charitable status and units -are they really?

[Austin Ainsworth]

quote:Originally posted by tmsarch

Interesting to cross read between this thread and those in the Starting Out in Archaeology section. One of the problems that is often covered in the Starting Out threads is 'how do I get the six month commercial experience that is asked for in most job adverts?' and often given advice is to 'contact your local unit and get some experience by volunteering'... But by a unit taking on a volunteer (or trainee) to gain experience by working on a commercial excavation they could be accused of gaining commercial advantage?

At what stage does a volunteer become exploited and can we reconcile 'our' own advice in given other threads with 'our' complaints above.

Having worked for companies who have used volunteers and/or trainees on commercial sites I'd argue that if proper and structured on-site training is being given to volunteers or trainees then this actually results in a commercial disadvantage in terms of man-hours and resources.

As usual this thread seems to have migrated away from the original subject... time for a new thread?

My first response to that would be that those job applicants with less than the required on-site experience time/site skills should be considered for a post as a trainee excavator. It was to my constant annoyance, (a few years ago), while operating as the deployment/recruitment officer in one of the super units that fresh graduates were given the same pay grade as site staff who had 1 to 2 years on-site experience but who had not yet progressed to Assistant Supervisor level. When applying for corporate membership the IFA does not consider Uni digging experience as relevant, any RAO should in IMHO also discount such; not good news for fresh graduates but I would hope a recognition of the skills acquired post-graduation by site staff who have demonstrated proven ability within the commercial sector.

Edit: for sp. (really shouldn't post after several bottles of wine).