25th August 2010, 11:56 AM
In my opinion, unit managers unwilling to train or have induction periods (often cos they want to employ on such short contract periods) are the ones promoting this idea that graduates are not fit for purpose. As others here point out, graduate archaeologists are no different from those in many other subjects in terms of having the on job skills - the difference being, though, that employers in other professions are often keener to train their staff to the levels they require (through induction periods, formal training, mentoring and acceptable probationary periods) and offer better terms of employment. In archaeology, the unit managers have removed the lower rungs of the career ladder and are expecting their prospective staff to be already a few rungs up it in terms of experience.