Here is a summary of responses for the NYU Museum Studies
Association Career Day. It is my hope that they will spur further
discussion posted either on the list or to me personally. I would
like to thank everyone who took the time to respond.
 
(I would like to point out that the Museum Studies Program spends
an enormous amount of time and energy bypassing personnel
offices to arrange interviews directly with department heads. The
results have been, over and over again, beneficial to both
prospective employer and  employee.)
 
 
1. Getting a job takes experience, and the best ways are through
internships, part-time jobs and ANY work you can get that has
anything to do with museums.
 
2. A master's degree with museum studies certification is a plus
because you have a sound academic basis and the ability to go
on for an advanced degree.
 
3. Smaller institutions require coverage of diverse responsibilities
that no one person could possibly have trained for specifically, so
core abilities and a willingness and ability to learn are important.
An ability to work independently and to be self-motivating, as
demonstrated through past work history is very important.
 
6. There are going to be fewer job opportunities. The museum field
may become more like the performing arts where museum
specialists will move from job to job as contractors. Conservators
will always be required but more museums will contract out for
conservation. Generalists with a complex set of skills and abilities
will be the most desirable and support for individual museum
workers will become more important in the development and
management of their careers.
 
4. Get comfortable with the interview process. Really look into the
situation you are applying for and make sure you have the
complete picture; do your research on the current topics of the
field, research the museum and any inherent situations there,
formulate good questions about that museum, think about what
types of questions you'll be asked and formulate cogent answers
while you're not "on the spot."
 
5. Assume your references will be checked. Employers may check
references other than the ones supplied by the candidate and
references from teachers rarely count as they really have little idea
how the person works.
 
7. Museums will begin to consider all of the staff as educators.
 
8. There will be demands for people who are computer-literate
and beyond...creative and visionary. Data management will be an
important skill in the future.
 
9. Museums need people who can create attractions to draw
visitors but keep the INTEGRITY of what museums are all about.
 
 
Robbin Murphy
Vice President NYU/MSA
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