Career Advice Needed

[pantsandthecity]

Hello WWW friends. I need some career advice.

Here are the facts:

1. I want to get into Museum/Collections/Archives work.
2. My CV reads: MA (Ethnomusicology with a Canadian History bent), BMus (Theory/Comp), BA (English, Can. Lit); piano teacher for 5 years, charity thrift store manager, 6 mos, choir accompanist/music arranger/ sometimes songwriter

Comments

weighing in

[hurr_ah]

I think you can talk to the top archivist. You will not be wasting their time. I talked to many of them on fieldtrips when I was talking my archives class and all of them were very nice and approachable (not to stereotype, but they were). As long as you call in advance, I think they would be GLAD to tell you things. They will probably be flattered that someone wants to speak with them. Go do it.

Volunteering is probably a good idea. A) for experience, B) you will hear about actual jobs much more quickly if you know everyone.

If there is nothing available that pays right now, I would get a crap job and volunteer at the same time. Usually when I've held out for a good job when I've been unemployed, I'm just unemployed for months until eventually I take a crap job anyway. Sometimes it works, and you find something great, but if you end up getting a crap job anyway, you'll just wish you did it earlier because then you could have been eating that whole time.

[broccoligirl]

1. Is there a way you could email the archivist first rather than make a cold call? This would be a) less scary, b) give you more time to think of what you want to say, and c) possibly a better way to approach a busy person

[sleevespeak]

you could get a masters in museum studies...?

[anonymous]

If you became an archivist, we'd have to rumble.

It's well known our kinds don't mix. Like donkeys (donki) and coyotes.

-Shoes

????????

[icg665]

1) Do not settle for a crap job but do not hold out for your dream job. Find one you can tolerate while you plot your next step.

2) Volunteer when possible. It might be hard to do this if you end up with shift work so keep that in mind with the job hunt. Though shift work can also be accommodating if you get the shifts you need to volunteer at the right place.

3) Definitely get in contact with people who are in the field you want to get into. They can give you insight into your career path. Email or phone, both are good.

4) Your experience is good and you have strong degrees backing you up. Don't be afraid to send out resumes and inqueries.

5) Do not let associates and friends do the leg work for you. They can be a good "in" but experience has taught me that no matter how good a person they are they will not be able to represent you or your abilites as well as you can. Many a time a good friend has lost me a great opportunity by trying to help. Getting yourself out there is the best way to make a good first impression.