On Thu, 6 Jan 2005 08:30:09 -0500, Christian Carr <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> I just wanted to suggest a change of direction for this thread. Would
> anyone be willing to share the story of how they got their first job
> in the museum field, or how they got their current job? There's been
> lots of good discussion on what you *should* do while job hunting;
> real-life stories might be a useful and interesting addition.
Hello Everyone:
I started out volunteering at a local history museum as an undergrad and paid intern prior to grad school. During grad school I was an intern, and graduate assistant at a federally designated archaeological repository. After graduation I became the Assistant Curator at the same repository. Currently I am the overworked curator at an aerospace museum:)
My degrees are not in museum studies, but rather geology, history and archaeology. I think more important than any degree is hard fought practical experience, and a genuine intrest in your work and the ability to constantly educate yourself. Some of the best curators I have known did not hold museum studies degrees, others who did lacked the "real world" temper to effectively do their job. Either way, the path to museum employment is difficult. I would recommend to new graduates, as other have, not to limit themselves and gain as much experience as possible, even if that means volunteering for awhile or working at less than an ideal job.
My current position is the result of approximately a year and a half of sending out resumes and religiously monitoring Aviso and other job listing sources.
Hope this is helpful.
_________________
Mark D. Hanson
Curator
Octave Chanute Aerospace Museum
1011 Pacesetter Drive
Rantoul, Illinois 61866-3672
217-893-1613 ◦ 217-892-5774 (fax)
[log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Deb Fuller
Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2005 8:49 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Misguided applicants-a new angle
On Thu, 6 Jan 2005 08:30:09 -0500, Christian Carr <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> I just wanted to suggest a change of direction for this thread. Would
> anyone be willing to share the story of how they got their first job
> in the museum field, or how they got their current job? There's been
> lots of good discussion on what you *should* do while job hunting;
> real-life stories might be a useful and interesting addition.
I got my first job by posting a question on this list about something to do with volunteering at the Smithsonian or something to that effect. Elena Mayberry, who was the intern coordinator at the time, e-mailed me and asked if I would like to try an internship. I went in for an informational interview, taking my portfolio (but not my resume mind you) to show her what I had done and what I was interested in and we had a nice conversation about internships and museum work. At the end of it, she said that the volunteer coordinator of the Smithsonian Associates was looking for a new assistant and would I be interested in a paid position like that instead. I said yes and thus started my "official" museum career.
In the Summers during college and grad school, I worked at a local nature center as a naturalist and later at a Summer camp as their horse camp director. I also worked at the planetarium at college and in the little nature museum run by the bio department so I had a decent amount of museum education type experience coming into the field. I also had interned at Alexandria Archaeology in HS and made contacts that way.
I got my current job because I got the director of the historic house her job. I saw the ad in Adviso and passed it along to her. When I got laid off, I started volunteering at the mansion to keep myself busy and she eventually found money to hire me on part-time. Since I'm thankfully employed full time again, I fill in on the weekends and as needed for evening programs. I also do a lot of living history at local sites which keeps me connected there and has gotten me job offers as well. (Unfortunately, these offers tend to come right after I've started a new job. *sigh*) Personally, I've found that working with my living history groups is a good "in" to the local sites, if you're interested in history-related work. My astronomy club has connections with the local science museums and NASA.
So I guess a corolary to volunteering is finding the groups that work with the museums or sites you want to work at and join them. Most museum, especially local ones, work with garden clubs, astronomy clubs, living history groups, and have a friend's organization that help support the museum. Those are good ways to get to know people and NETWORK around the system. Frequently, local museums are part of local museum organizations like the Historic House Museum Consortium in the MD/DC/VA area and you get to know people at other sites and what is going on. Volunteer to do some work with them or help out at events and you never know when paying work will come your way.
Deb
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