Oral Historian: Key Skills, Qualifications and Career Path
Learn about the key skills, qualifications, and career path for a Oral Historian
Practice Interviews Online - Identify your strengths and weakness in a realistic Oral Historian mock interview, under 10 minutes
Practice Now »What is a Oral Historian?
As an Oral Historian, you'd be focused on collecting, preserving and interpreting history based on first-person accounts. You would conduct interviews to gather stories, testimonies and eyewitness accounts of historical events for archive purposes in a museum.
Skills
- Strong research and interviewing skills
- Excellent oral and written communication abilities
- Proficiency in audio and video recording equipment
- Knowledge of archival and preservation techniques
- Ability to analyze and interpret historical information
- Attention to detail and organizational skills
- Familiarity with digital archiving and database management systems
- Cultural sensitivity and empathy when working with diverse interviewees
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Strong project management and time management skills
Qualifications & Education
- A good first degree is required for entry into a relevant postgraduate course
- Relevant practical experience is often required for entry into many postgraduate courses
- On-the-job training is typically received
- Professional qualifications leading to NVQs/SVQs in relevant areas are available at Levels 3, 4, and 5
Career Path
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, historians in the UK do use oral history as a valuable source of new knowledge and interpretive perspectives on the past.
Yes, oral history is valuable. It provides different perspectives and viewpoints from eyewitnesses, which can fill in gaps and correct or contradict the written record of history.
The highest paying job with a history degree in the UK is a lawyer, particularly for those who pursue a doctorate.
The work of an oral historian in the UK involves documenting the past by preserving insights that are not available in printed sources. They must remain impartial, actively listen, and stay in the background while conducting interviews and collecting oral histories.
Identify your strengths and weakness in a realistic Oral Historian mock interview, under 10 minutes
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