tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-362009882024-03-06T21:58:13.028-07:00Young Museum ProfessionalsDedicated to new museum professionals to connect, share stories, and seek advice.Nathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14300496617869271831noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36200988.post-27851305231695941422010-11-10T21:28:00.000-07:002010-11-10T21:49:25.023-07:00Technology and the Young ProfessionalI just finished a post that was more stream of conscious that was necessary, but one thing I was interested in finding out it how people are integrating technology into their careers. Last week I was able to attend the Summit on Digital Technologies for Museum Education at George Mason University. The point of the summit was to convene educators from around the country and examine the many ways that technology is being employed in their institutions. If you are like me, you probably are thinking "seriously, are we still talking about this subject?" But, yes, this topic is still a large part of our professional dialogue. And I beleive that this is due to a number of factors. First, the technology is still extremely new. It is in some ways analogous to the zipper--invented before it had a purpose. So, many tools require a great deal of experimentation to see if they even have any educational value. Second--and related, museums on the whole are risk adverse. Even some of the most progressive institutions are fearful about what technology is and who has the power to use it. I am stunned by the number of repeat discussion threads on the Museum-Ed list serve that inquire about other museum's policies on Facebook and social media. In not sure that it is solely human nature, or if it has something to do with the often bureaucratic and expert-obsessed nature of museum work, but some institutions seem wholly unwilling to even experiment. Third, dispite recent achievements, there is still a wide technology gap between generational groups. Many people (often, but not always in the older generations), dont understand, see the point or see the value of technology. Conversely, the data supporting how technology is effective and worth the ridiculously expensive investment is inadequate or non existant.<br /><br />One last thought is that, museums today are always trying to broaden their audience and their appeal. Technology has become a defacto panacea for reaching out to those untapped masses. But, I can't help but wonder if our investments in technology are only reaching an even smaller subset within our already existing audience. Is a digital deliverly method going to make the subject matter any more paletable or accessible? Until some more data is found, I think that remains to be seen.<br /><br />However, I dont want to come off as completely against technology. In fact, I feel that it should be embraced, experimented with, adapted, and shared. I just think we need to have a clearer reason for using it beyond "it's the newest trend" or "that's what the young kids want and expect."<br /><br />So, I am curious to know, how is everyone else using technology? Has it proven successful to you? Are you reaching new audiences or the same people? And if its the same people, is a deeper, more meaningful, or more frequent contact? Has it lead to any other opportunities? Have you found any interesting (and cheap) applications that have proven useful to you?<div class="blogger-post-footer">YMP</div>Nathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14300496617869271831noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36200988.post-28599071655252311052010-11-10T21:15:00.000-07:002010-11-10T21:27:55.695-07:00Feeling less like a "young" professionalWow, once again I am looking at this blog and seeing how much time has slipped away once again. I am not sure how easy I originally thought it was going to be to keep up with a blog, but I should have been able to guess based upon my many failed journal attempts.<br /><br />The reason I came back to the blog is that I have recently started a new job that is venturing into the arena of new media for the first time. We have a facebook page, an e-newsletter, a blog, and thinking about a twitter account. But I have so many mixed feelings about what is the most important thing to expend energy on. I am ceaselessly amazed at how much time I can spend looking and interacting with Facebook. Multiply that by each social media outlet you can participate with, and in no time you can spend hours each day keeping up.<br /><br />I am also looking at the title of this blog and smirking some. I can't recall when I first started this posting (I could probably look that up, but I am in edit mode right now), but it has probably been at least three or four years. Although that isnt long, and I am only a few years older, I am not sure that that moniker "young" museum professional is really apt any more.<br /><br />this past year has brought a lot of change for me both professionally and personally. My old job as director of exhibits and programs was eliminated this spring and I, along with several friends and colleagues, found myself without employment. Although I was allowed to transition into a temporary position, it was important that I move on. I was extremely fortunate to not only land a new job back in my home state, but I was able to make a move up. Well, its a move up in title and position at least. I became director at a local history museum just west of Denver and it has been a fun and challenging new opportunity.<br /><br />The original purpose of this blog was to offer a venue for emerging professionals to talk about issues as they grow and progress in their career, ask advice, and voice frustration. What is interesting to me is the many and varied ways that people can move through their career in this field. The opportunities are limited, the market is competative, the economy is challenging, yet people are still growing and advancing. I'm interested in hearing how other people are making head way. How have things changed for you in the past year? What new challenges lie ahead? Are you planning on sticking in your current job, or actively seeking new opportunities?<div class="blogger-post-footer">YMP</div>Nathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14300496617869271831noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36200988.post-82812932122789410322009-12-31T13:16:00.000-07:002009-12-31T19:59:22.950-07:00Where Are We Cutting Back?As budgets get tighter, where are we cutting back?<br /><br />Hearing previous <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">bloggers</span> expand upon the lack of jobs and salary increases; I'm interested in where else you're feeling the pinch?<br /><br />Is it in your benefits, such as the loss of retirement matching, or the increase of health care coverage for a decrease in benefits?<br /><br />Do you think museums are cutting back on programming? If so, how and where?<br /><br />Are we seeing a decrease in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">visitorship</span>? Or an increase if you're at an admission free museum?<br /><br />Please share your thoughts.<div class="blogger-post-footer">YMP</div>Erin Narlochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11443180718397997049noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36200988.post-858473649232912392009-12-14T08:52:00.000-07:002009-12-14T09:00:56.831-07:00Surviving, Adapting, and Making DoWhile I have heard that things are starting to turn around for our economy, it's a sad state of affairs when the"good news" is that jobs are being lost at just a slightly slower pace than they were over the past few months. While it appears that there are some job statistics on the for-profit sector, there seems to be a dearth of information about the non-profit sector--specifically museums. I have heard from numerous colleagues about massive lay-offs, hiring freezes, and ridiculously large pools of applicants for the handful of jobs that pop up. But, I dont really seen any hard and fast data about how museum employees have been affected.<br /><br />Has your museum laid off workers? If so, how many? What department were they in? Have you recently lost your job? Have you found other work? How is the search going?<br /><br />Any advice for job seekers out there? How are you coping in this economy? Have financial issues forced you to change or adapt your career path?<div class="blogger-post-footer">YMP</div>Nathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14300496617869271831noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36200988.post-5851632639036532382009-10-22T08:27:00.000-06:002009-10-22T08:36:54.150-06:00Is anyone out there?We haven't posted on this blog in forever! For a lot of us out in museum-land our jobs have changed and our museums have changed significantly as a result of the economic downturn. Jobs have been cut, department budgets slashed, raises reduced or eliminated and in some extreme cases museums have closed. <div><br /></div><div>Have you fallen victim to any of these? How are you coping? What have you changed about your career or how you do your job? </div><div><br /></div><div>My brother asked me last week if I was pigeon-holed in my career and if I had options for careers outside of the museum? I've been thinking a great deal about that and it's hard for me to imagine myself in a non-museum setting. Has anyone transistioned to another field and found happiness or fulfillment? </div><div><br /></div><div>Would love to hear from anyone out there and get this blog back on track. When times are tough like these we need to network and learn from each other now more than ever!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">YMP</div>Hassanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13704744502574935748noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36200988.post-17710183377238992862008-11-02T13:36:00.000-07:002008-11-02T14:05:54.727-07:00Salary Conundrum Continued: WagesIt has been a long time since I have updated any posts to this blog, but one subject matter that still seems to attract a great deal of attention is the one related to salary. Several people had questions related to salary and income, so I thought I'd try to answer some here.<br /><br /><strong>Who should be responsible for making sure salaries are decent?</strong><br />This is a tricky question to answer. Being that we live in a capitalistic economy and are subject to the laws of supply and demand, it is only logical that the more people there are wanting museum jobs, the less museums have to pay for qualified staff. And that is the basis of my feeling that surplus of museum studies programs around the country are actually doing a disservice to the field. Sure, they can tell a student that they are going to make very little money; however, most young students in graduate school don't really have a strong concept of how much income they require to survive until they are out of school and living in the real world. To many people, $25-35K is the most money they have ever made in their lives to that date and they are happy to make that income. As they get older, however, they realize that those wages aren't enough to pay rent, car payments, insurance, and other necessities. If programs truly cared about their students they would limit the numbers they accept and also perhaps only accept students into a graduate program who already have some sort of museum experience. Paying $50K or more for an education for which you have no real idea what you are getting yourself into is a difficult path to follow.<br /><br />But, obviously, schools are not the only ones to blame. If we as employees are willing to accept the job when we are offered it, then we should accept the consequences of taking that position--and that often comes with the knowledge that your salary will probably not increase much over time. When you are at the point of accepting a new position, it is important that you as the perspective employee as about opportunities for advancement and how survey how seriously that institution values its staff and staff development.<br /><br />Museums, in my mind, have an obligation to at least provide a salary range for posted positions. That kind of honesty in reporting not only makes the institutions stand by the meager salaries they offer, but it also can help weed out applicants who really require more money.<br /><br /><strong>How can I help improve salaries?</strong><br />This is also a difficult question to answer. If you are a manager or ever in the position to hire someone, encourage your institution to list a salary range. Perhaps with time this will become a common practice. Also, as an employee, make yourself as flexible as possible. Someone commented on here to ask your development staff to raise more money for your position. If you want to keep in the good graces of the finance team, this is probably not the best approach. Insead, prove your ability to earn cash. Seek out and find grant opportunities. Find new ways of charging for programs and educational activities that help underwrite your salary. Find ways for your department to save money. Always think of yourself as part of the development team. Encourage docents, visitors, and program attendees to become more involved and contribute more to your program area. Use your professional development time to learn a new skill such as fundraising.<br /><br /><strong>Where can I find out more about salary bases?</strong><br />Most regional museum associations conduct a biannual salary survey. You might have to pay for it, but it could be a good investment for job hunting. Get a friend to chip in with you. Also, find out when the next survey is happening and encourage your museum to participate. The more data that is gathered, the better and more accurate the results will be. When the time is right, approach your manager about better aligning your salary with those similar in your region. Also, don't assume that bigger cities pay better. In fact, from those I have met, I would opine that metropolitan areas such as New York City actually pay less than many other parts of the country and instead use the prestige of the city and institution as a reason to pay you less because they indoctrinate the idea that it is a priveledge to work there. If all else fails, do some reconnaisance and ask. If you are considering applying for a job somewhere, try to get some inside information on that institution and how they pay their staff.<div class="blogger-post-footer">YMP</div>Nathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14300496617869271831noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36200988.post-75752039169818495682008-06-26T13:49:00.000-06:002008-06-26T14:06:38.764-06:00Learning in Museums Seminar 2008: Technology, Interpretation and Learning in MuseumsLast week I attended AAM's LiM seminar in Minneapolis. The two-day event was well worth it. <br /><br />Topics explored included but not limited to, audio and cell phone tours, blogs, Web 2.0, interpretive planning, social networking and web-based communities for learning, digital learning games...etc.<br /><br />I enjoyed the mix of participants, many of whom I've never met (not like I know everyone but when you go to conferences and workshops you end up seeing the usual suspects). I was surprised to see such a diverse age range represented, you could tell the age of participants by their questions and comments...like "cyberspace," who uses that anymore? - But more power to them for stepping out of their comfort zone to learn something new.<br /><br />Listening to where other institutions are with technology and new media provided some perspective. Sometimes it is good to know we all struggle with the idea of giving up control when it comes to user-generated content.<br /><br />If I could plug one book explored during the seminar it would be,<span style="font-style:italic;"> The Digital Museum: A Think Guide</span>, edited by Herminia Din and Phyllis Hecht. Many of the chapters' authors were part of the seminar, the content of the book is totally relevant to museums today.<br /><br />Anyways, I should end this stream of conscience with questions... Did anyone attend LiM? If so, what are your thoughts? Where is your institution when it comes to technology? Are you meeting advancement with resistance from other colleagues?<div class="blogger-post-footer">YMP</div>Erin Narlochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11443180718397997049noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36200988.post-64001044090469010062008-06-05T12:08:00.000-06:002008-06-05T14:04:10.322-06:00Museums: A Hot Bed of Liberalism?I am biased. I admit it. I voted in the Illinois primary for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Obama</span> and will most likely do it again in the general election this fall. While I don't think I fit the cookie cutter mold of a card-carrying liberal, I have to admit that I support most of the things the Democratic party stands for. I know that these points of view inform my decisions in both my personal and professional life. But, I also work for a museum that discusses freedom--an subject important to all people no matter their political persuasion, yet simultaneously <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">fraught</span> with political implications and biases. In everything we do at the museum--exhibits, programs, professional development for teachers--we are extra <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">conscientious</span> to make sure our content is accurate and politically balanced.<br /><br />But, then today I read this article from the Weekly Standard that was forwarded to me: <a title="blocked::http://www.weeklystandard.com/Utilities/printer_preview.asp?idArticle=" href="http://www.weeklystandard.com/Utilities/printer_preview.asp?idArticle=15157&R=13A9313B10" r="13A9313B10">http://www.weeklystandard.com/Utilities/printer_preview.asp?idArticle=15157&R=13A9313B10</a> and I was both disgusted and intrigued by the author's critique of a new exhibit about the Ancient Americas at the Field Museum. The author <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">PJ</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">ORourke</span> lambastes the exhibit and says, "The ancient Americans themselves are not portrayed as savage or barbarous. The savages and barbarians are the museum's curators. They plunder history, ravage archaeology, do violence to intelligence, and lay waste to wisdom, faith, and common sense."<br /><br />The man clearly has not taken a museum studies course or an anthropology class in the past 30 years.<br /><br />But, despite his rambling, ill-informed, and often tangential tirade, the message that I take away here is that he--indeed many people--are threatened by the forces of what has been dubbed "revisionism"--school of thought that reexamines past truths, questions the greatness of past leaders, give credence to unheard voices, and retells history itself. It is a force that logically started within universities and has made its way into museums. And while it has uncovered a trove of unrecognized history and elevated the stories of the marginalized, it has itself marginalized the mainstream and devalued or discredited the accomplishments of great leaders by pointing out their humanness and holding them to unachievable standards. Many conservative individuals are angered--perhaps rightly--about the short shrift given by historians and curators to the accomplishments of white people, while <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">simultaneously</span> think that the faults of traditionally the marginalized (<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">indigenous</span> peoples, slaves, etc) are downplayed and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">their</span> accomplishments <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">over hyped</span>.<br /><br />Unfortunately for people like me who wish to examine the legitimate concerns about the problems of revisionism, it is frequently difficult, if not impossible, to discern between the actual issue and the cloud of obvious racism, hatred, and ignorance with which the arguments are made. But, if we museum professionals truly wish to practice what we preach and live the lofty ideals of "Excellence and Equity" and other manifestos purporting the inclusiveness and welcoming of diverse viewpoints, should we not also include political affiliation as part of the diversity?<br /><br />Vituperative attacks on museums such as Mr. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">O'Rourke's</span> arise from a sense that those who hold conservative points of view are not valued as visitors and that their world views are not only out of style, but simply wrong. When museums don't at least address concerns such as these, it fuels the widely trumpeted notion that universities and museums are places run by the liberal elite. While I don't believe that it is necessary to validate wrongly held views, simply acknowledging points of view can help facilitate productive discussion and debate.<br /><br />Do you know the political <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">allegiances</span> of the people in your museum? Have you conducted visitor studies asking about political affiliation? Should political balance be something that museums include in diversity initiatives?<div class="blogger-post-footer">YMP</div>Nathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14300496617869271831noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36200988.post-67604448123392774252008-05-08T14:18:00.000-06:002008-05-08T14:47:58.999-06:00The Salary ConundrumWell, now that the article in Museums came out this month and people are asking me about this blog, I have decided that I better get my butt back in gear and start contributing.<br /><br />So, I just got back from AAM in Denver. Overall I would deem the conference OK. There were a few memorable sessions, but one that sticks in my mind that seems particularly relevant to young or emerging professionals was a session called "The Salary Conundrum." In it, the four panelists and one moderator spoke about--naturally--the fact that museum professionals are among the highest trained professionals and the lowest paid. Some of the facts that were cited were some dismal accounts from professionals in New York who were paid the meager salary of $23,000/annually (in Manhattan!). Needless to say, people were graduating from school, getting jobs, and dropping out of the profession like flies because they were simply not able to survive on such paltry earnings.<br /><br />Some of the solutions that were offered were 1.) lobby AAM to shed further light on this issue and cajole museum directors and board members to take some action toward equity in pay; 2.) encourage greater salary research by region; 3.) start encouraging/forcing museums to disclose salary ranges for job opportunities; 4.) unionize.<br /><br />I was also mildly castigated for daring to question whether or not university museum studies programs should carry some of the culpability for the low pay in museums--especially for educators and collections managers. At the session I learned that there are an upwards of 3000 museum studies programs in the United States turning out thousands of graduates each year. It seems, in my opinion, that museum studies programs have an obligation to inform their students about the lack of compensation in the field and to prepare people for how to survive after graduation. Are all of these programs necessary? Are they only fueling the problem by increasing the pool of cash-desperate grads?<br /><br />So, I am interested in hearing from you. Do any of the above courses of action seem viable? Do museum studies programs share some of the blame for flooding the market with over-qualified, under-paid, and highly indebted new professionals? Do you feel you are being paid fairly? And if not, what recourse do you have?<div class="blogger-post-footer">YMP</div>Nathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14300496617869271831noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36200988.post-17418650420099562792008-03-06T09:15:00.000-07:002008-03-06T09:25:58.408-07:00Report on the next generation of nonprofit leadersCourtesy of the AAM-EMP listserv:<br /><br /><strong>Young Nonprofit Leaders Concerned About Pay, Work-Life Balance, Report Finds</strong><br /><br />Although a diverse pool of committed young people would like to be nonprofit executive directors in the future, many of them say there are significant barriers to realizing that ambition, a new report from the Meyer Foundation finds.<br /><br />Based on a national survey of nearly six thousand "next generation" leaders -- the largest such survey to date -- the report, Ready to Lead: Next Generation Leaders Speak Out (36 pages, PDF), found that young nonprofit staff are concerned that challenges such as work-life balance, insufficient lifelong earning potential, a lack of mentorship, and overwhelming fundraising responsibilities may prevent them from becoming nonprofit executives.<br /><br />According to the study, which was conducted by the foundation in partnership with CompassPoint Nonprofit Services, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, and Idealist.org, 64 percent of respondents have financial concerns about committing to a career in the sector, while only one-third aspire to become executive directors. Of those with such aspirations, 40 percent said they are ready now or will be within five years to take on such responsibilities. The survey also found that only 4 percent of nonprofit staff are being groomed to become their organization's leader, and that women are less likely to be developed as leaders than are men.<br /><br />Paul Light, a professor at New York University's Wagner School of Public Service, told the Washington Post, "It's really a significant problem and one that is just so important to the future of the sector. Nonprofits are so focused on meeting their mission in the present tense, they don't think of succession planning for executive directors, they don't think of recruitment for future employees. It's just not on the agenda because they're under such pressure to deliver, especially during economic downturns like this."<br /><br />"Young Leaders Concerned With Pay, Work-Life Balance, Report Says." Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation Press Release 3/03/08.<br /><br />Rucker, Philip. "Crunch Predicted in Nonprofit Sector." Washington Post 3/03/08.<br /><br /><a href="http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/news/story.jhtml?id=206700024">http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/news/story.jhtml?id=206700024</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">YMP</div>Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04976956505876821828noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36200988.post-65729027107246072462008-01-08T10:48:00.000-07:002008-01-08T10:49:03.372-07:00No Child Left Behind-Museum Educator SurveyDear Colleagues,<br /><br />No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation, adopted by congress in 2001, was a federal response to lagging academic performance by American students. The legislation attempted to improve the quality of education for all children while simultaneously closing the achievement gap between lower and upper income students. Among other things, NCLB legislation imposed tighter academic standards and placed greater emphasis on standardized testing--specifically on math, science, and literacy skills. While the legislation has had some notable successes, it has also been met with widespread dissatisfaction. Although classroom teachers and school administrators have been most affected by NCLB, many museum educators have also reported changes both positively and negatively in museum visitation and program participation by schools as a direct result of the legislation. Seven years later, as Congress considers reauthorizing the bill, museums have yet to get a firm grasp on how they have been affected by this landmark legislation or how they might use the legislation to benefit their institutions and the communities they serve. To further the conversation about NCLB, the Midwest Region of EdCom in partnership with the Association of Midwest Museums is presenting a day long seminar called No Museum Left Behind: Museum Educators Respond to NCLB Legislation. The program will be held at the Loyola University Museum of Art on Friday, March 14, 2008. Participants in the program will leave the seminar with a firm understanding of NCLB legislation mandates, learn ways they can adapt existing programs to meet state and national standards, and discover ideas how to create new programming that fulfils NCLB requirements.<br /><br />Because the conversation is still new, Midwest EdCom and the McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum have prepared a short survey for museum educators about their experiences and attitudes toward NCLB. Please take a few moments to fill out this short survey and forward the link along to your fellow museum educators<br /><a title="http://mccormickfoundation.org/Lists/No%20Child%20Left%20Behind/NewForm.aspx?Source=" href="http://mccormickfoundation.org/Lists/No%20Child%20Left%20Behind/NewForm.aspx?Source=http%3A%2F%2Fmccormickfoundation%2Eorg%2FLists%2FNo%2520Child%2520Left%2520Behind%2Foverview%2Easpx">http://mccormickfoundation.org/Lists/No%20Child%20Left%20Behind/NewForm.aspx?Source=http%3A%2F%2Fmccormickfoundation%2Eorg%2FLists%2FNo%2520Child%2520Left%2520Behind%2Foverview%2Easpx</a>. Results of the survey will be shared at the No Museum Left Behind seminar and then distributed publicly shortly thereafter.<br /><br />Thank you for your time and help.<br /><br />Kind regards,<br /><br />Nathan Richie<br /><br />Nathan Richie<br />Director of Exhibits and Programs<br />McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum<br />Chicago, IL<br />(312) 222-3211<br /><a title="mailto:NRichie@FreedomMuseum.US" href="mailto:NRichie@FreedomMuseum.US">NRichie@FreedomMuseum.US</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">YMP</div>Nathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14300496617869271831noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36200988.post-89308143603982518682007-12-21T08:47:00.000-07:002007-12-21T09:01:01.765-07:00Audio Tours @ Your MuseumI'm interested in audio tours/podcasts at different museums. <br /><br />We've recently re-introduced (after a 10+ year hiatus) audio tours at the museum I work at. We decided to introduce them based on the feedback we received from our volunteers (and the feedback they've received from visitors). The audio tours are produced using Audacity and the audio tour devices themselves are low-cost MP3 players. We do all the work in-house. We’ve offered them with three exhibitions thus far – for free. The response to the audio tours continue to be encouraging – not to say we haven't had to tweak the product along the way/ <br /><br />Do your museums do audio tours/podcasts? If so, how do you produce them? What type of feedback do you receive from them? How much do you charge for them? Any words of wisdom to share?<br /><br />-Erin<div class="blogger-post-footer">YMP</div>Erin Narlochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11443180718397997049noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36200988.post-32258532086291241282007-12-07T11:11:00.000-07:002007-12-07T11:14:11.560-07:00EMP ReportIf you guys haven't had a chance to check out this new AAM affiliate, make sure you take a look at <a class="" title="http://www.magnetmail1.net/ls.cfm?r=" sid="3072077&m=" u="Museum&s=" href="http://www.magnetmail1.net/ls.cfm?r=29074202&sid=3072077&m=383597&u=Museum&s=http://www.aam-us.org/emp">AAM's Emerging Museum Professional (EMP</a><a class="" title="http://www.magnetmail1.net/ls.cfm?r=" sid="3072078&m=" u="Museum&s=" href="http://www.magnetmail1.net/ls.cfm?r=29074202&sid=3072078&m=383597&u=Museum&s=http://www.aam-us.org/emp">)</a> . It seems especially strong for those on the East Coast.<br /><br />Emerging Museum Professionals<br />2007 Survey Report<br /><a class="" title="http://www.magnetmail1.net/ls.cfm?r=" sid="3058605&m=" u="Museum&s=" href="http://www.magnetmail1.net/ls.cfm?r=29074202&sid=3058605&m=383597&u=Museum&s=http://www.magnetmail.net/images/clients/Museum/attach/EMPSurveyResultsSummer2007FINAL.pdf">View the complete survey and results (pdf)</a>.<br /><br />Activities Planned for Emerging Museum Professionals Check out the exciting events scheduled for the 2008 AAM Annual Meeting in Denver for <a class="" title="http://www.magnetmail1.net/ls.cfm?r=" sid="3072028&m=" u="Museum&s=" href="http://www.magnetmail1.net/ls.cfm?r=29074202&sid=3072028&m=383597&u=Museum&s=http://www.aam-us.org/getinvolved/emp/denver08.cfm">EMPs</a>. There will be a host of opportunities to network with professionals in the field, such as a reception at the Tattered Cover bookstore, an EMP Power Hour: Action and Opportunity and numerous other activities at this year's Career Cafe! Visit the 2008 <a class="" title="http://www.magnetmail1.net/ls.cfm?r=" sid="3058802&m=" u="Museum&s=" href="http://www.magnetmail1.net/ls.cfm?r=29074202&sid=3058802&m=383597&u=Museum&s=http://www.aam-us.org/am08">AAM Annual Meeting</a> website for more information and to register.<div class="blogger-post-footer">YMP</div>Nathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14300496617869271831noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36200988.post-26641220570737499902007-11-21T09:39:00.000-07:002007-11-21T09:40:41.183-07:00Switching from Classroom to Museum EducationJason and Courtney, I was reading your profile and noticed you both had classroom teaching experience before getting into the museum field. I am a 4th grade teacher right now and thinking about making a transition into this field (still doing a lot of reading and researching at this point!).I was wondering if either of you two (or anyone else out there who has similar experiences) would be willing to email me and answer some questions I have. If you could find the time to do that, it would be greatly appreciated.Thanks so much!<br /><br />Clay<br />clay.dunker@gmail.com<div class="blogger-post-footer">YMP</div>Nathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14300496617869271831noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36200988.post-51031785487411552462007-11-09T12:25:00.000-07:002007-11-09T12:53:09.490-07:00The Dust has SettledPlease excuse my absence from the blogging scene, life got busy (not like yours doesn't as well). Following the Association of Midwest Museum's conference I prepared to get married (which I did) and I went on a honeymoon (Ireland). Now that I've been back in the office for almost a week and the dust for the most has settled from my desk, I thought I'd check in with the virtual community I belong to. <br /><br />This year's Association of Midwest Museum Conference was held at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan. Enriching, as always I'd like to take a moment to recap a session I co-presented called "Speaking of Leadership." The session was designed as an informal discussion between young museum professionals and established leaders in the museum field. We had just over 20 participants (which I thought was very successful considering we presented after the last keynote on Friday morning). From all the discussion I found a few things to be most interesting.<br /><br />When young professionals asked what museums were looking for in staff; the answer was simple and clear – passion and interpersonal skills – I have to admit I was a little surprised by the answer. I was ready for "a masters degree." As the discussion continued many of the leaders established the point – without passion and interpersonal skills and degree means nothing. I agree but a part of me didn't, haven't we been taught to continue our educations until we are overqualified for every entry position available? –Yes...Then why is it that every job posting seems to require a masters? The point was made that practical experience is far more valuable than academic (not to say that is not important because naturally it is).<br /><br />The session also covered "Passing the Torch," who is actively engaged in succession planning? I made the point, the three other colleagues from my institution with me have over 90 years worth of experience and I have around five. Of those three all of them will be retiring in the next 10-15 years (who knows, maybe we'll all need to work forever). I find that situation to be daunting, imagine this history our older colleagues have with the institutions they've been with where does that leave us. The leaders responded saying they too felt the same way at one time and they too made mistakes. They want young professional that want to learn and not be "young bucks," who only want to abuse the power dynamics to their advantage.<br /><br />The discussion also brought to light some of the frustrations felt by young professionals, wages, benefits, and respect. Overwhelmingly the point was, “we’ll work hard, to earn your respect, please compensate us accordingly.” This could be more of the exception rather than the rule. But some made the point that they were not making enough to live, even if they were a great asset to their institutions.<br /><br />All round I found the discussion to be lively and dynamic, would any of you care to share your own perspectives or reflections on this discussion, present or not?<br /><br />With thanks,<br /><br />Erin<div class="blogger-post-footer">YMP</div>Erin Narlochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11443180718397997049noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36200988.post-65748616238673322672007-08-17T20:34:00.000-06:002007-08-17T21:03:00.444-06:00Go YMP West!Just wanted to apologize to my fellow bloggers for my prolonged absence from this website. I've spent pretty much the past two months in the process of moving across the country (including two weeks driving from the East, through the South and Southwest, and finally up to the Northwest in a 16-foot truck with my significant other, with all my worldly possessions onboard...), and am now looking forward to being the Seattle voice of YMP. ;-)<br /><br />And it's got me thinking, are there substantive geographical differences in all of our museum cultures out there? I could tell you a lot about being a museum educator in New York, in terms of what sort of qualifications and background people are looking for in a given position, what having a particular institution or school or job title on your resume might mean to someone, how my own experience and education compares to my peers, what might differ between different types of museums, what the climate and interactions are between museums, schools, government... But from the little I've heard and seen thus far of the museum community in my new home, I have a feeling the answers here might be different. Or maybe not.<br /><br />Anyone out there experienced a shift in geography that required a corresponding shift in their conception of their career community? If so, is there anything -- aside from time and networking -- that helped you adjust to your new environment?<div class="blogger-post-footer">YMP</div>Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04976956505876821828noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36200988.post-1841598836406351862007-08-05T16:40:00.000-06:002007-08-05T17:13:04.254-06:00Informational InterviewsLast week I had my two year anniversary at my current museum. It struck me how long it really takes to get comfortable in a situation. I've been there two years and in some ways I only now feel like I have some traction there. But, I also realize that I am not going to be in this position forever. So, like everyone else, I have been trying to force myself to do some networking. For me, networking is one of those things that I do because I know it's good for me and not because I enjoy it. So, I decided to begin networking with people who I just find interesting even if their careers don't follow a similar pattern as mine.<br /><br />One day as I was looking through some of the executive profiles on our museum and foundation's website, I realized how little I knew some of our managers. Interested in learning more about management and fundraising, last week I struck up a conversation with our Senior Vice President by the microwave. After chatting a bit, I asked him how he got into the museum field and how he has worked his way up the ladder. We talked for a bit longer and then he invited me to discuss it at length over lunch some time. He asked me to arrange a time with his assistant and then we'd meet one day at noon. My instincts were to say, "that's okay, I don't want to bother you," but instead I decided that I would do it. In fact, I made an appointment with him immediately because I knew I would only procrastinate doing it.<br /><br />I really didn't know what to expect from our lunch or what the heck two people who didn't really know each other would talk about for an hour. So, I decided to do a little bit of research both on my VP and how to do an "informational interview." (<a href="http://www.quintcareers.com/informational_interviewing.html">http://www.quintcareers.com/informational_interviewing.html</a>) I am glad that I did a little investigation because it helped guide the conversation and helped me decide what I wanted to know from him. In the end, I found that he was a very interesting man with a diverse array of experience--much more closely in line with what I do that what I had formally assumed. He had some great stories and perhaps the most important advice he shared was to diversify my experience and to stay open to interesting career possibilities. In the end, we spent an hour and a half at lunch and he offered to continue the dialogue in the future. So, all and all it was highly positive experience. <br /><br />I guess this made me think of some of the ongoing dialogue that I have heard here and elsewhere about the need for professional mentors. I doubt that this experience will lead to a long term mentorship, but I don't think that is necessary or important at this stage. In fact, more interactions like this might be as or more beneficial than a set mentorship. Has anyone else had an informational interview before? Was is helpful or pointless? Was there anything you or your interviewee said or did that made your experience more worthwhile?<div class="blogger-post-footer">YMP</div>Nathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14300496617869271831noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36200988.post-5946907097145403852007-08-02T08:45:00.000-06:002007-08-02T08:52:33.525-06:00Speaking of LeadershipI’m currently preparing for an AMM conference session. <br /><br />The session title and description are below:<br /><br />Speaking of Leadership: A Conversation between Museum Directors and Young Museum Professionals about Leadership Development<br /><br />Join us for an informal discussion between museum directors and young museum professionals about leadership development and tomorrow’s museum leaders.<br /><br />I’m requesting you present me with some discussion threads you’d like explored during this session.<br /><br />Also if you’re planning on attending the conference are you planning on attending this session (I hope so)?<div class="blogger-post-footer">YMP</div>Erin Narlochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11443180718397997049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36200988.post-12595476118035735212007-07-09T13:22:00.000-06:002007-07-09T13:35:06.023-06:00Job Titles and Job OpeningOur Assistant Curator of Education resigned recently to work at another art museum. We decided to change the job title after some long and careful consideration. I seem to be discovering more and more non-conventional job titles in the museum field: Director of Interpretation, Experience Manager, All Around Fun Guy. Okay....so maybe not that last one.<br /><br />We changed ours to Manager of Multimedia Interpretive Programs. We were looking for something to encapsulate the duties of the job and the original title had about 13 words in it. This is the shorter version.<br /><br />Chattanooga is a great city 3 hours from Nashville, 1.5 hours from Atlanta, and 1.5 hours from Knoxville. Let me know if you have any questions about the position, but please forward your resume to the person listed below.<br /><br />In the comments post 2 things: your job title and what it is you actually do. If we have any Directors of Fun out there then please post.<br /><br />Hassan<br /><br /><br /><div><span class="906541412-06072007"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><br /></span></span></div> <div><span class="906541412-06072007"></span> </div> <div><span class="906541412-06072007"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">The<span class="906541412-06072007"> Hunter Museum of American Art has an opening for the</span> Manager of Multimedia Interpretive Programs<span class="906541412-06072007">. This education department position will join</span> a dynamic education team and will have an important role in developing tuition-based, tour-based and family-based studio offerings for visitors of all ages. <span style=""> </span>This position is responsible for all multimedia interpretive elements of offered including video podcast projects, cell phone interpretive projects and other future web and gallery-based technologies that will be incorporated into the Hunter’s interpretive plan. This position will assist the department with school focused museum visits, weekly evening programs, and family programs.<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Individual must have experience managing a studio program and have at least 3 years professional museum experience with a background in broad based museum education. The position requires strong skills with multiple forms of technology used in the context of museum interpretation. This individual should be well versed in contemporary visitor-centric museum education practices and experience working with novice viewers. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Applications including a letter outlining skills in above areas and a professional resume along with 3 references should be sent in electronic or hard copy to:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-style: italic;"><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Adera Causey<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Curator of Education<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-style: italic;"><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Hunter</span></st1:PlaceName><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <st1:placename st="on">Museum</st1:PlaceName></span></st1:place><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> of American Art<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">10 Bluff View<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-style: italic;"><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Chattanooga</span></st1:City><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">, <st1:state st="on">TN</st1:State> <st1:postalcode st="on">37403</st1:PostalCode></span></st1:place><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Fax – 423 267-9844<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Email – <a title="mailto:acausey@huntermuseum.org" href="mailto:acausey@huntermuseum.org">acausey@huntermuseum.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-style: italic;">Applications accepted through July 31, 2007.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">YMP</div>Hassanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13704744502574935748noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36200988.post-76239448835327407202007-06-29T15:17:00.000-06:002007-06-29T15:20:23.051-06:00A Survey From AAMThe Emerging Museum Professionals Committee has designed a new survey and would like input from those of you who read the YMP blog:<br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">"Thank you for your interest in Emerging Museum Professionals at AAM! We invite you to take a few minutes to complete a </span><a class="" title="http://www.magnetmail1.net/ls.cfm?r=" sid="2375147&m=" u="Museum&s=" u="533843775855" href="http://www.magnetmail1.net/ls.cfm?r=15408800&sid=2375147&m=319830&u=Museum&s=http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=533843775855"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">brief survey</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"> to guide AAM's activities and services for emerging professionals working for and with museums. It should only take a few minutes to complete and will provide us with valuable feedback on the resources and services that you want and need. </span><a class="" title="http://www.magnetmail1.net/ls.cfm?r=" sid="2375148&m=" u="Museum&s=" u="533843775855" href="http://www.magnetmail1.net/ls.cfm?r=15408800&sid=2375148&m=319830&u=Museum&s=http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=533843775855"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Take the survey!</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"> Thanks in advance for your participation! </span><a title="http://www.magnetmail1.net/ls.cfm?r=" sid="2378239&m=" u="Museum&s=" href="http://www.magnetmail1.net/ls.cfm?r=15408800&sid=2378239&m=319830&u=Museum&s=http://www.aam-us.org/emp"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">www.aam-us.org/emp</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;">"</span><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">YMP</div>Nathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14300496617869271831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36200988.post-89838010048380849292007-06-26T06:30:00.000-06:002007-06-26T06:33:24.041-06:00Second Year ItchAs summer swings into high gear, I prepare to mark my second anniversary in my current position. <br /><br />These two years have offered me the best education I could ever imagine, experiences that allow me to grow continually, and stability in my work life. <br /><br />As of late, I’m feeling the itch to continue my education or experience some kind of change, this could stem from the fact I haven’t lived in one place for more than a year since I was a young adolescent. I love change, things in flux, and challenges. I thrive on deadlines, on stressful experiences, the new-job learning curve; I’m a glutton for it. It’s not like that doesn’t happen currently but everything feels too safe. <br /><br />Don’t get me wrong I love my job, my colleagues, and the institution I work at. I look at my colleagues and some are marking their thirtieth anniversary at the Museum – that scares the blank out of me. I know the time will come where I’ll need to move on, but I feel like if I did – I’d betray them and this place – but I understand it’s totally unrealistic for me to think I could stay here for my whole career. Maybe that reveals something about my working environment – in this unfamiliar community where I can count my friends on part of one hand– my job is my identity, I work (and I’m sure many of you do too) more than a full-time job (which I do because I value this place and what we give this community) this position has wedged its way into almost all aspects of my life. My neighbors know me, a trip to the grocery store in the scrubbiest of clothing is always met with a familiar face; anonymity I once found so comforting is gone.<br /><br />Grappling with this, I’ve looked into different graduate programs, each of them offering more questions than answers, I’ve talked with my director but I haven’t come to a solution. I don’t know what the right answer is, I’ve heard over and over that right is rarely the easy way. I just don’t know how I’d reconcile this with my high-esteemed colleagues or myself.<br /><br />Advice or similar experiences, please share.<div class="blogger-post-footer">YMP</div>Erin Narlochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11443180718397997049noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36200988.post-46266655927907898342007-06-20T07:07:00.000-06:002007-06-20T08:34:18.433-06:00Avoiding Burnout as a Young Professional<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.ilru.org/html/publications/newsletters/2002/ilnet_Mayburnedout.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 162px; height: 229px;" src="http://www.ilru.org/html/publications/newsletters/2002/ilnet_Mayburnedout.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a>As undergraduate students, and even as graduate students, we dealt with our stress by hanging out with friends, attending a school event or party, and always in the distance was the proverbial "light at the end of the tunnel". Graduation was some fixed date in the future toward which we were continuously striving. A set end-point at which point we knew that there would be some new challenge awaiting us. Unfortunately, now that we're in the "professional world" we lose that "point on the horizon" and one day can begin to look just like the next. We find that the "challenge" we actually face is trying to avoid burnout in our young, professional careers.<br /><br />I have experienced brief periods of burnout in my now 8-year-old professional career, and for me, it makes my <span style="font-style: italic;">resume </span>look a little bit like a patchwork quilt. Now, I don't regret my job hopping in the past because it led me to where I am now, a fabulous institution in my hometown doing something that I love. But even now, I need to "refocus" on those aspects of my job (and personal life) which give me the most joy and satisfaction.<br /><br />In recent months, however, I have recognized these signs of burnout in many of my young<span style="font-style: italic;">-ish</span> colleagues here at the museum. It has helped me to know that I am not alone, but I've thought a great deal about how I can help them avoid the "career quilt" that I've experienced. One place I reached out to was <a href="http://www.employer-employee.com/">http://www.employer-employee.com</a>. First, the signs....<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><blockquote><ul><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Have you lost your enthusiasm for your work? </span></li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Is your work become more than a drag but a weight that gets heavier and heavier? </span></li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Are you feeling that you no longer get satisfaction from your job, or are you questioning the value of tasks that you perform? </span></li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Are you entertaining the thought of finding a new job?</span></li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Do you no longer laugh or have fun at work?</span></li><li> <span style="font-style: italic;">Are you more irritable toward coworkers or customers?</span></li><li> <span style="font-style: italic;">Do you always see work as a chore?</span></li><li> <span style="font-style: italic;">Have you developed chronic worry about your job?</span></li><li> <span style="font-style: italic;">Do you feel lethargic and empty in your work?</span></li></ul></blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;"></span>If you answered yes to a good number of these then you, too, might be suffering from burnout. Not to fear! Finding good stress management techniques can often help alleviate these feelings of dread every time your alarm clock goes off in the morning.<br /><br />Employer-employee.com lays out some relatively simple ways to refocus yourself and to once again find your passion for the job. You can <a href="http://www.employer-employee.com/Burnout.html#Employee">visit the website</a> for a more detailed description of these solutions, but here is my own take on what has worked for me and might work for you, as well (though keep in mind, I'm a museum professional not a mental health professional):<br /><ul><li> <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Look for the positives in a challenge rather than focusing on the negatives. </span>How might this additional project dropped on your plate allow you to improve your visibility in the institution? What new opportunities will become available to you by assuming a new responsibility?</li><li> <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Have fun at work.</span> All of the important things I've learned in life I learned from the movie "City Slickers". Ok, so not really, but Jack Palance and Billy Crystal were on to something when they talked about finding that "one thing" to make your life complete. The author and philosopher Joseph Campbell frequently referred to your "bliss", or finding and following that thing about which you are most passionate. Some of us are lucky enough to find it, many more are continuously searching...and that's ok, too. But while your on that journey, there is no rule that says you can't enjoy yourself. Try to get those monotonous tasks out of the way early in the day so that you can focus on more enjoyable tasks for the rest of your day. Get out of the office and speak with a student group or a senior group visiting that day.<br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">You deserve a break today.</span> The marketing geniuses at McDonald's had it right. Take a walk through your museum's galleries to really LOOK at all of these amazing things that so many people pay to come and see. In Milwaukee, we actually had mandatory weekly "gallery walks", which were in essence a walking meditation session. We conducted one-on-one meetings this way, brainstorming sessions, you name it. It really kept us, as a staff, connected with why we took these jobs in the first place.</li><li> <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Mix it up.</span> Redecorate your office. Work out details for a flexible schedule where you can come in an hour earlier (or later) one or two days a week (or more) so that you can get some things done without the phone ringing or school groups screaming in the lobby. Though it may also sound counter-intuitive, you could also ask for some additional responsibilities or a project which you know you would enjoy.</li><li> <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Step up and take control.</span> Many times, supervisors recognize that employees may be suffering from burnout but don't know how to address it. Without going up to your boss and saying, "I'm burning out," (trust me, you won't get the response you were hoping for...I know from personal experience), try to suggest some new ways that you might be able to do your job or ask for permission to run a project for a short time to try and put your stamp on it. Own it. Who knows, maybe you'll find your "bliss".</li></ul><br />How do <span style="font-style: italic;">YOU</span> deal with stress and potential burnout? Share your suggestions by clicking on the "comments" link just below this posting.<div class="blogger-post-footer">YMP</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36200988.post-80728003565253504332007-05-30T14:58:00.000-06:002007-05-30T15:19:05.574-06:00The New Guy/Starting OutHello everyone. I wanted to introduce myself since I'm a new blogger on YMP. My name is Hassan and I work as the Manager of School and Family Programs at the Hunter Museum of American Art in Chattanooga, TN. I have been keeping up with YMP for a while and then I met Nathan and now here I am.<br /><br />For my first post I wanted to share how I came to work in the museum field. At AAM this year I encountered a number of students and new members to the museum field in general. Many of them go to AAM to learn more about the museum field, to network, scout out jobs, and gain insight into how they can break in to the field. The question I fielded the most was "how did you get your job"?<br /><br />This topic is covered greatly on the Museum-L listserv (mostly every year around graduation time) through posts and back and forth banter from museum professionals and students. What worked for me is the year-long internship/volunteer work/free labor I did for a local history museum. I worked in collections and education and recieved a very well rounded experience as a result. I recieved this valuable work experience for free. The museum recieved an extra hand for free. The point is: don't expect to get paid.<br /><br />There is also a mixture of luck involved meeting the right people; that is where conferences come in to play. I imagine that a lot of "Young Museum Professional" hopefuls also read this blog.<br />For those of already in jobs I want you to sound off in the comments if you gained your first paying museum job by <span style="font-style: italic;">what</span> you know (as far as experience in an internship or other position) or if you where hired because of <span style="font-style: italic;">who</span> you know...or was it a mixture of both (or something completely different).<div class="blogger-post-footer">YMP</div>Hassanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13704744502574935748noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36200988.post-33658421748338362572007-05-23T14:54:00.000-06:002007-05-23T15:06:09.213-06:00Time for change?Well, YMPers, I actually don't have much to talk about, but wanted to throw something out there since we haven't had a post in a while. So, what's on my mind these days is the fact that not only myself, but a whole bunch of people I know, in the museum world and beyond, are moving this spring or summer -- to new jobs, new places. And as my own Seattle search kicks into high gear (see some of the posts below for more on that), I'm just starting to see a lot of interesting job openings, with a sense that even more are coming, whereas prior to the past few weeks it seemed like things were pretty sparse. Is it all the trappings of spring -- end of the school year, spring cleaning, things in bloom -- that inspires all this change? Anyone else out there moving on to bigger, better things?<div class="blogger-post-footer">YMP</div>Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04976956505876821828noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36200988.post-65554565256544215692007-04-06T13:56:00.000-06:002007-04-06T14:02:20.826-06:00Annual Reviews and Development OpportunitiesHow structured are your annual reviews? <br /><br />I often wonder about this, this is my first museum position where these have occurred. Mine are very informal and I wonder if I’d benefit from a more structured one. <br /><br />What are your experiences with reviews? How are they structured?<br /><br />I feel like a more structured review would help in identifying potential development areas as well as creating a dialogue opportunity for goal setting and career forecasting.<br /><br />Please share your experiences.<div class="blogger-post-footer">YMP</div>Erin Narlochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11443180718397997049noreply@blogger.com6