[Smartypantsdig]

Originally Posted by ELLENoco

just finished my degree in archaeology and history of art in UCC, and am doing an MA in UCC next year. Lets hope there are jobs ou there when I'm finished!!!

There will always be jobs in archaeology in some form or other; but only for those who perservere and prove themselves.

[catbear]

There will always be something going on but just know this, at the moment there former site directors working as site assistants at GO wages. That's the reality.

However it is a young persons game and a lot of older archaeologists are migrating away to other professions just to stay employed so there may be actually be realistic hope for entry level positions in the future.

[Riamfada]

Originally Posted by Smartypantsdig

There will always be jobs in archaeology in some form or other; but only for those who perservere and prove themselves.

I think thats very idealistic and and more than a little untrue.

Like any profession politics and nepotism play a large part. Hard work and graft only gets you so far. On a better note though if anyone is looking for some excavation work send me a PM. There is something on in Gorey atm

[Smartypantsdig]

Originally Posted by Grimes

I think thats very idealistic and and more than a little untrue.

Why so?

[robp]

Finished my archaeology undergraduate in UCC this spring. Off to specialise in paleoenviromental abroad in the autumn. I am happy living proof that there (rare) exceptions to the principal of zero grad employment. I'm commencing my first archaeology contract in the next few days.

[snowdaisy]

Hiyis,
I'm an unemployed licenced director. Donkeys years of experience and loved it. Yeah the politics was often bulls*** but it was a great, challenging job with a good gang of people to work with.

I am one of those rumoured people who went back digging as a site assistant just to get a few weeks of work here n there after i was let go a few years ago.

No work going at at all for me now. I hate not working!!! I'm trying to diversify and / or create a niche for myself and coming up against brick walls.

Surprisingly upbeat these days considering tho..

[slowburner]

Good on ya!

[JMSE]

I'm a lorry driver. But dates on headstones get me, castles and tower houses, even half tower houses, Tara gets me, Ben Bulben and all the big mountains around the country, I look at stuff and constantly think how long has that looked like that, who put that stone there? I dug out the floor of my new shed and spent too much time looking at rocks. And so here I am.

[Palytoxin]

Hey, I'm a student, not of archaeology, but I have an uncle with a masters in archaeology who is now a primary teacher, and we have an old castle on our farm at home, and I'd have a small bit of an interest in archaeology and history and the like, so...that's me!
(Mainly here for a look/creep around, not a big poster )

[myrns]

If anyone knows about any volunteering archaelogy positions going on anytime in Clare/Limerick, would love to hear about them...

[olly_mac]

Hi all. I'm a rare type of historian... I actually believe in archaeology . I took archaeology alongside history at undergrad, but stuck with history. Many of my friends are archaeologists however...

[Seraphina]

Originally Posted by myrns

If anyone knows about any volunteering archaelogy positions going on anytime in Clare/Limerick, would love to hear about them...

I'd advise you to go looking myms. Things like these aren't often advertised. I looked up local companies and museum in my area, and simply sent them an email with my cv enquiring about volunteering. It took a little persistence as some places were busy or the right person wasn't around, but I got myself in after a few calls and email. That experience has helped me get a job recently So you never know! Get yourself and your face out there and go asking!

[Reader1937]

What is it like now? I have loved books and history for decades, so when I came to the point where books/codex/scrolls/tablets stopped, archaeology took up. Loving history started me looking at archaeology from its history - it is a very young science. The third American President - Ben Franklin, a man of science, gave instructions to his explorers to look for dinosaurs and that was the 1790s. I have a history book from 1809 which starts with the date 4004 bc with the Creation. It seamlessly dovetails into Roman history on the way to the present. Had a look at the Egypt digs and Evans in Crete, through Wolley trying to make it a science to the '60s. Is it all starwars in the trenches now? There are so many places yet to tell their tale. If working is very difficult in this field - what motivates people to study it as a path in life?
That ramble at this time in the morning was sponsored by too much Coco Late Italian Expresso roast.

[Meathlass]

Originally Posted by Seraphina

I'd advise you to go looking myms. Things like these aren't often advertised. I looked up local companies and museum in my area, and simply sent them an email with my cv enquiring about volunteering. It took a little persistence as some places were busy or the right person wasn't around, but I got myself in after a few calls and email. That experience has helped me get a job recently So you never know! Get yourself and your face out there and go asking!

I know it's a little away from you but there's volunteer opportunities coming up in the Summer in Cashel in Tipperary. Look up Rathnadrinna on Facebook. It's being organised by Richard O'Brien, a Cashel local and a NRA archaeologist. They're looking for a commitment of one week and you have to organise your own accomodation, food and transport but it'd be an interesting project and Cashel's a great little town in the summer.

[myrns]

Thanks Seraphina and Meathlass! :DDD I got looking for local groups that might have information on anything historical or archaeological and it turned out they were just looking for some volunteers at the same time for a dig and survey so delighted to be signed up now, have also signed up to fb Rathnadrinna as it looks really interesting! Thanks again for the great advice