Is it worth doing the old mass CV send

[Winders]

I am trying to volunteer at weekends, but the fact is not that much happens at weekends, and the area I want to work in - conservation planning and historic buildings - work, like everyone else, during the week.

Try finding work in local government doing something near building conservation e.g. in the planning department, even if it's just being the admin clerk. Once you're there, try arranging some work experience on one afternoon a week with the building conservation crew and try to fit in your 5 days a week's paid hours in 4.5 days.

Another paid way into conservation planning is a tour of duty in development control- a decent knowledge of how the GPDO and UCO works combined with a practical understanding of policy, planning enforcement and writing conditions is always handy in this field, and the experience will carry over. Plus, development control planning jobs are usually easier to find compared to the conservation officer roles...

[Gaj]

When I lost my job back in June '09 (heritage consultant for big consultancy) I thought my CV would be just the ticket to get working as soon as I had enjoyed that long holiday I was often dreaming of when sat staring out the window at work (that wasn't the reason they gave me the elbow of course).

After nearly 10 months of trying I kind of gave up on archaeology - not due to my CV, it's pretty impressive (if I do say so myself)- but due to the lack of responses from pretty much every company I sent it to or contacted via phone etc. I tailored each CV individually if it was for a specific job, and kept it short, genertic but pertinent for the 'cold calling' versions.

Now I am absolutely not blaming anyone for not getting back to me, I know how busy people can be; but one thing I always did as a matter of courtesy when I received a CV via email/ post would be to respond and thank the person for taking the time to get in touch - and to pass on the CV to my superiors for consideration. I think that lack of common courtesy is what prompted me to move into something else - if your peers aren't prepared to treat you on a level, then, well....erm - screw them. That said, I did receive an awful lot of help from one particular arch unit who really helped me out with improving my motivation and basically helping me to feel like I wasn't a washed up old has-been at age 33, to which I owe a debt of gratitude.

Perhaps sometimes you need the courage to think outside of what you think you are capable of? I did - and ended up doing the SEA for the 2014 Commonwealth Games - which has been a complete change from what I am used to, but has given me a new direction, and one I intend to keep on. I keep an interest in archaeology/ heritage but don't think I will ever go back to working in it - but that's a personal thing, and my heart goes out to those who want to stay in the profession but are finding it difficult.

I know nothing about economics or politics, but I know a bit about optimism, and that life goes on, and things should get better. My only advice is to keep plugging away, and if you get knocked back then have a rant, punch a wall, have a pint (not too many), then get back on with it and plug away some more. I know that bills and rent have to be paid - after a long period of unemployment my savings have disappeared - but there's always a way (apart from selling yourself on Greenock Docks) to do that, even if you just have to swallow some pride and take a job that, whilst not what you want to do, could help you move onto other things. I worked in a shop for a bit - I hated it (I don't have the best opinion of the general public) but I ended up making some good friends there and I still get a discount - a good thing when it was a camera shop and I happen to be a bit of an amateur photographer!

Well, that was a cathartic post for me, and the longest one I have ever written on this forum.

Good luck to all of you looking for work - it's not easy.

[Betts_Fan]

I don't plan to quit any time soon. :face-approve:

[Martin Locock]

I agree with gaj - I don't understand why organisations that claim to be careful of their image and professional in their operations claim to be too busy to send a brief acknowledgement to somebody interested enough to want to work for them - it only takes thirty seconds to write a short email.

[Oxbeast]

I didn't even get acknowledged for the last proper job I applied for, a couple of months ago. They probably had hundreds of applicants more experienced than me, but it was abit of a knock to my confidence.

[Betts_Fan]

It's the same everywhere though... isn't it?

[Kel]

Having worked outside archaeology for 20+ years, yes, I can assure you that a lack of any kind of acknowledgement for even formal job applications (never mind unsolicited CVs) is absolutely standard. Even firms who carry out the first round of recruitment electronically, will rarely bother with a standard email reply to applicants.

Archaeology is behaving no differently than other areas in this respect and it shouldn't be taken personally.

[Betts_Fan]

I can see why it feels demoralising but it's always worth keep trying.

[Gaj]

Oh I didn't take it personally - I just wish I could be treated the way I would treat someone else.
However - Utopia exists just in the mind and aspiration in this world!

[Betts_Fan]

We can but hope!