Early Careers Group

Early Careers Logo

Your Profession, Your Future, Your Voice

This is the Group for anyone in the early stages of their career in archaeology, or for those who want to share their skills and experience with early career professionals. Are you excited (or worried!) about the journey ahead? Do you want a voice in shaping the profession? Then this is the Group for you!

Background

The Early Careers Special Interest Group was founded as the New Generation Special Interest Group in 2012 following a series of discussions and debates by a group of Practitioner (PCIfA) grade members at the 2012 CIfA conference in Oxford. It became clear that there were many people within the Institute, in the early stages of their careers in archaeology, who wanted to be more involved with the Institute and play a greater role within the sector as a whole.
For several years, the name of the group was felt to be confusing and not representative of the scope of the group’s ambitions. After consultation, the name was changed to ‘Early Careers’ in 2020.

The Early Careers Special Interest Group (SIG) is for archaeologists in the early stages of their own career pathways to come together to support one another, share their experiences and amplify their own voices. Together, with the group’s committee, the group will work to ensure that our members are represented at Advisory Council and that the needs and concerns of early career members are heard. We also hope to provide a platform to share information and opportunities that will support early career professionals, students and those contemplating a career in archaeology and associated fields.

Who does the group represent and who can join?

The Early Careers Group aims to support those interested in a career in archaeology and those archaeologists in the early stages of their career working in all aspects of the sector. Everyone is welcome to join the group but it is specifically relevant to those interested in a career in archaeology and those archaeologists in the early stages of their career working.

Aims

The aims of the group are:

Explore, research and offer practical support and advice on pathways into the profession and career development; including encouraging mentoring.
Highlight and showcase the contribution of early career archaeologists to the sector both in the present and in the future, online and at sector gatherings such as conferences, especially in providing show cases for group members.
Increase the role and representation of early career archaeologists within CIfA.
Engage and collaborate with other CIfA groups and with relevant outside agencies, such as Historic England and Council for British Archaeology.

How to join the Group

Membership of the Early Careers Group is free to CIfA members and student members are automatically enrolled. Membership is free to CIfA members through the Members area login. Those who are not members of the institute will need to pay an annual £10 fee and can join here

Twitter: follow Early Careers Group on Twitter! @CIfA_EC is the current handle.
Facebook: join the Facebook group
Email: groups [at] archaeologists.net
Instagram: search for the group by the handle @cifa_ec.

Committee

Sakshi Surana (Chair)
Tabitha Lawrence (Secretary)
Sarah Botfield (Treasurer)
Katie Sanderson
Jessica Elleray
Guillermo Diaz de Liano
Roisin O'Toole
Sophie Pearson
Phil Pollard (Advisor)
Claire Corkill (Advisor)
Joanne Kirton (Advisor)
Michael D'Aprix (Advisor)
Megan Schlanker (Advisor)

Group constitution

You can view our constitution here (PDF)..

Three-year plan

3 year plan 2023 - 2026

Forthcoming events

For information about upcoming events, please visit our event calendar. Members of the Institute can also find CPD recordings here in the meantime.

Your Profession, Your Future, Your Voice

Background

Who does the group represent and who can join?

Aims

How to join the Group

Committee

Group constitution

Three-year plan

Forthcoming events

Previous events

Useful Resources

AGM minutes

Committee minutes

In this section...