As I have started reading the responses to the question of finding jobs, I can't help but think that to get to the top; you have to start at the bottom. 

When I finished my master's degree and museum program a few years ago, I also thought that I would be able to find the ideal job.  I had worked in museums and interns since high school had four internships, and excellent grades. I also knew all sorts of people in the industry in the area that I wanted to work.  I was able to get three job offers before I finished my last semester, but none were exactly what I wanted, and certainly none paid well. I ended up choosing the job that was in the area I most wanted to live and which I had the least experience doing, with the intention that I would learn more to become a more solid candidate for the "dream job". At the time I was bitter about my available choices, and the low pay meant that my dog ate better than I most days.  Then after a year and a half, the museum had budget cuts, and my position was cut in half. I ended up finding a second job teaching so that I could keep my foot in the door.  Then, nine months later, a great position opened up, and I was hired.

Looking back, I am glad I had to go through this, because this is what I learned: 1. There are more candidates than jobs in the museum field. 2. Most museums are nonprofits, and have limited funding. 3. An organization will chose the best, most well-rounded candidate to fill available position, and because there are so many candidates, museums can pay less for more experience, education, etc. --many times, to keep afloat, they have to pay less. 4. Small budgets also mean more part-time or limited term jobs. They are not less important, there is simply no money to hire full-time.

This means that: 1. sucking it up and taking the part time or low paying job is a good way to get in the door.  I took a less desirable job, and then a second job. The museum job gave me more experience than any internship or volunteer position ever had. I have noticed through my own experiences and by managing unpaid staff that because you are a volunteer or intern, there is a certain amount of "sheltering" that does not happen when you are paid.  Once you are paid you are expected to take on all sorts of problems and projects that you may have never known existed.  As for the second job, I took mine to make more money, but I also thought about where I wanted to go in my career. I decided that because museums are education institutions, that I would expand my search to other education based jobs.  I ended up teaching part time in the evenings -- some universities and tech schools will take people with their master’s degrees. Doing this helped me considerably. I really think that a second job where you develop and use skills that will need in your ideal job at a Museum will help when you apply for that kind of job in the future.  Museums are multifaceted organizations, and all new skills are helpful. 2. Do the best job you can at all your jobs. Whether you like the job or not, make sure that you are respected for your work.  Reputations do precede you. Because the museum community is so small, it is easy for word to get out that you are either a poor or excellent employee.  For example: At my previous job, I had a coworker who was extremely intelligent, experienced and educated, but had a chip on her shoulder and often did not do her work well because of it.  She did not like the institution that she was working for, and started looking for a new position shortly after her start date.  It took her nearly two years to find a position because so many people had heard negative things about her.  In fact, while I was going to a class out of state, I heard that she had a applied to an institution that one of the other students was from, and that they wanted to hire her because of her skills, but decided not to because they were concerned that she might alienate people with her behavior.  I don’t know where they heard this information, but it was evident that people will talk about their experience with others. 3. Networking is important. It is not just about meeting the "right" people, but learning to work effectively with all people.  I have been in very non-prestigious positions over the years where even the interns felt that they could do as little work as possible in front of me, because they felt that it would not matter to their careers.  However, that is not a good way to look at things. When I left my last job, there were a number of people who applied for it. One woman who applied had interned and volunteered at our institution-- and did an excellent job, despite the fact that she did not need to impress me. 
Because of her dedication, I took extra time to give her books to read and teach skills beyond those needed for her internship.  When I decided to leave my job, she applied for the position. She did terrific work, so I recommended her as a replacement, and she did get the job.  4. Volunteer work does not necessarily mean doing all of the work that the staff does not want to do.  I have contacted organizations to volunteer to give lectures, joined a board of directors at a local historical society, and joined a couple of committees.  I even volunteered do a 100 years worth of the archival work for my mother’s family’s memorial association. The work is not the same as what I currently do, but all of it has expanded my skills, helped other organizations, improved my résumé, and I have met a lot of people.  Yes, it does take time, but it has been rewarding.  5. Don't feel as if only one particular type of job is all that you are willing to do. We all have skills making us suitable for a number of jobs, and if you make the right choices, those jobs will eventually lead you to where you would like to go.

I know that this is a lot to think about, but I do hope this may be of some assistance. 

Sincerely,

Jacqueline Frank, Director of Education and Programs

National Railroad Museum 

From: Emily Milot <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: Museum discussion list <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Occupational Guidance
Date: Wed, 31 Jan 2007 22:42:40 -0500