I am a final-year Archaeology and Classics student with a growing interest in museums, heritage, and creative industries, currently exploring how early-career opportunities shape pathways into the humanities. In this blog, I’ll share some of the practical things that have helped me start building experience in the humanities - from using LinkedIn and staying organised with applications, to navigating opportunities, networking, and looking after your wellbeing along the way.
Part 2: Finding your path - opportunities, networking, and navigating pressure
In the first blog post, I discussed building experience and visibility. Once you start building experience and getting organised, the next step is learning how to approach opportunities more broadly - and being open to paths that might not look exactly like what you originally imagined.
Apply for things that are even only slightly relevant
This one is slightly painful to accept, but it opens so many doors.
If your goal is to work in museums or archaeology, it’s natural to focus on roles in those areas. But limiting yourself too strictly can make things harder than they need to be. While my long-term interest is in museums and archaeology, I’ve consciously applied to roles outside of those areas as well - and that decision, although doubtful, has been incredibly valuable.
These might not look like your “ideal job” on paper – and they definitely aren’t mine - but they give you tools that are highly relevant in heritage spaces - especially as museums become more digital and audience-focused. In this way, applying more broadly doesn’t mean losing direction. It means giving yourself more opportunities to grow and gain experience.
This includes opportunities in:
- Content creation
- Social media
- Marketing
- Writing and editing
Initially, I was hesitant. It felt like I might be moving away from my main goals, or that I wouldn’t be taken seriously within my field if my experience seemed too broad, or that I was starting to stretch myself too thin (something I was hearing from a lot of people).
But in reality, these experiences have complemented my interests rather than distracted me from them. Even if they don’t look “perfectly aligned” at first glance, these roles build skills that are incredibly valuable in heritage and the humanities.
For example, being active in content creation and social media has strengthened my communication skills in ways that are directly relevant to museum work - particularly in areas like public engagement, interpretation, and accessibility, areas which are increasingly important in museums and heritage.
So yes, apply for things that are slightly outside your ideal path. Applying outside of the heritage sector has opened opportunities I wouldn’t have encountered otherwise and has allowed me to build experience while still moving toward my long-term aims. You’re not abandoning your goals - you’re building a broader toolkit to reach them.
You can exist in multiple industries at once
There’s this quiet pressure to “pick a lane,” especially in humanities fields. But honestly? That’s not always realistic - or even helpful.
At the moment, I find myself working across several areas simultaneously:
- Content creation and social media – curating my Instagram and TikTok
- Editing and publishing - working as a poetry and prose editor for a literary magazine called Candlelit Chronicles
- Heritage and archaeology - working as a Student Partner in the Victoria Gallery & Museum, and regularly participating in archaeological fieldwork or lab projects
At first, this felt slightly overwhelming. There’s often an expectation that you should focus on one clear path, especially as you approach the end of your degree. But over time, I’ve come to see this overlap as a strength rather than a weakness. These aren’t separate paths - they’re interconnected.
Each area supports the others:
- Writing improves clarity and communication
- Social media builds confidence and visibility
- Editing sharpens attention to detail
- Heritage experience provides a practical context
For example, writing blogs (like this!) regularly has improved how I present ideas, which has strengthened both my academic work and my applications. Similarly, being active online, on platforms like Instagram and LinkedIn, has increased my awareness of opportunities and allowed me to engage with a wider community – everything ends up connecting to each other and contributing to your overall skillset (and it does feel very satisfying realising that).
This combination has allowed me to explore what I enjoy while also developing a range of transferable skills. It has also made me more adaptable - something that is increasingly valuable in fields that are constantly evolving. You don’t have to be one thing immediately. You can explore, overlap, experiment - and figure things out as you go!
At an employability talk on careers in English and publishing, a reminder that you are allowed to attend talks not related to your degree and explore different paths:
Saying yes to opportunities that weren’t “perfect”
This might be the most unexpected advice, but it’s genuinely been one of the most valuable.
For example, some of the experiences I’ve said “yes” to that aren’t particularly my area of interest or study include:
- Working on drawing and photographing Iron Age querns before they get displayed in a museum
- Carrying out archival work focused on the Yoward cast iron gravestones archive in Telford
- Volunteering at the National Museums Liverpool, where I worked on labelling and organising ancient Cypriot pottery in the museum stores.
Working on Iron Age querns – not something I expected to love or be super passionate about, but such valuable hands-on experience:
Labelling and working with ancient Cypriot pottery – one of the experiences that ended up being far more interesting and insightful than I expected:
None of these areas initially stood out to me as something I was particularly passionate about. In fact, I remember feeling quite indifferent at the start about all of them. But the experience? Invaluable.
Working on the Iron Age querns massively strengthened my attention to detail and gave me the experience with archaeological illustration needed for me to start composing a portfolio, as well as a deeper insight into the day-to-day realities of heritage work – something that can be difficult to grasp through academic study alone. Working with ancient Cypriot pottery also introduced me to aspects of conservation, handling, and the importance of preserving objects with care and precision. Lastly, through archival work, I developed a much clearer understanding of how collections are managed, particularly through digital recording, cataloguing, and the careful organisation of historical material.
And more importantly, I realised that interest could grow through exposure. Or at the very least, that even “not your thing” can still be deeply worthwhile, by building your confidence in unfamiliar environments and developing skills that are transferable across a wide range of roles.
At the same time, however, it’s very important to acknowledge the pressure that comes with this mindset. There’s often an unspoken expectation that you should say yes to absolutely everything, take every single opportunity, and constantly be doing more. And while being open to all opportunities that come your way, it should never come at the cost of your well-being.
There have definitely been moments where I’ve felt like I needed to do everything at once, and it quickly became overwhelming trying to balance studying, work, and multiple commitments. What I’ve learned is that it’s not about doing everything – it's about doing what you can, while taking your health and wider life into consideration. After all, we all have lives outside of university and work.
Saying yes doesn’t literally mean saying yes to everything. It means being open to considering every opportunity that comes your way, even if you ultimately decide that now isn’t the right time – whether that’s due to time, energy, or even financial circumstances. It’s about making thoughtful decisions, not stretching yourself too thin.
It’s also important to remember that smaller experiences and personal projects still count. They still contribute to your growth, even if they don’t look as impressive on paper.
Prioritising your mental health, your existing commitments, and your capacity is just as important as gaining experience - if not more. Burnout doesn’t make you more successful – it just makes the process harder and less enjoyable.
So, if an opportunity comes up and your first thought is “that’s not really my area of interest” … consider saying yes anyway - but not at the expense of your health or personal life.
Networking (yes, I know, but hear me out)
Networking has a terrible reputation because it sounds transactional and forced. But at its core, it’s just… talking to people. Something we do every single day. And in fields like museums and archaeology, it matters. A lot.
The hardest part is starting. It feels incredibly intimidating at first – you will be literally talking to people who have decades more experience than you, who are in your dream jobs, who have an immaculate reputation. Pushing yourself to send that message, attend that event, introduce yourself - it feels uncomfortable and awkward at times. There’s always that underlying concern about saying the wrong thing or not knowing enough. However, I gradually started pushing myself to engage more - whether through LinkedIn, academic events, or informal conversations. And something interesting happens once you do it a few times.
At the PAS conference 2025 – lots of conversations, connections, opportunities, and all thanks to stepping out of my comfort zone:
You get a positive response.
Then another.
And suddenly your brain starts associating networking with good outcomes instead of anxiety. Over time, it became less about “networking” in a formal sense and more about building genuine connections with people who share similar interests.
It becomes easier with every following connection or chat. Even enjoyable (crazy, I know).
I’ve also noticed that many opportunities arise through these connections - not necessarily directly or immediately, but through conversations, advice, and increased visibility. People remember young adults who make an impression through reaching out or just being enthusiastic about their interests.
You also don’t have to be perfect at it or be the most confident person in the room. You just have to be genuine, curious, and willing to try. Most of my reaching out comes from finding people in interesting jobs like conservators or curators and messaging them something along the lines of:
Hi ___, I hope you’re having a great day!
I’m an undergraduate young professional interested in heritage, and I’m just reaching out because I wanted to say that I really admire the work you do.
I’d love to have a chat and hear about your own journey into ___ and if you have any advice for someone like me who hopes to gain experience in the sector and build a career!
Thank you so much for your time, and I really appreciate any guidance and advice – I'm very eager to learn as much as I can and grasp any opportunities I can!
Of course, the contents of the message will vary from person to person, but I use a very similar draft for a lot of the people I reach out to. Sometimes I might mention something they recently posted about, or mention something about the company they work in – but no matter what I say, I’ve gotten nothing but positive responses, personal advice, valuable opportunities, and even invites to places like Leighton House and the collections of National Museum Cardiff.
And yes - you might feel like you’re being “too much” sometimes. Too enthusiastic, too active, too visible. But in reality, that energy is often what draws opportunities in and makes people remember you. And who doesn’t like being admired?
Final reflections
There isn’t a single, clearly defined path into museums, archaeology, or the humanities.
It’s a mix of:
- Showing up consistently
- Being open to unexpected paths
- Building skills in different areas
- Putting yourself out there (even when it’s uncomfortable)
- And yes, a bit of persistence that sometimes feels borderline stubborn
There are still moments where everything will feel uncertain - there always are. I’ve definitely had those moments myself, where I’ve questioned whether I’m doing enough and as much as I humanly can. But at the same time, there’s a growing sense that each experience - each application, each project, each conversation - is contributing to something larger, even if it doesn’t feel like it in the moment.
If there’s one thing to take away, it’s this: you’re probably doing a lot better than you think.
At the same time, it’s important to remember that building a career should never come at the expense of your well-being. It’s very easy to fall into the mindset that you need to do everything, say yes to everything, talk to everyone, attend every talk happening, and constantly be achieving more. I’ve been there, and it’s exhausting.
What I’ve learned is that progress isn’t about doing everything at once. It’s about doing what you can, at a pace that is suitable for you. Some weeks will be productive, and others won’t - and that’s completely fine! You’re allowed to rest, to step back, and to prioritise your life outside of work and university.
You don’t need to have everything figured out to start building your path. Everyone feels like they’re figuring it out as they go - because they are!
So, build your spreadsheet – and make it as colourful as you can.
Post on LinkedIn - whatever you want, even if it feels awkward at first.
Say yes to things - even when you think you might not enjoy them.
Talk to people – as awkward as it can be, but trust me, it gets a lot better, and it’s worth it.
Apply, apply, apply.
But also take care of yourself while you’re doing all of this. And trust that all these small, slightly chaotic steps are actually forming something coherent - even if you can’t see it yet.
If you’d like to connect or chat about any of this, please feel free to get in touch - I’d really love to hear from others navigating similar paths. Find me on LinkedIn!