why can't I just find some work?

[BAJR]

all ( except one - is it the heat? ) are good solid positive useful answers.

[BAJR]

To be true... you have two choices. and one involves getting the exp and following the work. ie Arch Sol in Hertfordshire have an advert up now... and trainees are welcome

[h=5]Site Assistants / Trainee Site Assistants
Employer: Archaeological Solutions
Location : Hertfordshire
Salary: £16339.10 / £15702.22
Closing Date: 27/07/2013

http://www.bajr.org/Employment/UKEmploym...sp?ID=9045[/h]

[kevin wooldridge]

I read somewhere that universities are now obliged to provide stats on how quickly graduates find work. Does anyone know if these stats are available for archaeology?

[Martin Locock]

It's the DLHE (Destination of Leavers of Higher Education) survey http://www.hesa.ac.uk/index.php?option=c...Itemid=239
although archaeology isn't shown as a separate subject area.(it is counted under Historical and philosophical studeies)

[Unitof1]

Bradford is still as far as I know, the only university that even comes close to at least letting you take a peek at the world before it unleashes you completely out into it with the placement year

If that was true you would not have started this thread.
unless they made you put your head on a table and then hit you with a sledge hammer whilst they let you do all this peeking.

care to name anybody at Bradford with any clue about the "world"

[kevin wooldridge]

I found this... http://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co...chaeology/ . The 'prospects' paragraph is interesting. 'In 2009 six months after graduation, just over 42% of archaeology graduates were in employment..... Of these, almost 30% work in catering and retail'.. That is probably true although it does read like a long standing joke!! I think one thing that is clear from all the threads we have ever had on this subject, is that there is no 'standard' route into archaeological employment and any advice proffered can only be 'suggestive' rather than prescriptive.

BTW I think there are plenty of archaeologists who are well paid for what they do, but who for many reasons don't care to 'advertise' the fact. It always strikes me as curious that archaeology is branded as poorly paid across the board......that's just isn't true. And as for general life happiness, surely that's entirely relative.....for one person that could be achieved on £14000 pa, whereas others might need £30000+....

[Dinosaur]

It's the DLHE (Destination of Leavers of Higher Education) survey http://www.hesa.ac.uk/index.php?option=c...Itemid=239
although archaeology isn't shown as a separate subject area.(it is counted under Historical and philosophical studeies)

Probably just as well, if funding is based on results (i.e. putting archaeology graduates into archaeological jobs) they'd probably all get shut down...I wonder what proportion consists in reality of university-based 'research' posts?

[BAJR]

I feel a BAJR campaign coming on. do archaeology at Uni, but don't think you are ready for a job....

[Kel]

I feel a BAJR campaign coming on. do archaeology at Uni, but don't think you are ready for a job....

How about something more constructive like "Don't think you're ready for a job - but here's how you prepare properly during your study and after graduating to give you the best chance... and these are the types of opportunity you should watch out for"?

[BAJR]

I prefer your version