14th April 2011, 10:02 AM
When I lost my job back in June '09 (heritage consultant for big consultancy) I thought my CV would be just the ticket to get working as soon as I had enjoyed that long holiday I was often dreaming of when sat staring out the window at work (that wasn't the reason they gave me the elbow of course).
After nearly 10 months of trying I kind of gave up on archaeology - not due to my CV, it's pretty impressive (if I do say so myself)- but due to the lack of responses from pretty much every company I sent it to or contacted via phone etc. I tailored each CV individually if it was for a specific job, and kept it short, genertic but pertinent for the 'cold calling' versions.
Now I am absolutely not blaming anyone for not getting back to me, I know how busy people can be; but one thing I always did as a matter of courtesy when I received a CV via email/ post would be to respond and thank the person for taking the time to get in touch - and to pass on the CV to my superiors for consideration. I think that lack of common courtesy is what prompted me to move into something else - if your peers aren't prepared to treat you on a level, then, well....erm - screw them. That said, I did receive an awful lot of help from one particular arch unit who really helped me out with improving my motivation and basically helping me to feel like I wasn't a washed up old has-been at age 33, to which I owe a debt of gratitude.
Perhaps sometimes you need the courage to think outside of what you think you are capable of? I did - and ended up doing the SEA for the 2014 Commonwealth Games - which has been a complete change from what I am used to, but has given me a new direction, and one I intend to keep on. I keep an interest in archaeology/ heritage but don't think I will ever go back to working in it - but that's a personal thing, and my heart goes out to those who want to stay in the profession but are finding it difficult.
I know nothing about economics or politics, but I know a bit about optimism, and that life goes on, and things should get better. My only advice is to keep plugging away, and if you get knocked back then have a rant, punch a wall, have a pint (not too many), then get back on with it and plug away some more. I know that bills and rent have to be paid - after a long period of unemployment my savings have disappeared - but there's always a way (apart from selling yourself on Greenock Docks) to do that, even if you just have to swallow some pride and take a job that, whilst not what you want to do, could help you move onto other things. I worked in a shop for a bit - I hated it (I don't have the best opinion of the general public) but I ended up making some good friends there and I still get a discount - a good thing when it was a camera shop and I happen to be a bit of an amateur photographer!
Well, that was a cathartic post for me, and the longest one I have ever written on this forum.
Good luck to all of you looking for work - it's not easy.
After nearly 10 months of trying I kind of gave up on archaeology - not due to my CV, it's pretty impressive (if I do say so myself)- but due to the lack of responses from pretty much every company I sent it to or contacted via phone etc. I tailored each CV individually if it was for a specific job, and kept it short, genertic but pertinent for the 'cold calling' versions.
Now I am absolutely not blaming anyone for not getting back to me, I know how busy people can be; but one thing I always did as a matter of courtesy when I received a CV via email/ post would be to respond and thank the person for taking the time to get in touch - and to pass on the CV to my superiors for consideration. I think that lack of common courtesy is what prompted me to move into something else - if your peers aren't prepared to treat you on a level, then, well....erm - screw them. That said, I did receive an awful lot of help from one particular arch unit who really helped me out with improving my motivation and basically helping me to feel like I wasn't a washed up old has-been at age 33, to which I owe a debt of gratitude.
Perhaps sometimes you need the courage to think outside of what you think you are capable of? I did - and ended up doing the SEA for the 2014 Commonwealth Games - which has been a complete change from what I am used to, but has given me a new direction, and one I intend to keep on. I keep an interest in archaeology/ heritage but don't think I will ever go back to working in it - but that's a personal thing, and my heart goes out to those who want to stay in the profession but are finding it difficult.
I know nothing about economics or politics, but I know a bit about optimism, and that life goes on, and things should get better. My only advice is to keep plugging away, and if you get knocked back then have a rant, punch a wall, have a pint (not too many), then get back on with it and plug away some more. I know that bills and rent have to be paid - after a long period of unemployment my savings have disappeared - but there's always a way (apart from selling yourself on Greenock Docks) to do that, even if you just have to swallow some pride and take a job that, whilst not what you want to do, could help you move onto other things. I worked in a shop for a bit - I hated it (I don't have the best opinion of the general public) but I ended up making some good friends there and I still get a discount - a good thing when it was a camera shop and I happen to be a bit of an amateur photographer!
Well, that was a cathartic post for me, and the longest one I have ever written on this forum.
Good luck to all of you looking for work - it's not easy.