4th February 2011, 01:07 PM
I have had those doubts off and on since the recession of 1992. I thought then about leaving archaeology, re-training, and getting a job which would enable me to stay put and buy a house and settle down with my partner. Instead I chose to go back on the circuit, and although I have gradually built up my career, I have been working temporary contracts ever since. If I were 10 or 20 years younger, I'd re-train and get a job that allowed me to at least choose in which part of the country I want to live in. I am now living abroad, since there just aren't the jobs in Britain. It was a bad decision. Think about your priorities--is it important to you to have friends, family, a local pub where people know you (i.e. a place in a community), your own home, maybe children, a garden? Or is archaeology so rewarding that you don't mind not being able to live with your partner, moving around all the time and staying in B + Bs?
Look on the job boards for things you might like to do, and consider re-training. Say, Environmental Management or Conservation? Then you can do archaeologically related things, like work for the National Trust or in one of the National Parks. Does working for English Nature appeal? Write for prospectuses from the OU, and think about your options. You can always go back to archaeology later, but more training will broaden what you have to offer and allow you to compete with all the other unemployed archaeologists out there.
Don't despair! The next job could be just round the corner.
Look on the job boards for things you might like to do, and consider re-training. Say, Environmental Management or Conservation? Then you can do archaeologically related things, like work for the National Trust or in one of the National Parks. Does working for English Nature appeal? Write for prospectuses from the OU, and think about your options. You can always go back to archaeology later, but more training will broaden what you have to offer and allow you to compete with all the other unemployed archaeologists out there.
Don't despair! The next job could be just round the corner.