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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