This one hasn't come up yet but geographic flexibility (that is - be prepared and willing to move) helps a lot.  Be open to small towns in remote locations, be open to finding (and paying) your own way to an interview, be as open as you can to low (near starvation) wages and much responsibility.  If you are foolishly unafraid to tackle nearly impossible situations, that's another advantage. I went in the hole every month I worked at my first professional job and my cost of living was minimal. I drove a beat up and old car, my mortgage payment was insignificant, I had no time to party. I put in many 60+ hour weeks. 

The length of time a job search consumes varies considerably, regardless of the amount of experience you have. (Remember there's  "too much" as well as "too little.")  Occasionally, an offer comes easily or at least quickly. Other times it takes longer, by that I mean a year or more of intensive exploration and application.

It's usually stressful, it can be exhilarating and rewarding, it can be humiliating. Either side of this fence is hard.

The opinion expressed in this email is that of the sender and not necessarily her employer.


>>> [log in to unmask] 05/11/04 08:27AM >>>
Just to tag along on Deb's excellent comments...and this is for any new
graduate going on interviews...I've always, always, felt that the museum
field is chock full of dynamic personalities.  (this list will bear that
out).  The strong minded, creative, innovative are found in droves in the
profession...and you need to make sure that you put forth all of your best
effort in selling yourself.  All the qualifications in the world won't get
you very far if you seem like a bump on a log...you need to be able to sell
your institution in this day and age.  The small amount of interviewing for
new hires I've done left me really concerned about the casual attitude many
people have toward their careers.  You've got to pull out the big
guns...this ain't no ordinary profession...
I'm just sayin'...
Candace Perry

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