Open Forum

Hello Everyone, 

As we prepare for our upcoming webinar on career development, we'd love to hear from you! Are you currently navigating a job search, or have you recently completed one? What part of the process has been the most challenging or surprising for you?

Cecelia

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Cecelia Walls
Assistant Director, Learning Content & Operations
American Alliance of Museums
Arlington VA
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Hi Cecila! 

I love this question! I am currently in the job search right now. For context, I am about to graduate with my MA in Museum Studies from the University of Florida. I am currently applying for roles in collections (registration/ collections management)  in museums, galleries, and foundations. Something that has been frustrating is timing, I recently applied and was almost given a role, but due to timing with school on my end I had to withdraw myself from the running. So I am on a pause for searching as I want to make sure that I am able to give my all in a position without worrying about delaying finishing my degree. 

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Solana Rostick
M.A. Candidate Museum Studies
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL
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I've been looking and what surprises me is one particular question that keeps getting asked.  It's some variation of what is your vision for the museum over the next 5 years.  Without having any information at hand about the institution, you can only find so much online. Not knowing the museums' challenges, strategic plan, vision of the board, etc., it's difficult to know where your vision should lie.  In one instance, I asked the interview team what they thought were the greatest challenges in accomplishing their strategic plan, and they responded that they didn't know they were going to get quizzed.  I need information and data before I can plan a vision.

Secondly, I would add that I have been receiving the nicest of rejection emails.

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Harry Klinkhamer
Historical Resources Manager
Venice Museum and Archives
Venice FL
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I'm not sure if my first submission of this went out so I will repeat it.  There are several books that may be helpful in seeking a museum job.  They include: So Your Want to Work In A Museum, Rowman & Littlefield, 2019. Museums: A Place to Work, planning museum careers Routledge, 1996. Museum Careers: a practical guide for students and novices, Routledge, 2008. and my book How To Get A Museum Job, Rowman & Littlefield, 2019.  Having worked in six museums and applied to a few more, and, having interviewed job prospects as well as advise a few friends about job seeking, I can easily be contacted if I could be of assistance: sh.miller2@verison.net

Good Luck!

Steve 

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Steven Miller
Doylestown, PA

Executive Director Retired
Boscobel Restoration, Inc.
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