3rd February 2011, 09:40 AM
:face-approve:Mister Hosty.....
Is it an appropriate time to put a new BAJR Guide in place? In times like these, one of the uphill struggles is being able to get our transferable skills across to potential employers outside of the heritage market. Most employers and the Department of Stealth and Total Obscurity have no idea of what an archaeologist actually is. A guide on here that clearly defines our core transferable skills would be extremely useful and the process of putting such a guide together would be a useful exercise?
Periodic bouts of unemployment are a fact of life for many of us, particularly those of us who work in the field and it can be soul-destroying. Many of the older lags in the game have stuck it out through thick and thin simply because they care and are passionate about the job. It is precisely those people that should have been seen as vital assets to commercial concerns a long time ago but sadly, disposable labour seems to be the watchword in today`s market. The lack of in-house training and opportunities for meaningful advancement in the industry has meant that a large workforce is seen as having nothing of value to offer unless there is a need for excavation. People like Trowley and Ben have accumulated a wealth of experience that the industry really can`t afford to lose. The reputation of many of the commercial units relies heavily upon the quality of work carried out at the coal face and in a progressive and dynamic industry-one would imagine that employers would fight to retain and advance quality staff assets.
Hey ho. I`m only in my first month of unemployment and it`s driving me bonkers. I keep sane by indulging in research that I had always meant to indulge in but was far too busy unpicking sites at the time. I`ve also volunteered (can do 16 weeks whilst claiming) for a few social projects locally. Most of my days are spent designing yet another c.v specifically targetting job requirements. Since December 10th, I`ve applied for over 140 jobs outside of archaeology and I have to be honest- being a recovering archaeologist! is actually an impedement to civvie job-hunting! I`ve actually been advised to remove my education and experience details from any c.v` that I submit! Amusingly, I was rejected in my application to become a rat-catcher! It really is a nightmare-it seems that we have specialised to such a level that we are virtually unemployable outside of archaeology. Not a fun place to be.
To be upbeat- I love my job as most of the fieldies I have been lucky enough to work with do. I don`t see this current economic issue as being an end to my chosen career but, an opportunity for me to double the amount of reading, research and keeping up with new theoretical trends that have flown over my back whilst my head was in a trench! There really are some exciting new papers out there. I`ve also been lucky enough to write up some reports for a researcher so have got my hand back into the stuff I love. Trowley and Ben- your wealth of experience is a hugely positive asset to the industry and to see you walk away would be an enormous waste. Whilst things are a bit slow, can I suggest that you offer 16 hours a week max to a local college/uni? Probation services? Get hold of student union Archsocs and offer to present talks/skills sessions/training days......Whilst your at it, have a good read of the excellent free online magazine Past Horizons-write some pieces for them and have a look at some of the worldwide volunteering opportunities there are out there. Bottom line is, don`t go away...sit tight, retune old skills, diversify and reinvigorate your passion! Your industry needs you!
Is it an appropriate time to put a new BAJR Guide in place? In times like these, one of the uphill struggles is being able to get our transferable skills across to potential employers outside of the heritage market. Most employers and the Department of Stealth and Total Obscurity have no idea of what an archaeologist actually is. A guide on here that clearly defines our core transferable skills would be extremely useful and the process of putting such a guide together would be a useful exercise?
Periodic bouts of unemployment are a fact of life for many of us, particularly those of us who work in the field and it can be soul-destroying. Many of the older lags in the game have stuck it out through thick and thin simply because they care and are passionate about the job. It is precisely those people that should have been seen as vital assets to commercial concerns a long time ago but sadly, disposable labour seems to be the watchword in today`s market. The lack of in-house training and opportunities for meaningful advancement in the industry has meant that a large workforce is seen as having nothing of value to offer unless there is a need for excavation. People like Trowley and Ben have accumulated a wealth of experience that the industry really can`t afford to lose. The reputation of many of the commercial units relies heavily upon the quality of work carried out at the coal face and in a progressive and dynamic industry-one would imagine that employers would fight to retain and advance quality staff assets.
Hey ho. I`m only in my first month of unemployment and it`s driving me bonkers. I keep sane by indulging in research that I had always meant to indulge in but was far too busy unpicking sites at the time. I`ve also volunteered (can do 16 weeks whilst claiming) for a few social projects locally. Most of my days are spent designing yet another c.v specifically targetting job requirements. Since December 10th, I`ve applied for over 140 jobs outside of archaeology and I have to be honest- being a recovering archaeologist! is actually an impedement to civvie job-hunting! I`ve actually been advised to remove my education and experience details from any c.v` that I submit! Amusingly, I was rejected in my application to become a rat-catcher! It really is a nightmare-it seems that we have specialised to such a level that we are virtually unemployable outside of archaeology. Not a fun place to be.
To be upbeat- I love my job as most of the fieldies I have been lucky enough to work with do. I don`t see this current economic issue as being an end to my chosen career but, an opportunity for me to double the amount of reading, research and keeping up with new theoretical trends that have flown over my back whilst my head was in a trench! There really are some exciting new papers out there. I`ve also been lucky enough to write up some reports for a researcher so have got my hand back into the stuff I love. Trowley and Ben- your wealth of experience is a hugely positive asset to the industry and to see you walk away would be an enormous waste. Whilst things are a bit slow, can I suggest that you offer 16 hours a week max to a local college/uni? Probation services? Get hold of student union Archsocs and offer to present talks/skills sessions/training days......Whilst your at it, have a good read of the excellent free online magazine Past Horizons-write some pieces for them and have a look at some of the worldwide volunteering opportunities there are out there. Bottom line is, don`t go away...sit tight, retune old skills, diversify and reinvigorate your passion! Your industry needs you!