I have to agree with Debbie and go one step beyond. I think that if you
look closely you'll find the same "glut" of graduates in many fields.
Just for fun log on to the Chronicle of Higher Education and read about
the job hunting experiences of those with PhDs in a wide variety of
fields. Their comments all echo those that have been voiced on this
list. Too many grads, too few tenure track positions (big trend toward
adjunct), too low salaries, people scraping together a living by
teaching three or four courses as adjuncts for less than they would make
at a fast food chain. And these are not just humanities PhDs.
I also must add that we have a number of volunteers and interns who are
now receiving pay checks from us. Volunteering and interning is still a
great way to make connections and to have your work/skills known to
those in a position to hire you if a job becomes available. Networking
is key. The best advice I ever received was from a woman who was the
president of one of our Friends groups. The advice was in direct
response to how to find a publisher for my book, but I've since found
that it actually works for almost anything - figure out what you want to
do and then TALK TO EVERYBODY. This includes your hairdresser, your
banker, your doctor, the person you are seated next to at a wedding
reception. You never know who might know someone who will be in a
position to assist you.
Good luck to all you job seekers.
Robin Campbell, PhD
Supervising Curator
New York State Bureau of Historic Sites
Peebles Island
Waterford, NY 12188
-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Deborah Barlow Smedstad
Sent: Thursday, August 25, 2005 10:59 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Glut of graduates
"In addition to lower than expected salaries, I've also known graduate
students who didn't think they had to have any experience to get a job.
In
fact, they expected upon graduation to walk right into a director's job
because they have a master's degree in museum studies. And the few that
did "luck into" such a job ended up leaving the field within a year,
because
reality didn't match classroom teachings."
I've never responded to a post on this list, but this one caught my eye.
In my experience of the last ten years, I have come to the conclusion
that this is what I call "Gen X arrogance" is a generational thing. I
encountered the very same thing with several recent MLS graduates in
that age group. I had several 'interns' who thought they should be able
to step right into a museum or art library director position right out
of graduate school. Needless to say, this didn't sit too well with
those of us in the baby boomer generation who worked for paltry salaries
for 10 years or more before getting that coveted yet still low-paying
head position. I had one intern about ten years ago tell me that he
wasn't happy with his starting salary of $36,500 annually for a two-year
internship he was taking. The rest of us raised our eyebrows and
concluded that he was in for a rude awakening down the line.
I don't gripe that much about my salary since "I" am the only one
responsible for it. I didn't go into the field with blinders on. I
'did' choose to get my MLS after my MA and it was the best decision for
me. I figured out the 'reality' of the jobs in the museum field and
walked across the park to apply for that MLS.
I tell people interested in the art library field that the current
demographics are actually in their favor since many library directors
will retire in the next 5-10 years. There has in fact been turnover
that did not exist in 1985 when I was trying to get my foot in the door.
Debbie
Deborah Barlow Smedstad
Head Librarian
William Morris Hunt Memorial Library
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
465 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
[log in to unmask]
(617)369-3107
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