Same here.  And I loved the Job Bluth reference!


-----Original Message-----
From: Charlotte Reineck <[log in to unmask]>
To: MUSEUM-L <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Mon, Aug 12, 2013 6:25 pm
Subject: [MUSEUM-L]



Thank you for this, Matthew. I agree with every word.

Charlotte Reineck




  
 
 
 
   From: Matthew White <[log in to unmask]>
 To: [log in to unmask] 
 Sent: Monday, August 12, 2013 5:07 PM
 Subject: [MUSEUM-L]
  
 


I must admit I am catching up on this thread, so I apologize if I am redundant.


But from just skimming through some of these answers I have to say that when I am looking for work it is issues like this that really keep me up at nights. I respect Jim's position and opinion, he seems to see initiative in those who call or in other ways contact an institution for the his correct name. The problem is many hiring agencies/committees/people would rather remain personally anonymous, especially in this era of 100+ applications for every museum position. They might react quite negatively to a phone call of this nature, or to be "outed" in a letter. And THERE IS NO WAY FOR THE APPLICANT TO KNOW WHICH ANY SPECIFIC JOB OPENING PREFERS if they do not specify in the announcement itself, and very few do.  And you have no idea if you have stepped on some hiring officer's pet peeve, if you hear at all, until after you have already done it.


Being out of work sucks. You are the least empowered person in the profession and whenever someone wants to kick you (metaphorically speaking of course) you have to take it. Everyone who hires regularly has opinions about how applicants should behave and not behave, and no one agrees with each other and we expect job applicants to just figure it out on their own. And so many people have such petty expectations. (I had one colleague who HATED Time New Roman because she thought it was boring and discounted resumes who used it. As Job Bluth might say C'MON!) 


People looking for work apply for a dozen jobs a week or more. Have some mercy. Be clear in your job announcements about who to send packets to, whether you invite inquiries by phone, email, or both, how you prefer applications (email, snail mail, or electronic application), in what format, rough timelines with deadlines, and whatever else you DON'T want to get calls about. Treat job applicants like the fellow professionals they are. (while I have your attention, would it kill you to post a salary range? Nothing specific, just a little info that lets potential applicants know whether they can afford to take the job. That way, you'll have less resume's to comb through as well)


And when going through all those applications, have some flexibility. Bear in mind that there is a unique procedure for applying for almost every single job opening currently being advertised and expecting every single applicant to intuit your personal preferences without you telling them is a little much to ask. So what if one person opens their cover letter with "To Whom It May Concern" and another wrote "Dear Hiring Committee" or found out your name. Is that really how you want to hire a curator or educator? I have hired a lot of people in my time and I don't recall even reading their salutations. It's irrelevant.


Of course, if you told applicants to whom to address an application and they did not do it the right way, that is a whole different ball of wax.


Matthew White 





On Aug 12, 2013, at 4:11 PM, Jim Lyons <[log in to unmask]> wrote:



I stick with my earlier suggestion to find out the name of the person.  I'm retired now, but when I was hiring people (not in the museum field), I would not have been impressed by a letter addressed to "Dear Whoever You Are".  

On the other hand, suppose I happened to be the person who answered the phone when you called to find out my name? I suppose there might be a chance I would be momentarily annoyed at being interrupted by your call, but by the time your application arrived that annoyance would be long forgotten and I would be very favorably impressed by your salutation, "Dear Mr. Lyons".   


-Jim




On Mon, Aug 12, 2013 at 11:38 AM, FM Jacinto <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Most seriously, it is a test of initiative on the part of the applicant.  Which doesn't make it any less annoying, but it does manage to cut away those who are flummoxed by the whole thing and toss in the towel.


FrannMarie





On Aug 12, 2013, at 2:02 PM, Elizabeth Walton wrote:


Unless museums want 200 people calling to find this out they should put the information in the job posting if they're going to have any expectations of people having it exactly right. Do any of you really have time to play games like that?
On Aug 12, 2013 1:53 PM, "Jim Lyons" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:


Dear Peter,


According to "The Big Book of How To Say It", this is under the heading "Application Letters to Prospective Employers", page 61, "Address your letter to a specific individual, after verifying the person's title and double-checking the spelling of the name. even if it's simple ("Gene could be Jean or Jeanne", "John could be Jon".  I would add to that it might be a good thing to find out if they go by Mr., Ms. or Mrs.


-Jim  




On Mon, Aug 12, 2013 at 9:28 AM, Stephanie Skiles <[log in to unmask]> wrote:


Hi Peter,
I’ve always used “Dear Hiring Manager” or “Dear Hiring Committee.”  I agree that “Sir/Madam” is a bit antiquated.  Usually, there is more than one person doing the hiring, so perhaps addressing a  committee works best?
 
I hope that helps you. Best of luck in your job search!
 
Sincerely,
Stephanie

From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Peter Meloni
Sent: Monday, July 22, 2013 6:08 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [MUSEUM-L]


 
Lister’s
 
I am applying for different museum positions, and I am finding a lot of positions that do not give a contact person’s name to address the cover letter to.  What is the best way to address the letter to, Dear Human Resources, Dear Hiring Manager or is there a better option available than the worst possible option Dear Sir/Madam or Dear Mr or Mrs.  I don’t want to use this option but most museums do not have a Human Resources department.  I have taken the time to search the website of the museums for clues but have generally not turned up anything that is very helpful to me.
 
Thank you lister’s for all of your great advice
 
 
Sincerly
 
A. Peter Meloni
 
 


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