Jobs where your degree would be useful include:

Academic librarians work in universities and further education colleges making academic information and knowledge resources accessible to students and staff

As an academic librarian you'll manage, organise, evaluate and disseminate information, providing support to members of an academic community including students, researchers and lecturing staff.

You may be responsible for a specific academic subject, developing specialist knowledge and completing other functions such as:

• cataloguing and classification
• resource ordering
• loans
• specialist collections
• IT systems, open access and e-resources
• library projects.

Your role also involves supporting students and staff to develop the skills needed for effective research. This includes teaching skills, either in classrooms or virtual learning environments, in areas such as:

• copyright law
• information literacy
• literature searching
• referencing.

You'll spend considerable time working with electronic resources, involving database management and webpage development. The role is very customer focused.

Job titles vary, so it's important to look beyond the title to the actual work involved when applying for jobs. Related titles to look out for include:

• collections librarian
• information adviser
• learning support librarian
• liaison librarian
• partnerships librarian
• subject librarian.

As an academic librarian, you'll typically need to:

• develop and manage collections of books, journals (both paper and electronic) and websites
• select, acquire and catalogue information using library and information software
• create, update and manage electronic and printed information resources
• coordinate and deliver information and digital literacy sessions to students, researchers and staff
• contribute to academic course development and liaise with academic departments
• assist researchers with literature searches using databases, printed resources and the internet
• establish and maintain effective working relationships with academic staff and students, as well as external bodies such as suppliers
• manage and support the provision of reading lists and allocate length of loans
• take on responsibility, in some cases, for archives and other special collections
• deal with user enquiries, which may involve one-on-one advice sessions
• manage budgets in relation to your allocated subject areas/departments and, in some cases, purchase resources
• keep up to date with developments in the library sector and participate in professional groups or networks.

Senior librarians often have line management of staff who could be working in several libraries. You might also have responsibility for managing buildings, furniture and equipment, and overseeing the building of new libraries or the refurbishment of existing libraries

As an archaeologist, you'll record, interpret and preserve archaeological remains for future generations

You may be involved directly in carrying out excavations, commonly called digs, or work in related settings, such as:

• local authorities, advising on the archaeological implications of planning applications
• museums or heritage centres, assisting with the preservation, conservation, display and interpretation of artefacts
• universities and research organisations, carrying out research and educational work.

There are four main areas:

• contract or commercial archaeology - working for a developer who is responsible for the cost and time involved in a project
• research or academic archaeology - working on sites or survey projects over several months or years, subject to funding
• public or community archaeology - work carried out by professional organisations but with public involvement
• specialist archaeology - specialising in particular geographical areas, historical periods or types of object, such as pottery, coins or bones.

There are over 80 job titles in archaeology and the job is not necessarily about digging and carrying out excavations. Responsibilities vary depending on your area of expertise.

As an archaeologist you may need to:

• identify and survey sites using a variety of methods, including field walking, geophysical surveys, aerial photography and LiDAR (light detection and ranging) technology
• work on field excavations or digs, usually as part of a team, using a range of digging equipment
• project manage an excavation, including managing teams of diggers
• record sites using drawings, detailed notes and photography
• analyse findings by grouping, identifying and classifying them
• use computer applications, such as computer-aided design (CAD) and geographical information systems (GIS), to record and interpret finds, sites and landscapes
• use computers to produce simulations of the way a building, site or artefact would have looked
• clean and preserve finds
• conduct laboratory tests, such as radiocarbon dating, and research and desk-based assessments of sites
• check planning applications and identify any possible archaeological impact
• provide advice on the conservation or recording of archaeological remains
• ensure important buildings, monuments and sites are protected and preserved
• produce and publish excavation and site reports
• generate publicity materials and publish articles about research, site interpretations or excavations
• give educational talks and presentations
• assist in the curating and display of artefacts.

As a broadcast journalist, your role is rooted in communication, finding stories and bringing them to the public quickly in a coherent and engaging way

Broadcast journalists research, investigate and present news and current affairs content for television, radio and the internet. Their aim is to present information in a balanced, accurate and interesting way through news bulletins, documentaries and other factual programmes.

Broadcast journalists can occupy a number of roles within the media, including:

• editor
• reporter
• presenter or news anchor
• producer
• correspondent.

Although exact duties and responsibilities vary from role to role and between radio, television and the internet, as a broadcast journalist you'll be involved in many of the following duties:

• generating ideas for stories and features and following leads from news agencies, the police, the public, press conferences and other sources
• pitching ideas to editors and commissioners
• researching, verifying and collating evidence and information to support a story using relevant information sources such as the internet, archives, databases, etc.
• writing scripts for bulletins, headlines and reports
• selecting appropriate locations, pictures and sound and exercising editorial judgement on the best angle from which to approach a story
• identifying necessary resources and deploying and managing technical crews for location shoots, including sound operators and camera crew
• providing directorial input, advising crews on what to film or record
• using portable digital video (DV) cameras and other equipment to record material
• producing complete packages for broadcast
• preparing and presenting material on air for both pre-recorded and live pieces
• identifying potential interviewees, briefing them, preparing interview questions and conducting both live and recorded interviews
• preparing timings for each news item and monitoring these during broadcast
• deciding on the running order for bulletins and making any necessary changes during broadcast
• collaborating with the editor to put together the completed item
• developing and maintaining local contacts, assuming a public relations role
• understanding and complying with media law and industry codes of conduct.

Civil Service administrators play an essential role in government departments and agencies, usually in an administrative support or operational delivery role

As a Civil Service administrative officer, you will carry out government policies and deliver vital services to the public, ensuring the smooth day-to-day running of the country.

You may have direct dealings with the public and have the chance to make a real difference to people's lives, or may conduct research and write reports, which contribute to policy.

Job titles vary depending on the department you work for and your specific role. Although you may undertake administrative tasks as part of your role, you may also be involved in other work as well.

The title administrative officer refers to a Civil Service grade, rather than an actual job and tasks may vary widely according to which department you work in.

However, as a Civil Service administrative officer you may need to do some or all of the following:

• handle enquiries promptly and efficiently from members of the public, other civil servants and other organisations either in person, on the phone or in writing
• follow up enquiries with service users and handle complaints
• ensure information is shared with relevant stakeholders and other agencies
• carry out research and produce high-quality materials and reports
• manage an operational case load
• process payments
• organise, produce and maintain accurate records
• maintain and input information into databases and keep manual filing systems and information logs up to date
• prepare paperwork for checking by a manager and, in some cases, carry out initial checks
• achieve and deliver results within deadlines
• refer complex queries to higher grades
• undertake a range of general administrative tasks
• take an impartial interest in economic and political issues.

If you have excellent grammar and communication skills and a keen interest in publishing, consider a career as an editorial assistant

An editorial assistant provides support at all stages of the publication of:

• books
• journals
• magazines
• online material
• publicity materials.

In this role you'll support senior editorial staff in all aspects of the administration, commissioning, planning and producing of different publications.

You'll need a great eye for detail, the ability to spot mistakes and excellent time management skills, so that you always hit strict deadlines.

The tasks that you undertake and your level of responsibility will vary depending on the size of the organisation and the type of publication that you are working on.

An editorial assistant role is typically an entry-level job for careers in the editorial industry. Progression to more senior roles such as features editor or commissioning editor may be possible once you've gained the necessary skills and experience.

With the growth of digital publishing there are increasing opportunities to work for online publications, which can involve editing and writing website content and using social media.

Editorial assistants perform a range of administrative and editorial tasks necessary to the production of publications.

You'll often be involved in projects from conception to completion, from receiving copy from authors through to the handover to production staff.

Your duties may include:

• supporting editorial staff in all activities leading to publication, including acting as a personal assistant to commissioning editors and overseeing tasks such as issuing contracts and dealing with royalties
• liaising with other in-house teams, writers, photographers, printers, designers and production staff to negotiate and monitor timescales for stages in the publishing process
• dealing with the administration of work commissioned to freelance writers, picture researchers, photographers, stylists and illustrators
• organising and researching projects to tight deadlines
• summarising written material
• correcting manuscripts
• obtaining rights to use materials from other publications
• using computers for word processing, desktop publishing and email
• dealing with phone and email queries, e.g. from writers and the public
• filing, photocopying and other routine administrative tasks.

In some areas of editorial work (e.g. for an in-house company publication), the work may also involve:

• writing articles and reports
• amending articles
• collating the work of several authors
• using specialist electronic publishing packages (e.g. QuarkXPress or InDesign).

In online publishing, your duties could also include:

• proofing, editing and writing online content including via social media
• uploading text and images to a website using a content management system
• compiling and distributing newsletters using specific software.

As your expertise develops, the role may involve:

• assessing manuscripts and making recommendations on their publication to senior editorial staff
• responding to copyright queries from writers and other publishers
• updating and rewriting material
• using your own specialist knowledge to contribute ideas
• sourcing freelancers or other authors to produce new materials
• assisting with the art direction and design of publications
• writing your own material.

Human resources (HR) officers develop, advise on and implement policies relating to the effective use of staff in an organisation

As an HR officer, your aim is to ensure that the organisation you work for employs the right balance of staff in terms of skills and experience, and that training and development opportunities are available to colleagues to enhance their performance and achieve the company's business aims.

HR officers are involved in a range of activities whatever the size or type of business. These cover areas such as:

• conditions of employment
• equality and diversity
• negotiation with external work-related agencies
• pay and rewards
• recruitment and retention
• working practices.

It's possible to work in either a generalist role, covering the full range of HR work, or to become a specialist in a particular area.

To be successful in this role you must have a clear understanding of your employer's business objectives and be able to devise and implement policies which select, develop and retain the right staff to meet these objectives.

You will not only deal with staff welfare and administration-centred activities, but also strategy and planning.

HR departments are expected to add value to the organisation they support. The nature of the work varies according to the organisation, but you'll typically need to:

• work closely with various departments, increasingly in a consultancy role, assisting line managers to understand and implement policies and procedures
• promote equality and diversity as part of the culture of the organisation
• liaise with a range of people involved in policy areas such as staff performance and health and safety
• recruit staff, which involves developing job descriptions and person specifications, preparing job adverts, checking application forms, shortlisting, interviewing and selecting candidates
• make sure that prospective staff have the right to work at the organisation
• develop and implement policies on issues like working conditions, performance management, equal opportunities, disciplinary procedures and absence management
• prepare staff handbooks
• advise on pay and other remuneration issues, including promotion and benefits
• undertake regular salary reviews
• manage redundancy programmes
• negotiate with staff and their representatives (for example, trade union officials) on issues relating to pay and conditions, contracts and redundancy packages
• administer payroll and maintain employee records
• interpret and advise on employment law
• deal with grievances and implement disciplinary procedures
• develop HR planning strategies, which consider immediate and long-term staff requirements
• plan and sometimes deliver training, including new staff inductions
• analyse training needs in conjunction with departmental managers.

Information officers manage and develop information to make it easily accessible to others

As an information officer you'll work with electronic information - especially online databases content management systems, open access and digital resources - and traditional library materials.

You're likely to spend a lot of time on managing company information and working with internal and external databases. As well as dealing with enquiries from staff and providing to access to resources, you'll also provide training to staff on how to find, use and store information.

Job titles vary so you need to look beyond the title to the actual work you'd be doing in the role. Job titles can include information adviser, information manager, information scientist and information specialist.

You'll play a key role in a range of organisations and handle all types of information, including:

• careers
• commercial
• educational
• financial
• health
• legal
• medical
• scientific
• technical.

As an information officer you'll need to:

• select, manage and distribute information resources in a range of formats
• classify, collate, catalogue and store information, usually using special computer applications, for easy access and retrieval
• create and search databases
• catalogue and index materials
• scan and abstract materials
• conduct information audits
• develop and manage electronic resources using, for example, online databases and content management systems
• oversee the development of new information systems
• write and edit reports, publications and website content
• develop and manage internal information resources and networks via intranet sites
• design for the web
• respond to requests and enquiries from staff and external clients
• run effective enquiry and current awareness or 'alerting' services and develop communications strategies
• provide user education via leaflets, websites and tours of the library or information room
• publicise and market services, through publicity material, demonstrations, presentations and/or social media
• provide training and advice to colleagues, and sometimes clients, on the use of electronic information services.

In a management role, you will also have responsibility for areas such as budget management, and training and supervising junior staff.

Marketing executives drive profit and promote products and services through coordinated marketing campaigns

As a marketing executive, you'll contribute to and develop integrated marketing campaigns to promote a product, service or idea. This a varied role, which includes:

• planning
• advertising
• public relations
• event organisation
• product development
• distribution
• sponsorship
• research.

Many organisations have marketing departments, meaning that you can work in both the private and public sector in areas ranging from finance, retail and media to voluntary and charitable organisations.

The exact nature of your role will vary depending on the size of the organisation and sector and whether the focus is on selling a product or service, or on raising awareness of an issue that affects the public.

Marketing executives may also be known as marketing officers or coordinators.

As a marketing executive, you'll need to:

• create awareness of and develop the brand you're marketing
• communicate with target audiences and build and develop customer relationships
• help with marketing plans, advertising, direct marketing and campaigns
• support the marketing manager in delivering agreed activities
• source advertising opportunities and place adverts in the press or on the radio
• work closely with in-house or external creative agencies to design marketing materials such as brochures and adverts
• write and proofread marketing copy for both online and print campaigns
• produce creative content, including videos and blog posts
• run social media channels (e.g. Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn) to enhance audience engagement
• organise and attend events such as conferences, seminars, receptions and exhibitions
• source and secure sponsorship
• liaise with designers and printers and organise photo shoots
• arrange the effective distribution of marketing materials
• maintain and update customer databases
• conduct market research, for example using customer questionnaires and focus groups
• develop relationships with key stakeholders, both internal and external.

With experience, you'll need to:

• develop and implement a marketing strategy (often as part of a wider sales and marketing programme)
• evaluate and review marketing campaigns, advertising and SEO to make sure the correct mediums are being used and campaigns are effective
• track marketing performance and return on investment and prepare weekly or monthly reports for management
• monitor and report on competitor activity
• lead external agencies, when appropriate, to effectively manage events, press relationships, editorial requests, presentations, promotional materials and online activities
• oversee and manage the marketing budget.

Policy officers use their findings from research and analysis to advise government, think tanks and businesses about best practice

Your responsibilities as a policy officer will include researching and analysing data. You'll advise on various issues, carry out developmental work and liaise with internal and external contacts.

You may also need to assess the potential impact of policy decisions and communicate changes to the wider community.

Depending on your role, you may be involved in campaigning for change.

You'll usually work across a range of functions in either the public, private or charity sector:

• local and central government - researching, developing and implementing public policies that affect everyone. This type of role could involve advising senior or elected officials such as MPs. You could be working on policy across a range of issues and sectors.
• think tanks and charities - researching, monitoring and aiming to influence policies in favour of a cause. These roles often involve communications, campaigning and public affairs.
• public and private sector (internal policy roles) - you'll be developing and implementing the policies that an organisation needs, in order to run effectively.

As a policy officer, you'll need to:

• undertake or commission research
• gather and analyse data and information
• develop expertise in a particular area, or draw on the expertise of others
• keep up to date with social, political and economic developments, and brief others on these
• provide advice to senior managers, stakeholders and decision makers
• support or coordinate meetings, conferences or debates, sometimes including diary management
• write briefings, reports, and speeches
• deliver oral briefings and presentations
• carry out consultations with internal and external stakeholders - including colleagues, customers, or members of the public
• work with a range of people and organisations, including senior managers, public office officials and members of the public
• manage and track the delivery of political or organisational priorities
• write and monitor communications to ensure consistency and accuracy
• develop expertise in a particular area, or advise in a generalist capacity, depending on the nature of your role.

Work experience and a commitment to politics are more important than your degree subject when gaining work behind the scenes as a politician's assistant

Working as a politician's assistant, you'll provide administrative support to an elected politician. You'll help with secretarial tasks, research and publicity.

You may be referred to as a politician's assistant, a parliamentary or constituency assistant (depending on where you're based), a personal assistant (PA) or an executive officer.

Although job titles and locations vary, the basic task is to do whatever behind-the-scenes work is necessary to enable politicians to represent their constituents. Politicians generally have between one and three assistants.

You can work for the Members of Parliament (MPs), Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs), Members of the Welsh or Northern Ireland Assembly.

Although tasks vary depending on whether you're based in the local constituency office or parliament (London, Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh), you'll need to:

• respond to enquiries - known as progressing casework - from constituents, other politicians, the media, lobbyists and pressure groups
• perform secretarial duties, such as managing the politician's diary, making travel arrangements and taking minutes at meetings
• undertake all administrative duties, such as filing, ordering stationery, responding to correspondence and updating databases
• carry out research into local, regional, national and international issues as required, and ensure the politician is made aware of any relevant matters
• arrange surgeries for constituents and offer support on the day
• write press releases, newsletters and mailshots to promote the politician's work and update their website
• assist with campaigns before and during elections
• provide administrative support in relation to expenses and help to deal with budgets
• attend public and private functions to assist the politician and sometimes stand in when the politician is unable to attend
• liaise with members of government and local government, party headquarters, other politicians and their staff, embassies, commissioners, relevant interest groups, the media, relevant voluntary sector organisations and constituents
• help draft amendments for reports and prepare briefing material
• provide the politician with the support needed to get an issue on the political agenda, e.g. research or liaising with key individuals or groups.

Talent agents apply expert communication and negotiation skills to represent and source work for talented people in the entertainment industry

As a talent agent, you'll secure work and fair contracts and conditions for people in the entertainment industries. For many of the people you represent, it will be essential to have an agent and they'll be dependent on you for access to suitable roles.

You'll champion, promote and sometimes defend the talent you represent in order to protect their interests and ensure they get plenty of relevant, quality work. You may also scout for new talent in the hope of representing them and raising their profile.

The main types of talent agent roles and industries are:

• acting agent
• broadcast agent
• literary agent
• model agent
• music agent
• sports agent
• voiceover and commercial agent.

The purpose and general responsibilities of an agent are largely the same across all industries, however the 'buyer' (person or company hiring the talent) that the talent agent is promoting to will differ. For example, a literary agent will typically represent writers and the aim will be to get them a publisher/publishing deal, while a voiceover and commercial agent will represent talent with the aim of securing them advertising roles.

Each industry area has its own processes and protocols, but the key skills are the same for all types of talent agent role.

As a talent agent, you'll need to:

• build and maintain a strong network of industry contacts
• possess an in-depth and up-to-date knowledge of your industry area
• be confident in negotiating terms and pay for your clients
• mentor and advise talent on personal and professional decisions that impact their career
• keep track of your client roster and their activities
• be comfortable working in a competitive and sometimes pressured environment
• thrive on working with a diverse range of people
• use your judgement to decide which talent to take on
• be happy reading long scripts/manuscripts or contracts on a frequent basis