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+--- Thread: a degree of competence? (/showthread.php?tid=1989)
a degree of competence? - rachstebbs - 22nd September 2005
I'm getting a bit worried now... I am an archaeology student now on a placement year, but before this started I only had 2 months excavation experience. By the time this year is up, I hope to have improved that to 6 months, as well as the 9 months I will have working in museums, and various other places. Once I graduate, I will have around 15 months work experience within archaeology as a whole. I want to dig when I have graduated, but from this and some other threads, I'm worried I won't be able to get a job because of the lack of experience I have. What are we lowly students meant to do? I am already working for free on my placement year, so for the last 2 months I have worked 7 days a week, plus up to 16 hours a day if I get evening shifts. I was willing to do this as I know I need the experience but now i think some advice would be greatly welcome, is it really worth doing all this if I'm going to end up working in McDonalds for the rest of my life, because I didnt have enough experience to dig?
a degree of competence? - achingknees - 22nd September 2005
Quote:quote:Originally posted by rachstebbs
I'm getting a bit worried now... I am an archaeology student now on a placement year, but before this started I only had 2 months excavation experience. By the time this year is up, I hope to have improved that to 6 months, as well as the 9 months I will have working in museums, and various other places. Once I graduate, I will have around 15 months work experience within archaeology as a whole. I want to dig when I have graduated, but from this and some other threads, I'm worried I won't be able to get a job because of the lack of experience I have. What are we lowly students meant to do? I am already working for free on my placement year, so for the last 2 months I have worked 7 days a week, plus up to 16 hours a day if I get evening shifts. I was willing to do this as I know I need the experience but now i think some advice would be greatly welcome, is it really worth doing all this if I'm going to end up working in McDonalds for the rest of my life, because I didnt have enough experience to dig?
Don't worry. You seem to have done the right things so far. There are plenty of jobs around with the present economic situation. Many units take on a balance of experienced/inexperienced staff. Besides, going on some recent posts you might stand a better chance (especially around parts of Yorks I'm led to believe
).Why not have a look on some earlier posts on the Starting Out
forum. Good luck.
a degree of competence? - 1man1desk - 22nd September 2005
Don't worry - all units know that if they never take on inexperienced staff, eventually all the experienced ones will retire and there won't be any replacements.
There are restrictions on some projects, but not all, and most units will offer jobs to inexperienced diggers - especially if they have shown themselves willing to work hard and keen to learn; it sounds as if you have done that. Your museum experience will also help.
Where specifications do impose minimum qualification/experience levels, the experience required for site workers in non-supervisory roles is often 6 months, and it looks like you are going to have that.
The scorn poured (a bit harshly) on new graduate diggers in this thread seems mainly to be targeted at those who graduate with no more than the minimum allowable experience required by their course (often 6 weeks, rather than the 6 months you are aiming for).
1man1desk
to let, fully furnished
a degree of competence? - rachstebbs - 22nd September 2005
achingknees,
Thanks for the reassurance... hopefully I will get there in the end. After my (little) experiences so far, I can not imagine doing anything else, I think people are right when they call archaeology a vocation. Keep your fingers crossed for me!
a degree of competence? - troll - 22nd September 2005
rachstebbs-you have nothing to worry about.Newbies will always find somewhere.There are plenty of progressive units who will take newly graduated peeps on as paid trainees. There are some who will take new grads straight on as site assistants. The moaning on here largely relates to entire sites being staffed by and run by, inexperienced people.Sorry to have confused you. Go get it mate!
a degree of competence? - leg11aug - 22nd September 2005
Rachstebbs: Fingers duly crossed. If it makes you feel any better, the prospect of two more years of uni is making me equally nervous! As Troll says, units do have to take on new blood, if you're keen you'll get there.
When the going gets weird...