I'll vote for that! Duty of the New IFA.

[Hal Dalwood]

BAJR Host commented:

quote:again... I ask a question... and you fell into the elephant trap.

Oops, that's always happening. Good trap, beautifully covered in branches and leaves. No real need for it though, I'm quite happy to answer the question. Here goes:

quote:If there is a real benefit at present.. other than the warm glow of knowing you are brushing up skills OR learning new ones, what is this benefit:
Does it mean a pay rise? Do people move up a career ladder? Are they given extra benefits and responsibilities?

The straightforward answer is 'yes': if archaeologists can articulate the skills that they have acquired, and the knowledge that they have gained that provides a context for those skills, then yes, they will stand out at interviews in front of other candidates with a similar length of experience. Undertaking formal CPD (for example, using the simple format put forward by the IfA) is one way (not the only way of course) in which an individual's developing skills and knowledge can be clearly identified, to themselves especially, and documented. Of course most archaeologists don't undertake CPD, and many have a rather restricted of what personal development encompasses - too focused on formal training. Consequently interviewers have to ask probing questions to find out about the skills and knowledge that applicants have actually acquired. Of couse, [u]archaeological</u> skills are not the only abilities that employers are looking for, but let's leave that topic for another time.

BAJR Host says:

quote:I see no sign of CPD having an affect on employment- whether I have several CPD skills or not.

At present few archaeologists undertake formal CPD. So I think that the actual effect of formal CPD on employment in archaeology cannot be determined at present.

In a subsequent post, BAJR Host asked:

quote:Can we have a commitment (and perhaps VoR would like to start it) that field staff (and others) are on a scale of pay based on the number of skills they have .. their proven CPD skills will raise their prospects and their pay? perhaps I suffer from the old labour attitude of a fair days pay...

Job Descriptions define roles and duties and Person Specifications define the qualifications, knowledge, skills, and experience that are the minimum requirements. The P.S. also provides the framework in which applicants do stand out, by demonstrating a range of acquired skills and a depth of knowledge relevant to that post.

I am responsible for appointing archaeologists to posts in the organisation I work for. I am happy to make the commitment (since you asked for it) that there is a relationship between pay scale and skills. Proven skills (whether or not backed up by formal CPD documentation) do raise the career prospects of archaeologists, and lead to them getting better paid jobs.



Hal Dalwood