I saw an article about 12 Career-Boosting Certificates and out of the 12, five of them fit skills I picked up doing various museum related jobs in my career. If you are thinking of working in museums, remember your skills can also be applied to other related positions such as: 
 
1. "Event planner
Ranked as one of the top 20 jobs in the U.S., certified event planners can expect to stay in the money for at least the next decade. Money Magazine reports an estimated 22 percent job growth over the next 10 years for workers type A enough to plan meetings, conferences, parties, retreats and special events but creative enough to make them memorable and effective. 
 
The certification program typically requires 70 to 100 hours of classroom instruction and covers topics such as food management, event budgeting and meeting promotion. Those armed with a certificate in event planning bring in a median salary of over $52,000 per year and have the organizational skills to figure out what to do with it. 
 
2. Human resources specialist
"There's going to be a skill shortage and a knowledge drain across industries when the baby boomers retire, so organizations realize they need to invest in their work force," comments Kevin Grossman, chief operating officer for HRmarketer.com, an online marketing firm for more than 300 human resource suppliers across the nation. "There's going to be a lot of competition for knowledge and that's why there's a need for quality leaders and recruitment." 
 
The silver lining to the estimated 3.4 million-worker labor shortage coming up in the next decade is that companies in all industries will place more emphasis on attracting talent, as well as training and retaining a reliable workforce. That means a boom in human resource positions -- approximately 180,400 new jobs by 2014, according to the BLS. This also means better benefits and compensation for those already in the field. Those just starting out should know that HR certificate programs typically require 15 to 21 credit hours and will cover topics including compensation and benefits, training and development programs and internal employment practices. 
 
3. Continuity planner
In the wake of 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, the 2004 Asian Tsunami, and the 2007 California wildfires, creating a business backup plan has become more crucial than ever. Continuity planners -- individuals trained to help prevent and manage emergency disaster situations -- are increasingly in demand across both government offices and private companies. "Companies learned a hard lesson after 9/11, that they have to plan for disasters not only in their own locality," says Dr. Matthew Liotine, director of the emergency management and continuity planning certificate program at the University of Illinois-Chicago. 

Professionals trained in the field can find positions within both large and midsize companies as well as in government agencies, the Department of Homeland Security being one of the largest employers of continuity planners. Along with a bigger job market for continuity planners is also a bigger paycheck, says Liotine. According to a survey conducted by BC Management, a California-based firm that specializes in recruiting and placing continuity and disaster relief personnel, certified business continuity planners earn an average compensation package (including benefits and bonuses) of over $100,000 per year. 
 
4. Technical writer
As technological fields grow, so will the need to understand and teach them. Technical writers who are trained to translate technology-heavy language into layman's terms will have their choice of private firms, publishing houses, government offices, nonprofit organizations and freelance opportunities from which to choose. 
 
Currently holding the No. 13 spot on Money Magazine's list of the 50 best jobs in America, the technical writing field has seen an increase in average salary every year for the past 21 years according to the Society for Technical Communication. Today, skilled technical writers bank an average of over $61,000 per year. To break into the field, you'll need a certificate from an accredited technical writing program (usually comprising 15 to 21 credit hours); however, a few years of industry experience in the field you'd like to write for can help boost your chances of landing assignments. 
 
5. Nonprofit management
You say you want a revolution? Here's how to get started. The National Council of Nonprofit Associations reports that there are currently more than 837,000 charitable nonprofits in the country, all of which need trained leaders to help spark social change. John Mudd, director of the University of Illinois Chicago's online nonprofit management certificate program, says that in order to make nonprofits effective, leaders need to understand how they differ from typical for-profit companies. 
 
"The reason that nonprofit leadership is different than regular management is based on how the organization is judged," Mudd comments. "You're not judged by the profit that you turn but by the people you serve, how you're furthering your cause. A lot of times you have to have some very clear goals, otherwise you don't know if you're really succeeding." 
 
Besides covering the basics of budgeting, planning, evaluation, and marketing, a certificate specialization in nonprofit management equips the applicant with an acute knowledge of grant writing, social issues and the framework of international nongovernmental organizations. 
 
See http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/Departments/CareerTraining/?article=12CareerBoost for the complete article!
 
Also, think what jobs you can get with a general "business degree" compared to a more specialized degree in Museology. Many museums would welcome a well-rounded business manager or MBA to operate their organization, or manage a program. You specifically do not need a decree in "museum studies". How about a degree in graphics? 
 
Have "multi-use" (let me copy right that word!!) certificates, education and skills so you can adapt it to many venues of employment. Don't get stuck with a Masters' in Museology.....tougher to find work. I know -- especially when the museum
environment becomes more difficult to find positions.  
 
Having a more generalized degree will land you more opportunities to find employment both in
and outside the museum fields.  Expand yourself. Be willing to adapt, change, and look outside the box. 
 
John
Boise, ID
 

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