On Wed, Oct 24, 2012 at 7:24 PM, Sabine Fisher <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Hello to All in this discussion -

>                   I just have one question about the suggestion from Deb Fuller:
>
> "Look in the non-profit sector or local or government sector. Those can be a way in to museum jobs, especially government-run museums. Or look for companies that do business with museums like exhibit design companies, education companies, or event planning companies. Just get out there and work."
>
>    Do you know of any good outlets for achieving this or know of any places to start searching?  I have a Master's in Museum Studies and have been working 2 part-time jobs in collections management for 2 1/2 years (with 2 internships and a special project before that).  I rarely get responses from job applications and when I do they are always no.

Don't look at what you DO, look at your skill sets and what you can do
with them. You have experience in collections management. That is
essentially database management and records keeping. In a broader
sense it is organizing and classifying information. There is a lot you
can do with that. Collections management is incredibly detailed
oriented. There are a lot of fields which need detailed oriented
people out there. Write you cover letter to address how your
background and skills can fit the needs of an organization which needs
a good database person and/or a detail oriented person.

I tend not to recommend job agencies and career centers because they
just don't know what to do with museum people and our crazy skill
sets. I once showed a lady at a career center one of my resumes and
cover letters. She said it was all over the place and addressed too
many areas. I then showed her the job announcement which required all
those skills and she was a little shocked. Museum people have to do it
ALL. This is both an asset and a set back. Today's job market requires
specialists, not generalists. But non-profits and smaller companies
tend to want people who can wear several hats since they tend to keep
smaller staffs. www.idealist.org is a place to start searching.
Professionals for non-profits is another site. Look on Craigslist and
see what else is out there. You never know.

Back to career centers, they can help you improve on your resume
format, proof-read it and help you tailor it to specific jobs. Some
cities and universities have career centers aimed at non-profits and
govie jobs as well. Make friends with HR people as well and see what
they are looking for. Learn what keywords are being used for your
industry and artfully pepper your resume with them. If you have your
resume up on Monster or another big site, tweak it at least once a
week to keep it fresh and at the top of the searches. Keep at it. You
never know what might turn up.

Deb Fuller

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