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Re: Job
David T. Hughes (dthughes@CS.TWSU.EDU)
Tue, 23 Apr 1996 11:16:17 -0500
On Mon, 22 Apr 1996, cc wrote:
> anthropology at the University of Colorado. I would think that this
> would be a gread place to inquire about new jobs being offered.
> However, after seeing the response to this simple question and the
> remarkes being made I would not ask this group any questions in fear of
Chris, don't let a few of the 'would be wits' get you down. This time of
the semester nobody is more than half functioning, which may something
about the wit [think about that one]. In all seriousness, any networking
you can do, whether it be on newsgroups like this, snail mail, IRC, in
person at conferences, volunteering at digs, dropping in on digs, etc.
will help in the job hunt deal. It's kinda like going to a store
shopping: name recognition counts for much in a hiring decision. So does
the still functioning 'good-ol-boy network' The latter tends to work
like this:
Hypotheticall, I might need 5 field workers (I don't right now, please
don't plague me with vitae!) and solicit applications with references. A
whole bunch of appls come in and I start sorting through them. Then pick
the top 8 or 10 and check with the references. Assuming all are still
around then, I pick up the phone and call a friend in the state(s) where
that person is or has worked and open a conversation with something like
"Hi ________. I'm considereing hiring so-and-so for a summer
position. What do you know about them? Can you refer me to someone who
does?"
The bottom line is that IF you have had the exposure and can be
tapped within 2 or 3 telephone calls to 'friends' you have a very good
chance of getting hired.
Yes, in this world, we are supposed to operate on merit, and do
to a large degree, but in my experience this networking is how 'merit' is
determined as often as not.
Any of the other hiring archaeologists out there have comments
<stand back, mah, hang the shutters and load the 30-30. I think there is
a raid coming! ;-) )
David T. Hughes
Dept. of Anthro.
Wichita State University
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