I’ve recently realized something
about interns – I know this sounds a little odd, but it actually takes
confidence to ask questions. “Is this the way you want it?” “Am
I doing this right?” “Is the information I should be looking for?”
takes a lot of guts. And those are the interns I think not only succeed in
having excellent experiences in their internships, but have a better chance at
their careers.
Candace Perry
From:
Sent: Tuesday, April 17, 2012 2:05
PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] Is a love
of history enough for interns?
A love of history/art is a great start, but cannot be all that an
intern brings. They also have to help you accomplish something while learning.
Basic computer skills are not a hefty requirement, these days 11 and 12 year
olds can type and know how to use basic computer functions and concepts. Even
if you do have an intern with exceptional computer skills, they have to learn
the hows and whys of YOUR museum. The last thing you want is an intern who
decides to do database entries in their own way.
Internships carry a balance of teaching skills and giving realistic
expectations. We don't necessarily want to crush their dreams, but some dreams
are fairy tales and a dose of realism is a good thing.
I have worked with and trained many many interns, and at their core, no
matter what they know coming in, what made the difference and made me love some
and want to strangle others, was the willingness to learn the hows and whys,
the willingness to ask questions, and the willingness to do it right the first
time, as instructed (so I don't have to go back and re-inventory thousands of
artifacts where they failed to actually look IN the boxes when checking off
that artifacts were there... note: I was not the supervisor of THOSE interns)
On Tue, Apr 17, 2012 at 1:44 PM, David Harvey <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
I have to say that selecting and supervising an internship is very
different than hiring someone for a staff position.
Frankly it is illegal to use interns as you do other workers. An educational
component is required. This hit the news almost two years ago where audits by
the IRS had turned up abuses in the use of interns in for-profit and non-profit
organizations.
So why are some out there looking for interns who already have the skills they
would require for a staff job? An internship is about developing those skills
and in continuing their education with experience so that they can get a staff
job in the field after the internship.
I agree that general and critical thinking skills are needed and that those,
along with communication and people skills, may be more valuable than previous
specific experience.
Over the years I have had many interns who I selected to work for me in a
museum and a regional conservation lab. These ranged from those who were
getting their BA to those who were post graduate interns aspiring for staff
positions after the internship. I always looked for the love or enthusiasm of
the field (including History, Art, and Science) along with writing and critical
thinking skills. And since this was a conservation lab internship demonstrated
hand skills were essential.
Yes, the interns I had did a lot of the basic work we had to do, but I always
made sure that they had time to be involved and to get to know the wider
activities of the museum, they were assigned a minimum of one project where
they were required to do research and write an article or paper about their
project. We also spent time to help them understand what a career in the field
consisted of. I am proud that many of my interns went on to graduate school and
also important positions in the field. And I am equally proud of those who
loved the experience but their lives led them elsewhere.
In my opinion to educate and enhance a young person's life in a positive way,
to be part of a process of mentoring them into the field, and to encourage and
support their careers, makes internships as valuable a component of my life as
it is to theirs.
Cheers!
Dave
David Harvey
Senior Conservator and Museum Conservator
On Tue, Apr 17, 2012 at 10:07 AM, Callie Stewart <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:
Absolutely not!!! I am currently in the process of hiring a
summer intern and I expect them to already have relevant experience
and a degree. I am more lenient with volunteer interns, but I still
expect them to earn their keep and "loving history" is not part of
the job description. I learned the hard way that accepting anyone who
walks through the door with a "love of art" can end up being a
disaster and a waste of everyone's time. That being said, I think that
basic intelligence and common sense can be a lot more valuable then specific
skills. If you have an intern who can learn to do A,B and C quickly and
has good research skills, they can be a lot more useful then one who already
knows X,Y and Z, but can't problem solve or think on their feet.
Honestly, I don't care if they stay in the profession or not. Who
knows where they're going to end up in life. I wish them all the best,
but their life is not my business or my concern. Perhaps your experience
will inspire them to become your future big donor. As long as they are
satisfied with the experience and the museum gets something useful out of their
time, then everybody wins!
What has shocked me is
how few applicants (some of them very good and well educated) know how to
format a cover letter. It's not hard to Google these things. Why
does no one know where to put the date? Or that you are supposed to actually
*sign* your name???
On Tue, Apr 17, 2012 at 12:38 PM, Fox, Amy <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Frustrating as it is to devote scarce time and energy to supervising
interns who love history but don't plan to stay in the museum field, you might
think of it as an investment in future audiences, museum members, board
members, and supporters. Easy for me to say, since it's not my investment of
time, but I've known some interns through the years who didn't become museum
professionals but are fine citizens, nevertheless, and have a good
understanding of our field. Ultimately you're weighing the short-term benefit
of an intern with the long-term benefits, which you may not reap. But that's
true if they go into the museum profession, too.
[log in to unmask]
Amy Killpatrick Fox
Museum Educator
Bureau of Historic Sites & Museums, PHMC
717/772-1967
Website: www.patrailsofhistory.com
Blog: Trailheads--http://patrailheads.blogspot.com
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