Jobs jobs jobs!

[trowelhead]

Is it just me or does there appear to be more archaeological jobs about at the moment. I know we are heading for summer and most units are looking for the usual summertime canon fodder yet the jobs that are increasingly advertised at the moment, not just on BAJR but on other sites as well, increasingly show a growth in higher positions such as Project Officer, consultant and increasing specialist roles.

Does this highlight a shortage in the profession as more and more graduates realise the numbing inevertability of poor career prospects within the profession and coupled with higher debts to pay off are seeking employment elsewhere.

My firm is finding it increasingly hard to find archaeologists of all types as many have fallen foul of increased house prices and council tax`s and forced to find employment elsewhere.

Although I feel a glib smug satisfaction about this and an air "We told you so" I do worry who is now getting these jobs and will incompetance abound within archaeology in the near future.

Our history is relient on those that can interpret the evidence archaeology provides, if this evidence is portrayed poorly then its not just the profession that suffers it is the very fabric of history itself.

So to all you Units out there that have underpayed and taken advantage of all of our collective enthusiasim`s and treated us so poorly over the years it is not just the employee you harm its the very thing your dirty, tired, underpayed dissolusioned archaeologist set out to do in the first place. And as a reminder does anyone remember this:

"We Owe History Nothing But the Truth".

[Digger]

I have heard through the grapevine that some units are having difficulty filling positions at lower levels. Also heard that there is a massive drop in the number of students studying archaeology at degree level. Just a rumour or does anyone have more info?

I doubt that it's a lack of interest, the amount of media coverage, so I can only think it's to do with pay and conditions. Perhaps media coverage has put people off.

Thoughts anyone?

[amber]

Nothing except I TOLD YOU SO, to all the heads of units out there.

I've escaped archaeology, I was missing it, now I'm feeling very smug, :face-approve:

[gumbo]

I know archaeology is poorly paid, but so are a lot of things: we are not alone. My brother has a degree, works in a bank and has done for 3 years and is on about 13 grand p a. Granted, he probably wont get laid of at a days notice, but I dont think the poor pay and prospects should put that many university leavers off as at least archaeology can be an interesting job with **** pay and conditions as opposed to a mundane also with **** pay and conditions. (I would be interested to see some statistics).

I think there is this circuit myth that everyone else out there is having these great secure careers while we are having to slum it. This is not true, many professionals in our generation (20-40 yrs old, will have to rent a room, get into debt to study and have to find a partner if they can to afford to settle down. It is and will become harder and harder to live the type of life the tabloid media hold up as an ideal.

My answer is: yes archaeology is gonna be a hard existence but people not pursuing it are living in a fantasy land if they think they could do a lot better without selling their souls to capitalism. If there is a reduction in people going into archaeology at universities and beyond, then I find that sad as it means that more and more people will not do something that they enjoy as a career because of some artificially created pressures about better lives in imaginary careers.

Sorry not to sound more optimistic.

G

[Digger]

Bit harsh Amber!!

I think one of the main problems in arch Gumbo is the problems with training and promotion. I was a horrible little capitalist once and the issue is that their is greater scope outside of archaeology to push youself, your talents and abilities. The pyramid structure of archaeology and 'making old bones',limits the scope of learning new tricks.[?]

[the invisible man]

I would say that pay for new entrants to archaeology is not bad at all. It compares ok with other fields for people entering a profession or trade at the bottom, so to speak, and compares well with general vacancies advertised in the north of England. Note that a degree does not automatically entitle anyone to great riches! Of course other conditions especially the lack of security do not compare very well. Then there seems to be a lack oppurtunty for progress - supervisors seem to command salaries only marginally greater than the 6 month experience grade and with no greater security.

What strikes me, and this will not be popular with many contributors here, is the salaries for senior staff. Advertisements cheefully ask for MA's, PhD's, considerable GOOD experience, publication records etc, and offer silly money - sometimes only around 20 grand. I believe it may be similar in some scientific disciplines, but in the commercial world such remuneration for such experience and qulaifications would be laughed at.

So, the starting money is ok, but it doesn't get much better even if you can stay in work, and gets progressiley worse as experience and knowledge increase. Therefore people leave to get proper jobs and the present shortage is created. Further, the shortage of more able and experienced staff will worsen any prospect of employers accepting their responsibility for on the job training and thus creating a viscous circle.

In theory a skills shortage should drive wages up. Don't hold your breath though.

[Oxbeast]

Amber, what are you still doing here?

Fair enough, the starting money is about the average for graduate entry jobs. Once you discount the blue chips who hire out of universities at 21-24 grand, lots of people I know are working at 13-15 grand. I agree that there needs to be more money at the middle and top. I joined my company on the same wage as people with ten years experience.

I reckon the key thing is make the most out of your mobility while you can. I've heard people moaning about pay when there are better jobs that they could do, but they won't move to get them.

Like the invisible man says, life is OK really. It might be a pain in the arse, but take it from me, its better than working in a call centre....

[Alfie]

I sometimes feel that the best archaeological jobs are those ones early in our careers.Controversial I know, but I remember the days of doing an honest days digging and taking a delight in the company of like minded people, when our only responsibility was to the archaeology. I suppose all careers are like that, the higher up you go, the further you are removed from the thing that got you excited to start with.The pay-off of course is a full time permanent contract and better money; but as a digger,if you can survive on the money and the sun is shining and you are learning something new every day, take a moment to yourself and think of the people in the call centres.
Do not try this if its raining, the PO is a git and your contract ends tommorrow.
Here endith the lesson.

[Pete M]

I notice there is a main section on the BAJR board for 'Starting out in archaeology'. Does anyone else think a 'Getting out of archaeology' section might me useful, in the interests of balance?

[BAJR Host]

And your choices start at.... Gardener..... er... Builder.... um...... highly trained er.. thingy...

I guess you pays yer maney and takes yer chances... Call me a ###t but I guess that it is not the wages that are the real trouble... but the fact you never see them... I mean that although you might be on 14 k a year you only work 7 months and end up with ****pence hapenny at teh end of the year... (saves on tax though!)

I would like to see more effort being put into job security... but then again.. if you want to wander the leafy lanes of England over a few years... then this is good life... if you want to settle down and get a mortgage this is bad life. SUrely there must be a happy medium.