Good advice, just one question, HOW is one to get experience?  Internship?
Only if mommmy and daddy have enough money for you to live a year w/o
income.  Work a second job?  Who will pay enough to live when your
internship is 30+ hrs. a week.  Work a lesser job and work on up?  First,
these jobs are just as hard to get as the PhD required jobs, and I've tried
that, I have a crappy job right now with little or no chance to "move up"
(of course I didn't know that when I started...)    Ah I see, everybody
wants to hire an experienced employee but are not willing to give that
experience in the form of a lesser job or try a qualified but less
experienced applicant.  I can see the need to hire the best appliant for
the job, fine but what the hell are the rest of us suppost to do?
Everybody here seems to talk and comment from their ivory tower, and really
doesn't know what it's like working a job you hate, eating ramen 7 days a
week just on the off chance an opportunity will come your way, and when it
does, there are 250+ applicants.  Great, so my choices are, somehow tell my
student loans, creditcards, and landlord that I won't be able to pay 'cause
I have an internship, or get a Ph.D be $100,000 in debt, and still be
shoved around by "lack of experience".  Fuck the status quo, I am sick and
goddam tired of putting up with this crap.  If you want a spineless
employee that will do only that which is required, with experience hire
that looser, if you want an employee that will stick up for himself, has
the balls to get something done, and with ideas and new innovations for the
position, but doesn't quite meet the experience requirements, hire me.

See, noone cares, what did you say after that last sentence?  He isn't
going to get anywhere...  I can appleshine with the best of them, but I
prefer to be honest and forthright.  I will not put up with crap from
anybody, whether you're a museum director with 7 degrees or a junky of the
street who came in for the free air conditioning.  And, I will be right, I
won't bother getting out of bed if my position is questionable so don't
even bother with that criticism.

so, now what?  What am I suppost to do?  I can't afford an intership,
style, drive and ambition will not make up for 6 measly months of
experience, I'm working a job I hate even though it is in a museum, and
every application I've made (100+ over 1 year) has been rejected for an
applicant with more experience.

One last thing, I apologize to any of you who may have been offended, I'm
looking for advice and I just wanted to show my frustration, so save your
ivy league dibble about my language, I need unfettered and honest advice,
please.

Jason


On 11 Sep 2002, Jon N. Austin wrote:
> Indigo,
>
> Well said.  Those of us in positions to hire staff need gentle reminders
> every so often.  However, I believe that applicants also need
instruction,
> which apparently isn't offered in school, as you suggested.
>
> I've seen too many young applicants express their frustration on this
list
> over their inability to obtain employment in museums, and I've suspected
> that the problem may lie at the beginning of the process with the
> applicant's approach and a mis-matching of the applicant and the
position.
>  I've offered the same advice off-list to others based on fifteen years'
> experience hiring staff to work in small, local history museums.  I, too,
> was faced with the same frustrations after grad school at age
twenty-five,
> saying, "I can do THAT!" when I had nothing to back it up other than my
own
> self-confidence.  Applicants need to set themselves up for success rather
> than for failure.
>
> First, please read the job posting carefully.  As a potential employer,
> I've identified my institution's needs and resources, and I've crafted a
> summary of the responsibilities associated with the position.  Through
> experience, I've determined the types of skills that I need in the new
> hire.  I've identified the type of personality that will integrate with
> other members of our team.  Candidates, please don't apply if you don't
> meet the minimums (education, skills, AND experience) on the off-chance
> that no one else is applying.  While your enthusiasm is apparent, it will
> not compensate for a lack of experience or skill.  You may be convinced
> that you can handle the job, but when comparing your material with others
I
> receive, you quickly fall to the bottom of the stack.  In a small
> institution especially, I need staff who can hit the ground running
because
> I've been without a key staff member usually for a matter of months.  If
> you lack appropriate experience, be creative and get some; you'll
probably
> have to volunteer.  In this day and age, your summer internship may not
be
> competitive.
>
> If I ask for a resume, please don't send six pages.  If I ask for the
names
> and telephone numbers, please don't send me six photocopied letters plus
> transcripts.  Don't send me a photograph of yourself.  If I ask for a
> writing sample, please make sure that your grammar and typing skills will
> impress me rather than undermine your chances.  Follow-up calls are
> appropriate, but they can become annoying if placed too frequently.  Dear
> applicant, please know that as the employer I'm reviewing scores of
resumes
> and can only select a limited number of prospects to consider seriously,
> hoping that I've selected the person with the right "fit" for my
> institution.
>
> When we get to the interview stage, please don't be late; also, don't be
an
> hour early.  Dress in a manner appropriate for the position and its level
> of public contact.  Do your homework; take time to read the material that
> I've sent you.  I'm investing time in you, and I expect the same in
return.
>
> I hope that the above offers some insight to applicants to assist them in
> their job search.
>
> Jon N. Austin, Director
> Museum of Funeral Customs
> 1440 Monument Avenue
> Springfield, Illinois   62702
>
> 217-544-3480
> 217-544-3484 (fax)
> www.FuneralMuseum.org
>
> The Museum operates under the auspices of the Illinois Funeral Directors
> Association and the Illinois Funeral Service Foundation, a 501 (c) 3
> non-profit corporation.
>
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