Claudia,

Same with me....it has been a long haul!!

I worked 18 years with USWEST/QWEST, but with the downsizing of 40-50,000 employees with the federal break up of "Ma Bell" there went my department and position.    

To my advantage, while working there I gained experience leading and organizing non-profit organizations, working/networking with the community, taking public relations graduate classes, volunteering at a National Park, fund-raising, exhibit development, volunteer management, and obtained my BS in history.  Before my job at USWEST ended and was about to go out the door, I landed a job as an Executive Director of a museum! 

That lasted two years.   I then took a job as an Asst. Director at a non-profit organization.  That last 6 months!   Some kids blew up a barge, and there went our funding, possible legality issues and my job though the explosion was not the staff or our FAULT!!  Then a job as a Curator of Collections at a large Living History Park came up.   That last 3 years * until a new Ex Dir. came on board, and away went all our jobs with people he/she hired.  That was 11 days before the planes hit the towers in NY and WASHDC.   While at the park, I also earned my Masters' in Museology.  

Jobs were hard to fine because of my "old" (over 50) age, my degree, and museums cutting!  I became a sub-teacher for K-12 graders!   (Though was fun working with kids----I was happy to finally find work!!!!)   Almost three years later......I found work as a Museum Specialist with the federal government!  But, is only for a year contract----LUCKY I'm a veteran!  Plus, my Masters' will hopefully keep me working with the federal government.  (someone play that violin!!)  ;o)

The museum profession of working with non-profits is a tough & difficult career path to follow.   Jobs are hard to find, and often it is simply being in the right place at the right time.  I'm speaking with someone who has mainly worked with small museums, and there MAY be more "security" in big or more established museums.  Indeed, it is hard to find and keep jobs in smaller museums, due to budget cuts and constant problems they face.  But, I would not trade it for the world.   Yes, "one can get a job...." but sometimes it just takes time.     

John
Boise, Idaho


>>> [log in to unmask] 4/1/2005 8:06:55 AM >>>
but it can be an awfully long haul.  For those of you old-timers on the
list, you may recall that I lost my job at the Minnesota Historical Society
in April of 2002, during the first of what has been ongoing budget crises.
For nearly 3 years, I've been looking for museum work limited by geography
and at last, I have scored a position.

 
(snip)

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