In various internships (and part-time jobs) that I've had, I've looked 
for a couple of things:

1) exposure to what the job REALLY entails.
2) being treated as a part of the team -- not just as a pair of hands 
to fetch and carry
3) some training -- how do I cut a mat, mount a label, photograph an 
object, use your database... This is my chance to get the practical 
experience -- school has given me the theoretical!
4) recognition for contributions -- in one internship, I was listed and 
thanked in the credits as an exhibit intern. As long as the catalog is 
in print, my role in the exhibit is perpetuated (and I was able to show 
it to my future mother-in-law, who had seen the traveling exhibit -- 
she was very impressed).
5) a substantive responsibility. I could always tell when projects were 
haphazardly created for the intern to have something to do.
6) feedback -- it's always great to get constructive criticism, praise, 
etc.

Money would have been nice, but wasn't vital if I was getting great 
experience. However, in that case, the institution providing the 
internship should be understanding about the need for somewhat flexible 
hours -- the bills have to be paid! As far as a job, sometimes 
internships tell you where you DON'T want to work!

My office is thinking about offering an internship (I work for my local 
Girl Scout council planning programs with local museums, historic 
sites, nature centers, etc.) for a museum ed/public history student who 
has an interest in working with specialized audiences (like Girl 
Scouts). I've been reading the original thread with great interest to 
prepare!

Brigid Nuta
Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital

-----Original Message-----
From: Julia Moore <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent:         Mon, 3 Oct 2005 15:32:59 -0500
Subject: Re: Supervising Interns - The Other Side of the Coin

   My internship was at the Getty Center for Art History and the 
Humanities
back in the mid-'80s.  I got paid (not much, but enough to cover rent,
food and gas for the internship period) and was treated like a regular
staff member with a desk, phone and computer all to myself in the main
staff work area.  I worked 40 hours per week for 6 months and
contributed work towards creating the gigantic photo archive of ancient
art that people still consult today, so it was meaningful for the Getty
and interesting for me.  I got to meet lots of people and had a great,
supportive boss who was able to give me a succession of projects with
different challenges so I didn't get bored.  I did very little "busy"
work, and the little I did was given to me with huge apologies for how
boring it was.

In short, it was heaven for a student in the middle of her graduate
program.  I was not actually offered a job at the Getty after I finished
the internship or the grad program, but I'm sure that having it on my
resume helped me get my first "real" job after getting my degree.

Julia Muney Moore
Public Art Administrator
Blackburn Architects, Indianapolis, IN
(317) 875-5500 x230


-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Indigo Nights
Sent: Monday, October 03, 2005 3:21 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Supervising Interns - The Other Side of the Coin

There's been a hearty thread on this topic, directed
from the perspective of the person
"hiring"/supervising the intern.  It begs the
question, however:

    "What do interns want during their experience?"

Obviously, the first answer is money, and the second
is a job following the internship.

Absent those, what else would you like to get from an
internship?  Without naming names, what are some of
the positives you've seen, and what might you have
liked handled differently?

We've a lot of young people on list, and I suspect
their answers could be informative for those who
supervise.



Indigo Nights
[log in to unmask]

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