I was going to pass on responding to this since this thread appears on MUSEUM-L
on a regular basis, but I guess I couldn't resist any longer...

Speaking from years of experience, getting a job in a museum in the Washington,
D.C. area is next to impossible.  I graduated the George Washington University
in 1996 with my Master's in museum studies.  I had very high grades, lots of
good internship experience and good connections (most of my teachers worked for
the Smithsonian).  Unfortunately none of that helped much.

Jobs at the Smithsonian especially are few and far between.  Competition is
fierce for those jobs that do occasionally open up. The application process at
the Smithsonian and other quasi-Federal agencies (National Park Service,
Holocaust Museum, etc.) takes a minimum of 3 months.  The typical time you can
expect to wait is closer to 6 months or longer.  I started applying for
Smithsonian jobs a full year before I graduated.  Consider yourself lucky if you
EVER get a response back.

I made the mistake of taking the first job I was offered at the Smithsonian.  My
job was in sponsored research.  I thought that I could get my foot in the door
and that it would lead to other jobs at the Smithsonian.  Unfortunately I
quickly got typecast as a "grants person" and found even getting considered for
collection related jobs more difficult than before.

After two years at the Smithsonian I thought that I'd have a better shot of
getting a collections job if I left the Smithsonian.  I was fortunate that a
consultant position opened up at the National Park Service.  I had been an
intern at the National Park Service while in graduate school.  That job let to
my current permanent government position, also at the National Park Service.
Even though I'm still doing grants, the grants I work with now are much closer
to my academic background than those I was working on at the Smithsonian.  What
can I say -- sometimes it really does depend on who you know.

I guess the lesson in all of this is to keep plugging along.  Getting a job in
D.C. is not easy and may take you a LONG time.  Believe me, if it wasn't for my
husband I would have left this area a LONG time ago.  Don't settle for any old
job at the Smithsonian (or any large organization) thinking that you can work
your way into the position you really want.  The Smithsonian is much bigger than
people realize.  More than likely you'll get typecast and people will forget
that you have other skills beyond your current position.

Good luck!

Laura

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Laura M. Mahoney
Heritage Preservation Services
National Park Service
[log in to unmask]

____________________Reply Separator____________________
Subject:    Re: job openings?
Author: Sarah Spreitzer <[log in to unmask]>
Date:       2/16/00 10:55 AM

Dear All,

I am a student, currently completing my masters, who is also looking for
a museum job in D.C. starting around May.  If anyone has any advice
regarding
this could you please reply to me also or post to the list-serv.
I have been checking the AVISO, MERC and the Washington Post on a daily basis.
Are there any other hints for finding a job in D.C. or at the
Smithsonian, especially in collections?  And does anyone know how long
the application process at the Smithsonian takes?

- Sarah Spreitzer

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