Ashley, Sarah, et al:

The following advice is presented from someone who has been on both sides of the equation: as a young recent grad, looking for jobs all over the country, and a someone who has held nation-wide searches. (Not to say that this is right or wrong, but it's a perspective that has been where you are)...

Don't forget that cracking into different regions can be tricky for reasons other than not knowing about the job opportunities. For one thing, most regions (especially major metropolitan areas) already have LOTS of very talented, very experienced applicants. Are they more qualified than you? Not necessarily. But they are more local. It's not even necessarily a matter of networking, but simply being from an area. Local candidates are probably more familiar with the museum, its collections, its community. Perhaps they even know some of the donors or collectors in the area. A local candidate simply is likely more knowledgeable about the entire community in which the museum functions.

Another consideration is that many positions in the level that you are talking about (that is to say, not senior level positions) don't budget for relocation expenses, or travel to bring in candidates to interview. You may be willing to cover relocation costs yourself, but when the address at the top of your resume is from the other side of the country, you might be discounted because you're farther away. (Maybe it's unfair, but it's a reality.) If you are willing to cover relocation costs, be sure to mention that in your cover letter. The same is true if you know that you are moving to the area anyway (i.e., if your partner is being transferred to the new destination and you are looking to find a job there, too). 

Additionally, your potential employer might be wondering how happy you will be in up and moving to a new location, especially if you have no connections to the area. Sure the thought of a new city is fun and exciting (especially some of the cities you referenced), but there might be the concern that there's nothing to keep you there, aside from the job. From an employer's perspective, they (may) pay for you to move there, they train you, but then you end up homesick and unable to fit in. Will you last in that position? Remember that a new hire is an investment for any employer, and they want to make sure that you work out.

Perhaps you might consider looking for positions that are just outside major metropolitan areas, where competition is a little less fierce, but so that you are geographically close enough to get into a city (and continue to network there). Or spend some time wherever you are now building up your resume so that you are in a better position to look elsewhere after you have some more experience. (Re: your graduate school's recognition power, after a few years, what's more important is what you have done with your degree, and less where it came from.)

Good luck!

Margaret


-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Sarah Katherine Jorgensen
Sent: Monday, February 27, 2012 1:28 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] Hello everyone

Hello Ashley and others,

I am in a very similar position, having just graduated from CUNY in museum studies and art history.

I worry that my institution's program is not well known.

My second concern is that when looking for jobs in other areas- the bay area specifically- I am not privy to the jobs and internships posted. My impression is that many regional jobs and internship opportunities are listed through regional museum studies programs' list serves. Are there any suggestions how to access informations in such situations?

Volunteering or docenting at a museum, even if while working another type of job, may help to make connections. Also, I have found attending museum related (and for me, art history) conferences to be a great source of information, networking and opportunities.

I did not get a great deal of guidance when it came to picking and choosing my speciality in regards to museums, but I have been narrowing it while I volunteer.
 What is your desired positions?

On Feb 27, 2012, at 12:15 AM, Ashley Watson wrote:

> I joined this listserve last year and have been following some trends a bit but primarily focused on the jobs and internships.  I have bookmarked few websites that focuses on museum employment openings.  Also for internships, both paid and unpaid. I am in my final semester as a graduate student in museum studies program at Syracuse University and will be graduating this May.  I am quite anxious about finding a job or internship somewhere and I am very ware of the difficult economical climate that we are experiencing right now. I would like to know if there are any good museum employment/professional network websites that I may have overlooked.  I want to state that I have drawn my job search plan with a list of cities I would like to obtain either employment or internship this coming summer or later.  Before I list those cities, I am not limiting myself to those cities as I am open to almost anywhere but I hope to land in any of my preferred cities.  Here is the list of cities below:
> 
> Boston, Toronto, Washington D.C., Chicago, Minneapolis/St.Paul, Denver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Oakland, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Australia (any major city there).  
> 
> It may seem as a real grand plan and the reason for that is my preference for a decent public transit system.  Again, I can't limit myself to that as I have to accept what is out there.  Your feedback here will be greatly appreciated. 
> 
> Best,
> Ashley Watson
> Graduate Student 
> Museum Studies Program
> Syracuse University
> 
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