Museum Internships
By Jason Luker, Programs Coordinator

So, let’s say you want to join the museum field and you have decided to pursue an internship. That is a fantastic decision on your part. If you want to get into the museum business, you will need to have some experience. Do not think you are going to walk into a museum interview with your fancy degrees and mounds of book learnin’ and land a full time job with benefits. Not in this day and age. A good internship will get you into the field, provide some personal training, and lead to networking opportunities that will land you that coveted “paying gig”. The following are some points that I would give to anyone looking for a museum internship.



Don't Be Scared to Try New Things!



Don’t Limit Your Choices. I believe one of the biggest hang ups for folks trying to get in the museum field is their preconceived idea of a perfect career. People will get this holy grail job in their head, like being an archivist for the Smithsonian, and make some career path for themselves wrapped around archival work only. They are limiting themselves and are missing a great opportunity. It is wonderful to have a goal and also making a plan to obtain that goal. However, it is also good to try new things and gain some diversity. This will keep resumes from being so one dimensional. Trust me, for many museums it is more impressive to have a diverse background instead of being devoted to one skill set, because most museums run on a small group of employees who are asked to do different tasks. So, if you have been studying to be an archivist, maybe try an internship as an educator. If anything, it will prove to yourself how well you can handle a room full of 4th graders. On a side note, try different types of museums. If you are a history person, maybe do an internship at a zoo. If you are an artist, maybe try an internship at a science museum. Diversify yourself a bit and you will be better off in the long run.

Research the Internship. Before you accept an internship, make sure you have a firm grasp on what will be asked of you and what to expect out of the experience. A good internship will include assigned tasks with an end project that can go on your resume. If the internship is real loose in the description, be cautious. Sometimes that leads to an internship filled with crappy assignments that the professionals don’t want to do. You can always ask the museum for more information on the overall task you will be working on. Also, be upfront on your desire to make connections in the field. Networking is the key to finding a museum job. Your internship should be able to help you in networking or at least give you a strong letter of recommendation. Remember, you are the one offering to work for free. It is the museum’s job to design your scope of work and provide networking leads.

Work Like You Mean It. Treat your internship seriously. Come in on time. Make sure you are dressed professionally. Be nice to everyone and do tasks assigned to the best of your abilities. Even offer to help out whenever you can. Don’t complain or act like a know-it-all. And for the love of all things holy, ask questions! If you do not know how to do something or if the instructions have been less than clear, be sure to ask for clarification. You will gain more respect that way. And remember, you want these people to like you, even if you are leaving their sorry butts behind.

So there are a few pointers for you. We are always looking for good interns here at the Gaston County Museum. In fact we have an opening in the education department right now. If you would like to know more about the position, please give me a call at 704-922-7681 ext. 105 or by email at Jason.luker@gastongov.com.