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Jenny Hildebrand - Episode 67
57 Plays7 years ago
Profiles in CRM features short interviews with CRM professionals from all experience levels and educational levels. I ask a standard list of questions and see how each person answers them based on their experience.
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Transcript
00:00:00
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You
Introduction to the Podcast
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are listening to the Archaeology Podcast Network. This is Jenny Hildebrand, and you're listening to Profiles in CRM.
00:00:12
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Welcome to Profiles in CRM, episode 67.
Diversity in CRM Professionals' Experiences
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I'm your host, Chris Webster. Profiles in CRM asks CRM professionals nine simple questions. The answer's very wildly, depending on their experience and education. Because of the nature of contract archeology and how small this field really is, some people choose not to reveal their name or the company they
Meet Jenny Hildebrand
00:00:28
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work for. Stay to the end of the show to hear how you can have a chance to answer these same questions. All right, we're here on Profiles, and here's the first question. What is your name and who do you work for?
Jenny's CRM Background and Education
00:00:39
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My name is Jenny Hildebrand, and I currently work for the Great Basin Institute here in Reno, Nevada. And what is the highest degree that you've earned? I have a master's degree in professional archaeology from the University of Nebraska. Okay, and how long have you been working in CRM? I actually got my first job in CRM back in 2008.
Geographical Work Experience
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So nine, ten years. Okay, nice. And where have you worked? What states have you worked in? And she's got notes here.
00:01:07
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I did. I wrote them down. Well, I started out in the Midwest, so I've worked in Indiana and Kentucky and then Nebraska, and I've worked a lot in Nevada and California and Arizona.
Roles and Responsibilities in CRM
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Okay, awesome. All right, so what is the position you usually have in CRM, and what is the highest position you've ever held?
00:01:28
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Well, I've done it all for the most part. A lot of my work is as an archeological field technician, but I have worked as a field supervisor, also known as crew chief, and currently as a PI, so I've kind of done it all for the most part.
Highlights of Jenny's Career
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Okay, awesome. What's the best thing that's happened to you that's related to being an archeologist, and this can be personal or professional?
00:01:53
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Well, to follow my coworker, I would have to say the best things that have happened to me with working in CRM is just getting to travel around the country. The people that you meet and the experiences that you have with your crew are some of the best experiences and memories that I have had in my life.
Pay Scale Fairness in CRM
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So just kind of traveling around and getting to have different experiences. OK, awesome. What's the biggest thing you would change that would make being a CRM archaeologist better?
00:02:22
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Huh, there's a few, there's a few things I'd probably change. Probably the number one thing that I would like to see happen in CRM is to have a set pay scale across the board. A lot of times you'll see tax, the pay range regionally and within, you know, just local communities, you can get paid
00:02:47
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less to do the same job as someone else who's getting paid a lot more and vice versa. So it's kind of hit and miss depending on pay. So it'd be nice to have some sort of scale where it's set so you know what to expect when you go in for say a crew chief or a tech position.
Career Goals and Professional Growth
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I suppose if the government can set pay rates, private industry should be able to as well, right? Absolutely. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. What is your career goal in CRM, the 10 to 20 year question?
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Uh, I'd have to say still be employed. So one thing about CRM is you have to be adaptable. Um, so I'd like to have a staff position, benefits, all that jazz. So that's it. Yeah. I'd like to be working as, you know, as a PI or field supervisor and writing reports and publishing and, um, you know, going to conferences and just building up that resume and my experience.
Advice for Aspiring CRM Professionals
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I think the two most common answers are, uh,
00:03:43
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you know, still employed and still have my own knees. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Nice. All right. So final question. If you could give an undergrad thinking about a career in CRM one piece of advice, what would it be? I would say make sure it's something that you really want because the lifestyle can be difficult at times and you have to be very adaptable. Um, you know, if you have to travel for work, sometimes you get called on a Sunday night to be in the field on a Monday morning.
00:04:12
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So if that's the lifestyle that you can live within CRM, that's something that, you know, maybe think about, especially down the road if you want to purchase a house and stay in one location, or especially for women too if you want to have children.
Podcast Engagement and Contacts
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It's difficult for women to have children in CRM, so that's also something that I'd recommend thinking about before you sacrifice too much and get too involved within the career path.
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Show notes for this and all episodes can be found on the Archaeology Podcast Network website at www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/. At that page you'll also find a form that you can fill out so you can be interviewed on the show. Interviews take less than 30 minutes and you don't need any special equipment. Thanks for listening and I'll see you in the field.
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This show is produced by Chris Webster and Tristan Boyle, and was edited by Chris Webster. This has been a presentation of the Archaeology Podcast Network. Visit us on the web for show notes and other podcasts at www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com Contact us at chrisatarchaeologypodcastnetwork.com