Topic ID #6735 - posted 1/19/2010 6:16 PM
Archaeovagrant
What's the job outlook for spring?
Archaeovagrant
Around this neck of the woods, the oil and gas business is pretty down. The company I worked for is out of the archaeology business. But on the up side, I have heard rumors of lots of work in my old stomping ground in New Mexico, and there is the promise of big projects in CA.
How is it looking where y'all are?
How is it looking where y'all are?
Post ID#17124 - replied 1/25/2010 4:32 PM
Archaeovagrant
<crickets>
Well, I guess that pretty well sums it up...
Well, I guess that pretty well sums it up...
Post ID#17126 - replied 1/25/2010 7:29 PM
McBain05
It really should tell you that no one really knows.
There is a little bit of uncertainty out there. It seems a lot of firms are "making do" with the techs and chiefs they currently have rather than expand their crew sizes. The job boards are full of historians and architecture historian postions, a few PI type gigs for archaeologists, and then the feds with the Status Candidate jobs and seasonal gigs. Not a whole lot of activity in terms of expanding payrolls.
The firm I work with (as a quasi-PI.. Field Director, I guess) has plenty of work, but not enough to look for more people if you catch my drift.
It is still and employers market out there. Plenty of good people out of work to chose from. So alot of competetion for a few gigs.
There is a little bit of uncertainty out there. It seems a lot of firms are "making do" with the techs and chiefs they currently have rather than expand their crew sizes. The job boards are full of historians and architecture historian postions, a few PI type gigs for archaeologists, and then the feds with the Status Candidate jobs and seasonal gigs. Not a whole lot of activity in terms of expanding payrolls.
The firm I work with (as a quasi-PI.. Field Director, I guess) has plenty of work, but not enough to look for more people if you catch my drift.
It is still and employers market out there. Plenty of good people out of work to chose from. So alot of competetion for a few gigs.
Post ID#17141 - replied 1/26/2010 2:41 PM
334archag
Business ain't boomin'---There's much handwringing and head scratching down here in the Southeast. It definitely is an oversaturated job market out there.
Post ID#17225 - replied 1/29/2010 6:24 PM
Archaeovagrant
Yeah, that's pretty much what I have been told--there is work, but not the big projects that require the hiring of bunches of people. I feel that the market will only get worse, since many are going back to school, and in two years, there will be an even bigger glut of shiny, new, unemployed MAs out there.
And this cruddy winter doesn't help, either--every time the snow starts to melt, we get hit again. Great for the farmers, who need the irrigation water, but a pain for the field people who need bare ground to survey.
And this cruddy winter doesn't help, either--every time the snow starts to melt, we get hit again. Great for the farmers, who need the irrigation water, but a pain for the field people who need bare ground to survey.
Post ID#17266 - replied 2/2/2010 12:09 PM
burge
Twiddling thumbs in Southern NM.
Post ID#17322 - replied 2/11/2010 12:15 AM
BAJR
UK - anyone survived until April 2010 and they will be fine... many groups are turning down jobs. However, with tightening Govt Finances (thanks international bankers!) to pay debt, we are losing museums and council curatorial services.. which is not good for the longterm.
me... I can pick and choose now...
me... I can pick and choose now...
Post ID#17362 - replied 2/17/2010 12:57 PM
DopplerDave
The company I have been working for just informed me that they probably won't have anything until the end of next Summer, or the beginning of the Fall.
I sure could use a pipeline right about now...argh
I sure could use a pipeline right about now...argh
Post ID#17365 - replied 2/17/2010 3:53 PM
LIVERS
Archaeovagrant - "I feel that the market will only get worse, since many are going back
to school, and in two years, there will be an even bigger glut of
shiny, new, unemployed MAs out there."
And here I thought I was going to increase my chances of getting into the field by graduating with an MA early - looking back now, I find it slightly amusing how sheltered and unaware the system left me. Even as an undergrad I had friends joking that I wouldn't find work with a BA so why worry about getting another degree. Perhaps I should have considered their comments more carefully because I have achieved the status of an unemployed MA. At least I will enjoy the work when there is work to be done.
And here I thought I was going to increase my chances of getting into the field by graduating with an MA early - looking back now, I find it slightly amusing how sheltered and unaware the system left me. Even as an undergrad I had friends joking that I wouldn't find work with a BA so why worry about getting another degree. Perhaps I should have considered their comments more carefully because I have achieved the status of an unemployed MA. At least I will enjoy the work when there is work to be done.
Post ID#17366 - replied 2/17/2010 4:25 PM
Archaeovagrant
Well, I never meant to discourage anyone from getting a master's--heaven knows I wish I had one--but I have noticed that more MAs are scrambling for field tech jobs, and I don't see how, without a major change in the economy, how that will change. I mean, why hire a BA when you can get an MA for the same money?
Post ID#17368 - replied 2/17/2010 4:35 PM
DopplerDave
Last year I worked for a large company that left us so broke on the road with unpaid perdiem (stupid accountants...grrr) that one day after work I ran into my PI digging though the trashcans at the Food Lion to get receipts before I could get them. He was a Phd. There were three Phd's on that crew that made $12.50, just like me... Having an MA or a Phd doesn't guarantee anything but owing money for a VERY long time in this field. Add in kids and your loans will probably get paid off sometime shortly after you die...lol. I have kids, I know.
I was told a few years ago that this field was ranked #1 in the career choice list of what takes the most education to be paid the least.
Post ID#17372 - replied 2/18/2010 1:35 AM
Jennifer Palmer
Webmaster
Very sobering, but unfortunately not surprising.
I read a news story yesterday in which a government official was basically predicting that things weren't really going to be looking up for at least 2 more years. Someone gave me the advice many years ago that in addition to archaeology-related skills, it's always a good idea to have something else you can fall back on if you need to get a job doing something else. I thought it was good advice, but it seems like a lot of folks are having a tough time finding anything now, even outside CRM.
I read a news story yesterday in which a government official was basically predicting that things weren't really going to be looking up for at least 2 more years. Someone gave me the advice many years ago that in addition to archaeology-related skills, it's always a good idea to have something else you can fall back on if you need to get a job doing something else. I thought it was good advice, but it seems like a lot of folks are having a tough time finding anything now, even outside CRM.
Post ID#17401 - replied 2/24/2010 8:45 AM
raerae1980
I am sooooo worried about graduating with an MA in bioarchaeology this spring. I want to teach at the junior colleges here in Los Angeles but the job market sucks. I can't even afford to do fieldwork this summer...
/very stressed out.
Post ID#17413 - replied 2/27/2010 2:10 PM
KB
Things are definitely slow in my neck of the woods. We have a lot of pending work but between permits being held up, excessive snow, and very budget conscious clients, things aren't looking too good. We had to let go all of our hourly staff and we're running a skeleton crew for the time being.
Even when we start our bigger projects, I doubt we'll be bringing on any temp crew. We're either going to make due with what we have or bring back our laid off staff.
Even when we start our bigger projects, I doubt we'll be bringing on any temp crew. We're either going to make due with what we have or bring back our laid off staff.
Post ID#17415 - replied 2/28/2010 6:19 AM
archaeofreak
Obviously if you don't have a job now, you probably wont be getting one in the near future...
Post ID#17417 - replied 2/28/2010 9:02 AM
Chupadero
Bleak outlook for summer...until the economy gets better I dont see a change, at least in southern NM. Oil business is in the tank (no pun intended) and all Federal work as been squashed do to budget cuts. This is the worst I have seen it in at least 15 years.
Time to get your CV in to Best Buy.
Time to get your CV in to Best Buy.
Post ID#17419 - replied 3/1/2010 8:03 AM
lostmtkid
In lieu of the abysmal field season last year, I decided to broaden my horizons in terms of jobs where I could still utilize some of the same knowledge/skills I acquired in the archaeology trade. Starting on 1 Jan, I applied for almost every park ranger, visitor use assistant and museum technician position that popped up on USAJOBS. Last week, the phone started ringing and, right now, I have a few offers to choose from (i'm leaning toward Alaska). While it isn't archaeology, I would rather be employed as a seasonal ranger with the USFS/NPS than just another minion in the world of retail.
Post ID#17437 - replied 3/4/2010 9:44 AM
KB
I had a feeling this was coming and am actually surprised that it's taken this long to come up but...
has anyone else been following the ACRA discussion on the recent GAO report indicating the NHPA is an impediment to stimulus projects? The report is here: GAO
One of my fears when the recession started was that regulations relating to NEPA and NHPA were going to be viewed as detrimental to the economy, and instead of streamlining them or providing appropriate funding to oversight agencies, that they would just be gutted in the name of economic development. I guess only time will tell.
has anyone else been following the ACRA discussion on the recent GAO report indicating the NHPA is an impediment to stimulus projects? The report is here: GAO
One of my fears when the recession started was that regulations relating to NEPA and NHPA were going to be viewed as detrimental to the economy, and instead of streamlining them or providing appropriate funding to oversight agencies, that they would just be gutted in the name of economic development. I guess only time will tell.
Post ID#17441 - replied 3/5/2010 6:58 AM
scottyj432
The GAO report also cites the Davis-Bacon Act and the Buy American provision as being impediments. I have heard some comments of pundits on the news channels over the past few days who are critical of the slowness of the recovery funds being spent, and both Davis-Bacon and Buy American have been repeatedly cited as the main reason for the delay in releasing funds...of course, these comments are coming from pundits advocating for a completely unregulated free market. I haven't heard any of them complaining about NHPA.
Anyway, I don't think the report will lead to a gutting of NHPA. Bad weather was also cited.
Anyway, I don't think the report will lead to a gutting of NHPA. Bad weather was also cited.
Post ID#17451 - replied 3/8/2010 12:57 PM
FireArch
Moderator
If you look at the chart on p. 14 it is clear that 8 of 20 list agencies reported issues with the State, local, or tribal entities. Only 2 of 20 had an issue with NHPA (5 of 27 cited in text for DBA issues).
Clearly the summary report was written for the supporters of a certain ideology by trying to implicate compliance with Federal Law as the hold-up.
Clearly the summary report was written for the supporters of a certain ideology by trying to implicate compliance with Federal Law as the hold-up.
Post ID#17475 - replied 3/10/2010 11:11 AM
moorele
Good luck to those of you seeking a job. Here is the recent distirbution of pain in maps.
http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com/2010/03/regional-employment-report-unemployment.html
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