Here is a summary of responses for the NYU Museum Studies Association Career Day. It is my hope that they will spur further discussion posted either on the list or to me personally. I would like to thank everyone who took the time to respond. (I would like to point out that the Museum Studies Program spends an enormous amount of time and energy bypassing personnel offices to arrange interviews directly with department heads. The results have been, over and over again, beneficial to both prospective employer and employee.) 1. Getting a job takes experience, and the best ways are through internships, part-time jobs and ANY work you can get that has anything to do with museums. 2. A master's degree with museum studies certification is a plus because you have a sound academic basis and the ability to go on for an advanced degree. 3. Smaller institutions require coverage of diverse responsibilities that no one person could possibly have trained for specifically, so core abilities and a willingness and ability to learn are important. An ability to work independently and to be self-motivating, as demonstrated through past work history is very important. 6. There are going to be fewer job opportunities. The museum field may become more like the performing arts where museum specialists will move from job to job as contractors. Conservators will always be required but more museums will contract out for conservation. Generalists with a complex set of skills and abilities will be the most desirable and support for individual museum workers will become more important in the development and management of their careers. 4. Get comfortable with the interview process. Really look into the situation you are applying for and make sure you have the complete picture; do your research on the current topics of the field, research the museum and any inherent situations there, formulate good questions about that museum, think about what types of questions you'll be asked and formulate cogent answers while you're not "on the spot." 5. Assume your references will be checked. Employers may check references other than the ones supplied by the candidate and references from teachers rarely count as they really have little idea how the person works. 7. Museums will begin to consider all of the staff as educators. 8. There will be demands for people who are computer-literate and beyond...creative and visionary. Data management will be an important skill in the future. 9. Museums need people who can create attractions to draw visitors but keep the INTEGRITY of what museums are all about. Robbin Murphy Vice President NYU/MSA [log in to unmask]