IMHO, volunteering is incredibly valuable, but not necessarily in a linear way. I began volunteering as a teenager for an environmental organization. Although I eventually pursued a career in a history museum, my prior experience in workng with children and with the public doubtlessly helped me land an entry level position. Later, when my children were young and I was not "working," I volunteered in a wide variety of roles at a number of non-profit organizations. Again, the volunteer experience did not offer a direct connection to my current position, but it did provide me with a range of experience, information, and a network of colleagues that I draw upon almost daily. In addition to pursuing volunteer opportunities, it can be helpful to be willing to start at an entry level position--selling tickets, leading tours, data entry, or whatever is available, at an institution that shares your goals and values. Although some of these positions may not seem to meet your aspirations, they do offer you an opportunity to study the institution's operations from an important perspective. If you are observant and perceptive, you can absorb valuable information about the ways in which the mission is played out (or not...) on a day-to-day basis. I would add however, volunteer or entry level jobs should be taken seriously-- give the position, as well as your fellow volunteers/workers, the respect that you expect for yourself. If you are only doing in to "put in your time," this will quickly become evident to your colleagues and employer. They will be less likely to hire you or to provide glowing recommendations, and you will miss some of the most important learning aspects of the experience. Good luck to all who are currently in the job market--it may take time to find the right job at the right place, but it is well worth the struggle! ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). 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).