Questions of salary are important as well, but the overriding question is numbers of applicants versus numbers of jobs. Let's establish that first (fewer questions = better response, I hope). Dan On Tue, Dec 18, 2012 at 11:15 AM, Therese Quinn <[log in to unmask]>wrote: > Perhaps add as well, is your museum unionized? > > Therese Quinn > Director, Museum and Exhibition Studies > University of Illinois at Chicago > > > On Tue, Dec 18, 2012 at 10:47 AM, m. sam cronk <[log in to unmask]>wrote: > >> You might want to add to that list: what is a livable wage for your >> region >> >> M. Sam Cronk >> Claremont Fellow and Visiting Scholar, Claremont Colleges >> >> >> >> On Tue, Dec 18, 2012 at 8:33 AM, Dan Bartlett <[log in to unmask]>wrote: >> >>> How about we compile some anecdotal evidence right here. If your >>> organization hired for a position in collections, exhibits, or education in >>> the last year: >>> >>> What was the position? >>> How many applicants did you have? >>> What percent met your minimum qualifications? >>> Did you prefer a master's degree or certificate in museology or a >>> specific discipline? >>> Would you have considered hiring someone w/o a master's but with >>> significant experience? >>> Would you have considered hiring someone with a recent bachelor's but >>> with a museology major or minor? >>> How many FTEs on your staff? >>> >>> If you would like to remain anonymous please forward your replies to me >>> and I will strip out the relevant information. >>> >>> Dan >>> >>> >>> On Mon, Dec 17, 2012 at 5:24 PM, Robert Patrick Connolly (rcnnolly) < >>> [log in to unmask]> wrote: >>> >>>> I feel like I am missing something in this discussion. According to >>>> the AAM recent survey of over 4000 currently employed museum professionals, >>>> here is the education demographic breakdown: >>>> >>>> 7.7% High school >>>> 5.6 % 2 year degree >>>> 44.8% B.A. Or 4 year degree >>>> 35.3% Master’s degree >>>> 5.1% PhD >>>> 1.4% Other >>>> >>>> The above suggests to me that having a BA or MA is where the action >>>> is at in terms of museum employment. I routinely advise students that >>>> unless they want to teach there is little reason for them to continue on >>>> for a PhD. I am often amazed at the false information students use to >>>> justify the need for getting a PhD (e.g., can't apply for a grant without a >>>> PhD, most people with good museum jobs have a PhD, more employable with a >>>> PhD, etc. etc.) In fact curators and directors of publication were the >>>> only job classes in the AAM survey where over 10% had PhDs. >>>> >>>> I teach in a Graduate Certificate Program (M.A. plus certificate). >>>> Coincidentally we were going through our alums last week seeing who was >>>> employed. I don't have the figures in front of me, but we were all >>>> surprised that a very high number of our grads are employed today, >>>> including recent grads. A key seems to their employment is flexibility in >>>> building a career. In the past I used Elizabeth Schalatter's book on >>>> Museum Careers - it is very linear - here is what a curator does, exhibit >>>> designer, etc. etc. More recently Burdick's Creative Careers in Museums is >>>> much more about the entanglement and cross–over in museum positions today. >>>> >>>> I will also note that I hired for two museum positions >>>> (administrative/interpretive) in the last three years and although we had >>>> over 70 applications each time, in neither case did more than four of the >>>> applicants have any museum experience or course work. >>>> >>>> So yes, unemployment is high. By occupation, I suspect Museum folks >>>> are actually faring quite a bit better than most ( >>>> http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t13.htm). >>>> >>>> My Egyptology colleagues are unanimous – there are very few jobs for >>>> Egyptologists. I had dinner last night with a board certified forensic >>>> anthropologist – a heavy hitter in the field. On her web page ( >>>> http://inside.msj.edu/academics/faculty/murraye/Careers_in_Forensics.html) she >>>> announces that regardless of how much you want to emulate the CSI TV shows >>>> in your careers, there are few of those jobs. A student is well advised to >>>> review the career opportunities in museums through the AAM job board, >>>> Museum-L, AAMG-L. and others to see what jobs are actually open these days. >>>> I tend to have very fruitful advising sessions with students who couple >>>> their career interests with the current availability or trajectory of >>>> museum employment possibilities. >>>> >>>> My .02 >>>> >>>> Robert >>>> >>>> Robert P. Connolly, PhD >>>> Director, C.H. Nash Museum at Chucalissa >>>> 1987 Indian Village Drive, Memphis, Tennessee 38109 >>>> 901-785-3160, ext. 15 >>>> >>>> Associate Professor, Anthropology >>>> The University of Memphis 38152 >>>> 901-678-3331 >>>> >>>> http://www.memphis.edu/chucalissa/ >>>> http://rcnnolly.wordpress.com/ >>>> >>>> The mission of the C.H. Nash Museum at Chucalissa, a division of the >>>> University of Memphis, is to protect and interpret the Chucalissa >>>> archaeological site’s cultural and natural environments, and to provide the >>>> University Community and the public with exceptional educational, >>>> participatory, and research opportunities on the landscape’s past and >>>> present Native American and traditional cultures. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On 12/17/12 10:41 AM, "Christopher Woodhouse" <[log in to unmask]> >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>> I have to agree with Dan. There are too many programs and not enough >>>> jobs, yet our colleges and universities still offer these programs and spit >>>> out graduates every fall and spring. It is very deceiving, and prospective >>>> students should ask these institutions for hard data on what their >>>> placement percentages are before applying/considering a career in this >>>> sector. >>>> >>>> We will not see any change until museums stop requiring higher >>>> degrees for certain positions. >>>> >>>> >>>> Chris Woodhouse >>>> >>>> Unemployed, yet still hopeful, emerging museum professional >>>> Cranston, RI >>>> >>>> ========================================================= >>>> Important Subscriber Information: >>>> >>>> The Museum-L FAQ file is located at >>>> http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed >>>> information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail >>>> message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message >>>> should read "help" (without the quotes). >>>> >>>> If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail >>>> message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message >>>> should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes). >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> ------------------------------ >>>> >>>> To unsubscribe from the MUSEUM-L list, click the following link: >>>> http://home.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa-HOME.exe?SUBED1=MUSEUM-L&A=1 >>>> >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Dan Bartlett >>> Curator of Exhibits and Education >>> Instructor of Museum Studies >>> Logan Museum of Anthropology >>> Beloit College >>> >>> ------------------------------ >>> >>> To unsubscribe from the MUSEUM-L list, click the following link: >>> http://home.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa-HOME.exe?SUBED1=MUSEUM-L&A=1 >>> >> >> >> ------------------------------ >> >> To unsubscribe from the MUSEUM-L list, click the following link: >> http://home.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa-HOME.exe?SUBED1=MUSEUM-L&A=1 >> > > > > -- > *Museum and Exhibition Studies at UIC Info Session* > > When: Tuesday, Dec. 18, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM. > > Where: National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19th Street. > > RSVP to [log in to unmask] or 312.413.24623. > > _ > > The task of teachers, those obscure soldiers of civilization, is to give > to the people the intellectual means to revolt. [Louise Michel / 1830-1905 > / Mémoires / 1886] > > ------------------------------ > > To unsubscribe from the MUSEUM-L list, click the following link: > http://home.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa-HOME.exe?SUBED1=MUSEUM-L&A=1 > -- Dan Bartlett Curator of Exhibits and Education Instructor of Museum Studies Logan Museum of Anthropology Beloit College ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).