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	<title>Love of History &#187; jobs</title>
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	<link>http://loveofhistory.com</link>
	<description>A historical perspective of current events</description>
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		<title>Annual Baynes Meeting for Ancient Historians: The Great Depression</title>
		<link>http://loveofhistory.com/annual-baynes-meeting-for-ancient-historians-the-great-depression/</link>
		<comments>http://loveofhistory.com/annual-baynes-meeting-for-ancient-historians-the-great-depression/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 17 May 2010 08:15:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[constantinakatsari]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Opinions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ancient history]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Baynes meeting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cuts in academia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[forum]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[great depression]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[jobs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[social media]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://constantinakatsari.wordpress.com/?p=455</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This weekend I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express at Stevenage. You are probably wondering what on earth I was doing in such an unlikely town, as it is devoid of any historical or archaeological interest. And yet, its obscurity means that overworked and underpaid Ancient Historians from across the UK could afford to pay the modest hotel bill for one night (the whole experience cost us around 100 pounds) and hold there the important Annual Baynes Meeting. It is worth mentioning that, despite the lukewarm service, the nearly edible food and the very basic facilities, we will probably hold the Meeting in the same place also next year. The low price and the convenience of public transportation are the main reasons for such a choice. The quality of the hotel matched the depressing atmosphere of the Meeting. It became obvious from the very beginning that most of my colleagues were concerned with the situation in Higher Education. The impeding cuts at the University of Leeds and King’s College London hit a nerve earlier this year. Everyone agreed that this is the beginning of a long freeze in recruitment and possibly also payments. It is expected that the majority of the universities in the UK will not hire any ancient historians in the next five years. This could only mean that fresh PhD and Postdoctoral researchers will not be able to find permanent or even three year posts. Instead, they may have to seek alternative means of survival, until the crisis is over and departments manage to balance their budgets. In subsequent posts this week I intend to give more specific information about individual universities and their current state of affairs. So, what are we going to do about it? The first measure that has been suggested is an immediate change in the nature of British Academy Fellowships. For example, it has been noted that during the 1980s, when another freeze was imposed to university posts, these Awards were given to older, more experienced Ancient Historians. This way several members of our profession stayed employed and went on to find permanent jobs much later, in the beginning of the 1990s. Now, we may be facing a similar situation. If some of our skilled historians find themselves without a job in the near future, then, instead of seeking another post, they would probably be allowed to apply for a postdoctoral British Academy Fellowship. Of course, such a course of action will have severe implications on the future of current Ph.D. students, who will be left without true prospects in Academia. Another step that should be taken is to try to bring the community of Ancient Historians closer together. Several of us believe that a meeting once a year in Stevenage is not enough to discuss the problems arising from the current situation in Universities across the UK. So, we have seriously started discussing the usefulness of social media in creating an online community of Academics. I can assure you that the discussion in the Meeting was particularly heated (even by British standards) and that the delegates were divided in two distinct parties: the ones in favour of the scheme and the sceptics. As we agreed to disagree, we also came to the conclusion that there is no harm to try to use social media in order to raise the profile of Ancient History in the eyes of the public and at the same time create a forum of discussion for academics. With these aims in mind over the next few days I will set up a blog in which all Ancient Historians and Classicists will be able to post their views. The comments will be open to whoever wants to participate but the posts will be written only by members of Staff in UK universities. At the same time I will set up a facebook group, in which Ancient Historians and Classicists (again only UK Staff) will be able to participate in the discussion. When these two platforms are ready you will be contacted via email. If some of you are not contacted and you wish to participate, please, let me know about it. In the meantime, if you wish to share your views with the rest of us, you can post them in my facebook page called &#8220;Love of History&#8221;, which is also open to the public.]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>20</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Professional Skills for Ancient Historians, Classicists and Archaeologists</title>
		<link>http://loveofhistory.com/professional-skills-for-ancient-historians-classicists-and-archaeologists/</link>
		<comments>http://loveofhistory.com/professional-skills-for-ancient-historians-classicists-and-archaeologists/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 29 Jan 2010 09:24:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[constantinakatsari]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[How to get a job]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Opinions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ancient history]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[archaeology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[classics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[jobs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[professional]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[skills]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://constantinakatsari.wordpress.com/?p=139</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The study of the classical world may look obsolete in the eyes of the close-minded but, in fact, it has never been timelier. The restructuring of modern societies, the declaration of semi-religious wars, the economic crisis… they all resemble comparable incidents that took place in the past. A student of classical antiquity can easily make parallelisms and learn from previous mistakes, which is a lot more than what government officials can claim. Since the graduate of ancient history, archaeology or classics is able to assess more accurately current events and adjust easily to the changes of our time, s/he will always have an advantage over the ones who struggle to comprehend the intricacies of modern life. In professional terms, the skills acquired during undergraduate studies are invaluable in the search for a job and the subsequent building of a fulfilling career. My lecturing job in the School of Archaeology and Ancient History at Leicester for the last five years helped me become aware of the practical skills our students develop over time. I will provide here a list, so that the prospective candidates of a job can use them for the construction of their curriculum vitae. • Communication. By the time undergraduates complete their studies they probably wrote enough essays to make up an entire book. I always insist that the style should be lucid and fun, so that I do not struggle through the manuscript while I am making corrections. I consider the development of writing skills as one of the most important aspects of their BA. In addition, we all demand that our students indulge in oral presentations of their work in front of the class. Fluency and coherence are graded highly, while shyness and awkwardness are discouraged. • Information Technology. Studying the past does not mean that, in the process, you will use only ancient tools. On the contrary, technological skills are necessary for the analysis of the evidence and their presentation. Especially archaeology students are some of the biggest computer geeks I know. Classicists may occasionally complain about the advances of technology but they always indulge in the compilation of bibliographical databases, the search of online archives and the use of visual aids during their written or oral presentations. And as if IT skills are not enough, mathematics enters also the equation in the form of statistical analysis of the ancient material. • Team working is another aspect of the degree. It may involve the joint development and presentation of a written project or the conduct of an archaeological excavation. Either way, students are encouraged to cooperate with their peers and their supervisors in an agreeable manner. They learn to avoid friction, follow advice, come up with ideas that would benefit the team and resolve arguments. And we all know how many arguments may arise during fieldwork! • Problem solving cannot be underestimated. The students learn how to address historical or archaeological problems by using the available material evidence, ancient written sources and secondary literature. In all cases, they use their critical thinking and developing imagination in order to reconstruct events that happened hundreds or thousands of years ago. • The ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines is another skill we insist on. Deadlines for handing the essays or completing the degree are set in stone (with the exception of illness or death, of course). In order to organise themselves better in order to comply with the regulations, the students develop project and personal management skills. • My favourite skills are the ones our students develop during their year abroad. As Exchanges coordinator, I am responsible for sending students to foreign universities for the duration of a year. During this time, they become adventurous, more independent, confident human beings with a variety of new interests. They learn a new language, they adopt a new lifestyle, they become more tolerant of other cultures and people. By the time they return to Leicester to recommence their studies, they are more mature and more determined to achieve their goals. If you have any other skills in mind, please, add them in the comments. I am sure future graduates will appreciate them immensely!]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Relocation, Relocation: The Fate of an Academic Gypsy</title>
		<link>http://loveofhistory.com/relocation-relocation-the-fate-of-an-academic-gypsy/</link>
		<comments>http://loveofhistory.com/relocation-relocation-the-fate-of-an-academic-gypsy/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 22 Jan 2010 08:53:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[constantinakatsari]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[How to get a job]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Opinions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[academic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ancient history]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[arcaheology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[classics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[jobs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PhD]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[relocation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[researcher]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://constantinakatsari.wordpress.com/?p=124</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Last Sunday I went for tango in Market Harborough. There, I have been introduced to a young dancer with excellent leading skills. Curious about his style, I asked him where he took tango lessons. He mentioned that he started in Paris and then he continued in Canada and the UK. Then it was my turn to reveal the whereabouts of my teachers: Ireland, UK, Italy, Germany and Greece. The next question took me by surprise. He asked me: Are you a Researcher? How could he have guessed? Was it my scholarly glasses? My lack of fashion sense? Or my excellent grasp of the English tongue, despite my Greek origins? No, he said. Only researchers travel so much and stay in a place long enough to take tango lessons! So, is this the fate of all Academic researchers? I am sure there are some bright exceptions, who were lucky to study as undergraduates and postgraduates at an Institution that eventually gave them a job. For the rest of us, the road is our only option. As early as the end of your BA, they advise you to seek another university for the completion of your MA studies. And as soon as you get your First, they ask you to move once more, so that you can find a supervisor in yet another university. By that time, you may start wondering whether they dislike you intensely and thus try to get rid of you. I can assure you this is not true. Your teachers probably think that you will need the experience of adapting in a new working environment, since for the rest of your life you will be moving from one city to another, one country to another, or one continent to another. (There are no universities in different planets, yet!) Jobs in Ancient History, Archaeology and Classics are scarce and they are advertised once in a blue moon. When I finished my PhD I sent applications in ca. 30 universities, in 2 different continents, in 4 different countries. The chances of staying in UCL, where I finished my thesis, were negligent and I have not bothered applying not even for a part time post. From then onwards I found out that the only way to stay in Academia was to get whatever was on offer in whatever place it was offered. The repeated moves took their toll, physically, emotionally and socially. Only determination and blind idealism kept me going over the years. Finding a permanent job is not a guarantee that you will stay permanently in the same city either. Sabbaticals are usually spent in foreign countries, excavating, using the libraries, becoming part of laboratories… And when the time comes to ask for a promotion, then another move may be in the horizon. The only opportunity for a researcher to remain in one place and grow roots is after she/he departs for the Underworld. Or is it that also the beginning of a new journey?]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>4</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Seven Requirements to get an Academic Job.</title>
		<link>http://loveofhistory.com/seven-requirements-to-get-an-academic-job/</link>
		<comments>http://loveofhistory.com/seven-requirements-to-get-an-academic-job/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 07 Jan 2010 08:14:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[constantinakatsari]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[How to get a job]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Opinions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[academic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[administration]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[funding]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[jobs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[publications]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[requirements]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[teaching]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://constantinakatsari.wordpress.com/?p=101</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Ancient Historians are struggling to get their first post after they finish the PhD. The qualified candidates are too many, while the available jobs are always scant. In a previous article I insisted that the one prerequisite for getting a placement in a university is that the applicant should be a “good fit”. Even if this is essentially true for all cases, we should not forget that the competition is stiff and that the prospective candidates should meet also a set of other requirements. 1)      Publish or perish! Although this rule is not a strict prerogative, it would be advisable that the applicant has already published a couple of reviews and a couple of articles. The most prestigious the journal, the more chances s/he has to be noticed. Publishing in edited collections is also acceptable, if the editor is a well known scholar. 2)      In addition, a contract with a university press to publish the thesis could be very helpful. Be careful not to get contracts with vanity presses! They can do more harm than good! 3)      Teaching experience is a must. A few lectures as a visiting scholar, or a tutorial as a PhD student may prove your abilities as a teacher and give you adequate experience that will allow you to face the burden of full time teaching later. 4)      You need to prove that you can network and organize events. Therefore, you should volunteer to co-organize the Ancient History or Classics Seminar in your department, in which you can invite scholars from other universities. Alternatively, you should co-organize a conference on a topic of your choice. If all goes well, you may even manage to put together an edited volume. 5)      The ability to raise funds is probably one of the most important assets you can exhibit. Any type of scholarships, grants or fellowships you acquired over the years should be highlighted. Departments are especially interested in candidates who can bring regular revenue; thus compensating for their salary. Excellent scholars tend to underestimate the power of money and focus only on their publication record. I am certain, though, that hiring committees will take a different view. Do not forget that universities are also business organizations with annual budgets, accountants and managers. 6)      In the current climate you will need to prove your ability to become a competent administrator. Once you have acquired a permanent post in any university, you will be asked to perform administrative tasks. These may involve compiling grades, or organizing the teaching schedule, or arranging for exchanges with the Erasmus program, or coordinating modules, or…. anything really. As the amount of time we spend administering the department increases, so do the job requirements. Therefore, if you manage to hold a part time job as a clerk or administrator in any organization (even for the briefest of times), it will be considered an asset. 7)      In addition to the above, you will need to develop a pleasant personality to match your new position in life. A long list of publications is not the only prerogative to get the much desired post. You will definitely need excellent communication skills, a charming disposition and an ease in making new friends. In order to achieve this you should stop reading blogs, stop commenting on facebook photos and abstain from your continuous string of tweets. Get out of the house and go to the nearest pub! As most academics are also perfectionists, I should offer a word of caution. Try not to get overqualified, while you attempt to meet the above requirements. If you end up having more publications than your future Head of Department or you gain more grants than senior scholars, you will probably be rejected.]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>What jobs can you do with an Ancient History or Classics degree?</title>
		<link>http://loveofhistory.com/what-jobs-can-you-get-with-an-ancient-history-and-classics-degree/</link>
		<comments>http://loveofhistory.com/what-jobs-can-you-get-with-an-ancient-history-and-classics-degree/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 01 Jan 2010 07:53:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[constantinakatsari]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[How to get a job]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Opinions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[academic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ancient history]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[career]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[classics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[course]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[degree]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[jobs]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://constantinakatsari.wordpress.com/?p=85</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Contrary to the image I usually project, I do not expect my students to dedicate themselves to a life of poverty in their pursuit of learning Greek or Latin. Instead, I am a firm believer that a course in Ancient History or Classics is only the first step to achieve an illustrious career outside academia. Unfortunately, the direction they may take is not an obvious one. Up to now, when they asked me about the application of their degrees in real life, I tended to joke and claimed that “we are useless to humankind, since all of our customers died centuries ago”. Here I intend to correct this fallacy, and give a list of the professions our graduates follow. Probably the majority of students become educators, after they receive their degree. In my eyes, teaching is not a profession. It is a vocation that can be very rewarding. Because of their love for books, many choose to become librarians. This allows them to continue their avid reading, without having to pay a fortune to bookshops. Historical training and the analysis of ancient processes give the ability to analyse modern events. Journalism, and especially becoming a foreign correspondent, is an excellent application of the skills you would acquire during your university years. However, in order to follow this profession you may need an MA in Journalism. Until then, you may pursuit blogging. You should not dismiss the skills you get, when you write your essays. I always insist on grammar and syntax and all the tedious little details that make a script enjoyable to read. Once you master the English language it will not be difficult to find a job as a copy editor, editor, or technical author. Traditionally, classics graduates in the UK enter public services and become competent administrators. Under the current economic circumstances, this may be an excellent idea. In addition, private businesses (e.g. banks) are always in need of graduates that will become part of their administrative mechanism. If you do not find the safety of a monthly salary appealing, then you can start your own business. For this choice you will need two additional prerequisites: a) a passion for something outside the sphere of ancient history and b) some entrepreneurial skills (which normally cannot develop in a university environment). Since I find this career path especially interesting (albeit difficult), I will talk about this possibility in more detail over the next few months. Working with primary material is another skill that can be turned into a job. Many graduates will opt for becoming archivists or even museum curators, after they receive the appropriate postgraduate training. Politics is another sphere you may choose to enter. Your acumen in the analysis of current affairs (or ancient ones), your eloquence (after all you read Cicero’s speeches) and your ideals (I am sure you did not become an ancient historian because you expected a financial return) will turn you into an excellent professional politician. Also, if you can speak a couple of languages, you may pursuit a career as a Diplomat or International Relations specialist. If you fail in your aspirations to get in the limelight, you can always work as a public policy analyst. Corporate organizations will be glad to hire classicists or ancient historians in sectors such as marketing, human resources and project management. Look for companies with a strong business philosophy in need of graduates with analytical skills and uncommon sense. And make certain that you have some hands on experience in a local company before you apply for such a post. After all, in these cases experience always counts more than any ‘First Class’ degree you may get. The ones who enjoy travelling should definitely follow a career as a tour planner or guide. This way you will get all the free trips your heart desires and you will meet a range of interesting people. Other less known professions, you can follow are: stockbroker, IT programmer, event coordinator, translator or interpreter, police investigator. For all of these you will need additional training but the effort will be worth it, if you heart is at it. I wish you good luck in whatever you chose! Just make certain that you follow your passions and your future happiness will be assured!]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>50</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Academic Jobs in Ancient History</title>
		<link>http://loveofhistory.com/academic-jobs-in-ancient-history/</link>
		<comments>http://loveofhistory.com/academic-jobs-in-ancient-history/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 10 Dec 2009 13:26:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[constantinakatsari]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[How to get a job]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[academic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ancient history]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[postdoc]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://constantinakatsari.wordpress.com/?p=33</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This week I took notice of a THES blog written by the Insecure Scholar. He lamented the fact that he is receiving invitations to teach at universities as a guest lecturer but none of these institutions is willing to give him a permanent job. At a moment of frustration I answered that he may be the best scholar in the world but this does not mean that universities are willing to pay money for his scholarly skills. Unfortunately, I have not expanded on this idea and this may have caused uncertainties. I intend to clarify here what I meant. I am not insensitive to the needs and disappointments of the Insecure Scholar. After all I was in his/her shoes until comparatively recently. I spent four years after my PhD trying to get Postdoctoral Fellowships and a series of part-time jobs in order to survive (both in physical and professional terms). During this time I was trying to get a permanent job in Ireland, the Celtic Tiger of the European Union. I kept applying and reapplying for every available post but my efforts did not yield any positive results. Every time I was rejected I looked back at my cv. Initially, I thought that my articles and forthcoming-contracted books were not adequate for the post. Or, maybe, my considerable teaching experience did not meet the strict standards of the Irish Universities! Of course, when I realized that the successful candidates have not even finished their PhDs, my confusion reached unprecedented levels. I consider myself fortunate to have landed a job in Leicester, after sending my second application for a post in a British University. Now, from the inside, I realize that UK Universities are not that different from the Irish ones. A list of publications and part-time teaching posts under no circumstances do they guarantee a post in ancient history. I have seen so many excellent candidates over the last few years. All of them send one application after another and get one interview invitation after another, without being able to get a contract or permanent position. The reasons for being rejected are as many as the candidates themselves. They may have too many or too few publications or articles in the wrong journals or wrong edited collections. Or their topic may not be exactly what the department is looking for. Or they may be too traditional or too modern. Or they may be coming from countries outside the European Union. Or&#8230; In a nutshell, they do not “fit”. UK Universities are desperate to find a combination of attributes in each candidate, which will prove that s/he will easily integrate himself/herself in the department. Once the scholar is integrated s/he will have to prove that s/he can contribute financially to the glory of the department. So, please, do not despair, if the job does not come up immediately after you finish your PhD. There is not one recipe that may guarantee a post. There is, of course, advice one can give e.g. on writing a cover letter or on presenting yourself in an interview. Beyond that, it is anybody’s guess, who will be hired.]]></description>
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