19th February 2012, 09:40 AM
Ferris Wrote:On an anecdotal note, a friend of mine with several years commercial digging experience recently sent a speculative application to an established archaeology unit only to be told there were no positions available but they would be willing to offer him unpaid voluntary work.
Well that is my career come full circle....back in 1980 I responded to an article in a well known regional newspaper about the desperate shortage of archaeologists on a particular archaeological project where time was also fast running out...I turned up on the site the next day unannounced and offered my services. The broad scope of my interview went along the lines 'Are you signing on? - Yes' 'OK well we won't tell the dole you are working here AND we we can let you have the morning, off the day you have to sign on'... I 'failed' the interview.... (ended up working as a kitchen porter in the canteen of a well known but now defunct national newspaper).
I notice in todays papers, that popular pressure seems to be working against the Workfare scheme the Tories are promoting through the likes of Tescos and other hard-up (!!) employers. Lets hope archaeology remains equally resolute against 'Workfare in the Trenches'...
With peace and consolation hath dismist, And calm of mind all passion spent...