I do have to say that some of this is a bit disheartening. I graduated
from my University with a degree in Social Studies Education and my
teaching certification. After wading into the teaching field I have found
it to be something I don't really see myself doing long-term. Museums, on
the other hand, are something that I have always LOVED and something I
would be thrilled to have an opportunity in, (even licking envelops all day
to start if it paid my rent). As a result, I applied for several graduate
programs in or related to museum studies but was unable to get in this time
around due to their generally small class sizes and my lack of experience.
I have found this extremely frustrating because of course I have no
experience. I've been in school my entire life, working since I was 14
years old, been in the military, served in Iraq, and then just started to
get into the teaching profession. No experience? No kidding! That's why
I want to go to grad school or get an internship, because I LOVE history
and I LOVE museums and I LOVE being in that environment. That school or
that internship is supposed to be the place where I get that education
and/or experience that will allow me to move into the museum field as a
profession, (God willing), but it seems increasingly as though wherever I
turn I am expected to somehow already have those thing as a prerequisite to
getting access to it in the first place. It's forms a horrifying circle.
I've taken to moving back in with my parents at age 25 so that I can
volunteer at museums all week long and not have to worry about my rent
since I have no money but no one wants to give me a chance because passion
and a desire to be there isn't enough evidently. Everyone wants me to be
experienced, (even for entry-level positions), but no one wants to provide
that experience. I'm at a loss for what to do long-term.
Now, I absolutely value education, am grateful for that which I have,
and hopeful that I will be able to pursue more education in the form of a
graduate school, but I also absolutely feel we, or employers, OVER-value
it. Or, over-emphasize it, certainly. No amount of education takes the
place of experience, which can be gained, oftentimes, through mere
on-the-job training and working through the day to day tasks of a
position. I think we are kidding ourselves to some degree if we pretend
that it would be that difficult to take someone with an unrelated bachelors
degree and train them for most job positions. In under a month you'd
almost always have a fully functional employee, barring any extraneous
personal factors and assuming they are a competent individual. You'd
likely have spent as much time training someone with an MA in Museum
Studies anyway because education can never be specific enough to your
facility, to your situation, or even to real life. One thing I definitely
learned in attaining my B.S. in education is that colleges and universities
are full of theory and best-case scenarios that are not reflective of the
realities of the actual day-to-day operations or shrinking budgets. This
isn't at all to say that getting an MA in Museum Studies is wasted effort
or that their education shouldn't be considered as a potential asset, but
simply that we need to maintain a certain amount of perspective.
Passion for a subject should not ever be discounted. Having that love
is extremely important if you are going to come in day after day with a
good attitude. And if you're concerned with the long-term potential of a
candidate, intern or otherwise, those that love the subject or field are
most likely going to be your best bet because they are the ones that have a
reason to stick around. God knows it won't be for the money in most
cases. On a personal note, I just turned down a fantastic government
GS07/09/11 opportunity that would have paid me more than I likely ever will
make in the museum field, so that I could stay at home, making nothing, and
volunteer in museums until someone hopefully gives me a chance. So I think
you'd be crazy to discount love.
Anyone who needs an envelope licker, e-mail me.
- Alex
On Tue, Apr 17, 2012 at 2:52 PM, [log in to unmask] <
[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> I wish a LOVE of anything was enough to get an internship nowadays, but it
> is not. This is coming from a frustrated second year Grad student, who has
> been told numerous times that her portfolio is "great", but has gotten
> turned down time after time. You are right in wanting technically
> proficient interns, but were there absolutely none available to choose
> from? Or are you passing up the technically proficient for someone who just
> sounds good on paper?
>
> Sent from my HTC Aria™ smartphone on AT&T
>
>
> ----- Reply message -----
> From: "Aderman, Ella" <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: Tue, Apr 17, 2012 1:38 pm
> Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Is a love of history enough for interns?
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>
> I think an internship is their opportunity to try out a job and see if
> they like it before actually working or preparing to work in that field.
> It is a time for those that are committed to refine what they like
> doing, and also a time for them to learn what they DON'T like doing so
> they don't waste any more time going in that direction with their
> coursework or career.
>
> Is a love of history enough? No, they have to also be able to write,
> speak intelligently, have basic computer skills or whatever they need to
> be useful for your situation.
> Regards,
> Ella Aderman
> Pennypacker Mills
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
> Behalf Of Christa McCay
> Sent: Tuesday, April 17, 2012 12:09 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Is a love of history enough for interns?
>
> Hello All,
>
> My question is about interns. After having recently interviewing over
> 20 interns for the summer semester (fyi, we are a staff of 4 and will
> have more interns then staff at the Museum this summer), I have begun to
> feel that potential interns think that a love of history is enough to
> get them a position. Is it really enough?
>
> I have begun to feel that no it?s not. Often times they don?t have the
> experience with basic computer programs or with graphic design programs
> (mainly exhibits and marketing interns). I understand with this economy
> getting an internship and experience is the best for their resume and
> for getting a job after college. Also I understand that people need to
> start their experience somewhere,but most of these students don?t want
> to be in the Museum world when they graduate and often times assume that
> they will get to ?play? with cool artifacts all day. We all know that
> the truth is, there is a lot of paperwork involved with maintaining a
> collection along with data entry, both of which are not glamorous or
> very exciting.
> I know that our job is to teach interns but like many of us, we are
> juggling multiple tasks to make up for the positions that are currently
> empty and can?t be filled due to budget. Our teaching and training time
> is limited. I do want to have interns with a passion for history but
> also a passion to work in Museums. I sometimes feel like my time was
> wasted trying to teach and train someone who just wanted to do this for
> fun.
>
> I am sorry if this sounds like whining or sour grapes but I would like
> to know from others if a love of history is enough?
>
> Sincerely,
>
>
> Christa McCay, M.H.P.
> Registrar
> Marietta Museum of History
> 1 Depot Street, Ste. 200
> Marietta, GA 30060
> 770-794-5726
>
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--
---------------
Alex Augustine
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