RE: Asking in Earnest: Question 1

I don't think length of your first museum job is as important as what you have achieved, certainly here in the UK . I know from personal experience that getting my first museum job was the toughest challenge, and the second wasn't that much easier either. Try to see it as opportunity. Not least make the most of your stay and leave a good impression. Also get some extra clout to your C.V. by perhaps joining an organisation in the museum world either at your own museum or externally which you are enthusiastic about: could you offer to write an article for them in their next publication, or a review of a seminar you attended? All this will build-up extra skills and experience which will help you stand-out from the crowd when you apply for your next job.

In any case, you may not want to stay in your first job very long, or your personal circumstances may change. If you really want that next job - and they like you at interview (it takes about 40 seconds after you walk in the interview for them to make up their mind whether they like you) - then this counts for more than length of stay. Have a great career.

Best wishes

Brian Hanley
Documentation Officer
First Garden City Heritage Museum

-----Original Message-----

From:   Indigo Nights [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
Sent:   11 January 2002 06:53
To:     [log in to unmask]
Subject:        Asking in Earnest: Question 1

On of our members has asked me to inquire of the group
a series of questions. Rather than to post them in a
long thread, I am going to take each question and
offer it separately. I believe that will make it
easier for for later reference and aggregation.

With this series, PLEASE RESPOND TO THE LIST. I am
not the one who came up with these. Just trying to
protect the anonymity of the poster such that that
person has no ramifications from the current employer
of record.

QUESTION ONE
How long should a newcomer to the museum world stay at
their first job?

From what I have read, most museums want applicants to
have at least two to five years of experience in the
museum under their belt for their vacant positions.
What do you think?

=====
Indigo Nights
[log in to unmask]

Looking for a job? Try:
http://victorian.fortunecity.com/stanmer/414

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