I would second the suggestion that volunteering, or securing *any*
sort of museum job just to get one's foot in the museum (read: secured?)
door.
Years ago, I got my start at the Orlando Museum of Art by simply
hanging in there, and being called in on a sporatic basis to help with
installations. I suffered the slings and arrows of next to no pay
just to keep that connection going, absolutely refusing to "get a real
job" that would have led me goodness knows where. It finally paid
off, with much determination, and display of interest on my part.
 
I now suggest the same thing to those that ask me how they might
get that initial experience. As I now work for a university museum,
internships are fairly simple for me to arrange (the non-paying sort),
and a great way for interested students to...get more interested.
We have also hired several students from our Museum Studies courses,
which is a super way *from the employing museum's stand point* to
hand pick the most promising students. We also have a couple of
students who were dogged enough to volunteer first, and prove their
interest enough that we filled assistantships with them.
However you can get that foot in the door--it gives you the opportunity
to get to know the staff, the institution, and, if you pay attention,
you can make further contacts in your area vis a vis your presence.
 
Barbra Brady
Weatherspoon Art Gallery
UNC Greensboro
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