Directionless graduate...is there any hope for me?

[Jessiejane]

Hi guys,

I recently graduated from university with a First in Egyptology:) and Ancient History. I loved it and passionately put my heart into it. When looking for a job after graduation, I quickly became disillusioned with the lack of graduate jobs in heritage/history. Eager after my poor student days to earn back some money I took a well paid job in computers. I am now deeply regretting it and desperately want to launch my career in a new direction. I just feel a very lost....where do I start? Having finished my degree I now realize how specialized it is and how I stand little hope of getting a job. I'd really appreciate any advice anyone can offer....

[Reggie]

Having a degree is a good start but practical experience is also important.

In the heritage sector experience gained as a work placement or volunteer can make quite a difference on your CV and can be the foot in the door you need to get your career off the ground, so to speak. Volunteering in museums/digs or on outreach / community projects can be very rewarding as well as being a way of aquiring skills which degree programmes cannot. It is also a great way of forming a network of contacts in the professional sector. If you haven't much practical experience have a look at what is going on in your area. It may be that you can work as a volunteer somewhere weekends or evenings or on annual leave from your current paid job.

Your Egyptology and Ancient history degree might be seen as too specialised for some jobs you might want to apply for so you may also want to consider expanding your knowledge of other periods of history. Consider enrolling on evening courses at local colleges or attending day schools/seminars/conferences put on by universities or organisations such as the CBA.

One thing I have learnt over the last year or so since graduating is that you really have to do the legwork - get out there and knock on doors/talk to people. It can be demoralising when you don't get offered anything straight away but, as I have found out, if you make the effort and show people what you can do, then you will get work. Even if the work is short term or at the bottom of the pay scale it all adds to your experience and potential employability in the future !

Hope this helps.

Good luck !

[troll]

Greetings Jess.
All depends where you want to put yourself really.I assume that you`ve noticed the large number of digging jobs advertised here and wonder if that would at least be a way out for you whilst you decide where you want to be.Perhaps an evening course in Arabic could help-there are plenty of overseas universities and academic organisations that have archaeological obligations/endeavours in the country of your interest.You could also keep your hand in and keep the enthusiasm button pressed by contacting the Workers Educational Association-offer to give seminars/talks/lectures-they pay too! Of course there is the brave/silly option......apply to contractual archaeology units as a digger.Gain some experience, meet the people, make the contacts, get wet-poorer and gain some osteoporosis (no extra charge).Whatever you decide, keep us informed and if I can think of anything else even remotely constructive-will give you a shout! Good luck!
p.s perhaps a way in would be to exploit your computing skills? Clean hands, clean toilets etc.....:D

..knowledge without action is insanity and action without knowledge is vanity..(imam ghazali,ayyuhal-walad)

[Jessiejane]

Thank you so much for your advice Reggie and troll - I really appreciate you taking the time to reply to my post. Both of your pointers give me plenty to go on and have really got me thinking. I'll be sure to let you know how I get on!

Looking forward to perhaps gaining some osteoporosis (hopefully not!) and exploiting my white-collar experience in the future......:D

[vulpes]

Don't worry about osteoporosis Jess. That's the last thing you'll get - Weight bearing excercise is a good way of preventing this particular affliction, and you'll get plenty of that in the field. Aches and pains, sprains, arthritis, tendinitis, trench foot, sunburn, windburn, hangovers, bad backs, and a loss of fashion sense however....[8D]