Classics

Although classics has traditionally been seen as a strongly academic subject, modern degree courses in classics and classical studies are designed to equip students with a broad range of different skills.

Over the course of your degree you develop a wide mix of subject-specific and technical skills, you should consider these skills developed on your course as well as through your other activities, such as paid work, volunteering, family responsibilities, sport, membership of societies, leadership roles, etc. Think about how these can be used as evidence of your skills and personal attributes. Then you can start to market and sell who you really are, identify what you may be lacking and consider how to improve your profile.

Working as a Museum Assistant (Front of House)

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Prospects

Perhaps surprisingly, around 12% of classics graduates entering full-time work choose professional roles within the business and financial sectors. However, classics graduates are well-suited to professional services roles with their ability to analyse and understand complex information and also to research, document and present findings.

The next most popular choices are professional roles within advertising, sales and marketing and also secretarial/administrative roles across all sectors, which together account for just over 20% of classics graduates. Communications-based roles are an obvious option, drawing on an understanding of language and its power. Administrative roles tend to be the entry-level route for graduates who ultimately would like to work in creative, cultural and heritage-related positions and is again an understandable choice.

Acquiring an understanding of different cultures and societies also leads to a small number of graduates going into social work and related roles.

Where are the jobs?

Museums are a key employer for classics graduates wishing to use their subject knowledge. Similarly, teaching provides an opportunity to share your expertise and there is currently a shortage of classics teachers in the UK. The public sector offers a variety of career paths including roles within government administration, research, information management and heritage. Classics graduates are, however, attractive to recruiters from all sectors, including law, finance, consultancy and management. Explore some of your options in more detail by looking at the following employment areas:

• Government and public administration
• Advertising, marketing and PR
• Legal services

Jobs directly related to your degree

• Archivist
• Museum education officer
• Advertising copywriter or Public relations officer
• Historic buildings inspector/conservation officer

Jobs where your degree would be useful

• Secondary school teacher
• Commercial solicitor or Non-commercial solicitor
• Civil Service fast streamer
• Information officer
• Social researcher
• Editorial assistant

Although some of the jobs listed here might not be first jobs for many graduates, they are among the many realistic possibilities with your degree, provided you can demonstrate you have the attributes employers are looking for. Bear in mind that it's not just your degree discipline that determines your options. Remember that many graduate vacancies don't specify particular degree disciplines, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here.

You can find more about the skills you develop during your course, the jobs listed above, plus case studies and where to find these jobs at Prospects.

Included with the permission of AGCAS. For the latest version of this publication, see www.prospects.ac.uk. For permission to reproduce, contact copyright@agcas.org.uk