Comments on: What are the chances of actually making a good career out of archaeology? http://www.resumebutler.com/blog/what-are-the-chances-of-actually-making-a-good-career-out-of-archaeology/ Career and Job Advice Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:42:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Wickerman http://www.resumebutler.com/blog/what-are-the-chances-of-actually-making-a-good-career-out-of-archaeology/comment-page-1/#comment-2164 Wickerman Tue, 07 Apr 2009 17:56:07 +0000 http://www.resumebutler.com/blog/what-are-the-chances-of-actually-making-a-good-career-out-of-archaeology/#comment-2164 Very slim, certainly in the UK, most who get a degree in archaeology don't get work which is directly related to their degree. It's a good all round training though for many types of work that need an analytical mind. If you are determined, then you have to be up with the best, and (in field archaeology especially) that means years of dedication, often on low pay. But it's a great life. Very slim, certainly in the UK, most who get a degree in archaeology don’t get work which is directly related to their degree. It’s a good all round training though for many types of work that need an analytical mind. If you are determined, then you have to be up with the best, and (in field archaeology especially) that means years of dedication, often on low pay. But it’s a great life.

]]> By: Sfocato http://www.resumebutler.com/blog/what-are-the-chances-of-actually-making-a-good-career-out-of-archaeology/comment-page-1/#comment-2163 Sfocato Mon, 06 Apr 2009 22:28:22 +0000 http://www.resumebutler.com/blog/what-are-the-chances-of-actually-making-a-good-career-out-of-archaeology/#comment-2163 You could probably get a CRM job (for which you need a Master's) but CRM (Cultural Resource Management) is non-academic, so you don't choose where you dig or what you study--if you live in the US, you will dig Native American or American historical settlements. If you want to work outside your home country, study an outside culture, and do all the Professor Archaeologist stuff, you need an academic job, for which you need a PhD, which takes forever to get (around 7 years of graduate school in the US, in addition to the 4 undergraduate). These are the jobs you heard about, which are incredibly difficult to get and very unstable, but possible. It's a matter of how badly you want it, because if this is the one and only thing which will make you truly happy, it's worth the risk and job insecurity and financial difficulty. That stuff shouldn't matter, if this is your one passion. For me, after four years of being an archaeology major in undergrad, I decided that there were way more things that make me happy that did not require as much mental torture, and I could find other ways to travel and enjoy archaeology without doing the whole academic collegiate thing (which I discovered I hated; it was driving me nuts). For me, it wasn't worth it. But for some people, it is; for some people, academia is a haven, and if you are one of those people, it might be worth pursuing. Just be absolutely sure you know what you're getting yourself into; it's a huge commitment. Do A LOT of internet searching on what it takes to get these jobs, what jobs are available, what grad school is like, what the jobs themselves are like, and decide for yourself. No matter what you decide, though, I would recommend going to an archaeological field school at some point. Because nobody teaches you how to excavate in undergrad (that I know of), it will give you hands-on experience and show you what it's like before you go all the way to grad school. Even if you decide not to go for a career in archaeology, it's an awesome experience, and you at least get to travel and do something new and exciting. (To see some available at the moment, go here: and make sure you check the box that says "field school".) You could probably get a CRM job (for which you need a Master’s) but CRM (Cultural Resource Management) is non-academic, so you don’t choose where you dig or what you study–if you live in the US, you will dig Native American or American historical settlements. If you want to work outside your home country, study an outside culture, and do all the Professor Archaeologist stuff, you need an academic job, for which you need a PhD, which takes forever to get (around 7 years of graduate school in the US, in addition to the 4 undergraduate). These are the jobs you heard about, which are incredibly difficult to get and very unstable, but possible.

It’s a matter of how badly you want it, because if this is the one and only thing which will make you truly happy, it’s worth the risk and job insecurity and financial difficulty. That stuff shouldn’t matter, if this is your one passion.

For me, after four years of being an archaeology major in undergrad, I decided that there were way more things that make me happy that did not require as much mental torture, and I could find other ways to travel and enjoy archaeology without doing the whole academic collegiate thing (which I discovered I hated; it was driving me nuts). For me, it wasn’t worth it. But for some people, it is; for some people, academia is a haven, and if you are one of those people, it might be worth pursuing. Just be absolutely sure you know what you’re getting yourself into; it’s a huge commitment. Do A LOT of internet searching on what it takes to get these jobs, what jobs are available, what grad school is like, what the jobs themselves are like, and decide for yourself.

No matter what you decide, though, I would recommend going to an archaeological field school at some point. Because nobody teaches you how to excavate in undergrad (that I know of), it will give you hands-on experience and show you what it’s like before you go all the way to grad school. Even if you decide not to go for a career in archaeology, it’s an awesome experience, and you at least get to travel and do something new and exciting. (To see some available at the moment, go here: and make sure you check the box that says “field school”.)

]]> By: Frank T http://www.resumebutler.com/blog/what-are-the-chances-of-actually-making-a-good-career-out-of-archaeology/comment-page-1/#comment-2162 Frank T Sun, 05 Apr 2009 06:01:01 +0000 http://www.resumebutler.com/blog/what-are-the-chances-of-actually-making-a-good-career-out-of-archaeology/#comment-2162 you will either be working for a museum or a school with a lot of grunt work and low pay until you get your PHD in the field then it is still a long long road to get anywhere in th at field that's why when you see anyone on TV that has found something new, they are very old...it takes most of their lives to get anywhere god for it if it is your dream, stick with it and do better t han everyone else and maybe you will have a great life doing what you love good luck smile you will either be working for a museum or a school with a lot of grunt work and low pay until you get your PHD in the field
then it is still a long long road to get anywhere in th at field
that’s why when you see anyone on TV that has found something new, they are very old…it takes most of their lives to get anywhere
god for it if it is your dream, stick with it and do better t han everyone else and maybe you will have a great life doing what you love

good luck
smile

]]> By: Anubis http://www.resumebutler.com/blog/what-are-the-chances-of-actually-making-a-good-career-out-of-archaeology/comment-page-1/#comment-2161 Anubis Thu, 02 Apr 2009 20:54:50 +0000 http://www.resumebutler.com/blog/what-are-the-chances-of-actually-making-a-good-career-out-of-archaeology/#comment-2161 I think the same goes for making a good career out of any area - work hard, keep your mind on your goals and most importantly, don't give up! If you really want it, you can do it. Just be prepared for lots of studying, researching and writing. Traveling and having an open-mind are also essential. I agree with the person who mentioned schooling outside the US - I had to go to grad school in Europe to better my archaeological standing. You will need at LEAST a masters , if not a PhD to have any kind of decent shot. Good luck!!! I think the same goes for making a good career out of any area - work hard, keep your mind on your goals and most importantly, don’t give up! If you really want it, you can do it. Just be prepared for lots of studying, researching and writing. Traveling and having an open-mind are also essential. I agree with the person who mentioned schooling outside the US - I had to go to grad school in Europe to better my archaeological standing. You will need at LEAST a masters , if not a PhD to have any kind of decent shot. Good luck!!!

]]> By: Jason http://www.resumebutler.com/blog/what-are-the-chances-of-actually-making-a-good-career-out-of-archaeology/comment-page-1/#comment-2160 Jason Wed, 01 Apr 2009 06:30:39 +0000 http://www.resumebutler.com/blog/what-are-the-chances-of-actually-making-a-good-career-out-of-archaeology/#comment-2160 Archaeology and Anthropology as a whole is a very competitive science. 50 percent of students will fail to make a successful career after schooling. However, Archaeology is still a very viable field and not too hard to get into. You have to make sure that when your doing your schooling your doing things to separate yourself from other students such as volunteer lab work, co-authoring papers with your professors, going to conferences, writing little papers of your own, and so forth. You can always become a professor and do some research of your own, there is still room for people in teaching. The other big route archaeologists take is CRM work, CRM some people will say doesn't pay much but it pays fine depending on where you are and who your working for. There is alot of CRM work for those who want it. Remember, to be able to get a job your going to need at least a Masters. Archaeology and Anthropology as a whole is a very competitive science. 50 percent of students will fail to make a successful career after schooling. However, Archaeology is still a very viable field and not too hard to get into. You have to make sure that when your doing your schooling your doing things to separate yourself from other students such as volunteer lab work, co-authoring papers with your professors, going to conferences, writing little papers of your own, and so forth. You can always become a professor and do some research of your own, there is still room for people in teaching. The other big route archaeologists take is CRM work, CRM some people will say doesn’t pay much but it pays fine depending on where you are and who your working for. There is alot of CRM work for those who want it.

Remember, to be able to get a job your going to need at least a Masters.

]]> By: bardmere http://www.resumebutler.com/blog/what-are-the-chances-of-actually-making-a-good-career-out-of-archaeology/comment-page-1/#comment-2159 bardmere Sun, 29 Mar 2009 00:44:51 +0000 http://www.resumebutler.com/blog/what-are-the-chances-of-actually-making-a-good-career-out-of-archaeology/#comment-2159 Are you prepared to work for schools outside the US? How important is money? How often are you willing to relocate? Get busy and do the research to answer the questions pertinent to your goals. Are you prepared to work for schools outside the US? How important is money? How often are you willing to relocate? Get busy and do the research to answer the questions pertinent to your goals.

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