One small step for man....

[trowelhead]

Or One giant Leap for potential Project Manager Kind...


Is the transition from Project Officer to Project Manager a mighty leap or an easier number? I have met many an incompetent PM but also many good ones. Does being a PM suggest you have reached the zenith of the profession or just that you are pretty good at blagging interviews and wearing consistently spankingly clean Hi Vi`s so us lesser mortals can see you coming a mile off.

Indeed does anyone know of anybody who has leap frogged the PO bit altogether and blagged their way straight to PM....

I have also met a few County Mounties that would make you weep with their lack of knowledge.. How do these people reach these positions? How do they get through the interviews? How do they get selected for interview!!!! And on such a consistent basis....

We can but wonder..........[?]

[mercenary]

I'm always suspicious of types who want to make that leap, but have to admit not actually knowing anyone who has. There are plenty of opportunities to manage and do the whole range of activities as a PO, so why restrict the fun field side by becoming a PM? The only reason I can think of is complete decrepitude, which I fear will get us all eventually.

The transition I see all too frequently is the one to consultancy. Why do increasing numbers of us not want to contribute to the pool of knowledge, but would rather act as translators for developers?

[the invisible man]

Money? Security of a proper job?

Today, Bradford. Tomorrow, well, Bradford probably.

[mercenary]

I'm lucky enough to work for a unit where the money is close to what I could expect from a consultancy, and the security is certainly no worse. You can be let go at short notice from almost any job. Archaeology is not unique in that.

Why is archaeology not considered "a proper job"? I get the feeling that pay and conditions have been declining in many other industries, while Archaeology is actually improving. (slowly) Its not at all clear to me that the grass is greener elsewhere.

[the invisible man]

By "proper job" I mean a permanent position, PAYE, salary, annual paid holidays and so on, as opposed to self-employed short-term temporary contracts, with none of the above.



Today, Bradford. Tomorrow, well, Bradford probably.

[deepdigger]

Ha! dream on, those things are very rare in archaeology!!

deep

[the invisible man]

Err, yes, that was the thrust of my point!

(BAJR, is it ok to thrust points on here?)

Today, Bradford. Tomorrow, well, Bradford probably.

[deepdigger]

Thrusting ok i think, but parry ye not sir!!

deep

[BAJR Host]

thrusting is still allowable given the present fiscal climate.

Watch out for a little flurry of BAJR guidance docs... including the eagerly unwanted (er shurely awaited) Guide to Self employment in Archaeology... your rights!

[troll]

and for those of us still in chains on paye??Our rights sire?OOH, A Watt Tyler moment.......[8D]