Open Forum

My advice would be to not limit yourself to the major job posting sites like AAM and AASLH.

I would search the "smaller" organizations (like Virginia Association of Museums or Small Museum Association or Southeastern Museum Conference) on the state and regional level because many times there are jobs there that are not posted on the larger sites. I would also search historical societies and not ignore things you might find on just a simple google search of "museum jobs near..." because you might bump into something there (just double check the actual museum where the job is).

I recently told a former intern of mine to approach a temp agency because they might think of other similar opportunities like with community organizations or foundations you might not have thought of that works with your strengths and interests (in fact my husband has found his last two long term jobs that way as there are organizations that use temp agencies to find employees for long term - not just for temporary purposes).

Good luck!

------------------------------
Kathleen Lugarich
Program Specialist
Army Historical Foundation
Fort Belvoir VA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-09-2020 09:48 AM
From: Mary Sewell
Subject: Suggestions on getting started in the museum education field

My name is Mary Sewell, I have a BA in history and an MA in museum studies. I have done internships and volunteer work in both history museums and at an art museum. I have a passion to work in museum education and that is where I have focused both my internships and volunteer work whenever possible. I am on several job recruitment sites including AAM. Can anyone suggest what may help me to find an entry-level position at a museum whether it is in the museum education field or not?

Thank you,

Mary Sewell

If you are looking for a foot in the door to education in Museums as a Educator and not a manager. Even though it is out of your topic field, look at Science Museums. They tend to have large education teams and are almost always hiring - especially around the beginning (Summer Camps) and end of summer (start of the school year). Unless you go for reenacting, history museums and art museums are very hard to get a foot in the door as a base level educator and usually have very few full-time positions in these fields. If your goal is to get into a history museum (based on your degrees), it may be more practical to start in a science museum as you suss out the other museum fields as well as be a fantastic tool for building your museum education experience. I have worked in all three museum fields and science museums tend to be on another level in their approach to education practices that can really make you stand out in the other fields.

------------------------------
Kristen Matulewicz
Curator of Community and Academic Programs
Biggs Museum of American Art
Dover DE
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-09-2020 09:48 AM
From: Mary Sewell
Subject: Suggestions on getting started in the museum education field

My name is Mary Sewell, I have a BA in history and an MA in museum studies. I have done internships and volunteer work in both history museums and at an art museum. I have a passion to work in museum education and that is where I have focused both my internships and volunteer work whenever possible. I am on several job recruitment sites including AAM. Can anyone suggest what may help me to find an entry-level position at a museum whether it is in the museum education field or not?

Thank you,

Mary Sewell

Ms. Matulewicz,
Thank you for your input, Here in the Atlanta area we have a natural history museum named Fernbank, as well as an aquarium. Both of which I will be sure to look into as well as some of the science/nature museums on the Georgia coastline and throughout the southeast. Thank you once again for your help.
Sincerely,

------------------------------
Mary Sewell
Atlanta GA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-10-2020 09:20 AM
From: Kristen Matulewicz
Subject: Suggestions on getting started in the museum education field

If you are looking for a foot in the door to education in Museums as a Educator and not a manager. Even though it is out of your topic field, look at Science Museums. They tend to have large education teams and are almost always hiring - especially around the beginning (Summer Camps) and end of summer (start of the school year). Unless you go for reenacting, history museums and art museums are very hard to get a foot in the door as a base level educator and usually have very few full-time positions in these fields. If your goal is to get into a history museum (based on your degrees), it may be more practical to start in a science museum as you suss out the other museum fields as well as be a fantastic tool for building your museum education experience. I have worked in all three museum fields and science museums tend to be on another level in their approach to education practices that can really make you stand out in the other fields.

------------------------------
Kristen Matulewicz
Curator of Community and Academic Programs
Biggs Museum of American Art
Dover DE

Original Message:
Sent: 06-09-2020 09:48 AM
From: Mary Sewell
Subject: Suggestions on getting started in the museum education field

My name is Mary Sewell, I have a BA in history and an MA in museum studies. I have done internships and volunteer work in both history museums and at an art museum. I have a passion to work in museum education and that is where I have focused both my internships and volunteer work whenever possible. I am on several job recruitment sites including AAM. Can anyone suggest what may help me to find an entry-level position at a museum whether it is in the museum education field or not?

Thank you,

Mary Sewell

I would very much echo Kathleen's recommendation of looking at more localized job boards. When I was conducting a job search about 18 months ago, while AASLH and AAM could be helpful, smaller sites are more likely to have entry or mid-career positions, plus the competition is usually lower. The other thing I'd recommend if at all possible is being ready to make a major move. My last two hires necessitated a 6 hour move and then a 36 hour move.

To be provide a bit more specific aid, I'd thoroughly recommend adding the National Council of Public History job board to your search, and from personal experience, Texas has an enormous number of museums and professional organizations serving those museums. If you're okay with the move, the TAM board is good, and I know from an old supervisor that the Texas Historical Commission has some positions open for various historic sites.

------------------------------
Drew Whatley
Museum Educator
Whatcom Museum
Bellingham WA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-10-2020 10:24 AM
From: Mary Sewell
Subject: Suggestions on getting started in the museum education field

Ms. Matulewicz,
Thank you for your input, Here in the Atlanta area we have a natural history museum named Fernbank, as well as an aquarium. Both of which I will be sure to look into as well as some of the science/nature museums on the Georgia coastline and throughout the southeast. Thank you once again for your help.
Sincerely,

------------------------------
Mary Sewell
Atlanta GA

Original Message:
Sent: 06-10-2020 09:20 AM
From: Kristen Matulewicz
Subject: Suggestions on getting started in the museum education field

If you are looking for a foot in the door to education in Museums as a Educator and not a manager. Even though it is out of your topic field, look at Science Museums. They tend to have large education teams and are almost always hiring - especially around the beginning (Summer Camps) and end of summer (start of the school year). Unless you go for reenacting, history museums and art museums are very hard to get a foot in the door as a base level educator and usually have very few full-time positions in these fields. If your goal is to get into a history museum (based on your degrees), it may be more practical to start in a science museum as you suss out the other museum fields as well as be a fantastic tool for building your museum education experience. I have worked in all three museum fields and science museums tend to be on another level in their approach to education practices that can really make you stand out in the other fields.

------------------------------
Kristen Matulewicz
Curator of Community and Academic Programs
Biggs Museum of American Art
Dover DE

Original Message:
Sent: 06-09-2020 09:48 AM
From: Mary Sewell
Subject: Suggestions on getting started in the museum education field

My name is Mary Sewell, I have a BA in history and an MA in museum studies. I have done internships and volunteer work in both history museums and at an art museum. I have a passion to work in museum education and that is where I have focused both my internships and volunteer work whenever possible. I am on several job recruitment sites including AAM. Can anyone suggest what may help me to find an entry-level position at a museum whether it is in the museum education field or not?

Thank you,

Mary Sewell

I completely agree with Drew - being willing to move increases your chances for employment. I've moved to several different states for different opportunities - just know where you're willing to move and how much you would need to finance a move and to live there. I started my career path in Pittsburgh, but then found a job in Baltimore, then the Outer Banks, then Pittsburgh again and now Virginia...so if you're willing to move, there's a lot more opportunities.

------------------------------
Kathleen Lugarich
Program Specialist
Army Historical Foundation
Fort Belvoir VA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-10-2020 12:52 PM
From: Drew Whatley
Subject: Suggestions on getting started in the museum education field

I would very much echo Kathleen's recommendation of looking at more localized job boards. When I was conducting a job search about 18 months ago, while AASLH and AAM could be helpful, smaller sites are more likely to have entry or mid-career positions, plus the competition is usually lower. The other thing I'd recommend if at all possible is being ready to make a major move. My last two hires necessitated a 6 hour move and then a 36 hour move.

To be provide a bit more specific aid, I'd thoroughly recommend adding the National Council of Public History job board to your search, and from personal experience, Texas has an enormous number of museums and professional organizations serving those museums. If you're okay with the move, the TAM board is good, and I know from an old supervisor that the Texas Historical Commission has some positions open for various historic sites.

------------------------------
Drew Whatley
Museum Educator
Whatcom Museum
Bellingham WA

Original Message:
Sent: 06-10-2020 10:24 AM
From: Mary Sewell
Subject: Suggestions on getting started in the museum education field

Ms. Matulewicz,
Thank you for your input, Here in the Atlanta area we have a natural history museum named Fernbank, as well as an aquarium. Both of which I will be sure to look into as well as some of the science/nature museums on the Georgia coastline and throughout the southeast. Thank you once again for your help.
Sincerely,

------------------------------
Mary Sewell
Atlanta GA

Original Message:
Sent: 06-10-2020 09:20 AM
From: Kristen Matulewicz
Subject: Suggestions on getting started in the museum education field

If you are looking for a foot in the door to education in Museums as a Educator and not a manager. Even though it is out of your topic field, look at Science Museums. They tend to have large education teams and are almost always hiring - especially around the beginning (Summer Camps) and end of summer (start of the school year). Unless you go for reenacting, history museums and art museums are very hard to get a foot in the door as a base level educator and usually have very few full-time positions in these fields. If your goal is to get into a history museum (based on your degrees), it may be more practical to start in a science museum as you suss out the other museum fields as well as be a fantastic tool for building your museum education experience. I have worked in all three museum fields and science museums tend to be on another level in their approach to education practices that can really make you stand out in the other fields.

------------------------------
Kristen Matulewicz
Curator of Community and Academic Programs
Biggs Museum of American Art
Dover DE

Original Message:
Sent: 06-09-2020 09:48 AM
From: Mary Sewell
Subject: Suggestions on getting started in the museum education field

My name is Mary Sewell, I have a BA in history and an MA in museum studies. I have done internships and volunteer work in both history museums and at an art museum. I have a passion to work in museum education and that is where I have focused both my internships and volunteer work whenever possible. I am on several job recruitment sites including AAM. Can anyone suggest what may help me to find an entry-level position at a museum whether it is in the museum education field or not?

Thank you,

Mary Sewell

Hi Kathleen,

Any advice for people who can't move because their husband is stationed at Ft. Belvoir?

------------------------------
Judy Hannon
Crozier Fine Arts
Senior Art Handler
Washington, DC
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-10-2020 01:08 PM
From: Kathleen Lugarich
Subject: Suggestions on getting started in the museum education field

I completely agree with Drew - being willing to move increases your chances for employment. I've moved to several different states for different opportunities - just know where you're willing to move and how much you would need to finance a move and to live there. I started my career path in Pittsburgh, but then found a job in Baltimore, then the Outer Banks, then Pittsburgh again and now Virginia...so if you're willing to move, there's a lot more opportunities.

------------------------------
Kathleen Lugarich
Program Specialist
Army Historical Foundation
Fort Belvoir VA

Original Message:
Sent: 06-10-2020 12:52 PM
From: Drew Whatley
Subject: Suggestions on getting started in the museum education field

I would very much echo Kathleen's recommendation of looking at more localized job boards. When I was conducting a job search about 18 months ago, while AASLH and AAM could be helpful, smaller sites are more likely to have entry or mid-career positions, plus the competition is usually lower. The other thing I'd recommend if at all possible is being ready to make a major move. My last two hires necessitated a 6 hour move and then a 36 hour move.

To be provide a bit more specific aid, I'd thoroughly recommend adding the National Council of Public History job board to your search, and from personal experience, Texas has an enormous number of museums and professional organizations serving those museums. If you're okay with the move, the TAM board is good, and I know from an old supervisor that the Texas Historical Commission has some positions open for various historic sites.

------------------------------
Drew Whatley
Museum Educator
Whatcom Museum
Bellingham WA

Original Message:
Sent: 06-10-2020 10:24 AM
From: Mary Sewell
Subject: Suggestions on getting started in the museum education field

Ms. Matulewicz,
Thank you for your input, Here in the Atlanta area we have a natural history museum named Fernbank, as well as an aquarium. Both of which I will be sure to look into as well as some of the science/nature museums on the Georgia coastline and throughout the southeast. Thank you once again for your help.
Sincerely,

------------------------------
Mary Sewell
Atlanta GA

Original Message:
Sent: 06-10-2020 09:20 AM
From: Kristen Matulewicz
Subject: Suggestions on getting started in the museum education field

If you are looking for a foot in the door to education in Museums as a Educator and not a manager. Even though it is out of your topic field, look at Science Museums. They tend to have large education teams and are almost always hiring - especially around the beginning (Summer Camps) and end of summer (start of the school year). Unless you go for reenacting, history museums and art museums are very hard to get a foot in the door as a base level educator and usually have very few full-time positions in these fields. If your goal is to get into a history museum (based on your degrees), it may be more practical to start in a science museum as you suss out the other museum fields as well as be a fantastic tool for building your museum education experience. I have worked in all three museum fields and science museums tend to be on another level in their approach to education practices that can really make you stand out in the other fields.

------------------------------
Kristen Matulewicz
Curator of Community and Academic Programs
Biggs Museum of American Art
Dover DE

Original Message:
Sent: 06-09-2020 09:48 AM
From: Mary Sewell
Subject: Suggestions on getting started in the museum education field

My name is Mary Sewell, I have a BA in history and an MA in museum studies. I have done internships and volunteer work in both history museums and at an art museum. I have a passion to work in museum education and that is where I have focused both my internships and volunteer work whenever possible. I am on several job recruitment sites including AAM. Can anyone suggest what may help me to find an entry-level position at a museum whether it is in the museum education field or not?

Thank you,

Mary Sewell