Quoting Kathy Mancuso <[log in to unmask]>:

> In a related question: I'm currently in Washington, but probably have to
> go back home (South Carolina) this summer unless I can find a cheap place
> to live.  <snip>
> Does anyone have suggestions for the jobs you wish you'd had as an undergrad
> and you think would be useful to you now?  I have never had a "real job,"
> although I've had many jobs and quasi-jobs: <snip>
> Alternatively, do you think I should avoid getting a real job and apply
> to some kind of program?

Greets!

As someone who took a year to work at a "real job" in order to make some cash
to support my "hopes for a museum career"-habit (and finish my undergrad degree
part-time), I have a bag of mixed feelings on the topic.   Since it may be
necessary to know, I worked as an Executive Administrative Assistant in the
marketing firm of a very large mutual fund company. (I was obtained the
position through a temporary personnel agency and was qualified because I'd
spent summers doing assorted similar temp jobs).  I'm 24, living in Toronto and
I just finished the last credit of my undergrad degree in Art History and
English this past December.  *Yay*

Good things about a temporary "real job"
* I made enough money that year to build a decent enough savings that has
gotten me through nearly 8 months since I left in June.  These past months I
have been working a ton of curating, consulting and museum education related
jobs.  Yup, most of them have been volunteer (or by honararium) but the
networking that has come from all of it is unbeatable!  [If you want to know
more about what I've been up to this year feel free to email me off-list =-) ]
* I only planned to take that office job for two years and was upfront with the
employer in the first place.  As it turned out, I left after a year, but it was
on really good terms because I was completely honest all the way through. Of
course, I can't forget that I was in an added lucky spot because I really got
along with my two supervisors who were interested in, and supported my career
goals.
* Because I knew I wasn't interested in being there for the long-haul I was
able to leave the job behind me when I came home at night and spend free time
doing things related to my own career that I really cared about - committee
work, attending seminars etc.
* my position entailed a great deal of responsibilty and confidentiality but it
was the type of stuff that came easy to me so I felt I barely turned my brain
on in the morning.  Also, I worked quickly enough that I found I had a lot of
free time to do other things such as covertly read/do things related to my own
career.  I can't say enough what kind of bonus that was!

Bad things
* Some prospective future employers in the field may think spending time to
accrue financial assets elsewhere is bad thing and demonstrates a lack of
committment to museum work.   I had a grad program prof question my intentions -
- he said, you're probably not suited for museum work if you think money is
what matters.  [Don't get me started on that guy -- ARGH! How dreadfully
insulting of him!]
* You could easily go nuts.  I say this with a chuckle just because in
retrospect it wasn't that bad, but sometimes I thought I wouldn't be able to
stand another minute of being surrounded every day with people [other than my
two supervisors] who thought I had no rooting in reality and was an idiot for
having any interest in culture.  =-)
On the other hand you may also find people who are artists/filmmakers/writers
etc who are in the same boat as you - just trying to keep a roof over their
head while striving towards other goals =-)

Sorry that my response doesn't contain any answers but I thought that maybe my
experience trying to achieve a career in museums/art galleries could be an
interesting case.  I'm very happy with my decision but I think a great part of
it was that I was lucky to work for really cool supervisors.

If you decide to look for a "real job", I would suggest that you hook up with a
clerical temp agency.  This may sound sort of silly but I've found it very
true: companies that hire temps seem to expect the bare minimum so when I got
in there and did good work they were amazed and almost surprised =-)  I always
found that they allotted less work than I was capable of doing and often if I
finished in 1/2 a day, I still got a full day's pay =-) *or* I warmed a seat
with nothing to do... except read all the museum and art related things I
brought with me *ha ha*

Anyway, best of luck to you!
- Milena

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