Where to go now?

[Sith]

..get any experience that's on offer. Work hard, be eager to learn, these things get noticed and improve your chances as word gets round (its a small world).

Very true. The next time someone asks you if you've ever done X, think very carefully how you answer. A 'how difficult can it be' attitude can get you a long way.

[HammerOfThor]

Hi all,

Thanks very much for the advice! I am pretty proactive and work hard, and i will be doing a lot of volunteering this summer, so hopefully if i keep at it and build up what knowledge i can i will make my own chances! I will let you know how i get on :face-approve:

[Doug]

Send in your CV every other month and don't wait for jobs to be advertised- majority of digger jobs are not. You would be surprised how many people get jobs because their CV was at the top of the pile, even without exp.

Also, do you have a CSCS card or drivers licence? If not get those and put them first on your CV.


I just helped someone with their CV who are in the same boat as you. maybe it can help you-


http://dougsarchaeology.wordpress.com/20...graduated/

[P Prentice]

P. Prentice, Jack and Wax I presume the type of volunteering you are talking about is research/community sector? HammerOfThor said that most companies were looking years of 'commercial experience''.

I sincerely hope, although nothing would surprise me, that commercial companies are not taking on volunteers as A. this is displacing paid work and B. if you can lift the barrow/empty the bucket you can and should be paid for it.

Which leaves HammerOfThor, and even myself (graduated for 2 years, 3 years professional experience) in the same place. Need 'commercial/professional' experience to get the jobs but can't get the jobs to get the experience.

The terrible thing is, that without new recruits learning the ropes for a prolonged period of time archaeology and many other professions/crafts face a challenging future. Retirement will mean that corporate knowledge will be lost but no one will be coming up behind to fill the skill/knowledge gap. Meanwhile a generation rotted on the dole, emigrated or became accountants if they could.

apart from a very few exceptional cases, freshofftheboat diggers generally take more time to train than they are worth on a commercial excavation. the only way to train them to a reasonable standard is to put them next to people who know what they are doing and who like to show off a bit. whichever way you cut it, resources are stretched. the only point in offering voluntary places is to make sure freshfaces get some proper training. if all you are doing is emptying barrows you are not an archaeologist and you ar not being trained but you should be paid as a labourer.

[Jack]

apart from a very few exceptional cases, freshofftheboat diggers generally take more time to train than they are worth on a commercial excavation. the only way to train them to a reasonable standard is to put them next to people who know what they are doing and who like to show off a bit. whichever way you cut it, resources are stretched. the only point in offering voluntary places is to make sure freshfaces get some proper training. if all you are doing is emptying barrows you are not an archaeologist and you ar not being trained but you should be paid as a labourer.

Grin, I thought labourers got paid more than diggers

[P Prentice]

sometimes they should:face-stir:

[alisdair]

Often they do!:face-stir:

[monty]

At the moment. I can see it flipping back to a diggers market in the not too distant future.

Can't wait ! :face-approve:.....then we might to be able to call a few shots and be paid a liveable wage ..

[troll]

Whether I agree with it or not, a degree in archaeology does not make one an archaeologist and certainly doesn`t` make an employable archaeologist. A bit of paper is just the beginning. If it`s field archaeology that you have your sights on, volunteer and beg. You will be competing with lots of others out there so have all the appropriate ingredients in place;
1. Grasp the concept that you will have to start at the beginning
2. Grasp the concept that employers value honesty and detest arrogance
3. Get a CSCS Card (no big deal-bacteria can pass the test)
4. Get a driving licence
5. Be prepared to be highly mobile and take every short contract offered
6. Learn everything
7. Get fit
8. Join the IfA
9. Recognise that to become a professional Field Archaeologist, you are signing up to years of learning alongside highly skilled practitioners.
10. Recognise that when you finally achieve your goal, that non-field archaeologists will depend on your competence to perpetuate their own delusion of self-importance, depend on your competence to provide them with the ability to command higher incomes and, will have the right to dismiss you as mere labour-monkeys.

The entire cast of "Archaeologists" operating outside of Field Archaeology depend on highly skilled professional Field Archaeologists for their living. Whether they like to admit it or not. Field archaeology is a noble profession-much derided by the work-shy and the unskilled who believe they are of greater value. For the new graduates out there who are about to choose the Field- we salute you! Be proud of what you do, take pride in what you do, do it for the right reasons and there will always be a space for you in my hole anyday!

[Sith]

3. Get a CSCS Card (no big deal-bacteria can pass the test)

Oi! I resemble that remark.

Be proud of what you do, take pride in what you do, do it for the right reasons and there will always be a space for you in my hole anyday!

Back with a bang I see.