If I may insert my two cents…
I work at one of those small museums with
only 3 full-time paid staff members, a slightly cantankerous board, and
yes…I wear many, many, many hats.
The pay is awful, there are NO benefits, I have to work weekends and
nights, and I absolutely love my job and the other dedicated people I work
with. This is my first paid museum
job and I have been here a year and I would not trade the experience I am
getting for anything. With a
collections and archives budget to small to even mention we have to think
creatively, I have a multitude of opportunities to learn different aspects of
the museum (right now I am wearing the web designer hat), and I get stopped in
the grocery store and called at home with questions ranging from simply wanting
to know if we will be open tomorrow to people wanting to ask about Aunt
Milli’s Navajo Indian Rug that she donated 10 years ago.
I came to be in this position by
completing several internships while in college, volunteering at my local
historical society, and being willing to move a thousand miles away from the
‘big city’ to a small and very rural part of Kansas. My advice, like many others is to be
willing to move almost anywhere, accept little compensation, and make the most
of it--you may discover, like me, that the results are worth every sacrifice.
Good luck to all the prospective museum
employees out there.
Becca Hiller
-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Yearous, Jenny Dee
Sent:
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L]
Occupational Guidance
As frequent mentor of
interns I will offer you the advice that I have given all my interns over the
years. So far they are batting 1000 at getting jobs.... Think small. Be willing
to relocate to a small community and work at a small museum. You might be a
part of a staff of 1 or maybe 2 or 3 (paid people that is) and you will
probably have dozens of elderly volunteers, a slightly cantankerous board and
will have to wear many hats from chief fund raiser to bathroom
cleaner, exhibit team (of one) to curator, registrar and collections manger.
But, you will gain wonderful experience that will then take you to where ever
you want to go, in time. Be willing to stay for 2-3 years. And, who knows, you
may find that this is your ideal job. Also another side benefit, it is usually
cheaper to live in the small towns so the small salary goes a little father.
Jenny Yearous
Curator of Collections
Management
State Historical Society
of
(see I speak from
experience, and I love it here)
From: Emily Milot
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent:
Subject: Occupational Guidance
Dear List:
I’ve been reading your
comments for some months now, and I appreciate all of the help and support that
you give one another. And I was hoping that some of you might have some
guidance for me.
The truth is that I’m looking
for a job in a museum. I’ve been applying for jobs all over my area
for the past three years – ever since I started taking museum studies
courses -- but I can’t quite seem to do whatever it is that gets someone
hired into the museum field.
I’ve heard a lot of advice
through the years. Everything from it’s all about meeting the right
people to if I could just hold out just a few more years and maybe someone will
retire or die and I could get one of their jobs. I’ve written and
rewritten my resume and cover letter. I’ve tried to show my
enthusiastic, and I’ve done as much volunteer work as I can for many
years. But the only jobs that I’ve gotten either don’t pay a
living wage (i.e. allow me to pay rent, buy groceries and have some kind of
health benefits) or are seasonal.
So, I decided to do something that I
have never done before and ask all of you. What else can I do?
What’s the silver bullet? How did you get your jobs? When
you’re hiring someone, what do you look for?
I appreciate any advice you can give
me based on your experiences. I’ve purposely left my own skills and
experience vague because I don’t want to seem like I’ve got my hand
out looking for a job from one of you. But, if it would be helpful to
know a little more about me, I can always send you my resume. J Just
kidding.
Emily Milot
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