23rd July 2013, 06:02 PM
The trick is asking the right question at the right time, people have jobs to do and dead lines to meet and though they will give you some time to start with they cannot afford to spend too much time hand holding. That first induction is the time to ask the questions. After that find an experienced old hand who enjoys sharing their knowledge.
The supervisors may have too much on their plates to deal with constant questions especially if they are in the middle of some tricky negotiations with the other trades on site. Careful of asking the sort of question that makes the supervisor look bad if they cannot answer it in front of the team. Break times are a good time to sit and listen to the banter and ask questions of the team. (you will get your leg pulled but take it in a good spirit).
If you are a trainee then time should be built in for your training and that will be the best time to ask questions.
Dont be afraid of asking questions but spend a little time to get the feel of the project and the team so you do not blunder in. Do not be surprised if things are not done in the way that you expected and above all be positive and say thank you. You are just starting out and commercial archaeology is a totally different world to volunteer archaeology things are done differently there (for good reasons that you will not be aware of yet). Remember though you are excited and this is a fantastic opportunity the old lags may see it as just another job. Though it does us all good to work with people new to the profession still bright eyed and bushy tailed.
I find I am always happy to answer questions except when I am in the middle of something that requires concentration or having to deal with a situation that needs sorting urgently. So pick your time with care. As I have already said commercial archaeology is different to what you may have experienced on community projects. You have been employed to do a job make sure you do it other than that I am sure you will have fun
The supervisors may have too much on their plates to deal with constant questions especially if they are in the middle of some tricky negotiations with the other trades on site. Careful of asking the sort of question that makes the supervisor look bad if they cannot answer it in front of the team. Break times are a good time to sit and listen to the banter and ask questions of the team. (you will get your leg pulled but take it in a good spirit).
If you are a trainee then time should be built in for your training and that will be the best time to ask questions.
Dont be afraid of asking questions but spend a little time to get the feel of the project and the team so you do not blunder in. Do not be surprised if things are not done in the way that you expected and above all be positive and say thank you. You are just starting out and commercial archaeology is a totally different world to volunteer archaeology things are done differently there (for good reasons that you will not be aware of yet). Remember though you are excited and this is a fantastic opportunity the old lags may see it as just another job. Though it does us all good to work with people new to the profession still bright eyed and bushy tailed.
I find I am always happy to answer questions except when I am in the middle of something that requires concentration or having to deal with a situation that needs sorting urgently. So pick your time with care. As I have already said commercial archaeology is different to what you may have experienced on community projects. You have been employed to do a job make sure you do it other than that I am sure you will have fun