18th September 2004, 01:11 AM
Quote:quote:Originally posted by Boris the Cat
There are pros and cons to big and small units. A big unit might offer a wider range of actual [u]sites</u> (ie. more varied digging experience), but a smaller unit will be able offer a wider range of [u]roles</u>. Instead of being 'just a digger', a low-grade employee for a small unit will have the chance to do things such as desk-based research, finds illustration and so-on.
Experience in either is useful for the other. So if you get your first job with Oxford or Wessex, two or three years down the line you should have an impressive list of sites of all periods and a good grounding in how field projects operate on a day-to-day basis. These are valuable skills to bring to a smaller unit. Equally if your first job is in a smaller team, then you are likely to have been exposed to a wider range of different types of projects, which boosts the chances of joining a larger unit at a slightly more senior level.
Boris the cat,
I fully agree but I feel that the benefits are more to be felt by the small unit, large unit experience benefits the small unit by breadth of experience more than diversity of experience benefits the large unit. In a large unit you may be restricted to the level of experience previously demonstrated but in a small unit you are definitely restricted by the limited training opportunities available to the individual. I worked for a small unit recently before joining a large national company and during my time with the small unit had no access to any training programmes at all, tight budgets ensured that I had no access to training!! btw Boris has ruined my newest pair of jeans with his blinkin' cat hairs!!!
Oz