I thought I might throw my hat into the ring...

aiming for a museum position...am qualified with a BA and an MPhil research
degree in archaeology, teaching experince including museum education-
working closely with a museum- and conference experience- presenting
academic papers-...and there is nothing out there.

Is it any better in Europe?


>From: "Feltus, Pamela" <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: Museum discussion list <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: recent grad looking for direction
>Date: Wed, 21 Nov 2001 09:33:18 -0500
>
>Although I agree with David, I also disagree. Yes, the market is crowded.
>And yes, you might not get a museum job right away. And of course you need
>a
>job- very few people have the luxury to be unemployed until the perfect
>museum job comes available, which might take years (plus, you'll need to
>answer for that big gap in your resume). And that non-museum job can be a
>great job that gives you amazing experience.
>
>But don't give up on your dream because you didn't succeed right away
>(unless you find you prefer something else). Get that other job- make sure
>it's something you'll like because you do need to be there every day and
>who
>knows for how long. But still spend some time every week looking and
>applying for that dream job. And the good thing about already having a job
>is you can afford to be picky now- you don't have to take the job as a shop
>clerk in a history museum if you really want to be a painting conservator
>at
>a modern art museum. Enjoy where you are at the moment- this might be the
>last time you have a chance to work with a lot of other people or in the
>for-profit world!
>
>All jobs have valuable experience- I used to know a visitors service
>director who said the most valuable job she had ever had was not another
>museum job, but selling shoes at Nordstrom. Valuable experience can be
>found
>in all different forms. Museum employers appreciate non-museum experience.
>Don't give up your dream because you didn't get a job in a few weeks. It'll
>come, it just might take a few years.
>
>And recent grads remember you have about 40 years of work ahead of you,
>don't rush it.
>
>Pamela
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: David E. Haberstich [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> > Sent: Wednesday, November 21, 2001 12:38 AM
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Re: recent grad looking for direction
> >
> >
> > In a message dated 01-11-20 02:41:14 EST, Christopher Wise wrote:
> >
> > << Beth, you are not alone.  I'm beginning to become
> >  concerned, though hope that persistence and patience
> >  will pay off.  >>
> >
> > and...
> >
> > <<Hang in there.  I'm sure that there are a lot of us
> > out there.>>
> >
> > The latter is precisely the problem.  There are too many
> > people competing for
> > a small number of jobs.  I hate to sound negative, but I
> > think it's important
> > to be realistic.  When a field is overcrowded, not everyone
> > will succeed in
> > finding a job, no matter how persistent they are.  Period.
> > Do the math.
> > Persistence and patience are necessary, and yes, wearing a suit to an
> > interview, but they're not enough.  As someone else said, you
> > may well need
> > connections, plus luck.  But you know, even if a pool of 100 people,
> > competing for 20 jobs, all had equal patience, persistence,
> > connections,
> > luck, superior qualifications, and Armani interview suits, 80
> > would fail to
> > get a job.  And don't wait for me to retire: I'm told that I won't be
> > replaced if I leave or die!
> >
> > I think it's extremely important to have an alternative plan
> > when you're
> > competing in an overcrowded job market.  Keep your options
> > open, and be ready
> > to fall back on another career (whether related or unrelated
> > to your primary
> > focus) if it proves necessary.  You can still continue
> > looking for your first
> > choice after you (temporarily) give up and pursue another
> > line.  Ironically,
> > I took a museum job at a time when the museum field was not
> > overcrowded, but
> > my original career choice was too competitive, and I've tried
> > to make the
> > most of it.  I became just as passionate about my second
> > choice as I was
> > about the first, and my regrets are minor.  While I
> > sympathize with your
> > problem, I think it's important to set a time limit and be
> > ready to move on
> > to something else if necessary.
> >
> > David Haberstich
> >
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