Museum Jobs

1) I didn't really understand how to answer this question, being as I've never had a volunteer or paying job at a museum. But I suppose that the work we've been doing in our class at the anthropology museum is a kind of volunteer work--more like field work, really--and so can be applied to the question. However, another problem arises in the fact that none of Burcaw's five ways of getting a job can be applied to field work. Therefore, by process of elimination, I suppose the first way will have to do. By signing up for this class I volunteered to work at the museum, though I don't think I'm going to get a paying job there anytime soon. At this museum job I have helped to design and reserach an exhibit, fabricate the components of the exhibit, done housekeeping duties, etc. (Et cetera being whatever else I was told to do.)

2)(This is a job I got from the American Association of Museums job board.)

Job ID: 6511067
Position Title: Associate Director for External Affairs
Company Name: Smithsonian Institution- National Museum of African American History and Culture
Job Function: Directors/Administrators
Location(s): Washington, D.C., Dist. Columbia, United States
Posted: March 20, 2010
Entry Level: No
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Duration: Indefinite

Smithsonian Institution- National Museum of African American History and Culture

Associate Director for External Affairs

The newest addition to the Smithsonian Institution, the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) is the national museum for the study and exposition of the African American experience. Interactive exhibits will guide museum visitors through a dialogue about race, foster a spirit of healing and reconciliation and help explore American identity in an increasingly global world.

The Associate Director for External Affairs is the Chief Development and Communications Officer of the NMAAHC. In other organizations this position would be the Vice President for Development, Deputy Director of External Affairs or Chief Development and Communications Officer. Reporting to the Museum Director, s/he will direct and lead all aspects of the development and public affairs activities for the museum. The Associate Director is a key member of the Museum Director's senior leadership team. This position is based in Washington, D.C. and the successful individual will lead a major capital campaign to construct a museum home on the National Mall. Construction of the NMAAHC is set to begin in 2012, and open in 2015.

To formally apply for this position, please visit the Smithsonian Institution's Office of Human Resources website, http://www.sihr.si.edu/jobs.cfm and refer to announcement # EX-10-05

Please direct all inquiries to: Andrew Smerczak-Zorza, Associate Consultant, Talent Management ajs@campbellcompany.com, (Direct) 312-896-8892, One East Wacker Drive, Suite 3350 Chicago, IL 60601. For a full position guide, see our website: www.campbellcompany.com

(I chose this add because, primarily, working at the Smithsonian would be amazing. Seriously amazing. I also chose it because I have an interest in race relations and in African diasporic cultures. If I were to apply for this job my qualifications would be as follows:

*I have a BA in anthropology (or I will at the end of this semester)
*I have extremely good public speaking skills (I went to the state competition for speech and debate when I was in high school, and was in speech and debate for two years.)
*I have computer skills and an eye for design, which will help the designing of exhibits.)