Open Forum

Hi Katie. I am new to museums myself. I don't think you say what kind of job you're looking for. After looking at your LinkedIn, however, I wonder if you're interested in PR/marketing/external affairs at a museum?

From what I've heard from AAM-CurComm, becoming a curator or working in that division is highly competitive. Perhaps if you're not keen on development/fundraising nor education, are there other roles besides communications you would be interested in?

Similar to what Vivian and Veronica are saying, I would try to volunteer in a role where you acquire the skills employers are seeking in the types of jobs you want to get. In my case I am volunteer-teaching.

Hi Katie. I am new to museums myself. I don't think you say what kind of job you're looking for. After looking at your LinkedIn, however, I wonder if you're interested in PR/marketing/external affairs at a museum?

From what I've heard from AAM-CurComm, becoming a curator or working in that division is highly competitive. Perhaps if you're not keen on development/fundraising nor education, are there other roles besides communications you would be interested in?

Similar to what Vivian and Veronica are saying, I would try to volunteer in a role where you acquire the skills employers are seeking in the types of jobs you want to get. In my case I am volunteer-teaching.

Hi Katie et.al., 

I've been thinking all day about the responses you've received so far. Folks keep recommending unpaid internships--which I think ignores a few harsh realities of museum work. First is the equity issue of expecting our newest crop of potential employees to support themselves on air and promises while they donate their labor to our noble cause in hopes it might get them enough experience to land an entry level job. There's a reason the Instagram accounts calling for change in our industry are folllowed by thousands of people. 

Let's face the facts, there are a lot of museum studies programs cranking out a lot of graduates and not enough jobs in the industry to absorb them. You want a museum job, what are you going to do to make sure you stand out in this crowd? No, don't get a PhD. Find a trusted friend to really examine your application letters and your resume. What are the gaps? How well are you matching your skills to the job requirements? Yes, it is going to take a long time before you land that first paying job. That's not a new problem in museums. But don't volunteer, because perpetuating this inequity helps no one and there's no guarantee it will get you a job. Perhaps another internship will help. Find a paid one that fills in the gaps in your training. Reach out to local museum people and ask for informational interviews, ask them to help you assess your skills and training. You may be reaching for jobs that are way beyond your training and competing with a lot of folks who do have the experience you lack, 

Oh and shame on any employer who fails to acknowledge an applicant. Really, how hard is it to send an email these days? 

--Diane

Diane, I agree with you but the reality is many museums either have to rely on volunteers or unpaid interns or the museum has to let things slide.  Change will only come when universities stop factory producing museum studies grads, promising them the moon.  Yes, we need to change but let's be realistic and not rely on desperate emerging museum professionals to achieve that change at the risk of at least getting experience.

Hi Katie et.al., 

I've been thinking all day about the responses you've received so far. Folks keep recommending unpaid internships--which I think ignores a few harsh realities of museum work. First is the equity issue of expecting our newest crop of potential employees to support themselves on air and promises while they donate their labor to our noble cause in hopes it might get them enough experience to land an entry level job. There's a reason the Instagram accounts calling for change in our industry are folllowed by thousands of people. 

Let's face the facts, there are a lot of museum studies programs cranking out a lot of graduates and not enough jobs in the industry to absorb them. You want a museum job, what are you going to do to make sure you stand out in this crowd? No, don't get a PhD. Find a trusted friend to really examine your application letters and your resume. What are the gaps? How well are you matching your skills to the job requirements? Yes, it is going to take a long time before you land that first paying job. That's not a new problem in museums. But don't volunteer, because perpetuating this inequity helps no one and there's no guarantee it will get you a job. Perhaps another internship will help. Find a paid one that fills in the gaps in your training. Reach out to local museum people and ask for informational interviews, ask them to help you assess your skills and training. You may be reaching for jobs that are way beyond your training and competing with a lot of folks who do have the experience you lack, 

Oh and shame on any employer who fails to acknowledge an applicant. Really, how hard is it to send an email these days? 

--Diane

Diane, I agree with you but the reality is many museums either have to rely on volunteers or unpaid interns or the museum has to let things slide.  Change will only come when universities stop factory producing museum studies grads, promising them the moon.  Yes, we need to change but let's be realistic and not rely on desperate emerging museum professionals to achieve that change at the risk of at least getting experience.

Hi Katie et.al., 

I've been thinking all day about the responses you've received so far. Folks keep recommending unpaid internships--which I think ignores a few harsh realities of museum work. First is the equity issue of expecting our newest crop of potential employees to support themselves on air and promises while they donate their labor to our noble cause in hopes it might get them enough experience to land an entry level job. There's a reason the Instagram accounts calling for change in our industry are folllowed by thousands of people. 

Let's face the facts, there are a lot of museum studies programs cranking out a lot of graduates and not enough jobs in the industry to absorb them. You want a museum job, what are you going to do to make sure you stand out in this crowd? No, don't get a PhD. Find a trusted friend to really examine your application letters and your resume. What are the gaps? How well are you matching your skills to the job requirements? Yes, it is going to take a long time before you land that first paying job. That's not a new problem in museums. But don't volunteer, because perpetuating this inequity helps no one and there's no guarantee it will get you a job. Perhaps another internship will help. Find a paid one that fills in the gaps in your training. Reach out to local museum people and ask for informational interviews, ask them to help you assess your skills and training. You may be reaching for jobs that are way beyond your training and competing with a lot of folks who do have the experience you lack, 

Oh and shame on any employer who fails to acknowledge an applicant. Really, how hard is it to send an email these days? 

--Diane

Diane, I agree with you but the reality is many museums either have to rely on volunteers or unpaid interns or the museum has to let things slide.  Change will only come when universities stop factory producing museum studies grads, promising them the moon.  Yes, we need to change but let's be realistic and not rely on desperate emerging museum professionals to achieve that change at the risk of at least getting experience.

Hi Katie et.al., 

I've been thinking all day about the responses you've received so far. Folks keep recommending unpaid internships--which I think ignores a few harsh realities of museum work. First is the equity issue of expecting our newest crop of potential employees to support themselves on air and promises while they donate their labor to our noble cause in hopes it might get them enough experience to land an entry level job. There's a reason the Instagram accounts calling for change in our industry are folllowed by thousands of people. 

Let's face the facts, there are a lot of museum studies programs cranking out a lot of graduates and not enough jobs in the industry to absorb them. You want a museum job, what are you going to do to make sure you stand out in this crowd? No, don't get a PhD. Find a trusted friend to really examine your application letters and your resume. What are the gaps? How well are you matching your skills to the job requirements? Yes, it is going to take a long time before you land that first paying job. That's not a new problem in museums. But don't volunteer, because perpetuating this inequity helps no one and there's no guarantee it will get you a job. Perhaps another internship will help. Find a paid one that fills in the gaps in your training. Reach out to local museum people and ask for informational interviews, ask them to help you assess your skills and training. You may be reaching for jobs that are way beyond your training and competing with a lot of folks who do have the experience you lack, 

Oh and shame on any employer who fails to acknowledge an applicant. Really, how hard is it to send an email these days? 

--Diane

Hi Katie et.al., 

I've been thinking all day about the responses you've received so far. Folks keep recommending unpaid internships--which I think ignores a few harsh realities of museum work. First is the equity issue of expecting our newest crop of potential employees to support themselves on air and promises while they donate their labor to our noble cause in hopes it might get them enough experience to land an entry level job. There's a reason the Instagram accounts calling for change in our industry are folllowed by thousands of people. 

Let's face the facts, there are a lot of museum studies programs cranking out a lot of graduates and not enough jobs in the industry to absorb them. You want a museum job, what are you going to do to make sure you stand out in this crowd? No, don't get a PhD. Find a trusted friend to really examine your application letters and your resume. What are the gaps? How well are you matching your skills to the job requirements? Yes, it is going to take a long time before you land that first paying job. That's not a new problem in museums. But don't volunteer, because perpetuating this inequity helps no one and there's no guarantee it will get you a job. Perhaps another internship will help. Find a paid one that fills in the gaps in your training. Reach out to local museum people and ask for informational interviews, ask them to help you assess your skills and training. You may be reaching for jobs that are way beyond your training and competing with a lot of folks who do have the experience you lack, 

Oh and shame on any employer who fails to acknowledge an applicant. Really, how hard is it to send an email these days? 

--Diane

Hi Katie et.al., 

I've been thinking all day about the responses you've received so far. Folks keep recommending unpaid internships--which I think ignores a few harsh realities of museum work. First is the equity issue of expecting our newest crop of potential employees to support themselves on air and promises while they donate their labor to our noble cause in hopes it might get them enough experience to land an entry level job. There's a reason the Instagram accounts calling for change in our industry are folllowed by thousands of people. 

Let's face the facts, there are a lot of museum studies programs cranking out a lot of graduates and not enough jobs in the industry to absorb them. You want a museum job, what are you going to do to make sure you stand out in this crowd? No, don't get a PhD. Find a trusted friend to really examine your application letters and your resume. What are the gaps? How well are you matching your skills to the job requirements? Yes, it is going to take a long time before you land that first paying job. That's not a new problem in museums. But don't volunteer, because perpetuating this inequity helps no one and there's no guarantee it will get you a job. Perhaps another internship will help. Find a paid one that fills in the gaps in your training. Reach out to local museum people and ask for informational interviews, ask them to help you assess your skills and training. You may be reaching for jobs that are way beyond your training and competing with a lot of folks who do have the experience you lack, 

Oh and shame on any employer who fails to acknowledge an applicant. Really, how hard is it to send an email these days? 

--Diane

Hi Katie et.al., 

I've been thinking all day about the responses you've received so far. Folks keep recommending unpaid internships--which I think ignores a few harsh realities of museum work. First is the equity issue of expecting our newest crop of potential employees to support themselves on air and promises while they donate their labor to our noble cause in hopes it might get them enough experience to land an entry level job. There's a reason the Instagram accounts calling for change in our industry are folllowed by thousands of people. 

Let's face the facts, there are a lot of museum studies programs cranking out a lot of graduates and not enough jobs in the industry to absorb them. You want a museum job, what are you going to do to make sure you stand out in this crowd? No, don't get a PhD. Find a trusted friend to really examine your application letters and your resume. What are the gaps? How well are you matching your skills to the job requirements? Yes, it is going to take a long time before you land that first paying job. That's not a new problem in museums. But don't volunteer, because perpetuating this inequity helps no one and there's no guarantee it will get you a job. Perhaps another internship will help. Find a paid one that fills in the gaps in your training. Reach out to local museum people and ask for informational interviews, ask them to help you assess your skills and training. You may be reaching for jobs that are way beyond your training and competing with a lot of folks who do have the experience you lack, 

Oh and shame on any employer who fails to acknowledge an applicant. Really, how hard is it to send an email these days? 

--Diane

Edit 2/14/2023:

I want to thank everyone for their advice! Sorry for the late response to your responses. Honestly, I was turned off from this job board after receiving some rude and belittling messages. It was so nice to log in and feel supported today! I can clarify some things, I originally did not know how much personal information to share and wanted to play it safe: 

1. I'm looking for a variety of positions. I have experience with exhibit design, oral histories, archives, content creation, historical research, museum curation, and writing and editing. 
2. I'm located in West Virginia but I am wanting to move else where. I'm looking everywhere in the U.S., through D.C. is ideal!
3. Unpaid internships are out the question. I really appreciate the advice, but my husband and I are both recent college graduates and I can not afford to not be paid. I do have one unpaid internship under my belt, plus a paid one I did at the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. Please do not think this is me being "lazy". I worked nearly 35 hours a week in undergrad to support my way through college and continue to work hard (Plus I've been working since high school. Generational poverty in Appalachia has made breaking the poverty cycle difficult for a lot of us.)
4. I also was vague because I thought the more vague I was, the more people could benefit from the advice given. A lot of people seem to be in similar situations, so I think I was originally looking for general advice and personal stories. 

I again want to thank the majority of you for being supportive and offering advice. Your kindness has over shadowed the replies that made me feel stupid, uneducated, and unimportant. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi everyone,

I'll try to keep this brief, but I need some advice! I graduated in May 2022 with an MA in Public History (I also have a BA in History and English) and I have been looking for a job in the field ever since! I will say my opportunities in college were limited (due at first to needing to work full paying jobs and then Covid) but I did work at a historical archive for 2 years and did 2 internships.

The issue is, I apply, I apply, I apply. Every day I spend so much time looking for new job opportunities and crafting new cover letters. The positions I've applied for either say I'm not experienced enough, or they never get back to me. This is where I need your help. What do I do? Am I searching the right websites? How do I make myself competitive? Do I look for more internships? Try to get a Ph.D.? ( I don't want to teach). Did I spend 7 years in school for nothing? I've been working in grant writing for the past year and it just isn't for me. Any advice for how to break into the museum world would be greatly appreciated!

------------------------------
Katie S.
------------------------------

Further question: what is everyone's opinion about putting non-related job experience on applications related to museum work? For example, I won a county wide award for my work as a barista, which involved customer service, drink making, etc. Some websites say "Oh yes put all your work  experience!" others say "No way, only put related experience!". What do you think? 

------------------------------
Katie Saucer
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 02-08-2023 03:33 PM
From: Katie Saucer
Subject: Tips for landing a job in a museum or historical institution?

Edit 2/14/2023:

I want to thank everyone for their advice! Sorry for the late response to your responses. Honestly, I was turned off from this job board after receiving some rude and belittling messages. It was so nice to log in and feel supported today! I can clarify some things, I originally did not know how much personal information to share and wanted to play it safe: 

1. I'm looking for a variety of positions. I have experience with exhibit design, oral histories, archives, content creation, historical research, museum curation, and writing and editing. 
2. I'm located in West Virginia but I am wanting to move else where. I'm looking everywhere in the U.S., through D.C. is ideal!
3. Unpaid internships are out the question. I really appreciate the advice, but my husband and I are both recent college graduates and I can not afford to not be paid. I do have one unpaid internship under my belt, plus a paid one I did at the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. Please do not think this is me being "lazy". I worked nearly 35 hours a week in undergrad to support my way through college and continue to work hard (Plus I've been working since high school. Generational poverty in Appalachia has made breaking the poverty cycle difficult for a lot of us.)
4. I also was vague because I thought the more vague I was, the more people could benefit from the advice given. A lot of people seem to be in similar situations, so I think I was originally looking for general advice and personal stories. 

I again want to thank the majority of you for being supportive and offering advice. Your kindness has over shadowed the replies that made me feel stupid, uneducated, and unimportant. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi everyone,

I'll try to keep this brief, but I need some advice! I graduated in May 2022 with an MA in Public History (I also have a BA in History and English) and I have been looking for a job in the field ever since! I will say my opportunities in college were limited (due at first to needing to work full paying jobs and then Covid) but I did work at a historical archive for 2 years and did 2 internships.

The issue is, I apply, I apply, I apply. Every day I spend so much time looking for new job opportunities and crafting new cover letters. The positions I've applied for either say I'm not experienced enough, or they never get back to me. This is where I need your help. What do I do? Am I searching the right websites? How do I make myself competitive? Do I look for more internships? Try to get a Ph.D.? ( I don't want to teach). Did I spend 7 years in school for nothing? I've been working in grant writing for the past year and it just isn't for me. Any advice for how to break into the museum world would be greatly appreciated!

------------------------------
Katie S.
------------------------------

Further question: what is everyone's opinion about putting non-related job experience on applications related to museum work? For example, I won a county wide award for my work as a barista, which involved customer service, drink making, etc. Some websites say "Oh yes put all your work experience!" others say "No way, only put related experience!". What do you think? 

------------------------------
Katie Saucer
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 02-08-2023 03:33 PM
From: Katie Saucer
Subject: Tips for landing a job in a museum or historical institution?

Edit 2/14/2023:

I want to thank everyone for their advice! Sorry for the late response to your responses. Honestly, I was turned off from this job board after receiving some rude and belittling messages. It was so nice to log in and feel supported today! I can clarify some things, I originally did not know how much personal information to share and wanted to play it safe: 

1. I'm looking for a variety of positions. I have experience with exhibit design, oral histories, archives, content creation, historical research, museum curation, and writing and editing. 
2. I'm located in West Virginia but I am wanting to move else where. I'm looking everywhere in the U.S., through D.C. is ideal!
3. Unpaid internships are out the question. I really appreciate the advice, but my husband and I are both recent college graduates and I can not afford to not be paid. I do have one unpaid internship under my belt, plus a paid one I did at the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. Please do not think this is me being "lazy". I worked nearly 35 hours a week in undergrad to support my way through college and continue to work hard (Plus I've been working since high school. Generational poverty in Appalachia has made breaking the poverty cycle difficult for a lot of us.)
4. I also was vague because I thought the more vague I was, the more people could benefit from the advice given. A lot of people seem to be in similar situations, so I think I was originally looking for general advice and personal stories. 

I again want to thank the majority of you for being supportive and offering advice. Your kindness has over shadowed the replies that made me feel stupid, uneducated, and unimportant. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi everyone,

I'll try to keep this brief, but I need some advice! I graduated in May 2022 with an MA in Public History (I also have a BA in History and English) and I have been looking for a job in the field ever since! I will say my opportunities in college were limited (due at first to needing to work full paying jobs and then Covid) but I did work at a historical archive for 2 years and did 2 internships.

The issue is, I apply, I apply, I apply. Every day I spend so much time looking for new job opportunities and crafting new cover letters. The positions I've applied for either say I'm not experienced enough, or they never get back to me. This is where I need your help. What do I do? Am I searching the right websites? How do I make myself competitive? Do I look for more internships? Try to get a Ph.D.? ( I don't want to teach). Did I spend 7 years in school for nothing? I've been working in grant writing for the past year and it just isn't for me. Any advice for how to break into the museum world would be greatly appreciated!

------------------------------
Katie S.
------------------------------

Further question: what is everyone's opinion about putting non-related job experience on applications related to museum work? For example, I won a county wide award for my work as a barista, which involved customer service, drink making, etc. Some websites say "Oh yes put all your work experience!" others say "No way, only put related experience!". What do you think? 

------------------------------
Katie Saucer

Original Message:
Sent: 02-08-2023 03:33 PM
From: Katie Saucer
Subject: Tips for landing a job in a museum or historical institution?

Edit 2/14/2023:

I want to thank everyone for their advice! Sorry for the late response to your responses. Honestly, I was turned off from this job board after receiving some rude and belittling messages. It was so nice to log in and feel supported today! I can clarify some things, I originally did not know how much personal information to share and wanted to play it safe: 

1. I'm looking for a variety of positions. I have experience with exhibit design, oral histories, archives, content creation, historical research, museum curation, and writing and editing. 
2. I'm located in West Virginia but I am wanting to move else where. I'm looking everywhere in the U.S., through D.C. is ideal!
3. Unpaid internships are out the question. I really appreciate the advice, but my husband and I are both recent college graduates and I can not afford to not be paid. I do have one unpaid internship under my belt, plus a paid one I did at the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. Please do not think this is me being "lazy". I worked nearly 35 hours a week in undergrad to support my way through college and continue to work hard (Plus I've been working since high school. Generational poverty in Appalachia has made breaking the poverty cycle difficult for a lot of us.)
4. I also was vague because I thought the more vague I was, the more people could benefit from the advice given. A lot of people seem to be in similar situations, so I think I was originally looking for general advice and personal stories. 

I again want to thank the majority of you for being supportive and offering advice. Your kindness has over shadowed the replies that made me feel stupid, uneducated, and unimportant. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi everyone,

I'll try to keep this brief, but I need some advice! I graduated in May 2022 with an MA in Public History (I also have a BA in History and English) and I have been looking for a job in the field ever since! I will say my opportunities in college were limited (due at first to needing to work full paying jobs and then Covid) but I did work at a historical archive for 2 years and did 2 internships.

The issue is, I apply, I apply, I apply. Every day I spend so much time looking for new job opportunities and crafting new cover letters. The positions I've applied for either say I'm not experienced enough, or they never get back to me. This is where I need your help. What do I do? Am I searching the right websites? How do I make myself competitive? Do I look for more internships? Try to get a Ph.D.? ( I don't want to teach). Did I spend 7 years in school for nothing? I've been working in grant writing for the past year and it just isn't for me. Any advice for how to break into the museum world would be greatly appreciated!

------------------------------
Katie S.
------------------------------

Replying to the edit to say my first permanent job (not a summer position) out of grad school was in WV in a tiny tiny town lol. Super happy to hear about you staying away from unpaid internships - & so happy to see someone else say they're unethical - I was feeling crazy reading some of these replies - unpaid internships are just exploiting labor from those who need experience & have literally no other choice. As a fellow person in Appalachia & in that generational poverty cycle I completely understand - also anyone who says you're lazy for not doing a job that doesn't pay is an out of touch weirdo. 

Definitely put all your work experience on your resume right now! When I got my first job in the museum field my resume was only retail, volunteer work, and unpaid internships. Great advice I got from one of my old bosses is to not start taking your older jobs off (non-museum related) until you've got your foot firmly in the door and few museum/public history-related things to replace them with. I only just took my retail jobs off my resume last year and I graduated in '17 & have been working in the museum world since then. But still leave the skills you've gained from those jobs in a "skills" section of your resume even after you're a museum veteran :) those skills are good for life. 

Good luck & try to ignore the out of touch & rude folks in this thread!! 

------------------------------
Ashlee Lanier
Asheville NC

Original Message:
Sent: 02-14-2023 01:17 PM
From: Katie Saucer
Subject: Tips for landing a job in a museum or historical institution?

Further question: what is everyone's opinion about putting non-related job experience on applications related to museum work? For example, I won a county wide award for my work as a barista, which involved customer service, drink making, etc. Some websites say "Oh yes put all your work experience!" others say "No way, only put related experience!". What do you think? 

------------------------------
Katie Saucer

Original Message:
Sent: 02-08-2023 03:33 PM
From: Katie Saucer
Subject: Tips for landing a job in a museum or historical institution?

Edit 2/14/2023:

I want to thank everyone for their advice! Sorry for the late response to your responses. Honestly, I was turned off from this job board after receiving some rude and belittling messages. It was so nice to log in and feel supported today! I can clarify some things, I originally did not know how much personal information to share and wanted to play it safe: 

1. I'm looking for a variety of positions. I have experience with exhibit design, oral histories, archives, content creation, historical research, museum curation, and writing and editing. 
2. I'm located in West Virginia but I am wanting to move else where. I'm looking everywhere in the U.S., through D.C. is ideal!
3. Unpaid internships are out the question. I really appreciate the advice, but my husband and I are both recent college graduates and I can not afford to not be paid. I do have one unpaid internship under my belt, plus a paid one I did at the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. Please do not think this is me being "lazy". I worked nearly 35 hours a week in undergrad to support my way through college and continue to work hard (Plus I've been working since high school. Generational poverty in Appalachia has made breaking the poverty cycle difficult for a lot of us.)
4. I also was vague because I thought the more vague I was, the more people could benefit from the advice given. A lot of people seem to be in similar situations, so I think I was originally looking for general advice and personal stories. 

I again want to thank the majority of you for being supportive and offering advice. Your kindness has over shadowed the replies that made me feel stupid, uneducated, and unimportant. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi everyone,

I'll try to keep this brief, but I need some advice! I graduated in May 2022 with an MA in Public History (I also have a BA in History and English) and I have been looking for a job in the field ever since! I will say my opportunities in college were limited (due at first to needing to work full paying jobs and then Covid) but I did work at a historical archive for 2 years and did 2 internships.

The issue is, I apply, I apply, I apply. Every day I spend so much time looking for new job opportunities and crafting new cover letters. The positions I've applied for either say I'm not experienced enough, or they never get back to me. This is where I need your help. What do I do? Am I searching the right websites? How do I make myself competitive? Do I look for more internships? Try to get a Ph.D.? ( I don't want to teach). Did I spend 7 years in school for nothing? I've been working in grant writing for the past year and it just isn't for me. Any advice for how to break into the museum world would be greatly appreciated!

------------------------------
Katie S.
------------------------------

Further question: what is everyone's opinion about putting non-related job experience on applications related to museum work? For example, I won a county wide award for my work as a barista, which involved customer service, drink making, etc. Some websites say "Oh yes put all your work experience!" others say "No way, only put related experience!". What do you think? 

------------------------------
Katie Saucer

Original Message:
Sent: 02-08-2023 03:33 PM
From: Katie Saucer
Subject: Tips for landing a job in a museum or historical institution?

Edit 2/14/2023:

I want to thank everyone for their advice! Sorry for the late response to your responses. Honestly, I was turned off from this job board after receiving some rude and belittling messages. It was so nice to log in and feel supported today! I can clarify some things, I originally did not know how much personal information to share and wanted to play it safe: 

1. I'm looking for a variety of positions. I have experience with exhibit design, oral histories, archives, content creation, historical research, museum curation, and writing and editing. 
2. I'm located in West Virginia but I am wanting to move else where. I'm looking everywhere in the U.S., through D.C. is ideal!
3. Unpaid internships are out the question. I really appreciate the advice, but my husband and I are both recent college graduates and I can not afford to not be paid. I do have one unpaid internship under my belt, plus a paid one I did at the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. Please do not think this is me being "lazy". I worked nearly 35 hours a week in undergrad to support my way through college and continue to work hard (Plus I've been working since high school. Generational poverty in Appalachia has made breaking the poverty cycle difficult for a lot of us.)
4. I also was vague because I thought the more vague I was, the more people could benefit from the advice given. A lot of people seem to be in similar situations, so I think I was originally looking for general advice and personal stories. 

I again want to thank the majority of you for being supportive and offering advice. Your kindness has over shadowed the replies that made me feel stupid, uneducated, and unimportant. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi everyone,

I'll try to keep this brief, but I need some advice! I graduated in May 2022 with an MA in Public History (I also have a BA in History and English) and I have been looking for a job in the field ever since! I will say my opportunities in college were limited (due at first to needing to work full paying jobs and then Covid) but I did work at a historical archive for 2 years and did 2 internships.

The issue is, I apply, I apply, I apply. Every day I spend so much time looking for new job opportunities and crafting new cover letters. The positions I've applied for either say I'm not experienced enough, or they never get back to me. This is where I need your help. What do I do? Am I searching the right websites? How do I make myself competitive? Do I look for more internships? Try to get a Ph.D.? ( I don't want to teach). Did I spend 7 years in school for nothing? I've been working in grant writing for the past year and it just isn't for me. Any advice for how to break into the museum world would be greatly appreciated!

------------------------------
Katie S.
------------------------------