Project Manager, Culture Routes Society
I work as a project manager in an NGO called Culture Routes Society which was founded in 2012 and which provides service in sustainable cultural tourism.
After graduating from the Archaeology Department of Bilkent University, I had been an English teacher in a private language school, a logistic operations coordinator for an international shipping transport company, an intern while completing my MA thesis, at the Rahmi Koç Industry Museum (Istanbul), a Latin instructor in Uludağ University, a field manager of excavations in Zincirli Höyük carried out by Chicago University, and a flight operation coordinator in an international airport.
While choosing my previous professions, I just wanted to have different experiences. I believe variety enriches knowledge and experiences. So, I wanted to try different professions and sectors to see operations in institutional and personal sectors. While choosing my current profession, I wanted it to match with my professional and academic education. Moreover, I wanted to have a job that I was interested in.
I can say that the education that I received in my department, especially crossover research techniques and well-disciplined studies, made my work much easier in every profession that I have practiced. Moreover, I learned about the implementation of academic archaeological studies before, during and after the digging season as a part of an international team thanks to taking part in excavations in the summers during my undergraduate education. That process included functioning in different units of the Ministry of Culture, one of the most important of which was the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums. Since my current job description includes direct communication with some of those units, I feel more acquainted with the procedure thank to my previous practical experience.
Although the “Archaeology Department” is related to prehistory and archaeology before modern history, we also had many courses like technical drawing, photography, museology, the fabrication of ceramics, architecture, art, and geology at Bilkent University. But for me, one of the most satisfying aspects of this department, in contrast with other departments at Bilkent University, was the opportunity to learn an ancient language.
Those who consider studying archaeology should know that the education received in this department has a broader domain than many think. So, I can say that there is a tough but interesting road before them. One of my biggest concerns was the thought of a diploma from the Department of Archaeology limiting my job opportunities. However, this concern started to disappear, thanks to the development of different specific sectors and the increase in their number. Therefore, I recommend this department, in which World archaeology is taught, especially Mesopotamian and Anatolian archaeology, to those who are interested.