26th October 2008, 09:28 PM
Although it may not be essential, i do echo mattymoofaces sentimnets in his last post.
I think that if graduates were given a far more realistic idea of commercial archaeology, the contracts and conditions you will experience and the difficulties in finding work then they may not be so disheartened and dissilussioned with the proffession quite as quickly.
To know what is expected of you is very important - and when loads o graduates have only worked on abroad digs in the summer then british archaeology is a real shock to the system, as is the idea that the sort of behaviour you get on a uni dig isnt exceptable onsite.
And H&S is a huge part of this. The majority of graduates will not have any experience of how to act around heavy machinery, and often have little idea how to use certain hand tools(particularly mattocks) safely.
Maybe it would be helpful if there was a construction site health and safety course thrown in as a module since most university towns also have either there own departments that do such courses or an institution that does near by.
I think that if graduates were given a far more realistic idea of commercial archaeology, the contracts and conditions you will experience and the difficulties in finding work then they may not be so disheartened and dissilussioned with the proffession quite as quickly.
To know what is expected of you is very important - and when loads o graduates have only worked on abroad digs in the summer then british archaeology is a real shock to the system, as is the idea that the sort of behaviour you get on a uni dig isnt exceptable onsite.
And H&S is a huge part of this. The majority of graduates will not have any experience of how to act around heavy machinery, and often have little idea how to use certain hand tools(particularly mattocks) safely.
Maybe it would be helpful if there was a construction site health and safety course thrown in as a module since most university towns also have either there own departments that do such courses or an institution that does near by.