I had a much different experience than everyone else. I got an internship in
Washington DC at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. At the time, it
wasn't terribly difficult. They also hired on many of their interns,
including me, which got me a start in museum work. I've found that since
then, once you have the experience, you can usually find other museum
positions. It may depend upon what department you are looking for. Good
Luck!

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
> Behalf Of Janice Morrill
> Sent: Thursday, February 17, 2000 7:13 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: job openings?
>
>
> I would love to know whether others have had similar experiences
> w/the Smithsonian and other Washington DC museums....
>
>
>
>
> Janice Morrill
> Atlanta History Center
> 130 W. Paces Ferry Road, NW
> Atlanta, GA 30305
> 404 814-4135
> [log in to unmask]
>
> >>> Laura Mahoney <[log in to unmask]> 02/16/00 02:33PM >>>
> I was going to pass on responding to this since this thread
> appears on MUSEUM-L
> on a regular basis, but I guess I couldn't resist any longer...
>
> Speaking from years of experience, getting a job in a museum in
> the Washington,
> D.C. area is next to impossible.  I graduated the George
> Washington University
> in 1996 with my Master's in museum studies.  I had very high
> grades, lots of
> good internship experience and good connections (most of my
> teachers worked for
> the Smithsonian).  Unfortunately none of that helped much.
>
> Jobs at the Smithsonian especially are few and far between.
> Competition is
> fierce for those jobs that do occasionally open up. The
> application process at
> the Smithsonian and other quasi-Federal agencies (National Park Service,
> Holocaust Museum, etc.) takes a minimum of 3 months.  The typical
> time you can
> expect to wait is closer to 6 months or longer.  I started applying for
> Smithsonian jobs a full year before I graduated.  Consider
> yourself lucky if you
> EVER get a response back.
>
> I made the mistake of taking the first job I was offered at the
> Smithsonian.  My
> job was in sponsored research.  I thought that I could get my
> foot in the door
> and that it would lead to other jobs at the Smithsonian.  Unfortunately I
> quickly got typecast as a "grants person" and found even getting
> considered for
> collection related jobs more difficult than before.
>
> After two years at the Smithsonian I thought that I'd have a
> better shot of
> getting a collections job if I left the Smithsonian.  I was
> fortunate that a
> consultant position opened up at the National Park Service.  I had been an
> intern at the National Park Service while in graduate school.
> That job let to
> my current permanent government position, also at the National
> Park Service.
> Even though I'm still doing grants, the grants I work with now
> are much closer
> to my academic background than those I was working on at the
> Smithsonian.  What
> can I say -- sometimes it really does depend on who you know.
>
> I guess the lesson in all of this is to keep plugging along.
> Getting a job in
> D.C. is not easy and may take you a LONG time.  Believe me, if it
> wasn't for my
> husband I would have left this area a LONG time ago.  Don't
> settle for any old
> job at the Smithsonian (or any large organization) thinking that
> you can work
> your way into the position you really want.  The Smithsonian is
> much bigger than
> people realize.  More than likely you'll get typecast and people
> will forget
> that you have other skills beyond your current position.
>
> Good luck!
>
> Laura
>
> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
> Laura M. Mahoney
> Heritage Preservation Services
> National Park Service
> [log in to unmask]
>
> ____________________Reply Separator____________________
> Subject:    Re: job openings?
> Author: Sarah Spreitzer <[log in to unmask]>
> Date:       2/16/00 10:55 AM
>
> Dear All,
>
> I am a student, currently completing my masters, who is also looking for
> a museum job in D.C. starting around May.  If anyone has any advice
> regarding
> this could you please reply to me also or post to the list-serv.
> I have been checking the AVISO, MERC and the Washington Post on a
> daily basis.
> Are there any other hints for finding a job in D.C. or at the
> Smithsonian, especially in collections?  And does anyone know how long
> the application process at the Smithsonian takes?
>
> - Sarah Spreitzer
>
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