To train as an Archaeologist?

[Todecide]

I am nearly 40 and have been a SAHM for a while.

I have the opportunity to study for a degree in Archaeology & History.

However, I am having doubts as to whether I would ever get paid work in this sector. My last career was in something office based.

I know that there is not much recruitment but there are opportunities for dig work experience. At the end of the day, I am just wary of studying for all that time and volunteering but never getting a job.

Any archaeologists/historians out there?

Honestly, if you're willing to tout around and make connections with people there is a fair bit of work for a dedicated freelancer. The historic and environmental depts of any regional council can always use the kind of knowledge that you'll gain (environmental factors are a huge part of landscape arch) and even major chain stores need to employ someone to check out the land that they want to potentially build on. The work is out there if you think outside the box a bit and look a bit further afield :)

I graduated in 2000 with a BA in archaeology from an RG university. I really really wanted a career in archaeology but the wages available were so low that it was not possible.

The only people on my course that were able to continue in the field were those with parents that supported them financially, or those that were able to move back to their parents home while they worked or undertook post grad studies.

100% agree about the current housing boom being unsustainable, I can't believe it's gone on as long as it has. Over the past few years the majority of the work we do is related to housing. Prior to the 2008 crash, we seemed to be doing lots of large infrastructure jobs (pipelines, roads etc.), less so now (at least at our place).

I reallythink it could be quite painful when it pops, its just cheap money and low rates keeping it going. It could end in a few months.

At your company are things benining to look shakey with the boom or still looking strong?

I hope if it does pop there are more large infrastructure projects, this building of clacky small places that don't even meet council house standards isn't helping long term IMO.

There is talk of developing new towns. This could provide scope for this sector.

There's the three that clegg talked about.

With such nimbyism here, they struggle to build anywhere apart from horrid brownfeild sites next to rubbish dumps or main roads.

DyslexicScientist -- yes but horrid brownfield sites and rubbish dumps will provide lots of interesting archaeology.

That is very true! I just feel sorry for people buying those over priced slave boxes.

Dyslexic I had to laugh at the term "over priced slave boxes". Very sad and very true.

How would you feel about SOCO for the police? Or working for the construction trade for MOLA ?

My experience of humanities academia is that an Oxbridge undergrad and phd are the best way of getting an academic job anywhere, mature applicants are not especially welcome (never heard of a 50 year old junior academic), even for insanely well qualified people with the right "profile" it is nearly impossible to get a job and if you do manage to get on the career ladder, as a junior academic you have to be willing to move anywhere for 9 month contracts for the first few years of your career. I don't think academia sounds like a realistic option for you, sorry. However, it's worth doing a degree to get access to graduate jobs; you'll have a shot at jobs in your preferred field and even if you don't make it will probably increase your earning potential from what it is currently.

theycallme I would not be looking for an academic position.

What about the national trust? www.nationaltrust.org.uk/find-an-opportunity
They have a lot of volunteer vacancies and they would treat you well. There might even be training!

A history/archaeology degree is good for opening doors to jobs in other fields. Teaching, writing, analyst type roles, just nothing guaranteed at the end, but then to be fair, what degree subjects beyond say engineering and IT are?

Thank you DingbatsFur the National Trust does seem a good route to getting work experience.

It's really a tricky balancing act of what is enough volunteering?

Very true about opening doors to other fields of work.

Well, as an update, I have started my course

that's great! enjoy

Congratulations and best of luck!
I hope you enjoy it.

I did my degree and MA in Ancient History and Archaeology - not because it would prove to be a career but because I loved it.

In the end, it did prove to be career in that I discovered I loved heritage and now work for the National Trust. If you want any more info about volunteering / working for the NT then please PM me OP.