Sooooo * where do we stand?
Since every one has those pieces of paper * then how does a "new blood"
get into the field?
While attending school, this bring the point directly at EXPERIENCE, and the
importance of obtaining on-the-job training (volunteer training, internships,
personal hobbies, etc.) beyond what is taught in the halls of education.
Myself, I would hire someone with not only the education, but who has been
out into trenches of museum work and/or their feet wet in community service or
non-profit work or even the corporate world. It would give that added touch to the applicants qualification, than simply (as stated) walking in the door with a new degree and stating: "Here I
am, now hire me." It would show they have the drive, the interest, that they want the position
and care and have an interest in what they are doing.
Yet, no matter what EXPERIENCE, what EDUCATION and what VOLUNTEER work one has accomplished, it is also, sadly based on who you KNOW. And in many cases, how you get along with other people---how out going are you? How do you smile and project your personality? How well would you fit in with their other staff members?
I've seen a girl with very little experience I knew, while others had a Masters' degree, land the job because of her personality, sense of humor and they simply liked her. She fitted into the organizartion * a match up. IMHO, I think this is the same in ANY position or field one is in.
There are MANY factors why people don't land the job. It is reality! Not just based on that
piece of paper. If you don't shower, wear to much perfume/cologne, do not come prepared and know about the company?museum, if your suit/dress is not pressed, and you have a poor resume *- no matter what qualifications you have * you are not going to get the job. A degree amounts to a hill of
beans *- and small things often become more important. And it is Sooooooooo TRUE * within the first few seconds or minutes of walking in the door, many employers know if they are going to hire you.
SOOOOOOOO! Be POSITIVE! Project yourself as someone who is going to be a "team player". Come into your interview with the attitude that you are the right person for the job. Answer their
questions, greet them *- repeat their questions (gives you time to think about your answer)
then answer it directly and "shut up". Don't put your foot in your mouth! As briefly alluded to,
KNOW the employer.
With these things, no matter what degree you have * you are going to come above average than
the person walking into the door with the degree.
Best of LUCK! However, I don't agree that it is "luck". In the end, the employer is going to pick the best match for their organization; the most qualified person (even a person without a degree). I've seen people with a business, public relations and administration degree get the job over a person with a MA in Museum Studies.
John
Boise, ID
>>> [log in to unmask] 8/25/2005 7:49:20 AM >>>
this is very true. and the reason it is so is like any other glut. once
every applicant has five thousand degrees? it is the same as them all having
none. bottom line is the individual regardless of what pieces of paper they
hold, even if none at all!
----- Original Message -----
From: "Martha Battle Jackson" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, August 25, 2005 9:45 AM
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] Glut of graduates
> In addition to lower than expected salaries, I've also known graduate
> students who didn't think they had to have any experience to get a job.
> In fact, they expected upon graduation to walk right into a director's job
> because they have a master's degree in museum studies. And the few that
> did "luck into" such a job ended up leaving the field within a year,
> because reality didn't match classroom teachings.
>
> When possible, I try to hire graduate students. It seems to take about
> 4-6 months before they realize that the real world doesn't quite match
> what they're taught.
>
> Martha Battle Jackson, Curator of Technology
> North Carolina State Historic Sites
> Mailing Address: 4621 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-4621
> Street Address: 532 North Wilmington Street, Raleigh, NC 27604
> 919/733-3877; ext. 236; FAX: 919/733-9515
> [log in to unmask]
>
> E-mail correspondence to and from this sender may be subject to the
> North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
> The views expressed by the sender may not reflect those of my agency.
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Tim Bottoms" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Thursday, August 25, 2005 8:58 AM
> Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] Glut of graduates
>
>
>> Stephen,
>>
>> So right. I've spoken to museum studies classes and brought up those
>> very
>> topics and had the professors (from the back of the room) shake their
>> heads
>> NO!
>>
>> Tim
>>
>> Timothy S. Bottoms
>> Curator of Collections
>> Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum
>> PO Box 1992
>> Savannah, Georgia 31402
>> 912.748.8888 x 109
>> 912.748.0209 (fax)
>> [log in to unmask]
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
>> Behalf Of Stephen Nowlin
>> Sent: Thursday, August 25, 2005 1:31 AM
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] Glut of graduates
>>
>>
>>> Many of the museum
>>> studies gradates I know are either under-employed or not even in the
>> field,
>>> or are working in very low-pay jobs, really supported by their spouses.
>>> That's the facts.
>>
>> You're so right, Joyce. And while it's appropriate to be encouraging to
>> young grads entering the field, one wonders if they have been given any
>> sense of how difficult it is going to be financially. I'm appalled at
>> the
>> salaries I see offered for leadership positions in museums requiring
>> years
>> of experience, advanced degrees, fundraising and business acumen, and
>> $35K a
>> year. Every museum studies program ought to have a heads-up reality
>> class
>> freshman year -- not to extinguish students' enthusiasm, but to give them
>> real information about making sound decisions for their future.
>>
>> Stephen Nowlin
>> Vice President, Director,
>> Alyce de Roulet Williamson Gallery
>> Art Center College of Design
>>
>> http://www.xrl.us/stephennowlin
>>
>> =========================================================
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