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+--- Thread: Is it me? the rise of teh "trainee" (/showthread.php?tid=5318)
Is it me? the rise of teh "trainee" - kevin wooldridge - 29th June 2014
Marc Berger Wrote:Kevin wouldnt it be better to weed the incompetants out at the earliest opportunity? Your probably wasting your time if they haven't got a decent maths GCSE, something like a A, A*, if not done science at "A" level.I have been at this job a good number of years and personally believe that most people have some kind of talent that archaeology can use.....I don't know that A levels are necessary, but clearly possession of a degree does at least mean that your job application has a better chance of being looked. I was one of those people that entered archaeology with no formal qualifications and obtained mine during my career.....common sense, sociability and application will get you a long way.
Despite all indications to the contrary, a passion for Doctor Who, Lord of the Rings, Warcraft, Harry Potter and WWII militaria are probably career hindrances.....
Is it me? the rise of teh "trainee" - Sikelgaita - 29th June 2014
kevin wooldridge Wrote:Despite all indications to the contrary, a passion for Doctor Who, Lord of the Rings, Warcraft, Harry Potter and WWII militaria are probably career hindrances.....
Because only adults can be archaeologists?
Is it me? the rise of teh "trainee" - Mike.T. - 29th June 2014
Marc Berger Wrote:Kevin wouldnt it be better to weed the incompetants out at the earliest opportunity? Your probably wasting your time if they haven't got a decent maths GCSE, something like a A, A*, .
Not much need to be a whizz a 1st order differential equations if you're out in the field. The ability to add and subtract ( using a calculator ) is usually sufficient.
Is it me? the rise of teh "trainee" - barkingdigger - 29th June 2014
kevin wooldridge Wrote:Despite all indications to the contrary, a passion for Doctor Who, Lord of the Rings, Warcraft, Harry Potter and WWII militaria are probably career hindrances.....
Or more realistically, admitting a passion for them!
All things in moderation, & all that...
Is it me? the rise of teh "trainee" - Sikelgaita - 29th June 2014
barkingdigger Wrote:Or more realistically, admitting a passion for them!
I confess.
Three trowels for the Experienced Excavator's under the sky.
Seven for the Project Managers in their halls of stone.
Nine for the trainees doomed to die.
One for the Finance Officer on his dark throne.
In the land of competitive tendering where the shadows lie.
One trowel to rule them all. One trowel to find them.
One trowel to bring them all and in the tender bind them.
In the land of competitive tendering where the shadows lie.
Is it me? the rise of teh "trainee" - kevin wooldridge - 29th June 2014
Sikelgaita Wrote:I confess.
Three trowels for the Experienced Excavator's under the sky.
Seven for the Project Managers in their halls of stone.
Nine for the trainees doomed to die.
One for the Finance Officer on his dark throne.
In the land of competitive tendering where the shadows lie.
One trowel to rule them all. One trowel to find them.
One trowel to bring them all and in the tender bind them.
In the land of competitive tendering where the shadows lie.
You're fired!!
Is it me? the rise of teh "trainee" - Marc Berger - 29th June 2014
It would be nice to have these Nigerians as archaeologists http://www.scihub.org/AJSIR/PDF/2013/3/AJSIR-4-3-288-293.pdf
Is it me? the rise of teh "trainee" - Dinosaur - 30th June 2014
Sikelgaita Wrote:I presume the competent PO told you to dig into the uncertain soils so as to better understand them?
Part of the job of a good supervisor is to let trusted diggers just follow their noses, sometimes with spectacular results? In one extreme case for a fortnight, but the resulting ditch (which elsewhere had been massively under-excavated) was well worth the wait :face-approve:
I (and other people I've talked to) have noticed a distinct decline over the last decade or so in the ability of diggers to find proper edges etc, presumably because they're not allowed to have a play and learn how to it properly themselves any more - you can give them a few pointers but at the end of the day it's one of those skills you have to acquire by experience :face-thinks:
Is it me? the rise of teh "trainee" - Jack - 30th June 2014
RedEarth Wrote:No wonder you lot are struggling to find staff, who could meet those standards?
Sometimes less is more. :face-stir:
Many do meet those standards. Of those that don't, most can be guided/trained.
As Dino said its all about guessing what a feature may be, what challenges it may hide and putting the right person on it and give them the right guidance to extract the maximum relevant archaeological info.
In my days running sites people have generally fallen into the four categories I detailed above. All four, if managed correctly, can and do save much archaeological information. Some of the latter two categories, however, have seemed determined to destroy archaeological information either directly or indirectly through their miss-guided (not always malicious) actions.
Is it me? the rise of teh "trainee" - Jack - 30th June 2014
Sikelgaita Wrote:What is the cause? The absolute worship of archaeology above all else and if your life is not dedicated to archaeology then you are not worthy. In my opinion this 'Dig to Live Live to Dig' view has been a major factor in maintaining low pay and the exploitation of archaeologists. It is a job not a religion.
The cause, of course, is to save as much archaeology as possible before it is destroyed by plough or 360. Otherwise why do archaeology? Surely if someone isn't interested in archaeology they'd be better off working at a bank or in IT?