Open Forum

I am a recent graduate of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA where I studied Public History, mainly focusing on museums in my course work. Since graduation, I have found it quite difficult to find entry level positions in the field as most of them require at least a couple years of experience. I interned at my university's special collections for 6 months but this is the only experience I have thus far. I was wondering if anyone had any tips on how to go about job searching in this field and if anyone could share how they first got into working in museums.

Much Appreciated,

------------------------------
Andrew Hansen
Richmond, VA
------------------------------

Get ready for a long haul my aspiring colleague. It took many of us years to secure a full time job in the field and its very competitive. Don't let that discourage you, just know what you are up against. Interning is great. Volunteering is great too. While you are looking for a museum job I suggest also looking for a job where you can cultivate skills that would be useful in a museum as well. Such as an administrative job, a fundraising/development/grant writing job, graphic design, education, public programs ect. These are all skills that museums look for when hiring. Volunteer or intern and get to know people. I can't stress this enough. When your volunteering introduce yourself to the managers, curators, administrators, everyone. You know the saying "its not what you know but who you know"? Its true. Join a networking group, is there an Emerging Museum Professionals, Rising Arts Leaders, or even a Drinking about Museums group near you? Follow organizations and people who work for them on Twitter and other social media, engage in conversations with  museum professionals via those platforms. Work on your Linkedin profile, see who is in your network that works at a museum you want to work for. As that person out for coffee to pick their brain about how they got into their position. Follow blogs like American for the Arts, American Alliance of Museums, Museum 2.0, ect to know whats going on in the field and who you should know about. Reaching out to people is key! It might take a while but don't give up. While you are working a non dream job be sure to keep cultivating skills for your future dream job by continuing to intern/volunteer and by being active in a professional network.   

------------------------------
Polly Toledo

Original Message:
Sent: 06-23-2016 03:15 PM
From: Andrew Hansen
Subject: Tips for Recent Graduate

I am a recent graduate of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA where I studied Public History, mainly focusing on museums in my course work. Since graduation, I have found it quite difficult to find entry level positions in the field as most of them require at least a couple years of experience. I interned at my university's special collections for 6 months but this is the only experience I have thus far. I was wondering if anyone had any tips on how to go about job searching in this field and if anyone could share how they first got into working in museums.

Much Appreciated,

------------------------------
Andrew Hansen
Richmond, VA
------------------------------

Polly's tips are spot on! In addition, you may want to consider doing the online graduate course in Museum Studies offered by George Washington University. It's excellent, affordable, and you can knock out the equivalent of a two year program in less than one year. After you complete the course, not only will you be a more desirable hire, they also send out job listings from all over the place.

Another thing to ask yourself is, where do I want to live? You might start to send out letters of interest to museums in the areas you are considering and introduce yourself, asking what opportunities they might have for you. The main thing is, you have to make yourself known and available.

Like Polly Said, it's a long haul, but once you get your foot in the door, if you are a dedicated worker, you can advance, and even move on to bigger and better things as time goes by. I've been in the museum world for over 25 years now. I can tell you that many of the jobs are not high-paying, but the work is honorable and you can be proud of what you do every day, bringing culture to the masses.

Best of luck.

Joe

------------------------------
Joseph Popp
Exhibits & Archives Specialist
Erie Insurance Museum
Erie PA

Original Message:
Sent: 06-23-2016 03:15 PM
From: Andrew Hansen
Subject: Tips for Recent Graduate

I am a recent graduate of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA where I studied Public History, mainly focusing on museums in my course work. Since graduation, I have found it quite difficult to find entry level positions in the field as most of them require at least a couple years of experience. I interned at my university's special collections for 6 months but this is the only experience I have thus far. I was wondering if anyone had any tips on how to go about job searching in this field and if anyone could share how they first got into working in museums.

Much Appreciated,

------------------------------
Andrew Hansen
Richmond, VA
------------------------------

The lack of entry level jobs was the bane of my existence for quite some time! I started off patching together seasonal and temporary jobs, until I had enough experience and connections to apply for a full-time staff position. Is there a particular area in the museum that you're looking to get into? Don't be afraid to get your feet wet in other areas--I worked alternately in exhibits, programs, and living history before landing in my final destination of in-house exhibition design. Museums of any size are highly cross-functional, so the variety of experience can be quite helpful. There are lots of sites aside from AAM that post specifically museum jobs, including AASLH (perfect for you in public history!), and state and regional museum associations, although a lot of those tend to lean toward more experience. A mix of those and good old job post search engines should get you a cross section! And as the other commenters said as well, networking is absolutely crucial. You're lucky in Virginia to have lots of museums and sites to visit, as well as great historical societies. Despite being very competitive to get into, the museum community is a friendly and welcoming one, and I've gotten into more conversations than I can count with staff at other museums from the front desk to back-of-house. Good luck!!

------------------------------
Emily Kirk
Concept Designer
The Henry Ford
Dearborn, MI

Original Message:
Sent: 06-23-2016 03:15 PM
From: Andrew Hansen
Subject: Tips for Recent Graduate

I am a recent graduate of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA where I studied Public History, mainly focusing on museums in my course work. Since graduation, I have found it quite difficult to find entry level positions in the field as most of them require at least a couple years of experience. I interned at my university's special collections for 6 months but this is the only experience I have thus far. I was wondering if anyone had any tips on how to go about job searching in this field and if anyone could share how they first got into working in museums.

Much Appreciated,

------------------------------
Andrew Hansen
Richmond, VA
------------------------------

I agree with what Polly said--it's a tough field to break into initially and it may take a bit of time to get that first job. For me I graduated in May 2011 and had a job in October, so I spent part of my time working the job I had back in college.  Find a place to volunteer and look into internships in the area you want to work in.  That will help boost your experience.  Personally speaking, if someone came to me and told me what you said in this e-mail, I would do everything I could to help them out. Don't be scared to talk to people in the field and ask for help or advice.

When I was still in school, I pictured myself in the job I have now, but it took 2 1/2 years after graduation for me to get here.  I had a temp museum job for about 18 months.  The job was great, but I found myself getting discouraged because I wanted to be in a permanent, full time job and I wasn't. Looking back now, I can see that was a very short-sighted attitude to take. Most people would've been happy just to have something, and here I was focusing on the fact that it was temporary. The thing is, that time prepared me for where I am now, and I wouldn't be here without it. I went from having about six months of experience on my resume to having over two years, and I learned so much from that job. 

My three pieces of advice:

1. Don't let yourself get discouraged if you don't end doing what you envisioned right away.  I fell into that trap and didn't see that I was majorly building myself up, even if I wasn't in a permanent job.

2. Don't rule out temporary positions.  They're usually entry level and they're a great way to build up experience on your resume.  I learned so much from that first temp job out of school.  Like I said, I would not be here without it.

3. Don't limit yourself geographically when you're first starting out.  You'll majorly increase your chances of getting something if you apply to things all over the country.  Some organizations will put your app in the no pile for being far away, but not all.  For my first job I moved from Michigan to Kansas and for this job I have now, I moved from Missouri to North Dakota.  Distance isn't necessarily a killer.

Best of luck with your job hunt.  This is an amazing field to work in and it will totally be worth the wait.  I go into work every morning with a smile on my face, and that's not something everyone can say.

------------------------------
Geoffrey Woodcox
Assistant Curator of Collections
State Historical Society of North Dakota
Bismarck ND

Original Message:
Sent: 06-23-2016 03:15 PM
From: Andrew Hansen
Subject: Tips for Recent Graduate

I am a recent graduate of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA where I studied Public History, mainly focusing on museums in my course work. Since graduation, I have found it quite difficult to find entry level positions in the field as most of them require at least a couple years of experience. I interned at my university's special collections for 6 months but this is the only experience I have thus far. I was wondering if anyone had any tips on how to go about job searching in this field and if anyone could share how they first got into working in museums.

Much Appreciated,

------------------------------
Andrew Hansen
Richmond, VA
------------------------------

Hi Andrew,

There's a ton of great advice here already, so I'll keep this short.

If your local job market is dry, do look to other large metro areas you'd consider living in.  There will be more entry level jobs to choose from in related institutions, and then you can be reasonably assured of finding a good position when you choose to move back to Virginia.  

A good resource for the NYC metro area (and beyond) is nyfa.org. Check out their job listings page. Don't limit yourself to just museum jobs to start, and don't forget to list other work that you've done that can be relevant-- list on your resume any administrative work or volunteering you've done where you've had to do research, keep to a budget, write reports, answer phones, guide the public-- these are all things that happen in museums!

And build yourself a LinkedIn profile.  I just tried to find you on there to tailor my advice, and you didn't pop up.

Good luck!

------------------------------
Romy Vreeland
Manager, Board of Trustees and General Counsel's Office
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
New York NY

Original Message:
Sent: 06-24-2016 09:33 AM
From: Geoffrey Woodcox
Subject: Tips for Recent Graduate

I agree with what Polly said--it's a tough field to break into initially and it may take a bit of time to get that first job. For me I graduated in May 2011 and had a job in October, so I spent part of my time working the job I had back in college.  Find a place to volunteer and look into internships in the area you want to work in.  That will help boost your experience.  Personally speaking, if someone came to me and told me what you said in this e-mail, I would do everything I could to help them out. Don't be scared to talk to people in the field and ask for help or advice.

When I was still in school, I pictured myself in the job I have now, but it took 2 1/2 years after graduation for me to get here.  I had a temp museum job for about 18 months.  The job was great, but I found myself getting discouraged because I wanted to be in a permanent, full time job and I wasn't. Looking back now, I can see that was a very short-sighted attitude to take. Most people would've been happy just to have something, and here I was focusing on the fact that it was temporary. The thing is, that time prepared me for where I am now, and I wouldn't be here without it. I went from having about six months of experience on my resume to having over two years, and I learned so much from that job. 

My three pieces of advice:

1. Don't let yourself get discouraged if you don't end doing what you envisioned right away.  I fell into that trap and didn't see that I was majorly building myself up, even if I wasn't in a permanent job.

2. Don't rule out temporary positions.  They're usually entry level and they're a great way to build up experience on your resume.  I learned so much from that first temp job out of school.  Like I said, I would not be here without it.

3. Don't limit yourself geographically when you're first starting out.  You'll majorly increase your chances of getting something if you apply to things all over the country.  Some organizations will put your app in the no pile for being far away, but not all.  For my first job I moved from Michigan to Kansas and for this job I have now, I moved from Missouri to North Dakota.  Distance isn't necessarily a killer.

Best of luck with your job hunt.  This is an amazing field to work in and it will totally be worth the wait.  I go into work every morning with a smile on my face, and that's not something everyone can say.

------------------------------
Geoffrey Woodcox
Assistant Curator of Collections
State Historical Society of North Dakota
Bismarck ND

Original Message:
Sent: 06-23-2016 03:15 PM
From: Andrew Hansen
Subject: Tips for Recent Graduate

I am a recent graduate of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA where I studied Public History, mainly focusing on museums in my course work. Since graduation, I have found it quite difficult to find entry level positions in the field as most of them require at least a couple years of experience. I interned at my university's special collections for 6 months but this is the only experience I have thus far. I was wondering if anyone had any tips on how to go about job searching in this field and if anyone could share how they first got into working in museums.

Much Appreciated,

------------------------------
Andrew Hansen
Richmond, VA
------------------------------

Hi Andrew,

Polly and the other's have provided excellent perspective and guidance.

There are so many variables to take into consideration. You should certainly gain as much hands on experience as possible as you navigate your career trajectory. A graduate degree in Museum Studies or a related field can also be a good option.

Full disclosure, I direct the Museum Communication Museum Studies program at University of the Arts in Philadelphia. That being said, here is some "objective" professional advice regarding graduate museum studies.

If you are considering a graduate Museum Studies option, I recommend doing your research and finding a program that meets your professional interests and goals. My bias is toward programs that provide a balance of academic, applied, and professional development learning opportunities, of which there are several.

Secondly, consider the location of each program because each one tends to have the strongest sphere of influence and connections within their region. In other words, consider which city or part of the country you'd like to work in, because a graduate program in that area typically can provide you the greatest experience, exposure, employment prospects, and strongest referrals within their networks.

Next, don't rush back into school. Accumulating life and professional experiences will benefit your graduate experience by providing more perspective, a greater knowledge base to build upon, and often, greater focus and urgency. Also, as one of the other respondents mentioned, don't limit yourself to museum-only professional opportunities during the "gap". You can develop very useful skills in the wider non-profit and commercial sectors. In my observations, developing yourself beyond limited undergraduate academic and professional development experiences will allow you to contribute and gain more out of the graduate experience and make you a stronger candidate in the professional marketplace.

Another point is to be conscious of your career goals and intentionally craft your learning experience and personal professional brand while in grad school. This will help you more effectively navigate and promote yourself in the marketplace. 

Figure out how to get your degree with no or as little debt as possible. There many factors, strategies, and opportunities to consider. Homework, seeking out a mentor advise, and advance planning can help you map this out.

Note that you may find yourself in a similar place once you've completed graduate school, however, if you've committed yourself to your studies and career development, you will be a more skilled and marketable job candidate. I often see that having an advanced degree can make more opportunities available to you and allow you to advance in your career at a quicker rate. In some circumstances, it will allow you to be more competitive than peers of comparable experience without an advanced degree. It can also increase your earning potential at many museums.

As I said in the beginning, there are many ways to cultivate your career. Graduate study is one that has worked for many. At the end of the day however, a lot of it depends on how you make your education and experiences work for you, how effect you are at advocating yourself, how effective you are at activating your networks, and of course, as many of us know, being in the right place at the right time.

I hope this has been useful in providing you with perspective on graduate studies.

Good luck to you, Andrew!

- Joseph

------------------------------
Joseph Gonzales PhD
Director, Assistant Professor
Museum Communication - University of the Arts
Philadelphia PA

Original Message:
Sent: 06-23-2016 03:15 PM
From: Andrew Hansen
Subject: Tips for Recent Graduate

I am a recent graduate of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA where I studied Public History, mainly focusing on museums in my course work. Since graduation, I have found it quite difficult to find entry level positions in the field as most of them require at least a couple years of experience. I interned at my university's special collections for 6 months but this is the only experience I have thus far. I was wondering if anyone had any tips on how to go about job searching in this field and if anyone could share how they first got into working in museums.

Much Appreciated,

------------------------------
Andrew Hansen
Richmond, VA
------------------------------

I'd just like to expand on the comment about not being limited by geography.  I agree, but on a broader scale than continental US.  There's a lot of museum growth in Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Saudi and Kuwait - I know I live in the region.  There must be opportunities in other emerging markets as well.  Consider positions available abroad - in many places you'll get to do more, grow faster and definitely have unique experiences that will translate well if you decide to move back to the US.

Good luck!

------------------------------
Susan Day
Education and Communications Consultant
Dar Al-Athar Al-Islamiyyah Museum
Safat

Original Message:
Sent: 06-24-2016 11:26 AM
From: Joseph Gonzales
Subject: Tips for Recent Graduate

Hi Andrew,

Polly and the other's have provided excellent perspective and guidance.

There are so many variables to take into consideration. You should certainly gain as much hands on experience as possible as you navigate your career trajectory. A graduate degree in Museum Studies or a related field can also be a good option.

Full disclosure, I direct the Museum Communication Museum Studies program at University of the Arts in Philadelphia. That being said, here is some "objective" professional advice regarding graduate museum studies.

If you are considering a graduate Museum Studies option, I recommend doing your research and finding a program that meets your professional interests and goals. My bias is toward programs that provide a balance of academic, applied, and professional development learning opportunities, of which there are several.

Secondly, consider the location of each program because each one tends to have the strongest sphere of influence and connections within their region. In other words, consider which city or part of the country you'd like to work in, because a graduate program in that area typically can provide you the greatest experience, exposure, employment prospects, and strongest referrals within their networks.

Next, don't rush back into school. Accumulating life and professional experiences will benefit your graduate experience by providing more perspective, a greater knowledge base to build upon, and often, greater focus and urgency. Also, as one of the other respondents mentioned, don't limit yourself to museum-only professional opportunities during the "gap". You can develop very useful skills in the wider non-profit and commercial sectors. In my observations, developing yourself beyond limited undergraduate academic and professional development experiences will allow you to contribute and gain more out of the graduate experience and make you a stronger candidate in the professional marketplace.

Another point is to be conscious of your career goals and intentionally craft your learning experience and personal professional brand while in grad school. This will help you more effectively navigate and promote yourself in the marketplace. 

Figure out how to get your degree with no or as little debt as possible. There many factors, strategies, and opportunities to consider. Homework, seeking out a mentor advise, and advance planning can help you map this out.

Note that you may find yourself in a similar place once you've completed graduate school, however, if you've committed yourself to your studies and career development, you will be a more skilled and marketable job candidate. I often see that having an advanced degree can make more opportunities available to you and allow you to advance in your career at a quicker rate. In some circumstances, it will allow you to be more competitive than peers of comparable experience without an advanced degree. It can also increase your earning potential at many museums.

As I said in the beginning, there are many ways to cultivate your career. Graduate study is one that has worked for many. At the end of the day however, a lot of it depends on how you make your education and experiences work for you, how effect you are at advocating yourself, how effective you are at activating your networks, and of course, as many of us know, being in the right place at the right time.

I hope this has been useful in providing you with perspective on graduate studies.

Good luck to you, Andrew!

- Joseph

------------------------------
Joseph Gonzales PhD
Director, Assistant Professor
Museum Communication - University of the Arts
Philadelphia PA

And when you do eventually choose a graduate school, press them on what makes their program unique and what their placement rate for grads NOT already employed when they entered the program is. Masters degrees and certificates in museum studies are cash cows for their universities, cranking out way too many people for way too few positions. Until prospective students start making these institutions sweat a little and compete for their tuition dollars, or graduates demand they justify why their tuition dollars made so little difference in landing a job in a glutted market after leaving, we'll keep having this discussion every spring and summer like we have been since I entered the field.

------------------------------
Daniel Bartlett
Curator of Exhibits and Education
Logan Museum of Anthropology - Beloit College
Beloit WI

Original Message:
Sent: 06-27-2016 06:53 AM
From: Susan Day
Subject: Tips for Recent Graduate

I'd just like to expand on the comment about not being limited by geography.  I agree, but on a broader scale than continental US.  There's a lot of museum growth in Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Saudi and Kuwait - I know I live in the region.  There must be opportunities in other emerging markets as well.  Consider positions available abroad - in many places you'll get to do more, grow faster and definitely have unique experiences that will translate well if you decide to move back to the US.

Good luck!

------------------------------
Susan Day
Education and Communications Consultant
Dar Al-Athar Al-Islamiyyah Museum
Safat