Specialize.
While it would be nice to become a worldwide expert with twelve languages under your belt and a dig in every country, that notion is best left to Indiana Jones and Steven Spielberg’s screenwriters. In reality, archaeologists are specialists.

Most students begin focusing on an appealing period of history or an intriguing culture during their undergraduate years. Goldfarb advises young archaeologists to zero-in on a region that is relatively unexplored. “I chose to focus on Phoenician studies,” she says about her focus on the ancient culture, “because I found a ‘niche’ to make my mark in.”

It’s all about experience.
Getting out in the field is vital to landing the right job. Long internships often turn into paid work, and making new contacts could mean future employment opportunities or access to important research materials.

Fieldwork is also a key factor in making career decisions. Digging in trenches in Tunisia every summer is not as exciting for some as consulting on the preservation of historical buildings in Scotland or designing an exhibition on African jewelry. “Excavating is interesting, but I realized early on that my passion lay more with theoretical archaeology, particularly the study of religions,” Goldfarb explains, “A university is the best place for me because I can both conduct research and teach.”