In various internships (and part-time jobs) that I've had, I've looked for a couple of things: 1) exposure to what the job REALLY entails. 2) being treated as a part of the team -- not just as a pair of hands to fetch and carry 3) some training -- how do I cut a mat, mount a label, photograph an object, use your database... This is my chance to get the practical experience -- school has given me the theoretical! 4) recognition for contributions -- in one internship, I was listed and thanked in the credits as an exhibit intern. As long as the catalog is in print, my role in the exhibit is perpetuated (and I was able to show it to my future mother-in-law, who had seen the traveling exhibit -- she was very impressed). 5) a substantive responsibility. I could always tell when projects were haphazardly created for the intern to have something to do. 6) feedback -- it's always great to get constructive criticism, praise, etc. Money would have been nice, but wasn't vital if I was getting great experience. However, in that case, the institution providing the internship should be understanding about the need for somewhat flexible hours -- the bills have to be paid! As far as a job, sometimes internships tell you where you DON'T want to work! My office is thinking about offering an internship (I work for my local Girl Scout council planning programs with local museums, historic sites, nature centers, etc.) for a museum ed/public history student who has an interest in working with specialized audiences (like Girl Scouts). I've been reading the original thread with great interest to prepare! Brigid Nuta Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital -----Original Message----- From: Julia Moore <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] Sent: Mon, 3 Oct 2005 15:32:59 -0500 Subject: Re: Supervising Interns - The Other Side of the Coin My internship was at the Getty Center for Art History and the Humanities back in the mid-'80s. I got paid (not much, but enough to cover rent, food and gas for the internship period) and was treated like a regular staff member with a desk, phone and computer all to myself in the main staff work area. I worked 40 hours per week for 6 months and contributed work towards creating the gigantic photo archive of ancient art that people still consult today, so it was meaningful for the Getty and interesting for me. I got to meet lots of people and had a great, supportive boss who was able to give me a succession of projects with different challenges so I didn't get bored. I did very little "busy" work, and the little I did was given to me with huge apologies for how boring it was. In short, it was heaven for a student in the middle of her graduate program. I was not actually offered a job at the Getty after I finished the internship or the grad program, but I'm sure that having it on my resume helped me get my first "real" job after getting my degree. Julia Muney Moore Public Art Administrator Blackburn Architects, Indianapolis, IN (317) 875-5500 x230 -----Original Message----- From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Indigo Nights Sent: Monday, October 03, 2005 3:21 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Supervising Interns - The Other Side of the Coin There's been a hearty thread on this topic, directed from the perspective of the person "hiring"/supervising the intern. It begs the question, however: "What do interns want during their experience?" Obviously, the first answer is money, and the second is a job following the internship. Absent those, what else would you like to get from an internship? Without naming names, what are some of the positives you've seen, and what might you have liked handled differently? We've a lot of young people on list, and I suspect their answers could be informative for those who supervise. Indigo Nights [log in to unmask] ========================================================= 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] . 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