Hello, my name is Beth, and I am currently working at the Council for British Archaeology (CBA) as part of the UK Government’s Kickstart Scheme(link is external). The scheme is funding six-month work placements in a wide range of sectors, for people aged 16-24 who are unemployed. As someone who had struggled to find work since I graduated from my MA in Public History last year (January 2020), this was me.

During my time at university, I did lots of work experience and volunteering in the heritage sector. From dressing up in period clothing and explaining museum displays, to undertaking archival research for new exhibitions. I really like working on public engagement with the past, as I believe it has the power to educate, inspire, and entertain so many people. I also love that feeling of finding a new piece of evidence, that will help us better understand how individuals once lived. A particular interest of mine is working-class history, meaning archaeology appeals to me as a way to learn more about those sections of society that don’t often appear in the written records. As you can imagine then, I was very excited when I saw the placement at the CBA advertised and even more excited when I got offered the role! I am usually super nervous for interviews, but it really helped this time that I knew I’d be talking about something I am genuinely passionate about. I also knew I had lots of volunteering and interning experiences, which I could draw upon to demonstrate my different skills and interests.

I am now two months into my work placement at the CBA, and I have already learned so much. I have been creating activities for young archaeologists, writing text for new the website, helping organise events for the Festival, making TikToks for the CBA’s new account, and so much more! I am positive all these different experiences will set me up well for my future job searches. Aside from gaining lots of new practical skills, I have met loads of amazing heritage professionals and found out about areas in the sector I had not previously come across. What’s more, I am learning a lot about myself, like what tasks I enjoy doing the most and those that I am not too keen on. After all, there is no time limit on figuring out what you really want to do in life (we don’t all have a lightbulb moment as a child and that’s okay).

This placement is, however, definitely starting to help me get a clearer idea! I have also been receiving further employability support through Historic England(link is external), completing a course that covers interview skills, CV writing, etc. I can safely say I am now prepared for almost any interview question, including what dessert I would be if I was a dessert (in case you were wondering I’d definitely be a cheese board). When I finished university, I didn’t manage to get a job in the heritage sector straight away like I hoped I would, and then along came Covid-19 which made it even harder. What I would say to any graduates or early career archaeologists, is not to get disheartened if you don’t manage to get the job you really want instantly. I used my time without work, to complete some online courses, volunteer with a mutual aid group, learn new skills (I can now bake without the help of a pre-made mix), and reconnect with old hobbies. There is also lots to gain from getting an ‘imperfect’ job, while you continue your dream job search, such as meeting new people and developing different skillsets. You never know what is around the corner, and I wouldn’t be having this amazing experience in the archaeology sector if I hadn’t had a few hurdles along the way. Thank you so much if you have got this far into my blog post about why archaeology interests me and my experience of getting a role in the sector.

The Kickstart Scheme is still running, so if you are eligible I would really recommend speaking to your Work Coach about the opportunities currently available. You can learn more about the scheme here https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/kickstart-scheme.