Hello all. I’m a first timer on the sub. I’m 30 days away from my bachelors degree in classical archaeology. I was pretty much guaranteed a job with americorps starting this summer but due to recent events in the government, it’s unlikely that my job will even exist by the end of this month.
I’ve lived on my own for a couple years now, and I’m in a city that I’m happy with. I have a semi active social life but my circle is pretty tight. I’ve worked for a certain restaurant chain for about five years now, so, since high school. To say I’m ready to move on would be an understatement. I’m planning on picking up a serving job downtown to boost my income and get a fresh start somewhere else.
So, in May, I’m gonna have a degree. I have little savings. I’m at a real crossroads but I can’t even see what roads I’m looking at. Tell me, what would you do? What’s my next step? What would you have done?
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Step one is figuring out what the hell to do with an archeology degree. I can’t help you there.
If a path remotely related to archeology isn’t any good, then figuring out what general profession you can enter is a good step, which is mostly a matter of an intersection of what professions you can enter into without a field specific degree (ie, you cannot become an accountant or engineer, but you could become a salesman or marketer or one of many other things) and what other skills and interests you have.
Have you ever done any work to consider any career field or have you always just assumed you’re doing an Americorps fellowship and assumed everything would work out fine after?
What kind of job are you looking for? Your degree is very specific
I just took three StrenghtFinders test and found it really illuminating. I think had I known about it when I was graduating I would have made different career choices.
Spend the $60. It’s worth it to make sure the job you are looking for matches your strengths (also get the StrengthsFinders book out of the library).
I moved across the country to ski when I finished college even though I had a good job secured at home. You’ll be fine
tbh, if grabbing a serving gig is going to let you live without dipping into your savings, you’ve got time to figure it out. Apply for what you’re interested in, get out to some new groups that are free (running clubs are good this time of year) and network a bit, see if you can find some leads from people you meet. Don’t expect to get a job that way, but treat it as a fact finding mission for figuring out what jobs are out there that you haven’t thought about before.
Archaeology degrees are probably an asset for working at museums – could you get a job there? (entry level roles there are usually working on the floor, “facilitating”. I know a lot of people who enjoyed that work before moving on to bigger things).
Maybe another route would be doing building inspections? (if so, it might potentially be an asset to get your LEED certification, it’s pretty cheap to take the exam, and a month is enough time to study for it part time ). You might be able to take your degree there and eventually find a niche with historical buildings.
If your grades are good enough, you could always see if there’s a masters or phd program that would pay you to do your degree at their institution.
anyway, someone else will probably have more ideas. but tldr, if you can pay your bills with a serving job, don’t stress about finding something right away. Take some time and network and see what opportunities are out there!
If you have ever had an inkling to join the military, now is the time to at least go ask questions. There are mah things that DQ someone so don’t assume you can just walk in and ship out, although it’s likely. You don’t even have to do it full time, try the reserves out.
Try archive services.
Yeah you are in a pickle with that degree since it is so narrow. I would definitely say check museums, what about any of the American Indian Tribes? What about individual states or territories? Is the UN looking for any one? What about oil or mining companies or sub contractors that work for them
On a side note you keep mentioning that you can’t go into military service because you have a new relationship and that it’s too early to get married. The two things are independent of each other. What were you going to do if Americorps sent you to some foreign land? You would be in the same boat. Being married and in the service does not guarantee she won’t leave you or cheat. If you really want to serve your country, do it. If your parents are concerned about your safety the space force, coast guard and Air Force have the lowest fatality rates
Mostly what you need right now is some elbow room.
Take the job, boost your income, find a place to live, and just give yourself a year to live life as an independent adult and THINK.
No one’s grading you any more. There are no test deadlines or paper deadlines. You’re due to have a year to just do your work, pay your bills, hang with friends, and consider options for Plan B.
Truth is, it sounds like you’re in better shape than a lot of kids your age. So just allow yourself to chill a bit. The best ideas bubble to the surface when you don’t push them too hard.
Plenty of jobs require a degree only and don’t really care about what type. Look for those. Talk to your college advisers and see what they say. Find something you find interesting that also provides skills; entry level quality control, regulatory compliance, HR, etc. Engineering jobs are likely a no go but there are plenty of corporate functions that you don’t really learn too much about in any degree program. You should also look at any job that will pay for additional schooling because… I suggest that you stay in school and go get your MBA. Who cares where from. Cost effective is fine but I’d prioritize a brick and mortar school and not just an online degree unless you can find a job that pays for you to get an MBA. If they pay and online is what they pay for then jump at it ASAP. Do it while you’re young and don’t have a wife and kids. You’ll learn from older people with industry experience in your classes. If you aren’t an idiot then MBAs are mindless group work.
I’d also look into a PMP certification (project management). The MBA and the PMP will open you up to a wide variety of BS corporate jobs that pay extremely well and can be applied to almost any company. That means you can get experience anywhere and apply anywhere so you can job hop in your 20s to get promoted quickly.
Most project managers I work with are complete dipshits so I’m sure you’ll be fine if you are slightly personable. Down side is that your life is spent in zoom meetings and you might hit a ceiling at some point as a PM. You’re a couple hundred thousand a year from that ceiling right now though.
You can do Archeology as a hobby or curate some museum during retirement. Stack cash now
This happened to me back during the last recession. I was looking to continue my education and just listened to story after story of my peers losing funding.
I completely dropped out and switched careers entirely. Not because I didn’t like the path, anthropology in my case, but because I didn’t like it enough to feel financially insecure.
So the question is do you like your path enough to give up security, struggle for funding, or to figure out a means to forge your own path (write books, YouTube) or do you want to switch gears while you’re young (which has its own problems)
Join the army