Chris,

Before I was reborn as a museum professional, I was a teacher and spent a
few years substituting before landing a job.  The dangling carrot of
possible employment is a bait with which I am familiar.  Public schools need
substitutes, especially reliable ones, so much that they will hire an
inexperienced recent grad to fill a FT role and keep the subs subbing.  It
was very frustrating.

Keep hoping to be hired, especially if you love the work.  I would also keep
volunteering and doing your best if you are enjoying it for what it is.  I
would not confuse the hope of being hired with the work at hand overly much.

If you need to draw a line, perhaps there is a big, special project for
which your work will be required and the museum will value not only your
work but also your relationship to the institution enough to throw some
money at you, either as a PT 'er or an independent contractor.  You may have
to ask because you won't be asked out of the museum's hope that you will
volunteer.  You won't get what you don't ask for, generally speaking.  The
worst you will hear is "no."

Hang in there,
Rusty


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Chris Pike" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, August 04, 2005 2:10 PM
Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Issue of possible employment.


> Need some advice..
>
> I'm currently volunteering for a local museum that has undergone an change
> in administration and employee's. I sent out a resume and went in for an
> semi-formal interview.  He said that he was impressed with my resume and
> that they would be hiring in the future but not sure when (they have too,
> they have almost no permanent staff).  Since then, I've done a lot of
> sorting work in terms of archival records and will be doing data entry in
> the near future.  I've been told I'm doing a great job and are happy with
> my work.  Again they hang the possibility of employement over my head.
>
> A few people have said I should stop volunteering as what I'm doing is
> being done by others for good money.  I'm being patient and continuing
> because working there would be good future option but my question is
> whether or not I should draw the line somewhere?  I'm just really not sure
> what to do?
>
> Cheers..
>
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