may i also add that you should, while it is not the most ideal situation, be
willing to work part time and temporary.  i worked part time for three years
at a university museum and gained invaluable experience.  and, you will be
surprised at the networking that can be accomplished, even in a temporary
position.

also, be willing to go through the "back door". currently, i am temping at a
university library.  but every day i come in contact museum folks.  they
notice my work, and when a position is available, i feel confident enough to
apply for it even though i am not currently working specifically for a
museum.

hope this helps, and good luck!

--sarah poteete


>From: Jay Heuman <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: Museum discussion list <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: General Career Query
>Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2004 11:02:36 -0600
>
>Greetings Aron,
>
>I'll provide some perspective from a relatively new museum
>"professional" (about 5 years).
>
>My opinion: Stable museum employment of any kind to start is good, even
>if it's outside your desired area.
>
>BUT keep the following in mind . . .
>
>(1) BRUTAL HONESTY.  Getting a job and making a career in any field is
>'marketing and public relations'.  You're selling yourself by using the
>most convincing argument -- based on truth.  The first person with whom
>you must be honest is you.  What are you actually capable of now?  Be
>brutally honest, as potential employers will be .
>
>(2) NEVER STOP LEARNING.
>What more can you learn over the years?  Most would-be employers want to
>hear during an interview that their would-be employee does not intend to
>stop learning.  (You must have a proven track record to convince them
>it's the truth.)  Attend seminars and workshops, conferences and
>symposia, read about and visit other museums, exhibitions, artists,
>styles, etc.  Investigate taking courses, in related fields, at a nearby
>university or college.
>
>(3) NEVER STOP LOOKING.
>Keeping abreast of the current job market, applying for other jobs, and
>going for interviews has a two fold purpose.  First, it leads to
>personal growth, as you will gain an greater understanding of the museum
>profession.  Second, you might actually find a job you want and might
>actually get it.  Naturally, you don't want to bounce from employment to
>employment without putting a number of years under your belt at each . .
>. perhaps 2 to 5 years as a minimum (unless they are shorter-term
>contracts).
>
>(4) BE REALISTIC.
>There may be fewer jobs in smaller museums in smaller cities and towns.
>But it's probably more realistic to apply for such jobs than applying
>for something in a megalopolis.  For example: With suitable
>qualifications and some experience (paid or unpaid), one might have a
>miniscule change of getting a "Curatorial Assistant" job in New York,
>Boston, Philadelphia, Wasshington D.C., etc. or a slightly higher chance
>of getting an "Assistant Curator" job in a smaller city.
>
>(5) VOLUNTEER WHERE YOU WORK!
>Just because you work 40 hours a week at an art museum doesn't mean you
>can't volunteer, say, 5 hours or 10 hours a week in another department.
>WOW!  Blows your mind, eh?  But if other working people can volunter at
>a museum, why can't one of the museum's employees?  You are likely to be
>trusted more than an outsider, as they likely know you and you have more
>hinging on a "job well done" as a volunteer.
>
>(6) JOBS CHANGE OVER TIME.  Some jobs change in small ways, and some
>change in radical ways!  In my first job, though I started off
>supervising admissions desks and coordinating volunteers, I gained two
>more responsibilities over the years: liaison with fundraising affiliate
>groups and 'web designer'.  Those added responsibilities also added
>challenge and interest and new skills.
>
>(7) ANALYZE YOUR SKILLS.  How do skills positively translate from one
>area of museum work to another?  In my previous museum job
>(Visitor/Volunteer Services), I dealt with a variety of audiences --
>visitors, volunteers, affiliate groups, donors, media, etc.  This
>enhanced my communication skills as I became even more comfortable than
>I was already to speaking in different settings and for different
>purposes -- marketing & "PR," education, customer & donor relations,
>etc.  These skills are a necessary aspect of my current job, though a
>different focus.  Instead of 'general information' about that museum,
>I'm now conducting educational talks about a different museum.
>
>(8) LIFE CHANGES OVER TIME.  I, too, was afraid of veering off on a
>tangent when I accepted my first museum job in visitor and volunteer
>services.  And I agree with Mark that bouncing around from area to area
>is not likely a good strategy.  From your first step into the museum
>field, you must direct your efforts toward your goal.  Recognize,
>however, that goals are unstable critters . . . life twists and turns,
>and you might modify your goal.  This happens to professionals in most
>fields for a number of reasons . . . new interests or skills develop,
>reality versus fantasy of a job, etc.
>
>(9) NEVER RULE ANYTHING OUT.
>Solicit opinions from those you trust, weigh the 'pros' and 'cons', and
>make a decision.
>
>(10) ENJOY!
>Working in the museum field is a privilege.  Never mind we all complain
>there's never enough funding, salaries suck, visitors and donors can be
>unreasonable at times, parents and teachers really don't like their
>children exposed to nudes (or nudes exposed to their children?), etc.
>There are few people who get to do what we do.  Never take it for
>granted.
>
>I encourage more perspectives.  Everyone who works in a museum started
>against the odds, as there are forever more applicants than available
>jobs.
>
>j heuman, Education Curator
>Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art
>Utah State University
>4020 Old Main Hill
>Logan, UT  84322-4020
>t 435.797.0165 | f 435.797.3423
>
>Education costs money, but then so does ignorance.
>Sir Charles Moser, b. 1922
>
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Museum discussion list
> > [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Aron Mohr
> > Sent: Wednesday, August 25, 2004 1:30 PM
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: General Career Query
> > I am a recent graduate from a Museum Studies Program and am
> > now starting to see what's available in the field. I am
> > interested in curatorial work and exhibition development as
> > well as administration and would like to work with art collections.
> > My question is as follows: when striking out in the world of
> > museums, is it more important to get experience in the type
> > of work you are interested in (ex. curating) or to get your
> > foot in the door in institutions that focus on your area of
> > interest (ex. 19th and 20th art) regardless of job description?
> > I get the impression that the first few positions you obtain,
> > paid or unpaid, establish the framework for your future
> > endeavors and am eager to avoid veering off on a tangent early on.
> > Any advice on this subject would be greatly appreciated.
> > Thank you.
> > Aron.
>
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