I’d prefer someone with a Bachelor’s
and experience, some of it the RIGHT kind (i.e., directly relevant to the
position I’m hiring for), plus the appropriate attitude, values, demeanor
and research/writing skills. I can teach them any kind of computer
technologies they need to know and if there is a gap in technical knowledge
that is easily filled, I can provide resources for that as well.
This is, of course, assuming we are
talking about entry-level positions.
Julia Muney Moore
Public Art Administrator
Blackburn Architects, Indianapolis, IN
(317) 875-5500 x230
From: Museum discussion list
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Pamela Silvestri
Sent: Thursday, August 25, 2005
10:26 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Glut of graduates
I am curious, and
if you don't mind my asking (and hypothetically) would you lean more towards
hiring a grad student with some experience, or someone with a Bachelor's
and tons of experience+?
By all means you
are not obligated to respond to this, but I'd appreciate knowing more about
what museum employers consider. Thanks.
In a message dated 8/25/2005 9:36:41 A.M.
Eastern Daylight Time, martha[log in to unmask]
writes:
In
addition to lower than expected salaries, I've also known graduate
students who didn't think they had to have any experience to get a job. In
fact, they expected upon graduation to walk right into a director's job
because they have a master's degree in museum studies. And the few that
did
"luck into" such a job ended up leaving the field within a year,
because
reality didn't match classroom teachings.
When possible, I try to hire graduate students. It seems to take about
4-6
months before they realize that the real world doesn't quite match what
they're taught.
Martha Battle
Jackson, Curator of Technology
North Carolina State Historic Sites
Mailing Address: 4621 Mail Service Center,
Raleigh, NC
27699-4621
Street Address: 532 North
Wilmington Street, Raleigh, NC 27604
919/733-3877; ext. 236; FAX: 919/733-9515
martha[log in to unmask]
Pamela Silvestri, Museum Assistant
Northeast States Civilian
Conservation Corps
Museum
Shenipsit State Forest
166 Chestnut Hill Road
Stafford Springs, Connecticut 06076
(860) 684-3430