Synopses & Reviews
From the experienced leader or the midcareer professional hoping for a promotion to a recent grad applying for a first internship,
A Life in Museums provides every museum professional, both experts and novices, with information for reaching their career goals. Providing sound advice, practical tips, and illuminating personal stories, the editors have ensured that the book spans an array of museum disciplines, making it an extraordinarily versatile guide to the profession. Topics include personal branding and resumes, management and leadership at all levels, professional writing and keeping career journals, and navigating within your institution and knowing when it’s time to move on.
A Life in Museums has a place on the shelf of any museum professional and in the hand of any recent graduate.
Review
“A Life in Museums is destined to become the reference work of choice for museum professionals, from prospective to seasoned practitioners. This compendium of good counsel emphasizes how to recognize opportunities and handle challenges—an inspiring resource for firing up the initiative to take charge of your museum career.” Carol B. Stapp, director of the Museum Education Program, The George Washington
Synopsis
Whether you're an experienced leader, a mid-career professional hoping for a promotion, or a recent grad applying for your first internship, A Life in Museums: Managing Your Museum Career is the guide you need--full of sound advice, practical tips, and illuminating personal stories that span the array of museum disciplines. Topics range from personal branding and resume writing to managing from the middle and leadership at all levels; from professional writing to keeping a career journal; from navigating within your institution to knowing when it's time to move on. This is a book you are sure to reference--and share--for years to come.
About the Author
Greg Stevens has run the American Alliance of Museums’ Professional Development program since 2007, addressing career, management and leadership development, professional skills-building, and mentoring for the museum field.
Wendy Luke is the founder of The HR Sage and has twenty years experience working with museums solving their toughest people problems.
Table of Contents
About This Book Wendy Luke and Greg Stevens
Acknowledgements Greg Stevens and Wendy Luke
Part 1: Getting Started
1 Why Museums Work? Wendy Luke and Greg Stevens
Career Path: Making My Way to Museum Work Greg Stevens
2 Types of Jobs in Museums N. Elizabeth Schlatter
Practically Speaking: The Informational Interview Wendy Luke
3 Considering Grad School? Laura B. Roberts
Career Path: Grad School Changed My Life Phyllis Hecht
4 Back to School: Museum Studies Programs During Tough Times James Yasko
Career Path: Life Lessons, A Journey of Continuous Learning Kimberly H. McCray
5 Powering Up Your Personal Brand Greg Stevens
Practically Speaking: Take Action! Greg Stevens
Career Path: From Guard to Great Patrick McMahon
6 The Eight Networking Competencies Anne Bayber and Lynne Waymon
Practically Speaking: Networking and Relationships Greg Stevens
7 Polishing your Resumé Nik Honeysett, Katherine McNamee and Greg Stevens
Practically Speaking: Give your Resumé a Strong Start Wendy Luke
8 Do I Really Need a Cover Letter? (Yes, You Do) Wendy Luke
Practically Speaking: Sample Job Posting and Cover Letter Wendy Luke
9 Applying for Federal Jobs (or the Smithsonian) Maggie Limehouse and Erika Mack-Dillaber
10 Working in a Small Museum Janice Klein
Practically Speaking: Careers in College and University Museums Linda Downs and David Robertson
11 Acting the Interview Katherine McNamee and Greg Stevens
Practicum: STAR! Greg Stevens
Practically Speaking: Interviewing and Negotiating Nik Honeysett
12 Internships as Stepping Stones Sandra Abbott and Greg Stevens
Practically Speaking: Turning your Internship Into a Job Michael Baldarrama
13 Helping Hands: Volunteering in Museums Amy Rogers Nazarov with Greg Stevens
Practically Speaking: Why Volunteer? Wendy Luke
Career Path: Amy in Wonderland Amy Duke
Part 2: On The Job
14 From Student to Staff Member Lin Nelson-Mayson
Practically Speaking: Museum Professionals Continuum Chart Wendy Blackwell and Wendy Luke
15 The Value of 21st-Century Skills Marsha L. Semmel
Practically Speaking: Top Ten Job Skills Katherine McNamee and Greg Stevens
16 We Cant Keep Our Mouths Shut Colleen Dilenschneider
Practically Speaking: Generations at Work Wendy Luke
17 Writing Professionally, the Forgotten Skill Carol Bossert
18 Using a Career Journal to Document Achievement Elizabeth L. Maurer
Practically Speaking: Year-Round Performance Management Wendy Luke
19 Communicating With Your Boss Gary Ford
Practically Speaking: Levels of Initiative Gary Ford
20 Career Development as an Aspiring Museum Professional Joseph Gonzales and Nicole Krom
Career Path: Transferrable Skills Wendy C. Blackwell
Part 3: Managing and Leading
21 Managing from the Middle Sheteel Prajapati
Practically Speaking: Checklist for Becoming a Better Manager Sheteel Prajapati
22 Leadership at All Levels Elizabeth Peña
23 Working on a Managing Team Gary Ford and Greg Stevens
Practicum: Spider Chart Activity Gary Ford
Practically Speaking: Working on Project Teams Myriam Springuel
24 So You Want to Be a Director Someday? Diane Frankel and Linda Sweet
Career Path: Educator-Turned-Director Nathan Richie
Part 4: Career Changes
25 Navigating Within Your Institution Nik Honeysett
Practically Speaking: Intent vs. Perception on the Job Wendy Luke and Greg Stevens
26 Should I Stay or Should I Go? Claudia Ocello
Practically Speaking: The Kaizen Way to Performance Improvement Wendy Luke
27 So You (Think You) Want to Be a Consultant? Mary Case
28 Rebounding after Losing Your Job Claudia Ocello
29 Mentoring Matters Amanda Kodek and Wendy Luke
Practically Speaking: Open-Sourcing Your Mentorship Cecilia Wichmann
30 Strategizing Me: Making a Personnel Career Plan Anne Ackerson
Practically Speaking: Painted Picture Wendy Luke
Co-Editors
Contributors
Index