For 2018-19, Chatham Historic Dockyard have offered multiple work opportunities to students engaging with the Employability Points Scheme. This included work experience placements in archives and collections, volunteer management, education, outreach and marketing, whereas two students have been given the chance to create promotional videos as a project placement!
The EP team recently caught-up with Thomas Barry (School of History) who is completing a two-week placement in the Archives and Library.
Thomas explained that when he originally applied for the EP reward, he knew he would like a career in the heritage sector but had a limited understanding of what it would be like to work in both collections and an archive.
Thomas has, however, managed to gain a strong understanding of this during the two-week period, undertaking work on handling and processing objects of historical significance, working with the current collection and assisting in the ongoing project of transferring the archive.
Beyond this, Thomas also ascertained a good understanding of the ‘world of work’, gaining the chance to work in the main office within a large team.
Reflecting on his two-weeks, Thomas commented:
“The role has allowed me to gain confidence and required me to take the initiative with each day being different…from the work I have done, I now know what it is like to be an archivist, but more so, from watching Claire [Archive and Collections Care Officer] I’ve seen how the role can be varied and interesting.”
Thomas is returning to Kent to complete a Master’s Degree in September 2019 but is now confident that he has gained both the knowledge and experience required to start a career as Archivist, should he choose to do so in the future.