Good Morning All,
I will build on Ms. Fuller's excellent and sound advice.
1. Since the early 1970s (the late Bronze Age), I have been involved in the hiring of many dozens of museum professionals, including directors, administrators, curators, educators, exhibit designers, conservators, registrars,....and planetarium, nature center, IMAX Theater, historic properties, staff, etc... etc... and museum-related trades persons and janitors.
2. To be honest......I am more interested in the skill sets that an applicant brings to the particular vacant job that is being advertised. I am not interested in how many degrees, certificates, etc. the applicant possesses. As long as the applicant possess the minimum qualifications set by the Human Resources Department and their Compensation office.
3. Primarily, I am interested in finding an answer to the simple question...... Is the applicant capable of doing the job on the first day at work.....and, doing the job in such a way that raises the bar as to how that position's performance can enable the institution to meet is mission, more efficiently and effectively? That can only be discerned by evaluating the actual work history of the applicant; and, if that particular work history provides the applicant with the skill sets that are required to do the job that is being advertised.
4. The bottom line is: The applicants, who possess the skill sets that best align with the vacant job's key roles and responsibilities, and......demonstrate an established work record of: showing up on time; excellent record of teamwork behaviors; project accomplishments; completing the assigned work within budget and by the deadline; ...... a proven "track" record of making decisions that are legal and ethical, consistent with one's peers, and demonstrating a record of work that includes sensitive and creative responses to the assigned work objectives -- -- are the applicants who will receive serious consideration for filling the vacant position.
Best Wishes,
Wesley
Wesley S. Creel
Administrator of Programs
Pink Palace Family of Museums
3050 Central Avenue
Memphis, TN 38111
www.memphismuseums.org
Office 901.636.2370 new telephone number
FAX 901.636.2391 new FAX number
Please consider including the Pink Palace Family of Museums in your charitable giving plans
along with your other charitable interests.
Please visit all our great facilities as well as our website: www.memphismuseums.org Our mission: The Pink Palace Family of Museums inspires people to learn how history.science, technology and nature shape the mid-South. Through rich collections, thought-provoking exhibitions, and engaging programs, we encourage our diverse community to reflect on the past, understand the present, and influence the future
-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Deb Fuller
Sent: Friday, September 07, 2012 9:12 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] Continue working in a museum vs. Museum studies Master
On Thu, Sep 6, 2012 at 4:13 PM, Hingham Historical Society <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> On the other side of the coin, I have hired dozens of staff and volunteers over the years, and I have found that academic degrees are the least reliable determinant of a person's qualifications and ability to get the job done. I assume other museum CEOs have had the same experience.
Thank you for saying this. Academic degrees are very valuable but I feel too many people are putting themselves into debt to get degrees which are not paying off in the long run. Get solid work experience and THEN start looking at advanced degrees. I also see no problem with certificates. I don't think we have enough of them here in the States.
Everything is overkill with degree inflation. Soon people will need PhDs just to be a secretary.
Deb Fuller
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