- Team working
As part of your degree you will be involved in practical work, either in the lab or in the field. Both field and lab work are done in teams, and as such you will develop your team working skills. You will have detailed examples for when you apply for a job once you graduate placing you ahead of your competition.
- Communication
Your passion for the past will translate to great communication skills. Perhaps you will be presenting to your peers about your own research project, or talking to members of the public about a special find. Whatever the case, an archaeology degree will teach you to be an excellent and passionate communicator.
- Problem solving
You might have heard the phrase ‘no plan survives first contact with the enemy’. This could have been written about archaeology, because however much you plan to excavate a particular kind of site, you literally have no idea what you will find until you start digging. Inevitably you will find something completely different than was planned, and through this experience you will learn problem solving first-hand.
- Attention to detail
Have you ever watched an archaeologist uncover a rare or ancient find while on excavation? This painstaking work will teach you both patience as well as the ability to work carefully and methodically. You will be able to demonstrate to future employers your ability to show attention to detail.
- Analytical thinking
Doing an Archaeology degree will teach you that there any many different ways we can interpret the remains of the past. This means you will have to deploy analytical thinking to try to figure out what the most likely scenario was – just like a giant mystery!
- Resilience
Fieldwork is a key part of any Archaeology degree, and while you will undoubtedly enjoy most aspects of this, there are times when you will be tired. Experiences like this build resilience, and employers will love the fact that you can demonstrate personal resilience from your time at University.
- Leadership
Working in small groups is a key part of any Archaeology degree. You will be given the opportunity to develop your skills as a leader, in both the classroom and in more practical settings.
- Research
All Archaeology degrees involve you doing your own research. This is usually in the form of a dissertation which lets you explore your own research interests. You will be able to demonstrate excellent research skills to future employers which may well include a practical or lab-based component.
- Organisation
Whether it is being on excavation or working in the lab, an Archaeology degree will train you to be really organised, a key skill that employers are looking for.
- Confidence
Your passion for the past will make you more confident. The three or four years at University will enable you to develop your skills so that you stand out in any job interview.
