4th November 2010, 09:50 PM
Unforyunately for most graduates, its the economy. You're up against a lot of experienced people who are chasing the few jobs. I appreciate this isn't helpful, but thats reality. All archaeologists today have had to get that first commercial job, but that probably tended to be in a flush year.
Ginger's point is valid though, and she'd be the first graduate at the top of the CV pile. Why? She got off her a***e, did some research and put in more effort than most other graduates. Seriously - I thought the point of a degree was research. I certainly researched archaeology jobs (including looking at BAJR in its fledging years!) in my second year (not after I'd left!) and realised that I needed more experience. I did voluntary work in museums, at the local unit, and asked my lecturer if I could stay for the entire training dig (rather than the three weeks you were supposed to do). As a result of the extra time, I became friendly with a supervisor who was a commercial archaeologist who helped me get a job.
The economy is screwed and its not helpful, but in a boom year Ginger would certainly be top of the list. Lack of training doesn't help in Uni, but then most subjects teach "black letter" subjects. In law, after three years you need to spend another 10 grand to get the qualification to be a solivitor or barrister, and then its another 2 years training in a firm to be vaguely competant.
In the days of increased tuition fees, I would expect that more students would complain about the lack of specfic training, as they're going to be paying through the nose for it. Universities really do need to be getting on this. I would like to see (and would have liked when I was a student) the concept that students are customers, and treated as such by Universities. However, doing all of the extra curricular stuff will get you top of the pile.
As my old man often says "you need to be head and shoulders above everyone else to succeed". }
Ginger's point is valid though, and she'd be the first graduate at the top of the CV pile. Why? She got off her a***e, did some research and put in more effort than most other graduates. Seriously - I thought the point of a degree was research. I certainly researched archaeology jobs (including looking at BAJR in its fledging years!) in my second year (not after I'd left!) and realised that I needed more experience. I did voluntary work in museums, at the local unit, and asked my lecturer if I could stay for the entire training dig (rather than the three weeks you were supposed to do). As a result of the extra time, I became friendly with a supervisor who was a commercial archaeologist who helped me get a job.
The economy is screwed and its not helpful, but in a boom year Ginger would certainly be top of the list. Lack of training doesn't help in Uni, but then most subjects teach "black letter" subjects. In law, after three years you need to spend another 10 grand to get the qualification to be a solivitor or barrister, and then its another 2 years training in a firm to be vaguely competant.
In the days of increased tuition fees, I would expect that more students would complain about the lack of specfic training, as they're going to be paying through the nose for it. Universities really do need to be getting on this. I would like to see (and would have liked when I was a student) the concept that students are customers, and treated as such by Universities. However, doing all of the extra curricular stuff will get you top of the pile.
As my old man often says "you need to be head and shoulders above everyone else to succeed". }