So, is the point that big brother has invaded the museum field. Postings such as this will only further discourage young, aspiring museum professionals, of which I am one. I am someone with a Masters Degree and two years of experience but am still having trouble finding that perfect fit. As someone who has struggled with many rejections, I think everyone should keep in mind that at least 50-75 people apply for nationally advertised positions. Only one person can get the job. Yes, sometimes that person is an "inside" candidate. Congratulations to that person who knew the right people or served many years as a volunteer. However, the rest of us should continue our search, because we may one day be that "inside" candidate. Chris Goodlett National Scouting Museum >From [log in to unmask] Wed Jun 17 11:36:33 1998 >Received: from home (home.ease.lsoft.com) by home.ease.lsoft.com (LSMTP for Windows NT v1.1b) with SMTP id <[log in to unmask]>; Wed, 17 Jun 1998 14:36:52 -0400 >Received: from HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM by HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM (LISTSERV-TCP/IP > release 1.8c) with spool id 6609429 for [log in to unmask]; > Wed, 17 Jun 1998 14:36:52 -0400 >Approved-By: [log in to unmask] >Received: from mango.ease.lsoft.com by home.ease.lsoft.com (LSMTP for Windows > NT v1.1b) with SMTP id <[log in to unmask]>; Wed, 17 Jun > 1998 14:00:04 -0400 >Received: from home (206.241.12.9) by mango.ease.lsoft.com (LSMTP for Windows > NT v1.1a) with SMTP id <[log in to unmask]>; Wed, 17 Jun > 1998 13:59:03 -0400 >Message-ID: <[log in to unmask]> >Newsgroups: bit.listserv.museum-l >Date: Wed, 17 Jun 1998 13:59:59 -0400 >Reply-To: Museum discussion list <[log in to unmask]> >Sender: Museum discussion list <[log in to unmask]> >From: "Dr T.K.Eppen" <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: Re: seeking:ENTRY-LEVEL JOB >To: [log in to unmask] > >I miss in the discussion some basic underlying essentials regarding >the job-business. >Most jobs are given to recommended candidates before the selection >process even starts. These candidates are chosen not on grounds of >merit and capacity of renewal and innovation, but on the contrary, >because they are already known and amply proved to guarantee the continuity >of political control of static administrative museum management. >Said this,I acknowledge it doesn't amount to much more than the >discovery of warm water, since established elites tried at all times >to allow only members of their own flock to acceed to the green pastures >of culture and related privileges. Some years ago I conducted a research at >the Roman Archivi Capitolini on thefts of antique masterpieces throughout >the centuries from the city's museums. I found out that the biggest robbers >were the directors of the Musei Capitolini themselves! Needless to say that >they never got caught. Partly because they had the privilege to choose their >successors (sometimes the job was past from father to son), partly because >they free-handedly supplied the Roman political establishment with museum >items to furnish their houses. This regime (malandazzo) went on until the >collapse of the corrupt Andreotti/Craxi government in 1992. Since then the >new director reclaimed hundreds of paintings and "found back" over 600 (sic!) >bronze statues from senior administrators and politicians who had taken them >into "custody". >I clearly see an analogy with this, when I find on this page job offers, which >leave applicants with only 30 days time between the first publication and >the moment of starting in the new job. So happened for a vacant position >in New York last month. The question comes up instinctively: Who wants to >hide what and why? The selection committee, the "sponsors"? >O.K., as I said before, let's get real and accept that these methods of >perpetuation of power and control were not invented yesterday, but let's >never get used to them! Friedman economies and Thatcherite politics had a >profound impact on our societies in general and on the museum world in >particular. Neoliberalism has become a dogma which must not be questioned. >Is the L-page infected by this thinking? Why are museum boards not openly >questioned and critized for their sleazy behaviour, after all they are >handling public money, aren't they?! >In its technicality this site often appears to me so harmless as a monthly >Scottish Train Spotters Bulletin rather than the forum-page of vivid debate >and dispute of an international cultural elite. >Back to the initial entry-job-question: >My advise to any university leaver would be to make only one simple decision >and afterwards resolutely work on it- > >a.)if you want "any" job, prepare to work gratis for some time (as suggested >by a colleague)and concentrate on achieving the privilege to carry the >directors bag. Accomplished that please wait, eventually you'll find a >steady job, and your apparently social commitment will pay off. > >b.)if you want "your" job, don't waste time waiting for it, >start now anywhere, don't bother too much about museums,either. >There is nothing special about them, they are just as dull as all public >administration, - unless you know precisely what you can offer and what >you want to change. But it may take some time to find out and by then you >might not be interested in museums any longer. If you still are, good for us, >but be ready for a bad surprise: you will be questioned at the job interview >by people who years before choose for option a.). They will envy you for >your liberty and fear that you will threaten their position in their cosy, >tidy and well orginized museum world. Go for it, if you dare! > > > >Dr T.K.Eppen >Network of European Museums and Archives >Avenue de la Couronne 412 >1050 Brussels >Belgium > > >The opinion expressed perfectly matches with the philosophy of the above >named institution. > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com