Date:    Fri, 1 Apr 2005 09:29:48 -0700
From:    John Martinson <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: One can get a job

Claudia,

Same with me....it has been a long haul!!

I worked 18 years with USWEST/QWEST, but with the downsizing of 40-50,000 =
employees with the federal break up of "Ma Bell" there went my department =
and position.   =20

To my advantage, while working there I gained experience leading and =
organizing non-profit organizations, working/networking with the community,=
taking public relations graduate classes, volunteering at a National =
Park, fund-raising, exhibit development, volunteer management, and =
obtained my BS in history.  Before my job at USWEST ended and was about to =
go out the door, I landed a job as an Executive Director of a museum!=20

That lasted two years.   I then took a job as an Asst. Director at a =
non-profit organization.  That last 6 months!   Some kids blew up a barge, =
and there went our funding, possible legality issues and my job though the =
explosion was not the staff or our FAULT!!  Then a job as a Curator of =
Collections at a large Living History Park came up.   That last 3 years * =
until a new Ex Dir. came on board, and away went all our jobs with people =
he/she hired.  That was 11 days before the planes hit the towers in NY and =
WASHDC.   While at the park, I also earned my Masters' in Museology. =20

Jobs were hard to fine because of my "old" (over 50) age, my degree, and =
museums cutting!  I became a sub-teacher for K-12 graders!   (Though was =
fun working with kids----I was happy to finally find work!!!!)   Almost =
three years later......I found work as a Museum Specialist with the =
federal government!  But, is only for a year contract----LUCKY I'm a =
veteran!  Plus, my Masters' will hopefully keep me working with the =
federal government.  (someone play that violin!!)  ;o)

The museum profession of working with non-profits is a tough & difficult =
career path to follow.   Jobs are hard to find, and often it is simply =
being in the right place at the right time.  I'm speaking with someone who =
has mainly worked with small museums, and there MAY be more "security" in =
big or more established museums.  Indeed, it is hard to find and keep jobs =
in smaller museums, due to budget cuts and constant problems they face.  =
But, I would not trade it for the world.   Yes, "one can get a job...." =
but sometimes it just takes time.    =20

John
Boise, Idaho


>>> [log in to unmask] 4/1/2005 8:06:55 AM >>>
but it can be an awfully long haul.  For those of you old-timers on the
list, you may recall that I lost my job at the Minnesota Historical =
Society
in April of 2002, during the first of what has been ongoing budget crises.
For nearly 3 years, I've been looking for museum work limited by geography
and at last, I have scored a position.