Archaeology : Your skills

Over the course of your degree you develop a good mix of subject specific and technical skills as well as transferable skills. The range and depth of the skills acquired will vary according to whether your degree is more humanities or science based. Archaeology courses teach a mix of subject-specific and technical skills which include:

• applying theoretical and scientific principles and concepts to archaeological problems;
• field-work techniques of identification, surveying, recording, excavation and sampling;
• post-excavation techniques such as analysis of field records, phasing and data archiving;
• laboratory techniques of recording, measurement, analysis and interpretation of archaeological material;
• applying statistical and numerical techniques to process archaeological data;
• interpretation of spatial data.

Whether you wish to pursue a career in archaeology or investigate other graduate career options, you will be able to demonstrate to employers a range of valuable transferable skills. Archaeology degree courses equip you with valuable and widely applicable skills, including the ability to:

• work as a team member/leader as a result of working in a group, for example, through field work or project work;
• form structured arguments supported by evidence;
• use of a range of IT packages;
• prepare and present oral presentations for different kinds of audiences;
• use information retrieval skills using paper-based and electronic resources to produce written reports;
• work methodically and accurately and demonstrate attention to detail.

Consider the skills developed on your course as well as through your other activities, such as paid work, volunteering, family responsibilities, sport, membership of societies, leadership roles, etc. Think about how these can be used as evidence of your skills and personal attributes. Then you can start to market and sell who you really are, identify what you may be lacking and consider how to improve your profile. Take a look at job application advice for some useful tips.