Thank you to everyone who has written in with tales about how they have gotten
their jobs.  And thank you to those who have written in to commisserate with
me!  I appreciate it.

A few people have asked me what my speciality is, which is somewhat hard to nail
down, actually.  I have been working with a small history institution for over
10 years now, and so my training has been as a jack of all trades in many ways.
 Although I think that my title is technically "volunteer curatorial assistant,"
I have done registrar duties, helped in the archives and library as well as
planning and researching exhibits and installing them in the museum's spaces. 
My educational background is in history.  I have a M.A. in American history and
will have another Master's in Museum Studies before too long.

Many people have mentioned also that I should consider moving -- stretching my
search nationally.  The problem with that, as many of you might know, is that
when you're married (or soon will be in my case) it's not always feasible to
uproot the whole family and move to another part of the country.  We are
considering a move, but due to retirement and financial planning (someone else
mentioned that I should start planning that now -- believe me, I have been
counting my retirement pennies!) my fiance would like to keep a job with the
government for a little while longer at least.  And that also limits the places
where we could move because of the kind of job that he does.

As far as the living wage discussion goes -- I think that this is something that
the museum community really has to discuss thoroughly.  The truth is that the
cost of living is only going up, and even though this is my passion, I need to
be able to eat.  I don't want to seem like I'm not willing to work or that I'm
being unreasonable.  In the past three years, I've had an average of 2 jobs at
any one time.  This summer, I even juggled three.  But I know that my employers
did not get the best performance out of me because I had to work so much just to
break even.  I know that the museum's mission should be tied to their collection
and/or educational goals, but someone has to start talking about the museum's
responsibility to its employees and mentoring future employees.  If it is true
that the Boomer generation is going to start leaving the profession before
long, then what are they going to leave in their wake if they haven't trained
the next level of museum professionals to do their jobs?

I know that I've babbled a little bit, but I did want to respond to the
questions that I had been asked.  I sort of feel towards the museum profession
the way I used to feel towards men before I met my fiance.  Is there a
Match.com for museum professionals?  Because it's the only thing that worked
for me when I was looking for a date! :)

Emily


Quoting Candace Perry <[log in to unmask]>:

> Emily, what's your specialty?
> Looking for jobs all over your area...well...that may be part of the
> problem.  You may have to go elsewhere.  And elsewhere could be far away.
> I don't think there is a silver bullet.  I think it's a combination of
> academics, experience and selling yourself.  I've been very lucky, and I'm
> not sure why, as I wasn't the greatest scholar, quite frankly. I didn't go
> to a big time program, or a school that would give me all the right
> credentials. I don't like professional jargon and don't know how to use it
> (even after 18 years).
> But...what I have is almost boundless enthusiasm for what I do...anywhere
> I've worked, I loved...and that shows.  I didn't set out for jobs in big
> institutions, or with the government, or that had some sort of cachet, and
> that may have helped also.  Dues have been paid.  I am still not with a big
> institution, and that's the way I want it...I think I can help make a
> difference where I am.
> Someone commented about this being a profession of rich kids...I guess it
> helps, sure, but I wasn't that, and now I'm a single mom.  Because I am a
> sentimental sod, I'll say this:  I would never, ever do anything else...I
> find myself to be extraordinarily fortunate everyday I come to this
> institution, and well, my kids can take care of me when I'm old.  As long as
> they don't work for museums...
> What I want to tell you is that there's a lot to this.  Folks out there can
> argue with me, but it's not a field like anything in the corporate world.
> Once again...I am sickeningly sappy...but it has a heart and soul.
> Candace Perry
>
>
>
>
>
>   -----Original Message-----
>   From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
> Behalf Of Emily Milot
>   Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2007 10:43 PM
>   To: [log in to unmask]
>   Subject: Occupational Guidance
>
>
>   Dear List:
>
>
>
>   I've been reading your comments for some months now, and I appreciate all
> of the help and support that you give one another.  And I was hoping that
> some of you might have some guidance for me.
>
>
>
>   The truth is that I'm looking for a job in a museum.  I've been applying
> for jobs all over my area for the past three years - ever since I started
> taking museum studies courses -- but I can't quite seem to do whatever it is
> that gets someone hired into the museum field.
>
>
>
>   I've heard a lot of advice through the years.  Everything from it's all
> about meeting the right people to if I could just hold out just a few more
> years and maybe someone will retire or die and I could get one of their
> jobs.  I've written and rewritten my resume and cover letter.  I've tried to
> show my enthusiastic, and I've done as much volunteer work as I can for many
> years.  But the only jobs that I've gotten either don't pay a living wage
> (i.e. allow me to pay rent, buy groceries and have some kind of health
> benefits) or are seasonal.
>
>
>
>   So, I decided to do something that I have never done before and ask all of
> you.  What else can I do?  What's the silver bullet?  How did you get your
> jobs?  When you're hiring someone, what do you look for?
>
>
>
>   I appreciate any advice you can give me based on your experiences.  I've
> purposely left my own skills and experience vague because I don't want to
> seem like I've got my hand out looking for a job from one of you.  But, if
> it would be helpful to know a little more about me, I can always send you my
> resume. J Just kidding.
>
>
>
>   Emily Milot
>
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--
Emily C. Milot
2281 Fieldstone Drive
North Dighton, MA 02764
Work: 401-444-0625
Home: 508-669-6443
Mobile: 774-218-3320

=========================================================
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If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).