--- Susannah West <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> When I describe these various
> positions in a resume for a potential employer, I usually get the
> response "you have a lot of great volunteer experience, but..."  (The
> implied end of this sentence being "those weren't REAL jobs.")

I usually do a category style resume and include my volunteer work as part of
my duties/accomplishments. Then at the end of the resume where I list all my
work experience, I have a separate category for volunteer experience.

As for people blowing off your volunteer work experience, would you really want
to work for them anyway? People who blow off volunteer, part-time, or freelance
work probably aren't good managers or directors to begin with and probably
won't respect you as an employee. People who value experience in all of its
forms, will probably respect you as an employee and create a better work
environment.

And quite frankly, one of the dirty secrets of the job market is that the vast
majority of jobs out there can be done by just about anyone who's intelligent.
Degrees, experience, and talent are a small part of the hiring process.
Networking is another big part of the process. (Have I mentioned
networking....;) The museum world is a small place and if you work in the
field, volunteer or paid, word will get around eventually. Good volunteer
experience that people have heard about will give you an edge over paid
experience that they haven't heard about. Just keep at it and sooner or later,
your job will come. Or you'll have a good paying job outside the museum field
which will let you do the fun stuff on the side and not worry about if you're
going to eat or pay your student loans off this month.

Deb




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