11th May 2009, 08:03 PM
Pete A,
I suspect that the way into archaeology is the same as ever; volunteering. I started at the tail end of the last recession and had to cobble together 4 months voluntary experience before I got my first paid work. And then only with a company that had taken me on as a volunteer initially. I'm not certain, but I think the period when a new grad could get a job with only training dig experience was short lived during the height of the boom. This recession is much worse than the last, but I think the way in to archaeology is the same.
Good luck.
As for closer co-operation between commercial archaeology and the academic community. Great idea, but I don't think they're interested. And why exactly would Universities be interested in the work prospects of Alumni when they usually can't be bothered to train for the market? The old argument "we are not teaching them how to do a job, we are teaching them to think" doesn't do new grads many favours in the job market.
I suspect that the way into archaeology is the same as ever; volunteering. I started at the tail end of the last recession and had to cobble together 4 months voluntary experience before I got my first paid work. And then only with a company that had taken me on as a volunteer initially. I'm not certain, but I think the period when a new grad could get a job with only training dig experience was short lived during the height of the boom. This recession is much worse than the last, but I think the way in to archaeology is the same.
Good luck.
As for closer co-operation between commercial archaeology and the academic community. Great idea, but I don't think they're interested. And why exactly would Universities be interested in the work prospects of Alumni when they usually can't be bothered to train for the market? The old argument "we are not teaching them how to do a job, we are teaching them to think" doesn't do new grads many favours in the job market.