>I am a student in a M.A. program for Museum Professions at Seton Hall
>University in New Jersey.  Museum professionals--any advice in how to
"break
>through" into this competitive field?  I have been searching for a job to
>accompany my studies since August.  No hiring museums have been willing to
give
>me a chance!



The word you are looking for is persistence.  I had received a part-time
curator position in a small historic house museum a year after graduate
school, but with unforeseen circumstances I had to quit after six months.  I
worked a couple different jobs before that, and two other jobs with the
curator position to make ends meet.  But when my husband was laid off and we
moved to a small city in Ohio, it was 2 1/2 years before finding a full-time
curatorial position in a good (and I stress good) museum!!  So from the time
I graduated, until I found this position, it has been 6 years.  I was hired
earlier  this month, and I just started there two weeks ago.  So the name of
the game is persistence!!  You can't give up on the dream!

Lorri Brace Jacobs
Curator
McKinley Museum and National Memorial