Can anyone tell me how to get a job in British Archaeology?

[tezet]

As it was written in a thread "Jobs jobs jobs !!" there is a lot of new jobs in archaeology!

Is it true?

I have a BA and MA in archaeology and few years of experience in archaeological fieldwork and excavation at the professional commercial level (Poland, Ukraine).
I am prepared to work anywhere in the UK if position will require it.
I have a valid clean driving licence.

From 3 months I am filling up application forms and sending my CV to almost all advertisements from BAJR webpage and other job pages and... almost without any answer....

There is written: "Staff are sought to start work as soon as possible." - so I do not know why I am not a good candidate :/ I am living in Poland but it is not a problem for me to move to UK even next week.

It is not about money, I just love archaeology and want to improve my qualifications and knowledge in UK.

I do not apply for a manager position, due to the fact that I have not worked in UK earlier I can start from the basics.


One minus - I do not have CSCS card but I am familiar with Health & Safety and I am motivated to pass test asap I will move to UK.


So as in the topic: Can anyone tell me how to get a job in British Archaeology?

Best,
Tomasz

[Unitof1]

could be that you are being discriminated against. Most units are very closed shop in the UK and they have so many applications that they can say what they like. Maybe if you feel confident you could go it alone doing small jobs by directly applying for planning condition work. I can help you if you like but you will have to get permission from the curators.

[kevin wooldridge]

There are quite a few Poles working in UK archaeology Tezet, so despite what the previous contributor said, I don't think that you have been discriminated against.

In reality there are always lots of applicants for jobs and that gives employers lots of choice in who they select to employ. It can be difficult to break into the UK jobs market (in any business not just archaeology) if you are living outside of the UK, irrespective of whether you are willing to travel immediately. A lot of UK archaeological employers do not offer accommodation and therefore might be reluctant to take on staff who do not have a fixed address in the UK. Secondly initial contracts in UK are often very short, maybe 2 or 3 weeks. Again an employer might feel, perhaps justifiably, reluctant to attract a non-domiciled worker for such a short contract....

You can gain a CSCS card online. You don't need to be in the UK to do that

I can't offer an easy solution to your problem other than to say keep trying. There are very many equally qualified UK archaeologists who are also experiencing difficulties in getting a start as a professional archaeologist. But good luck and hope something turns up....

[Jack]

Best bet is to get a list of archaeological units, send them your cv and a covering letter, then ring them every Thursday or Friday till they have a vacancy.

[kevin wooldridge]

Best bet is to get a list of archaeological units, send them your cv and a covering letter, then ring them every Thursday or Friday till they have a vacancy.

..By all means send a CV and covering letter, but consider the weekly phone call as a 'strategy' rather than the 'best bet', bear in mind that it has been known to backfire.....some people may reward your persistence, others may not. It can be very annoying to have to tell the same person 'No' week after week, and may be counter-productive to your career ambitions...

[Segovax]

I sympathsise with you Tom but at the moment it is a really good time to get work. Try Archaeology South East as they are offering housing and need people at the moment. Oxford Archaeology South are hiring for away work providing housing too so just be persistent with them. CV and call if you feel confident enough. As the chap above mentioned it really works. In my experience no call can means no job. I know they are pretty desperate at the moment too. Not to sound like anyone would need to be desperate to hire you, its more that if you are trying to 'break in' so to speak it can really help to know that. Failing that get in touch with Frank Giecco at Wardell Armstrong as they need people for an iron age site at the moment.
Good luck.
The CSCS card will help you too if you can get it.

[monty]

They are all struggling to recruit............time for a wage rise I reckon !!:face-approve:

[tezet]

Firstly thanks for all for advices.

Secondly:

Maybe if you feel confident you could go it alone doing small jobs by directly applying for planning condition work. I can help you if you like but you will have to get permission from the curators.

I feel confident but as I have no previous experience in UK it will be difficult I think.

You can gain a CSCS card online. You don't need to be in the UK to do that

Kevin I can not find any information about it on the website, I see that I can only reserve test date.

Can you show me where you found this?

Best bet is to get a list of archaeological units, send them your cv and a covering letter, then ring them every Thursday or Friday till they have a vacancy.

Jack, I am making my list

Archaeology South East, Oxford Archaeology South, Wardell Armstrong

I will send my CV today, thanks.

The CSCS card will help you too if you can get it.

- I will try to get it asap.

[Ken Denham]

I'm sure Tezet, that if you persevere you'll eventually be offered a post in archaeology in Britain. However, that's when your problems may begin and you need to arm yourself with skills and equipment that you may never have needed in Poland;
1. Reverse body armour to evade back-stabbing.
2. Special sycophantic knee-pads to ensure continuation of employment.
3. A blindfold and gag.
4. Survival training that will allow you to live in a tent for months on end on a diet of porridge and tea.
If you think you can provide and do these things then welcome to British Archaeology.

[kevin wooldridge]

Kevin I can not find any information about it on the website, I see that I can only reserve test date.

Can you show me where you found this?

http://www.cscs.uk.com/cards/health-and-safety-test/ You have to go into the section marked BOOKING and follow the tab to book ONLINE...includes having to register as a user and pay over money....K