Hey Reddit historians, archivists, and heritage people 👋🏾
I’m Nyeleti (you can call me Starr) , a Master’s student in History at the University of Johannesburg (South Africa), currently working on my thesis about anti-apartheid student activism and how protest culture helped crack the system from the inside. I use a mix of political and queer theory, so I basically live in archives and love telling stories that weren’t always meant to be remembered.
Here’s the thing: I cannot seem to land work in this field. Not even internships or short-term gigs. The job boards (Indeed, PNet, etc.) are either giving “5+ years experience” or “digital marketing intern” energy. I’ve tried the usual stuff, but nothing’s clicking. I don’t really vibe with LinkedIn , it’s too formal and algorithmic for me. I also can’t rely on “connections” or nepotism.
So I’m throwing this out here:
đź’¬ How did you get into research, heritage, museums, archives, or anything remotely connected to public history?
🧠Are there fellowships, residencies, or even random grants or NGOs that might take someone with research chops and a real passion for storytelling?
🌍 Bonus points if they accept international or remote applicants.
If you’ve ever been the “broke-but-brilliant grad student with no connections,” please tell me how you cracked the code. I’m open to unexpected ideas.
Thank you!