Cindy-

You didn't say if you get interviews for these education positions that you
apply for?  Are you?  If not I would seriously look at you resume and cover
letter.  You seem to keep getting jobs in the visitor services areas, are
you perhaps stressing that too much in your resume.  If you have tried all
of these things and then still don't seem to be anywhere I would agree with
the other sender who encouraged you to look outside the non-profit sector.

Also, I think I would say that if that many of your fellow students are not
getting placed in education positions either that perhaps the degree program
that you choose is not well known or understood so that potential employers
get an instant heads-up when they see that on your resume.

Please do not think that I'm not very sympathetic to your plait and am
telling you things that you already know.  I'm only offering suggestions.
Feel free to take it or leave it.

Oh, one more think, if you are sure that you have done a good job with your
resume, find a fellow educator (maybe even off this list and outside your
immediate area) to review your resume and see what they see are your
strengths and weaknesses.  Having someone knowledgeable on what is important
in a given field take a look is often the only way we find out where we are
truly not stressing our more important assets.

Good Luck!  Sometimes venting and saying what is happening is that only
first step to changing it!

Warmest Regards
Tracie Evans

Tracie Evans, Curator of Collections
Stonefield Historic Site, SHSW
PO Box 125
Cassville WI 53806
608-725-5210
[log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask]



----- Original Message -----
From: Cindy Barnard <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2001 3:22 PM
Subject: Re: Museum Education?


> Hello;
> I know I'm going to sound like an embittered and negative person- but here
> goes. This has been my experience; and I know that everyone is different.
> I can tell you that finding even the most basic entry-level education
> position has been the single most frustrating thing I have ever done--
even
> given that I have geographic limitations. I find plenty to apply for in
the
> area; but I've been at this 5 years. I was a docent conducting
interpretive
> programming(and still do).The only job I managed to get was visitor
> services.I decided to get a graduate museum education degree(from GWU) The
> only position I could find was severely part time(12hrs/week)as a museum
> aide at a historic site(good people, though).I kept that job for close to
5
> years (while working another job full-time and volunteering).I thought;
baby
> steps- perhaps this would be a stepping stone. The only full time position
I
> got was; again in visitor services(worst job I ever had- such abusive
> management).I got that job based on my visitor services experiences.The
> upshot of this is- I don't believe the grad. museum ed. degree has had the
> slightest impact on my employment. I wish I hadn't spent the hard-earned
> money on it. I even started out as an educator- I started as a certified
art
> educator grades 7-12 and even got a first Master's in art teacher
education.
> I taught part time grades 4 through adult. Currently, I am a public
programs
> assistant; again with little educational content. I saw one (coveted)
> position go to another volunteer who had an English Lit. Bachelor's and no
> other education experience. I've seen job after job go like this.We were
> given statistics on how many graduates held museum positions; but in
> retrospect I think we naively failed to question what positions were
> held(education; or security and gift shop?)and were they even close to
full
> time? The number was low even at that(67% was quoted).I thought I might've
> had a slight edge since I started as an educator. I think that I've
finally
> gotten realistic about it. Many from my class still haven't found
> education-related or full time work.  I love volunteering; working to
> improve our interpretation any way I can. But had I the chance to do it
> again (knowing what I know, of course) I wouldn't spend money on an
> additional degree. I know other people have had more positive experiences
> but it's good to hear the other side;too. I'd be very cautious about
> additional education as an investment towards future employment-weigh the
> costs towards the benefit.
>
>
> >From: Andrea Morrill <[log in to unmask]>
> >Reply-To: Museum discussion list <[log in to unmask]>
> >To: [log in to unmask]
> >Subject: Re: Museum Education?
> >Date: Tue, 27 Mar 2001 13:25:59 -0600
> >MIME-Version: 1.0
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> >From [log in to unmask] Tue Mar 27 11:52:18 2001
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> >Message-ID:  <F926779699CED2119844009027458037CF78E0@DMA-EXCHANGE>
> >Sender:       Museum discussion list <[log in to unmask]>
> >
> >I think that advice from professionals can always be helpful to others,
so
> >I
> >would appreciate seeing replies posted to the list.
> >Thank you to all who are willing to give advice to those who are just
> >starting out!
> >Sincerely,
> >Andrea Morrill
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Mallek, Anne [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> > > Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2001 1:01 PM
> > > To:   [log in to unmask]
> > > Subject:      Re: Museum Education?
> > >
> > > I am in a similar position to Lisa, and would also appreciate any
advice
> > > that anyone can offer on the best way to enter the field of Museum
> > > Education.  Replies can also be addressed to me offline.  Thanks very
> >much
> > > in advance.
> > >
> > > Anne Mallek
> > >
> > >  -----Original Message-----
> > > From:   Lisa Troy [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> > > Sent:   Tuesday, March 27, 2001 11:03 AM
> > > To:     [log in to unmask]
> > > Subject:        Museum Education?
> > >
> > > Dear List Members,
> > >
> > > For the past two years I have been trying to land a job in a museum
> > > education department.  I completed my MA in Art History in 1999 and
> > > currently work as an art cataloger in a university slide collection.
My
> > > question, for any and all interested, is how do I break into the
field?
> > > Because I work full-time I cannot intern at a local museum, although
in
> > > the
> > > past I have interned at museums and galleries.  To keep my educational
> > > experience growing I work as an adjunct professor at a local community
> > > college in the evenings.  I thought this experience would help my
quest,
> > > but
> > > it seems to have done the opposite!  I apply for entry-level work as
an
> > > educator and my resumes receive no replies.  I apply for mid-level
work
> >to
> > > the same end.  Does anyone have any insight?  Do I need another
degree?
> > > How
> > > do I gain the experience required?  Thanks in advance.  Please reply
to
> >me
> > > off list.
> > >
> > > Sincerely,
> > > LT
> > >
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