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18th August 2008, 08:58 PM
All good realistic advice above, I would say if you really want it then stick in there. I know there are lots of jobs where you just have to get through the day, but there will be interesting sites. Take an interest in how the site is run, learn as much as you can, at the same time enjoy meeting a bunch of new people in the same boat as you. It's not the best time and opportunities are limited but they do exist, sometimes you just have to hang in there. I was told in the early days that 'my day would come' and it did.
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26th August 2008, 05:43 PM
Well I'm still trying. Am veering even more towards heritage jobs at the mo as all the arch jobs seem to require more practical experience than I've got. And GIS is going to be the bane of my life! I have v little experience of using it and computers are still a bit of a mystery. Perhaps I should do some IT classes....
I now do not mind where I go in the country as my fiance is open to suggestions and hates his current job...
So that may help.
I guess the right job will come along eventually....!
'There is no great genius without some touch of madness'... that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it
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26th August 2008, 06:41 PM
I'd hire you :0) but it is true... GIS and IT skills are becoming as essentila as trowel and mattock...
the more skills you have the more employable... wait til I get my blinkin Skills Passport launched... when I get back !
"I don't have an archaeological imagination.."
Borekickers
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27th August 2008, 10:02 AM
Quote:quote:Originally posted by BAJR Host
I'd hire you :0) but it is true... GIS and IT skills are becoming as essentila as trowel and mattock...
the more skills you have the more employable... wait til I get my blinkin Skills Passport launched... when I get back !
"I don't have an archaeological imagination.."
Borekickers
I've always said that a driving license is one of the best skills you can have in archaeology!
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27th August 2008, 10:33 AM
The key to getting digging jobs:
1) 6-12 months minimum professional digging experience
2) an archaeology degree
3) a driving licence
In that order (2 and 3 interchangeable). The main question is how does a new graduate get 6 months' experience? As people have already said, get your name out there, chase up CVs you've sent out with follow-up phone calls, be prepared to travel. In terms of "selling yourself", it's worth remembering that a face-to-face meeting is better than a phone call, a phone call is better than a letter, and a letter is better than an email. If you manage to get 6 months' paid archaeological employment in the next calendar year, you're probably doing quite well.
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27th August 2008, 10:36 AM
indeed windbag...
get out there, get experieince, know how to take levels, take photographs, draw siteplans... learn a skill... a real skill that is saleable
"I don't have an archaeological imagination.."
Borekickers
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27th August 2008, 10:38 AM
If you're signed on, you can often get computer courses the the local FE college. There is something called the ECDL (European Computer Driver's License, terrible name) which teaches you familiarity with the most used programmes. Its not that much money even if you have to pay for it yourself.
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27th August 2008, 11:31 AM
good idea that!
"I don't have an archaeological imagination.."
Borekickers
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27th August 2008, 11:57 AM
Aye, basic computer skills are important. Most university graduates will come out with ECDL-equivalent skills: basic Word, Excel use etc. GIS-type evening classes are like hen's teeth though! Anyone know anywhere that offers that kind of teaching?
I remember attending a (non-archaeological) job interview, which was followed by a quick assessment of my IT skills. This involved switching on the computer and opening a new Word document. Apparently they'd interviewed a candidate for the job who had tried to use the mouse like a TV remote control![:I]
I got the job btw.
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27th August 2008, 12:08 PM
Quote:quote:Originally posted by Windbag
Aye, basic computer skills are important. Most university graduates will come out with ECDL-equivalent skills: basic Word, Excel use etc. GIS-type evening classes are like hen's teeth though! Anyone know anywhere that offers that kind of teaching?
I remember attending a (non-archaeological) job interview, which was followed by a quick assessment of my IT skills. This involved switching on the computer and opening a new Word document. Apparently they'd interviewed a candidate for the job who had tried to use the mouse like a TV remote control![:I]
I got the job btw.
Yes, I know what you mean. I've had to teach people to use a mouse (in the distant past).
If you can't get opportunities to try out GIS and don't have access to the courses, maybe have a look at the online resources at ADS and others and see how the data is structured. There are still different packages out there that work in different ways, but understanding how data works is always a ueful thing. (Whether it's an HER data set or an on-site data set - for those who don't think anyone who doesn't dig is a real archaeologist).
