I would second the suggestion that volunteering, or securing *any* sort of museum job just to get one's foot in the museum (read: secured?) door. Years ago, I got my start at the Orlando Museum of Art by simply hanging in there, and being called in on a sporatic basis to help with installations. I suffered the slings and arrows of next to no pay just to keep that connection going, absolutely refusing to "get a real job" that would have led me goodness knows where. It finally paid off, with much determination, and display of interest on my part. I now suggest the same thing to those that ask me how they might get that initial experience. As I now work for a university museum, internships are fairly simple for me to arrange (the non-paying sort), and a great way for interested students to...get more interested. We have also hired several students from our Museum Studies courses, which is a super way *from the employing museum's stand point* to hand pick the most promising students. We also have a couple of students who were dogged enough to volunteer first, and prove their interest enough that we filled assistantships with them. However you can get that foot in the door--it gives you the opportunity to get to know the staff, the institution, and, if you pay attention, you can make further contacts in your area vis a vis your presence. Barbra Brady Weatherspoon Art Gallery UNC Greensboro [log in to unmask]