2nd May 2007, 02:59 PM
Two things, quickly, as pushed
Entry level skills? indeed they should be - but the vast majority of new graduate staff we get have no idea about many of the practiclaities of basic field skills. There needs to be joined up thinking between University training and the demands of the commercial archaeology world where the jobs are, as well as an understanding by new graduates that they have a lot still to learn to be a field archaeologist. Companies do need to enable training but we surely should expect our universities to assist before this, as they are not doing the best by their students.
Both Host and I were talking about getting some nous and understanding, acquiring knowledge, not becoming a specialist in detail but getting to enough about things to allow you to do the job better and to enjoy it even more. It is of course a two way street and I'm sorry if the places you have worked don't/didn't offer you the chance to do that.
Entry level skills? indeed they should be - but the vast majority of new graduate staff we get have no idea about many of the practiclaities of basic field skills. There needs to be joined up thinking between University training and the demands of the commercial archaeology world where the jobs are, as well as an understanding by new graduates that they have a lot still to learn to be a field archaeologist. Companies do need to enable training but we surely should expect our universities to assist before this, as they are not doing the best by their students.
Both Host and I were talking about getting some nous and understanding, acquiring knowledge, not becoming a specialist in detail but getting to enough about things to allow you to do the job better and to enjoy it even more. It is of course a two way street and I'm sorry if the places you have worked don't/didn't offer you the chance to do that.