Frustrated Early-Career CRM Archaeologist
Hey everyone, frustrated seasonal CRM archaeologist here. I’m just generally looking for advice or insight into what’s happening. I finished my undergraduate degree in 2024, but have worked with my current company since my junior year of college (this is my fourth year with them). Up until last year we’d have consistent nine day projects throughout the year, but with all the DOGE and funding issues, 2025 was a very slow and poor paying season.
This year is shaping up to be even worse with my regional manager explaining projects won’t begin until mid to late June, if they happen at all. I’ve applied to several other firms for basic on-call tech positions, but haven’t gotten anything. I have plans to attend graduate school starting next year, but that’s a long time to be strung around hoping work will appear. Is this just another bad year for archaeology in general, or is it just a company issue? I fully expected to have a low income being a seasonal tech without a Master’s, but this feels especially bad.
Thanks for any insight!