Antony Firth

How to win jobs and influence people: coping with commerce and competition

Abstract
In both public and private sectors, archaeological units (agencies, authorities, trusts, practices etc.) have to compete - on quality as much as cost - for projects, and ensure that work is carried out on a sound financial basis. Market forces are also at play as archaeological units try to ensure they have the right mix of staff. Again, quality and cost are major issues - but the ways in which they affect the profession are not straightforward. While units might ask 'what kind of archaeologists do we want to work for us?', archaeologists can equally ask 'what kind of archaeological unit do I want to work for?'. The continuing development of the profession is therefore, a concern for both institutions and individuals. In this paper I shall put forward some views on the future for professional marine archaeologists, drawing on experience as both employee and employer.