I guess I would say I am a "Just Arrived."

Speaking as someone whose been fortunate enough to have several great mentors, I'd like to offer what I felt were my most valuable lessons learned:

1-Perspective: How my job or their job fits into the grand scheme of the musuem world. SO MANY museum professionals are so out of whack on this one. Everyone is a martyr for their cause, everyone works at the most under-appriciated instutution there is, and everyone is over-qualified for their job. This is a given. Those who succeed in this field are those who have the most delicate sense of how to deal with these conflicting egos.

2-Networking (duh): A good mentor doesn't mind dragging you along to events where people will be, introducing you, talking you up, etc. It's hard to not be humble when you first start out, and a good mentor will help you assert yourself.

3-Actual Tangible Knowledge: Imagine that. More than learning how to deal with people, I was grateful to learn more about my academic field (art history).  It's interesting how you develop an art historical timeline in you head while in school, then you get out into the world, and you see how this timeline is viewed from the outside looking in. It's totally different, and inspires (in me, at least) an interest in museums as educational outlets.

4-Professional Bits & Pieces: What a cover letter should look like, when to wear a suit, telephone demeanor, etc. These thing are ever-so important, snd not taught in school.

Everyone needs a mentor, or three, as I have had.  I am grateful for what they've taught me, and I am always looking for further sources of education and motivation.

Ellen

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