
Clinton Young Ph.D.: Above all, history should have developed the ability to write clearly and effectively from all the papers they have had! They should also be effective oral communicators since many classes will have involved discussion and debate. And students should have the ability to work independently and manage to meet deadlines since most classes require these traits as well.
What hard/technical skills are most important for History Instructors?
Clinton Young Ph.D.: All history students should be able to do in-depth research-not mere Googling on the Internet, but using library databases, specialized search engines for Internet archives, and possibly even archival catalogs to find material. One would certainly hope that with all the papers they have written, history graduates would have an intimate knowledge of word processing programs.
What skills will help History Instructors earn the most?
Clinton Young Ph.D.: Virtually every history student will have written one-if not many-of the dreaded assignments we call "research papers." This requires students to independently conceive of a project, determine how to approach it, do the necessary research to find evidence and data, write it up clearly, and present it to an audience. This sort of higher-level conceptualization and thinking, along with the ability to find specialized data and work independently, should allow history majors to advance to positions with great responsibility (and thus, hopefully, with great paychecks). The study of history does not just prepare students to find a job at graduation-it will prepare them for an entire career.
What skills stand out on History Instructor resumes?
David Stefancic: -Attention to detail
-Strong organizational skills
-Ability to see not only the immediate but the long-range implications and effects.
-Being able to compare times and places
What soft skills should all History Instructors possess?
David Stefancic: Being a storyteller.
What skills will help History Instructors earn the most?
David Stefancic: Be flexible and open to teaching outside of your specialty.
What skills stand out on History Instructor resumes?
Walter Greason Ph.D.: Creative problem solver, critical reader, and writer, flexible self-manager, outstanding tactical and strategic vision.
What soft skills should all History Instructors possess?
Walter Greason Ph.D.: Ability to inspire excellence in team environments; trusted and competent to complete solo assignments.
What hard/technical skills are most important for History Instructors?
Walter Greason Ph.D.: Ability to learn multiple managerial and technical platforms rapidly; facility with both quantitative and qualitative data and the capacity to discern multiple forms of mixed research methodologies.
What skills will help History Instructors earn the most?
Walter Greason Ph.D.: Tactical and strategic leadership; clear and direct communication skills; consistent success in project management; discernment in activating emerging markets.
Gary Joiner Ph.D.
Professor and Chair, Mary Anne and Leonard Selber Professor of History, Director, Red River Regional Studies, Director, Strategy Alternatives ConsortiumLouisiana State University at Shreveport
Department of History and Social Sciences
What skills stand out on History Instructor resumes?
Gary Joiner Ph.D.: Strong candidates who possess a wide breadth of knowledge and experience in both teaching and research have a distinct advantage in the academic job market. Historians who work in a small niche and are unwilling to expand their horizons are limited in most institutions of higher learning. Generalists will find an easier time getting their first job.
What soft skills should all History Instructors possess?
Gary Joiner Ph.D.: Collegiality, willingness to take on tasks within the department, school, or college, and engaging with students are all important qualities not only for getting the job but also for keeping it. Dependability separates a great hire from just a good one.
What hard/technical skills are most important for History Instructors?
Gary Joiner Ph.D.: The days of historians working simply in Microsoft Word or similar programs is the not too distant past. You must have a firm grasp of the full suites of the programs. Adobe Creative Cloud apps are useful for presentations as well. Many historians are finding working knowledge of geographic information system programs like ArcGIS or Global Mapper to be essential in creating course materials or publishing their work. Once you gain expertise, constant use and knowledge of upgrades are vital.
What skills will help History Instructors earn the most?
Gary Joiner Ph.D.: Hiring a new instructor or professor does not provide an institution with a nuts-and-bolts approach. The process is subjective and intuitive. The greater the skillset the applicant brings, the better the chances are for gaining a good job offer. Soft and hard skills make the applicant more attractive. Strong academic knowledge and a good disposition are powerful tools.
Dr. Jason Pierce
Professor, Department ChairAngelo State University
Arnoldo De León Department of History
What skills stand out on History Instructor resumes?
Dr. Jason Pierce: Colleges and universities vary in terms of their primary focus. While larger private and public institutions value research as much as teaching, smaller regional institutions, like Angelo State University, put the most emphasis on teaching. Thus, teaching experience is paramount. We look closely at how many sections a candidate has taught and what classes they could offer when hiring a tenure track or non-tenure track instructor. Faculty at my university teach 4 classes per semester, so we must have someone who is "plug and play" and can handle the workload. For larger universities, research projects may need to be emphasized more. Be sure you understand what kind of institution you are applying to so you can get a sense of what skills that institution or department values the most. Researching the institution and the department is critical for success. Thankfully, that's relatively easy to do nowadays.
What soft skills should all History Instructors possess?
Dr. Jason Pierce: Perhaps, the most important skill, especially right now, is empathy. More than half of our students work (some full-time), take care of children or disabled relatives and have other time commitments. Faculty need to understand that the days of assuming that all students live on campus and have ample time to commit to their studies are over. Faculty need to take this into account, both when designing their courses and in their daily interaction with students.
What hard/technical skills are most important for History Instructors?
Dr. Jason Pierce: The ability to teach either in person or online is becoming increasingly important. Faculty need to move seamlessly between virtual and face-to-face classes.
What skills will help History Instructors earn the most?
Dr. Jason Pierce: The truth is that there are far more applicants than there are positions-especially tenure track positions, which have gradually diminished over the last 30 years or so. Thus, there is heavy competition for any open positions. Anything a candidate can do to separate themselves from the pack is therefore critical. Often it helps to do some research on the institution and department where one is applying. How do you, as a candidate, fit in, and are there areas where you can show that your experience and abilities would add to an existing departmental strength, or, alternatively, can you offer instruction in areas where the department doesn't currently have classes. Knowing a lot about the institution and department also conveys that you are seriously interested in the position to hiring committees. As far as salaries, there are times when a candidate can negotiate a salary. Typically, those are for tenure track positions, but for non-tenure-track hires, there is generally little flexibility in the salary range. While it never hurts to ask about a salary increase when offered the position, I personally would not try to bluff my way to a higher salary at the expense of the position. Good positions in academia are not easy to obtain anymore, so be prepared to deal with an often long and frustrating process that is not guaranteed to end in success. I wish that wasn't the case, but it is the reality.
Robin Reames
Director of Undergraduate Studies and Associate Professor EnglishUniversity of Illinois
English Department
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on History Instructors?
Robin Reames: The short answer is yes, of course. But it's uncertain what exactly that enduring impact will be. Even if the job market fully recovers, there will probably be dramatic changes in what employers are looking for. The conditions of the pandemic are likely to make employers realize how much their success in uncertain circumstances depends on having creative thinkers, skilled communicators, and excellent problem solvers on their team.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for History Instructors to find work opportunities?
Robin Reames: In contrast to what you might guess, English majors fare pretty well in almost every job market, regardless of location. That's because, no matter the job, excellent communication skills and the ability to think critically and flexibly are always in demand. Believe it or not, English majors are fully employed after graduation, at higher rates than business, management, or marketing majors, and by mid-career, English majors earn more than these majors do. (See "In the salary race, engineers sprint but English majors endure" in the New York Times 9/20/2019)
How do you envision technology impacting History Instructors in the next 5 years?
Robin Reames: The fundamental nature of technology is to always be changing, growing, and advancing. So graduates will need to always be adapting. That means enhancing their digital literacies and multi-modal reading and writing skills, but also understanding where new language forms and formats fit within a longer linguistic timeline. The best way to do this is to gain as much versatility as possible in different genres, textual forms, and modes. Being equally at home in a play by Shakespeare and a Reddit thread is a rare and precious skill. Being "adept at adapting" is going to be key.
