If you're frustrated with job hunting, we get it.

Whether you're deep into a museum job search, trying to leave the museum field, or pursuing something completely different, finding the motivation for job search tasks can feel like a full-time job itself.

In this episode, we're sharing the strategies we actually use (and recommend to our clients) to make job searching less overwhelming. Because when your job search motivation has disappeared, the answer isn't necessarily to push harder. Sometimes you need better systems, smaller steps, and permission to do things your own way.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why you're feeling stuck and how to find your motivation for job search activities when you're already exhausted
• Why applying to 10 jobs isn't necessarily better than applying to one that's a genuinely good fit, especially during a competitive museum job search
• Our favorite job search motivation tools, including templates, timers, trackers, organized folders, and a separate job search email
• How to measure progress beyond submitted applications, lean on your network, and take breaks without feeling guilty

If you're frustrated with job hunting because you're doing everything you think you're supposed to do and still not seeing results, this episode is for you.

Sometimes the best way to rebuild your job search motivation is to stop fighting yourself and start making the process easier.

Resources mentioned:

Re-Curate Your Career

The Daily Page by Thyme Is Honey

Episode 4: And Now We Wait... Tips for Surviving the Job Search Waiting Game

Episode 10: Stretch, Match, or Mismatch? Applying Strategically in a Tough Market

Episode 21. Why Your Resume Isn’t Working (And What to Do About It)

Episode 23. Why Your Cover Letter Isn't Working (And What to Do About It)

Keep the conversation going:

What's the part of your job search that makes you want to close your laptop and walk away? Follow Curate Your Career on Instagram and tell us.

Have a career question? Submit it to our mailbag!

Thinking about leaving museums? Work with Elin:

1:1 Career Coaching

Resume Course

Deaccessioned Community

Email Elin at ElinFilbeyCoaching@gmail.com

Looking to enter or grow in museums? Work with Alli:

1:1 Museum Career Coaching

Museum Career Resource Library

Email Alli at yourmuseumcareer@gmail.com

Thankfully, no.

In this episode, we're joined by Haydn Corrodus, a social media and digital marketing consultant who's worked with more than 300 arts and culture organizations, museums, and libraries. We're unpacking what is a personal brand, why professional visibility matters, and how to build a reputation that opens doors without feeling like you're constantly selling yourself.

Because whether you're intentionally building a personal brand or not, people already associate things with you professionally. The question is whether those associations reflect your skills, passions, and career goals.

In this episode, we cover:

• What a personal brand actually is, and why it's about more than aesthetics, followers, or becoming an influencer
• How professional visibility helps you stay top of mind for jobs, collaborations, and career opportunities
• Why emerging museum professionals don't need years of experience to share valuable perspectives
• Ways to build meaningful relationships and professional networks without feeling transactional
• How museum professionals can share their expertise consistently without chasing algorithms or posting every day

The takeaway? You don't need to reinvent yourself to become more visible. Start by sharing what you care about, the work you're doing, and the perspective you bring to the field.

Resources mentioned:

Visible on Purpose

American Alliance of Museums

Connect with Haydn Corrodus:

Website

LinkedIn

Instagram

Keep the conversation going:

Do you feel like you have a personal brand, or does the idea still make you cringe a little? Follow Curate Your Career on Instagram and tell us what you think.

Have a museum career question? Submit it for a future mailbag episode!

Explore life beyond museums with Elin:

1:1 Coaching

Resume Course

Deaccessioned Facebook Community

Build your museum career with Alli:

1:1 Coaching

Museum Career Resource Library

In this spooky season episode, we're exploring cemetery careers and the surprising opportunities available in the death care industry. As our guest Ashlynn Rickord Werner puts it, cemeteries are outdoor museums.

After applying for more than 200 museum and public history jobs, Ashlynn took a chance on a cemetery director position. That unexpected move led her from managing four historic cemeteries to working in death care technology, customer success, and cemetery tourism.

We talk about how her museum experience helped her make those transitions, where to find jobs in death care, and why your next meaningful career move might be somewhere you never thought to look.

In this episode, we cover:

• How Ashlynn went from struggling to find a full-time museum job to directing four city cemeteries, and what made her museum experience an asset in the death care industry
• The surprising variety of cemetery careers, from historic preservation and public programming to fundraising, administration, and technology
• Where to look for jobs in death care, including cemetery association job boards, individual cemetery websites, and industry vendors
• How cemetery tourism brings history to life through tours, community events, education, and creative programming
• Why the death care industry offers opportunities to use your museum skills in entirely new ways, including software implementation and customer success

Resources mentioned:

International Cemetery, Cremation & Funeral Association (ICCFA)

New England Cemetery Association

PlotBox

Connect with Ashlynn Rickord Werner:

A Grave Affair

Ashlynn’s personal website

Grave Dispatches

LinkedIn

Instagram

Keep the conversation going:

Follow @curateyourcareerpodcast on Instagram and tell us: Have you ever considered working in a cemetery, or is there another unexpected career path you'd love us to explore?

Have a museum career question you'd like us to talk through? Submit it for a future mailbag episode!

Explore life beyond museums with Elin:

1:1 Coaching

Resume Course

Deaccessioned: A Network for Former and Aspiring Ex-Museum Pros

LinkedIn

Email Elin at ElinFilbeyCoaching@gmail.com

Build your museum career with Alli:

1:1 Coaching

Resource Library

LinkedIn

Instagram

Email Alli at yourmuseumcareer@gmail.com

And if you know you want something different, how do you keep your museum job search moving when your current job is draining your energy?

In this mailbag episode, we’re answering three listener questions about career uncertainty, strategic pivots, and figuring out what comes next.

We talk about building an exit plan before you need one, exploring museum career opportunities and adjacent roles, and staying competitive for future museum jobs when your career takes you outside the traditional museum path. We also dig into museum job titles and what to do when your title doesn’t reflect the work you’re actually doing.

In this episode, we cover:

• How to build an exit strategy when your museum job feels uncertain
• Where to find adjacent museum career opportunities that make sense for your skills
• How to keep your experience relevant for future museum jobs when working in a gallery or adjacent field
• Why museum job titles matter and how to make a case for a title change
• How to protect your energy while keeping your museum job search moving in a difficult work environment

Resources mentioned:

Resume Course – Elin’s resource for identifying transferable museum skills and potential career pathways

HigherEdJobs.com - A place to search for roles in the D.C. area and beyond for those seeking alternative career options

EdSkip – A remote job board focused on education-related roles

Upwork and Fiverr – Platforms for exploring freelance and contract work

A Fool’s Errand by Lonnie G. Bunch III 

Keep the conversation going:

Follow @curateyourcareerpodcast on Instagram and tell us: What’s the biggest career decision you’re navigating right now?

Have a museum career question you’d like us to talk through? Submit it for a future mailbag episode!

Explore life beyond museums with Elin:

1:1 Coaching

Resume Course

Deaccessioned: A Network for Former and Aspiring Ex-Museum Pros

LinkedIn

Email Elin at ElinFilbeyCoaching@gmail.com

Build your museum career with Alli:

1:1 Coaching 

Resource Library

LinkedIn 

Instagram 

Email Alli at yourmuseumcareer@gmail.com

You know the organization. You know the people. They already know your work.

But that familiarity can make internal applications and interviews deceptively tricky.

It’s easy to fall into the “they already know I do that” trap, skip over important context, or assume the hiring team automatically understands why you’re ready for the next role.

In this episode, we talk about how to make the case for yourself as an internal candidate and how to help people stop seeing you only in your current role and start seeing you in the next one.

We talk about:

• Why “they already know me” can work against you
• How to build your internal growth story: who you were when you arrived, how you’ve grown, and why this next step makes sense
• How to identify your “secret sauce”. The skills, systems, processes, and responsibilities people already trust you with
• How to use institutional knowledge, relationships, and strategic priorities to your advantage
• Whether you should tell your supervisor or coworkers that you’re applying
• How to interview with people who already know you
• Why you still need to fully answer questions like “Tell me about yourself”
• What to do if you don’t get the role

One big takeaway: your coworkers may know your title and your face, but they may not know the full scope of your work, your process, your results, or your career goals.

Your job is to connect those dots for them.

And please: save the job description. Every application gets its own folder. Future You will thank you.

• What parts of the new role am I already doing?
• Where have my responsibilities expanded?
• What do people come to me for?
• What have I improved, created, or taken ownership of?
• What measurable impact can I point to?
• Why does this role make sense as my next step?

Have a museum-career question you want us to tackle in a future episode? Submit it here.

Curate Your Career
Instagram: curateyourcareerpodcast

Alli Schell | Your Museum Career Coach
For museum professionals building and growing careers within museums.
https://yourmuseumcareer.com/

Elin Filbey | Deaccessioned Career Coaching
For museum professionals exploring careers beyond museums.
https://deaccessionedcoaching.com/

If this episode made you think of someone who is already doing the next-level work without the title, send it to them.

• What to do when your new museum job isn’t the job you thought you accepted. We dissect one real job description and talk about misleading titles, “occasional” weekend work that turns out to be every weekend, and why you may need to get very specific with your supervisor about how your hours are actually supposed to be spent.
• Questions to ask before accepting your next job. What does a typical week look like? How much time is actually spent on each responsibility? How often does “occasionally” really mean? You’re interviewing the organization, too.
• How to spend a professional development budget strategically. Instead of automatically choosing the biggest or shiniest conference, start with where you want your career to go next, identify a skill gap, and ask what kind of training would actually help you close it.
• Why your professional development doesn’t necessarily have to be museum-specific. Project management software, leadership training, marketing, digital tools, database skills, and other transferable competencies can make you stronger in your current museum role and give you more options later.
• Whether LinkedIn Premium is worth it. Our answer: start by asking, worth it for what? Premium may have a useful feature for a specific moment in your job search, but paying for it does not automatically make you a more serious (or more successful) job seeker.

We also discuss avocado toast, DC dating culture, chocolate croissants, and our respective inability to eat lunch on time.

“Shia LaBeouf” Live: Rob Cantor
Yes, this is the video Elin promised to put in the show notes. It features the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles, and we will provide no additional context.

Staying in museums?
Alli Schell of Your Museum Career Coach helps museum professionals navigate job searching, career growth, application materials, interviews, and professional development.
Explore Your Museum Career Coach

Exploring careers beyond museums?
Elin Filbey of Deaccessioned Career Coaching helps museum, arts, and culture professionals translate their skills and build careers outside the field.
Explore Deaccessioned Career Coaching

Submit a question for a future episode here.

Follow @CurateYourCareerPodcast on Instagram.

Nancy Harmon went to museum studies school thinking she wanted to develop exhibitions. She interned at the Field Museum, worked on visitor research around museum apps, and later found herself experimenting with mobile technology during an internship at the Neanderthal Museum.

Then she went to a hackathon.

She couldn’t code. She didn’t have a software background. She was working retail while finishing graduate school.

She had an idea.

That idea eventually became Encurate, a museum technology company that works with museums and cultural destinations to create mobile visitor experiences.

In this episode, Nancy joins Elin and Alli to talk about:

• Her museum origin story (including a sixth-grade Ancient Egypt exhibition)
• What she learned from realizing her dream museum internship wasn’t quite what she expected
• How visitor research introduced her to museum technology
• Walking into a hackathon as the only museum person in a room full of tech and marketing people
• Building a tech company without being a software engineer
• The museum skills that turned out to be incredibly valuable in business and technology
• Why the ability to “figure it out with little to no resources” is a legitimate professional skill
• How museum work develops research, problem-solving, attention to detail, visitor experience, and communication skills
• Why leaving a traditional museum role doesn’t mean losing your museum identity
• Nancy’s work with museum studies students
• How early-career professionals can parallel plan by building museum experience and transferable skills at the same time

Nancy’s advice to emerging museum professionals is simple: stay curious, meet people outside your immediate field, learn the vocabulary other industries use, and go to the thing.

Museum people may use different language, but many of the underlying skills are the same.

And maybe most importantly: pursuing museums doesn’t require making museums your only possible future.

You have options. You already have skills. You may just need to learn where else they can take you.

After landing her childhood “dream job” as a children’s librarian, Alison eventually realized she had reached a career ceiling much earlier than expected. She shares how that realization, combined with difficult schedules, limited advancement opportunities, and growing resentment toward her work, eventually led her to make the leap from libraries into copy editing—and later, career coaching.

Together, Alison, Elin, and Alli dig into:

• why reaching your “dream job” doesn't necessarily mean you've found your forever career
• the similarities between museum and library work, from low pay and limited advancement to being asked to do a lot with very few resources
• what “vocational awe” looks like in libraries and why museum professionals may recognize it immediately
• the skills librarians often underestimate, including research, understanding user needs, communication, programming, and cross-functional work
• why translating your experience starts with understanding where you want to go, not simply rewriting everything you've ever done
• how to “connect the dots” between your experience and what a new employer actually needs
• why there isn't one magical list of jobs librarians, or museum professionals, can transition into
• what museum professionals should consider before assuming libraries are the escape hatch from the museum field
• why identifying the point where your job search is breaking down can help you figure out what actually needs fixing
  

Plus, Alison joins us for a rapid-fire round covering resume mistakes, LinkedIn, networking, interview prep, feeling stuck in the job search, and the career-management hill she'll die on:

You have to own your career. Your employer isn't going to do it for you.

Mentioned in this episode

King Career Services & Leaping Librarians – Job Search Pro
https://kingcareerservices.com/

Alison helps librarians take the next leap in their careers—whether that's advancing or moving within libraries or making the leap into something entirely new.

Vocational Awe and Librarianship: The Lies We Tell Ourselves – In the Library with the Lead Pipe
https://www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/2018/vocational-awe/

Alison recommends Fobazi Ettarh's essay on “vocational awe,” which explores what happens when libraries are treated as inherently good or sacred institutions—and how that framing can contribute to burnout, being under compensation, and unhealthy expectations for the people who work within them.

In this episode, we talk through what to do when a posted salary range turns into an offer at the very bottom, how early-career museum workers can think about financial stability, and how students can approach internship outreach more strategically.

We also end with a recap from the Midwest Museums Association conference, including why smaller conferences can feel more manageable, how regional conferences can be great networking spaces, and why museum vendors can be an overlooked source of museum-adjacent job opportunities.

If you’ve ever wondered whether a salary range is real, how to make museum work more financially sustainable, or how to reach out for internships without sending your resume into the void, this episode is for you.

Elin and I are taking a short summer break, so we’re bringing back a few episodes that feel especially useful as we head into late summer and the post-Labor Day job search push.

And if your job search feels especially quiet right now? You’re probably not imagining it.

July and August are often one of the slower times of year for hiring. People go on vacation, museums are busy with summer programming and application processes stretch out. You’re left refreshing your inbox wondering, Should I follow up again? Should I keep applying? Is this normal? What am I supposed to be doing while I wait?

That’s why we’re revisiting And Now We Wait..., an episode all about navigating the frustrating in-between periods of a job search.

Because while you can’t control how quickly an organization moves, whether someone responds to your email, or when the next opportunity gets posted, there are still things you can do to keep your job search moving forward.

In this episode, we talk about:

• why hiring processes can take so long—and why the silence isn’t necessarily about you
• when you should follow up during an interview process
• why you shouldn’t stop applying just because one opportunity feels promising
• how to use the waiting period to prepare for potential next-round interviews
• ways to organize and refine your job search systems
• why keeping a workplace diary can make future resumes and interviews much easier
• how to reconnect with and expand your professional network
• how to identify skills you may want to intentionally build
• ways to use courses, volunteering, shadowing, projects, and other opportunities to fill experience gaps
• how slower periods can give you space to strengthen your professional visibility and explore new ideas
• and why sometimes the most productive thing you can do is give yourself permission to rest
  

The waiting game is one of the hardest parts of searching for a job, especially when so much of the process is outside of your control.

If August has you hearing crickets, use this episode as an opportunity to reset. Instead of asking, “Why isn’t anything happening?” consider asking: “What’s one thing I can do now that will make me more prepared when things start moving again?”

Elin and I are taking a short summer break, so we’re bringing back a few episodes that feel especially useful as we head into late summer and the post-Labor Day job search push.

This week, we’re revisiting our episode on one of the biggest questions museum job seekers face: Should I actually apply for this job?

It’s easy to look at a job description, recognize a few responsibilities, and think, “I could do that.” But knowing how to do something isn’t necessarily the same as having done it at the level, scope, or responsibility the organization is looking for.

That’s where our Stretch, Match, or Mismatch framework comes in.

In this episode, we talk about how to look beyond job titles and percentages of qualifications to more honestly assess where your experience aligns, where you might be ready to stretch, and when a role may be better treated as a future goal.

This episode focuses on:

• how to recognize your strongest-match or “anchor” applications
• what makes a role a strategic stretch versus a mismatch
• why years of experience can signal scope and responsibility, not just time
• the difference between participating in, assisting with, and owning work
• how to assess your level of responsibility and autonomy
• why job titles don’t always reflect the work you’ve actually done
• how to identify skill and experience gaps you can intentionally build
• why both overselling and underselling your experience can hurt your job search
• and why applying more strategically can be more effective than simply applying to more jobs
  

Not every job you could apply for deserves the same amount of your time and energy. If you’re getting ready for the fall job search season, this is a great episode to revisit before you start hitting “apply.”

Alli and I are taking a short summer break, so we’re bringing back a few episodes that feel especially useful as we head into late summer and the post-Labor Day job search push.

This week, we’re revisiting our episode on cover letters.

Love them or hate them, cover letters can be one of the most helpful places to connect the dots between your experience and the role you want next... especially if you’re applying outside museums, changing lanes, or trying to explain work that doesn’t fit neatly into one job title.

In this episode, we talk about what cover letters are actually for, how they differ from resumes, and why a strong cover letter should not just repeat everything in your resume in paragraph form.

We cover:

• why cover letters still matter
• what a cover letter can do that a resume cannot
• how to explain why you want this role and this organization
• how to connect your experience to the job description
• how to avoid generic or overly formal language
• how to write about transferable skills
• what to include when you’re changing fields or job families
• and how to make the whole thing feel a little less painful

If you’re refreshing your application materials before the fall job search season, this is a great episode to revisit.

Alli and I are taking a short summer break, so we’re bringing back a few episodes that feel especially useful as we head into late summer and the post-Labor Day job search push.

This one is all about resumes... because before you start applying to everything, it’s worth asking whether your resume is actually doing its job.

In this episode, we talk about why museum resumes often don’t land the way people hope, especially when applying outside the field or trying to communicate complex experience clearly.

We cover:

• why your resume is not your full life story
• the difference between a resume and a CV
• why formatting matters more than you think
• how to write for the person actually reading your resume
• why museum jargon can get in the way
• how to focus on outcomes instead of tasks
• why tailoring matters
• and how to make your experience easier for a hiring manager to understand

If you’re planning to refresh your materials, get back into the market, or apply more intentionally this fall, this is a great episode to revisit.

Now... what actually happens once the interview begins?

In Part 2 of this interview series, Elin Filbey and Alli Schell walk through what actually happens during the interview process, from the initial screening call to panel interviews, presentations, final-round conversations, and everything in between.

Interviews are more than just having the perfect answers, it's also knowing how to tell your stories with confidence and remembering that you're evaluating the organization just as much as they're evaluating you.

Throughout the conversation, Elin and Alli discuss:

• what to expect during first, second, and final-round interviews
• who you'll likely meet throughout the hiring process, and what each person is looking for
• strategies for navigating panel interviews with confidence
• why employers care just as much about your thought process as your final answer
• interview presentations, projects, and how to think about unpaid interview work
• thoughtful questions to ask that reveal an organization's culture
• interview red flags and what they might tell you about the workplace
• how to follow up professionally after an interview
• whether you should ask for feedback after a rejection and when it may or may not be worth it

Whether this is your very first interview or your fiftieth, understanding how the interview process works can help you walk in feeling more prepared, less overwhelmed, and better equipped to show why you're the right person for the role.

And perhaps just as importantly, it can help you decide whether the organization is the right fit for you.

#MuseumCareers #MuseumJobs #MuseumProfessionals #CareerDevelopment #InterviewTips #JobSearch #MuseumLeadership #CurateYourCareer #MuseumStudies #CareerCoaching

Now what?

In this episode, Elin and Alli kick off a new series on interviews, starting with everything that happens before you ever enter the Zoom room or walk into the building: the preparation.

Because interview prep is not about memorizing perfect answers. It’s about understanding the role, researching the organization, knowing what stories you want to tell, and walking in with more confidence and less panic.

We talk about:

• what to ask when you get the interview invitation
• how to prep differently for first round, final round, Zoom, and in-person interviews
• why interviews are not pop quizzes
• what you can and cannot control
• how to research the organization
• why the job posting is your answer key
• how to anticipate likely interview questions
• why notes are allowed
• what to do if you ramble, freeze, fidget, or over-explain
• and how to build a pre-interview confidence ritual

We also get into the reminder that you are interviewing the organization too.

Yes, you want the job. But you also deserve to know whether the role, team, culture, and organization are actually a good fit for you.

If interviews make you nervous, this episode will help you feel more grounded, prepared, and ready to show them why you.

In the previous episode, we talked about how to identify and define your leadership experience, especially if you don’t have a formal leadership title yet.

In this episode, we’re getting practical.

Once you know where you are and where you want to go, how do you actually build the leadership skills you need?

Because here’s the thing: leadership experience does not always arrive neatly packaged in a promotion, title change, or direct report.

Sometimes you have to create the opportunity yourself.

Elin and Alli talk through concrete ways museum professionals can start building leadership experience, whether you’re an emerging leader, hoping to move into management, advocating for a raise or title change, or trying to strengthen your resume for the next step.

They also talk about why it is okay to be a little selfish about your professional growth.

Museum professionals are often deeply mission-driven, generous, and very good at over-functioning for the good of the organization. But your growth matters too. If you need a skill for the next role you want, it is okay to look for ways to build it. If your current job is not giving you the challenge or experience you need, it is okay to create opportunities elsewhere. And if something benefits both you and the organization? Great.

But you do not have to pretend your own career goals are irrelevant.

Key Takeaways

• Leadership experience is not limited to managing direct reports.
• Projects, committees, task forces, boards, and working groups can all help build leadership skills.
• You need to know where you are and where you want to go before you can build the right experience.
• It is okay to create opportunities for yourself instead of waiting for your organization to hand them to you.
• Strategic volunteering can help you build skills, relationships, and context.
• Your museum is not the only place where you can gain leadership experience.
• If your current role is not challenging you, look for ways to create your own “extra credit.”
• You are allowed to pursue opportunities because they benefit your career.
• In a field that often rewards self-sacrifice, looking out for yourself is not selfish. It is necessary.

Chapters

00:00 Picking up from the last leadership episode
01:20 What does successful leadership look like?
03:30 Leaders who support, explain, and model the work
05:20 Advocating for people and helping them grow
06:30 How to start building leadership experience
07:30 Know where you are and where you want to go
08:55 Leading projects from start to finish
11:25 Creating opportunities for yourself
13:25 Joining or leading committees
15:00 Professional associations, networks, and peer groups
16:00 Why it’s okay to be strategic about your own growth
18:00 Getting involved outside your organization
19:20 Boards, nonprofits, and volunteer leadership
20:30 Using outside opportunities to support career pivots
21:30 Working groups, task forces, and focused leadership experience
22:15 Building management skills outside the museum field

Keywords

museum leadership
museum careers
emerging leaders
leadership skills
museum professionals
career development
museum management
professional development
nonprofit leadership
museum career growth
leadership experience
career advancement
museum jobs
transferable skills
Curate Your Career

In museums, many professionals are already leading long before their job title reflects it. You might be managing projects, mentoring colleagues, solving problems across departments, influencing decisions, or becoming the person everyone turns to when something goes wrong.

In Part 1 of this two-part series, Elin Filbey and Alli Schell explore what leadership actually looks like in museums and why so many professionals underestimate the leadership experience they already have.

Together, they discuss:

• why leadership and management aren't the same thing
• how to recognize when you're already operating at a leadership level
• the different levels of responsibility that exist throughout museum careers
• why job titles often fail to capture the complexity of museum work
• how small museum professionals build leadership experience in unique ways
• the many forms leadership can take beyond supervising staff
  

They also break down different types of leadership, including:

• strategic leadership
• budget and financial leadership
• project leadership
• people leadership
• institutional leadership
• thought leadership
  

Whether you're hoping to become a manager, preparing for senior leadership, or simply wondering if you're ready for your next career move, this episode will help you start looking at your experience through a different lens.

Part 2 will focus on how to intentionally build leadership skills and communicate them effectively on your resume, LinkedIn profile, cover letter, and during interviews.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Leadership is about more than supervising people or having a management title.
• Many museum professionals are already demonstrating leadership without realizing it.
• Your job title doesn't always reflect your actual responsibilities.
• Leadership can include strategic thinking, budgeting, project management, mentoring, institutional planning, and thought leadership.
• Small museums often provide opportunities to develop broad leadership experience earlier in your career.
• Understanding your leadership experience is the first step toward communicating it effectively.
• Before you can convince hiring managers you're ready to lead, you first have to recognize the leadership skills you already have.

⏱ Chapters

00:00 Escape rooms, cooking & museum trivia
02:20 Introduction: Are you already leading?
05:45 Leadership vs. management
10:00 Signs you're already operating as a leader
16:00 Levels of responsibility in museum careers
28:00 Small museums and leadership experience
34:00 Strategic leadership
40:00 Budget and financial leadership
43:30 Project leadership
48:00 People leadership vs. management
54:00 Institutional leadership
56:00 Thought leadership
59:30 Why this became a two-part series
1:00:30 Preview of Part 2

🔍 Keywords

museum leadership
museum management
museum careers
museum professionals
museum career development
leadership skills
museum managers
museum career growth
museum job search
museum resumes
museum leadership development
professional development museums
museum career coaching
career advancement
leadership in museums

In this special episode of Curate Your Career, Alli turns the microphone on co-host Elin Filbey to explore the story behind Deaccessioned Coaching, the ONLY coaching business dedicated specifically to helping museum professionals navigate careers beyond museums!

They discuss what led Elin to leave the field herself, how she built a business helping others through the same transition, and why leaving museums doesn't have to mean leaving behind the passion, skills, or identity you've built over the years.

Whether you're actively considering a career change, feeling unsure about your next step, or simply curious about what other opportunities might exist, this conversation offers practical advice, reassurance, and a reminder that your career can evolve as your life and values evolve.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• Why Elin started Deaccessioned Coaching after leaving museum work herself
• The common reasons museum professionals begin considering careers outside the field
• How values, not just salary or burnout, often drive career transitions
• The transferable skills museum professionals bring to other industries
• Building confidence during a career change
• Why leaving museums doesn't mean you've failed
• The surprising careers former museum professionals have gone on to pursue
• How to stay connected to museums even if you leave professionally
• The idea of finding your own "Tuscan villa" and defining success on your own terms
  

If you've ever wondered what comes next after museums, or simply needed permission to imagine a different path, this episode is for you.

Learn more about Elin Filbey and Deaccessioned Coaching:
https://deaccessionedcoaching.com

Connect with Elin on LinkedIn for career transition tips, transferable skills advice, and museum-friendly job opportunities.

Fresh off the American Alliance of Museums Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, Elin and Alli are reflecting on their biggest takeaways. It's not from the sessions, but from the conversations, connections, and unexpected moments that happened in between.

In this informal recap episode, they discuss what it was like attending AAM as independent museum professionals, how networking feels different when you're no longer representing an institution, and why some of the most valuable conference experiences happen outside the convention center.

Elin shares her strategy of walking the expo hall and talking directly with vendors to uncover career opportunities for museum professionals. Along the way, she discovered hiring trends, museum-adjacent industries looking for talent, and new possibilities for professionals interested in staying connected to the field in different ways.

Alli reflects on the power of peer-to-peer networking, reconnecting with colleagues, and finding inspiration through conversations with other independent museum professionals. Together, they explore how conferences can create meaningful opportunities for collaboration, problem-solving, and professional growth.

The conversation also covers:

• How to approach networking when you don't know anyone
• Why smaller gatherings can sometimes be more valuable than large networking events
• The importance of planning for rest and recharging during conferences
• How to follow up after a conference so those connections don't disappear
• The value of attending conferences outside your immediate field
• Emerging ideas for building community beyond annual conferences

Plus, Elin and Alli introduce an early concept they're exploring: Curate Your Community, a potential initiative focused on creating more opportunities for museum professionals to connect in person throughout the year, not just at conferences.

Whether you attended AAM this year, are considering a conference in the future, or simply want to build stronger professional connections, this episode offers practical advice and honest reflections on what makes these gatherings meaningful.

In This Episode

• Elin's "conference floor hustle" and what she learned from museum vendors
• Museum-adjacent industries hiring right now
• The surprising value of informal networking
• Why knowing your personality matters when planning conference experiences
• Post-conference follow-up strategies that actually work
• The role of community in sustaining museum careers
• Early thoughts on Curate Your Community

Mentioned in This Episode

• American Alliance of Museums (AAM)
• Museum Archipelago
• American Association for State and Local History (AASLH)
• Science History Institute
• African American Museum in Philadelphia
• Museum Workers Advocacy Day
• Curate Your Community (in development)

We'd Love to Hear From You

Did you attend AAM? What was your biggest takeaway?

And what do you think about the idea of Curate Your Community? We'd love to hear your thoughts, feedback, and ideas as we continue exploring what meaningful connection and community could look like for museum professionals.

He applied for museum jobs. He followed up. He networked. He hired a resume writer. He earned a master's degree. He volunteered.

And still...nothing.

In this episode, we sit down with Will Turner, a former high school history teacher who spent two years trying to break into museums before finally landing his current role as Curator of Education at the Museum of Florida History.

But this conversation isn't just about a successful career transition.

It's about what happens when you're qualified, motivated, and doing the work... but your applications still aren't landing.

Will shares the realities of transitioning from education into museums, including:

• why his teaching resume wasn't working
• the biggest misconceptions he had about museum hiring
• how volunteering and relationship-building opened doors
• the role networking actually played in his transition
• why generic resume advice often falls short
• how interview preparation became the missing piece
• and what finally helped him stand out in a crowded applicant pool

We also discuss the emotional side of career transitions: rejection, confidence, geographic flexibility, and learning how to tell a compelling story about your experience.

If you've ever thought:

"I know I have the skills. Why isn't this working?"

This episode is for you.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Museum hiring often requires translating your experience into museum-specific language.
• A strong resume alone isn't always enough, interview preparation matters too.
• Volunteering can be a powerful way to gain experience and build relationships within the field.
• Networking works best when it happens through genuine involvement in the community.
• Teachers often underestimate how many leadership and project management skills they already have.
• Rejection doesn't always mean you're unqualified. Sometimes it's simply about fit, timing, or competition.
• Confidence is often built through the process, not before it.
• Breaking into museums can take longer than expected, but strategic adjustments can make a huge difference.

And we get a lot of questions about LinkedIn.

How often should you post?
Do recruiters actually find people there?
Do you need LinkedIn Premium?
Should you be networking with strangers?
And what does it actually mean to have a "personal brand"?

In this episode, Elin Filbey and Alli Schell break down what LinkedIn is really good for and what people tend to overthink.

Whether you're trying to grow your museum career, build your professional reputation, transition out of the field, or simply understand why everyone seems obsessed with LinkedIn, this episode covers the practical strategies that actually matter.

They discuss:

• why LinkedIn is less about being discovered and more about being seen
• how museum professionals use LinkedIn differently than many other industries
• networking tips that don't feel transactional or awkward
• how to make your profile stronger without spending hours updating it
• using LinkedIn as a research and job search tool
• personal branding without becoming a "thought leader"
• and why you probably don't need LinkedIn Premium

They also cover:

• profile headlines and About sections
• networking messages that actually get responses
• using LinkedIn to explore new industries
• following companies and professionals strategically
• the Featured section and portfolio content
• and why "Easy Apply" isn't always your friend

Throughout the episode, they come back to one core idea:

You don't need to become a LinkedIn influencer.

You just need a profile that tells a clear story about who you are, what you do, and where you're headed.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• LinkedIn is often more valuable as a networking and research tool than a recruiting tool for museum professionals.
• You are the curator of your own LinkedIn algorithm, engage with the content you want to see more of.
• Following people and companies strategically can improve both networking opportunities and job discovery.
• Thoughtful connection requests outperform generic networking messages.
• Personal branding doesn't require posting every day or becoming a content creator.
• Your headline and About section are opportunities to tell a story, not just list job titles.
• Museum professionals looking to leave the field should focus on translating (not hiding) their experience.
• Most people are paying far less attention to your profile changes than you think.
• LinkedIn Premium is rarely necessary.
• "Easy Apply" should be approached with caution.

⏱ Chapters

00:00 Welcome to LinkedIn Baddie School
02:00 Love it or hate it: our honest LinkedIn opinions
10:00 You are the curator of your algorithm
13:00 How museum professionals actually use LinkedIn
17:00 Networking without being weird
24:00 Informational interviews and career exploration
29:00 Personal branding without becoming an influencer
33:00 What kind of content should you post?
40:00 How to translate your profile for a career change
43:00 Headlines, banners, and About sections
52:00 What belongs in your experience section?
56:00 Job searching on LinkedIn
1:00:00 Why Easy Apply can be a trap

In this episode, Elin Filbey and Alli Schell tackle one of the most frustrating parts of the job application process: the cover letter.

Because despite what many job seekers hope, a cover letter isn't just a formality. In museums especially, it can be the difference between getting an interview and getting passed over.

The problem?

Most people were never actually taught how to write an effective cover letter. Instead, they rely on outdated templates, generic examples, or end up treating the cover letter like a second resume.

Throughout the conversation, Elin and Alli break down:

• why cover letters feel so overwhelming in the first place
• the biggest mistakes they see museum professionals making
• why your cover letter is not a resume in paragraph form
• how storytelling can strengthen your application
• and why hiring managers are not going to "connect the dots" for you
  

They also dive into:

• how to identify the most important themes in a job description
• why you should focus on a few strong examples instead of trying to include everything
• how to create reusable "core stories" that make future applications easier
• why your opening paragraph matters more than you think
• and how to explain career transitions and transferable skills more effectively
  

One of the biggest themes throughout the episode is the importance of answering a simple question:

Why you? Why this job?

Because the strongest cover letters don't just summarize experience. They help the hiring manager understand why you're a fit and envision you in the role. The goal is to make it obvious why you belong there.

Whether you're applying for museum jobs, fellowships, internships, or trying to transition into a new role, this episode will help you rethink your cover letter strategy and approach applications with more confidence (and hopefully fewer tears).

Chapters

00:00 Why cover letters feel so hard

01:45 What cover letters are actually supposed to do

04:00 Why museum employers still care about cover letters

07:00 Cover letter formatting and length

10:00 The mistake of treating your cover letter like a resume

12:00 Using storytelling to strengthen your application

15:00 Building reusable "core stories"

18:00 Balancing customization with application volume

20:00 Why your opening paragraph matters

22:00 Don't bury the lead

24:00 Answering "Why you? Why this job?"

28:00 Speaking directly to the job description

31:00 Connecting the dots for hiring managers

34:00 Showing impact through stories and examples

37:00 The fine line between too vague and too detailed

40:00 Cover letter alternatives and hiring trends

42:00 Internships, fellowships, and statements of interest

45:00 Final takeaways: clarity, storytelling, and alignment

Keywords

museum careers

cover letter tips

museum cover letters

museum professionals

job search strategy

museum job search

museum jobs

career transitions

transferable skills

museum internships

museum fellowships

job applications

career coaching

museum career coach

cover letter mistakes

hiring managers

storytelling in job applications

What started as a shared idea between two internet friends became a candid, funny, and deeply honest conversation about the realities of museum careers and the questions museum professionals are actually asking behind the scenes.

Using audience-submitted questions, Elin and Alli tackle topics including:

• toxic workplaces and difficult bosses
• leaving museum jobs without another role lined up
• navigating specialization vs. being a museum “generalist”
• museum grad school and higher education realities
• resume strategy and transferable skills
• job searching outside the museum field
• networking (or “fellowshipping”)
• and how to build sustainable careers in and beyond museums

They also discuss:

• the emotional realities of burnout and underemployment
• why museum professionals often undersell their skills
• the importance of hands-on experience in today’s hiring market
• and how career conversations in museums are often happening quietly behind the scenes instead of openly on conference stages

Throughout the episode, one thing becomes clear:

👉 Museum professionals are incredibly skilled, adaptable, and resourceful
👉 But many are navigating systems that make career growth and sustainability difficult

This live conversation creates space for honesty, nuance, and practical advice. Whether you want to stay in museums, leave museums, or simply feel less alone while figuring things out.

And yes… there are also several references to fantasy romance novels, networking awkwardness, and museum people being “emotional scapegoats for the board.”

⏱ Chapters

00:00 Live from AAM: introducing the podcast
03:00 Why we started Curate Your Career
05:00 Grad school discourse and the 3-part series
08:00 “Aching in the Archives” — feeling isolated in museum work
15:00 Transitioning from archival work into public-facing roles
16:00 Toxic bosses and leaving difficult workplaces
20:00 References, reputation, and museum world politics
24:00 Being a museum generalist vs specialist
31:00 Career advice for museum studies students
35:00 Grad school myths and “the hustle”
38:00 Leaving museums for full-time work and stability
44:00 Networking, LinkedIn, and building community
46:00 Labor organizing and transferable skills
49:00 Museum job boards and accessibility issues
54:00 Elin’s career transition story
57:00 Why these conversations matter

🔍 Keywords

museum careers
museum jobs
museum professionals
museum burnout
museum grad school
career transitions
museum networking
museum resumes
museum job search
museum career advice
AAM conference
museum studies careers
transferable skills
leaving museums

Elin Filbey and Alli Schell break down the biggest resume mistakes they see museum professionals making and why so many resumes fail before a hiring manager even seriously looks at them.

Because most of the time, it’s not that you’re unqualified.

It’s a strategy issue.
It’s a communication issue.
Or your resume simply isn’t making it easy for someone to understand why you’re a fit.

Throughout the conversation, they unpack:

• why a resume is a marketing document, not a full record of your career
• the difference between resumes and CVs
• how museum professionals often write for the wrong audience
• and why hiring managers are not going to “connect the dots” for you

They also dive into:

• tailoring resumes to specific job “lanes” instead of sending the same one everywhere
• why focusing only on tasks (instead of impact) hurts your applications
• how to better communicate scope, leadership, and responsibility
• and why so many museum professionals undersell the complexity of what they actually do

The episode also tackles one of the most common areas of confusion in today’s job market:

ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems)

Elin and Alli explain:

• why overly designed templates often backfire
• why Canva/Etsy-style resumes can create technical issues
• what actually makes a resume easy for both humans and software to read
• and why “standing out” visually is outdated advice in a digital hiring landscape

Throughout the episode, they come back to one core idea:

The goal of your resume is not to sound impressive.
It’s to make it obvious why you’re a fit for the role.

If your resume hasn’t been getting traction lately, this episode will help you step back, rethink your strategy, and understand what might actually be getting in the way.

**If you want to meet up with Elin and Alli at AAM in Philly, fill out this short form to be included in updates on where we'll be.

Chapters

00:00 Why resumes get auto-rejected
02:00 Resume myths and “standing out” advice
03:30 A resume is a marketing document
05:00 Resume vs CV: what’s the difference?
08:00 One page? Two pages? Resume length debates
13:00 Who are you actually writing for?
15:00 Tailoring for museum vs non-museum audiences
18:00 Why you need to “connect the dots”
20:00 Don’t bury the lead: highlighting relevant experience
23:00 Tasks vs impact in bullet points
28:00 Showing scope, outcomes, and responsibility
31:00 ATS systems and resume formatting mistakes
35:00 Why Canva/Etsy templates can hurt your applications
38:00 Keyword stuffing vs strategic alignment
39:00 Why generic resumes don’t work
43:00 Leadership resumes and organizing complex experience
45:00 Final takeaways: clarity, strategy, and alignment

Keywords

museum careers
museum resumes
resume tips
museum professionals
ATS resume tips
job search strategy
museum job search
career transitions
resume formatting
transferable skills
museum jobs
resume mistakes
career coaching
museum career coach

Better pay. Better work-life balance. A new career path.

But sometimes… it’s not a choice at all.

In this episode, Elin Filbey and Alli Schell talk with Sam McLaren-Fahey about what it looks like to leave museum work because life requires it, not because you want to.

Sam spent years working in museum education and nonprofit programming before transitioning into real estate. But her decision to leave the field wasn’t about career growth or dissatisfaction with the work.

It was shaped by:

• chronic illness
• physical limitations
• becoming a parent
• and needing to build a life that was actually sustainable

This conversation gets into what that looked like in real time, including navigating years of undiagnosed illness, pushing through work while her health declined, and ultimately having to make a decision she didn’t feel ready for.

They also talk about:

• the emotional impact of losing your professional identity
• what it means to grieve a career you loved
• and how museum work can stay with you—even after you leave

Sam shares what it was like to:

• move from a physically demanding museum role into more sustainable work
• navigate job loss during maternity leave
• and eventually build a new career in real estate—one that still reflects her values around education, empathy, and helping people

Throughout the conversation, one thing becomes very clear:

👉 Leaving doesn’t mean you stopped caring
👉 And it doesn’t mean that part of you is gone

It just means something in your life needed to change.

This episode is for anyone who has ever felt like they were pushed out of a career they loved or had to make a decision they weren’t ready to make.

⏱ Chapters

00:00 When leaving isn’t a choice
02:00 Sam’s background in museums and education
05:00 Early health challenges and undiagnosed illness
08:00 Working through severe physical decline
12:00 Medical gaslighting and finally getting answers
17:00 Adjusting roles and leaving museum work
20:00 Losing professional identity
25:00 Becoming a parent during a pandemic
28:00 Forced career break and mental health challenges
32:00 Finding real estate (and why it made sense)
36:00 Building a new career from scratch
41:00 Transferable museum skills in a new field
46:00 Collaboration vs competition in different industries
50:00 Money, value, and mindset shifts
55:00 What Sam still misses about museum work
58:00 Flexibility, health, and redefining success
1:00:00 Advice for people navigating similar situations

🔍 Keywords

museum careers
leaving museums
career transitions
museum professionals
chronic illness and work
nonprofit careers
career identity
working with chronic illness
museum education careers
career change stories

If I don’t go to grad school… what are my options?

In Part 3 of this series, Elin Filbey and Alli Schell break down what it actually looks like to build a museum career without relying on a graduate degree and why that path is more viable (and necessary) than the field often acknowledges.

Because while museum grad school is often presented as the “next step,” the reality is:

• it’s not the only path
• it’s not always the most effective path
• and it’s definitely not a guarantee of a job

This episode explores:

• how the museum field has shifted (but expectations haven’t kept up)
• which roles actually require degrees and which don’t
• how to use job descriptions to reverse-engineer your career path and necessary education
• and how to identify the difference between “required” vs. “preferred” qualifications

They also get candid about where the field itself needs to do better... from over-reliance on degrees to lack of training, inaccessible internships, and unrealistic hiring expectations.

Because this isn’t just an individual problem. It’s a structural one.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• There is no single path into or within museum careers even if it’s often presented that way
• A graduate degree is not a “silver bullet” and does not guarantee a job
• Many roles value hands-on experience more than degrees
• Job descriptions are your best data source. Look for patterns, not one-offs
• “Required” vs. “preferred” qualifications matter when evaluating roles
• You can build skills through targeted, lower-cost alternatives instead of full degree programs
• Transferable skills (project management, communication, collaboration) are highly valuable across roles
• If you’re investing time in learning, you need to reflect that on your resume
• The museum field still has major gaps in training, accessibility, and hiring practices
• Choosing not to go to grad school is not opting out, it’s choosing a different strategy

⏱ Chapters

00:00 Where you might be after Parts 1 & 2
02:30 The disconnect between degrees and ROI
05:00 The “grad school or nothing” mindset
08:00 How the field has shifted (but expectations haven’t)
12:00 Roles that do require degrees
15:30 Starting with job descriptions (your data set)
20:00 Identifying patterns: requirements vs preferences
24:00 Using AI, spreadsheets, or manual tracking
28:00 Certifications and targeted training programs
34:00 Webinars and free/low-cost learning
39:00 Libraries, online learning platforms, and YouTube
45:00 Transferable skills and broad skill-building
52:00 Strategic volunteering as professional development
55:00 Internships and fellowships (and their limitations)
59:00 Mentorship, networking, and informational interviews
1:03:00 Conferences, vendors, and hidden opportunities
1:06:00 Where the field needs to do better
1:12:00 Rethinking grad programs (trade school model)
1:18:00 Final reframes and decision-making

🔍 Keywords

museum careers
museum grad school alternatives
museum jobs
museum professionals
career development museums
museum education careers
transferable skills
museum job search strategy
GLAM careers
professional development
museum internships
career transitions

In Part 1, we talked about whether grad school makes sense in the first place.

In this episode, we’re assuming you are considering it and walking through how to actually evaluate programs so you can make a smart, informed decision.

Because here’s the truth:

Grad school is not just an academic decision. It’s a financial, professional, and strategic one.

And not all programs are created equal.

In this episode, we break down:

• how to approach grad school like a mutual selection process (you’re interviewing them, too)
• the questions you should be asking before committing
• how to think about ROI (beyond just “getting a job”)
• what actually matters when comparing programs
• and where a lot of museum grad programs fall short

We’re also very honest about something that doesn’t get talked about enough: Many museum grad programs are revenue generators for universities.

Which means you need to approach this as an informed consumer... asking for data, not just vibes.

This episode is here to help you slow down, ask better questions, and make a decision that actually aligns with your goals.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Grad school should be evaluated based on what you want to get out of it... not what the field says you “should” do
• You should approach programs like a two-way interview, asking clear and specific questions
• ROI matters and that includes cost, time, lost income, and realistic salary expectations
• Location can significantly impact your access to internships, networks, and job opportunities
• Online programs can work but often require you to create your own hands-on experience
• Internships are critical, but not always built into programs in a meaningful way
• Not all programs provide career support tailored to the museum field
• Alumni networks and faculty connections can be one of the most valuable parts of a program
• You are often paying for access and networks, not just coursework
• Transferable skills matter both inside and outside the museum field

⏱ Chapters

00:00 Why you need Part 1 before this
02:30 Treating grad school like an interview
04:00 What do you actually want out of a program?
07:00 Using job descriptions to guide your decision
10:00 Location, cost of living, and opportunity access
13:00 Online vs in-person programs
16:00 “Be a smart consumer”: programs as revenue generators
18:30 Time to completion + working while in school
21:00 Financial realities (tuition, scholarships, hidden costs)
24:00 Faculty connections and real-world experience
28:00 Hands-on skills vs theory
32:00 Internships: required, paid, and competitive
37:00 Job placement transparency (what to ask programs)
39:00 Career support: resumes, interviews, and beyond
40:30 Alumni networks and long-term value
42:00 Transferable skills (and why they matter more than you think)
52:00 Final thoughts + how to make your decision

🔍 Keywords

museum grad school
museum studies degree
museum careers
museum jobs
graduate school evaluation
museum professionals
career development museums
museum internships
arts careers
GLAM careers
museum education
career strategy

And the honest answer is… it’s complicated.

In this first episode of a three-part series, Elin Filbey and Alli Schell break down what actually goes into that decision... beyond the default advice to “just get the degree.”

Drawing from their own experiences (both GW grads), insights from the Museum Pros subreddit, LinkedIn conversations, and years of working with clients, they unpack:

• why this question is so emotionally loaded
• what museum grad school can offer (and what it can’t)
• the reality of salaries, competition, and job markets
• how much of grad school is really about access and networks
• where programs often fall short (hint: career prep and real-world skills)
• and the biggest question you should be asking yourself before applying

They also talk candidly about:

• the pressure to “do the right thing”
• the financial reality (and tradeoffs) of grad school
• and why a master’s degree does not guarantee a job

This episode isn’t here to tell you yes or no.

It’s here to help you make a smarter, more informed decision.

👉 Part 2 will cover how to evaluate grad programs
👉 Part 3 will explore alternatives to grad school

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Museum grad school is often presented as the default path but the reality is far more complex
• A degree does not guarantee a job, especially in a competitive, low-salary field
• What you’re really paying for is often access, networks, and opportunities, not just knowledge
• Many programs are too theoretical and don’t adequately prepare students for the job market
• Hands-on experience (internships, projects, portfolios) is critical early in your career, when pivoting, or when trying to move up in the field
• The financial ROI of grad school is often unclear or limited
• Your location and target job market can influence whether a degree is necessary
• The most important question isn’t “Should I go?”
  → It’s: “What am I trying to get out of this?”

⏱ Chapters

00:00 DC food nostalgia + intro
06:40 Why this became a 3-part series
08:00 Why “Should I go to grad school?” is everywhere
10:30 Why this question is so complicated
14:00 The reality of museum jobs (salary, competition, structure)
17:00 What grad school doesn’t prepare you for
18:30 Alli’s experience: expectations vs reality
22:30 Elin’s path to grad school
29:00 Alli’s path + pressure to pursue a master’s
33:30 What you actually get from grad school
36:00 The power of networks + “GW mafia”
40:00 Hands-on skills vs theory
44:00 When grad school is necessary (specific roles)
48:00 Where programs fall short
52:00 Real-world skills you actually need
54:30 Financial reality + ROI
59:00 Location, access, and strategy
1:01:00 The question you should actually be asking
1:02:30 Preview of Part 2

🔍 Keywords

museum grad school
museum studies degree
museum careers
museum jobs
should I go to grad school
museum professionals
career transitions museums
museum education careers
graduate school decision
arts careers
GLAM careers
museum job market

The way you calm a frustrated visitor, hold space for a volunteer going through a hard time, how you navigate conflict, or carry the emotional weight of your community.

It’s the work beneath the work.

In this episode of Curate Your Career, Alli Schell and Elin Filbey sit down with Ashley Witherspoon, licensed clinical social worker and founder of Handmade Dreams, LLC to talk about invisible, emotional labor and why museum work is far more complex than what we measure.

Ashley shares how her background in healthcare led her into museums, what she sees as the biggest gaps in support for museum workers, and how we can begin to name, track, and advocate for the full scope of what this work actually requires.

Together, they unpack:

• what emotional and invisible labor actually look like in museum roles
• why so much of this work goes unrecognized (and unsupported)
• how burnout in museums mirrors what we see in healthcare
• the gaps in training, onboarding, and workplace preparation
• how museum workers can start documenting and advocating for this labor
• and what it means to rethink “worth” beyond metrics and productivity
  

If you’ve ever felt like the hardest parts of your job are the ones no one sees, this episode will put language to that experience and give you a place to start.

Learn more about Ashley's new initiative, MuseMind!

Key Takeaways

• Emotional and invisible labor are core parts of museum work, not “extra” tasks
• The most impactful work museum professionals do often isn’t reflected in metrics
• Burnout isn’t just about workload. it’s about unrecognized and unsupported labor
• Museums tend to operate reactively instead of proactively when it comes to staff wellbeing
• Training is a major gap across the field
• You can begin advocating for yourself by documenting the labor that happens “below the waterline”
• Worth is not something you earn through productivity, it’s something you already have
• Small shifts (like naming this work in meetings or reviews) can lead to larger systemic change
• Rest, boundaries, and recovery time are not luxuries, they’re necessary for sustainability
• Museum workers are deeply embedded in their communities and carry that impact both inside and outside of work

Chapters

00:00 The Talk That Sparked This Episode
03:00 Ashley’s Path from Healthcare to Museums
08:00 Museums as Spaces for Connection + Care
13:00 Defining Emotional and Invisible Labor
18:00 The Iceberg: What’s Above vs. Below the Surface
24:00 Burnout, Turnover, and Lack of Support
30:00 Why Museums Are Always “Chasing Fires”
36:00 Training Gaps and Frontline Staff Realities
42:00 Making Invisible Labor Visible (and Measurable)
48:00 Rethinking Worth Beyond Metrics
55:00 Stop, Start, Continue: Practical Strategies
1:02:00 Rest, Boundaries, and Recovery Time
1:07:00 What Museums Can Learn from Healthcare
1:12:00 Ashley’s Work + Museum Wellness Guide

Keywords

museum careers
museum professionals
emotional labor
invisible labor
museum burnout
museum workplace culture
museum jobs
career sustainability
museum leadership
workplace wellbeing
museum training gaps
museum advocacy
museum workforce

What if you could keep working with objects… just not in a museum?

In this episode of Curate Your Career, Elin Filbey and Alli Schell sit down with Ryan Jelso, a former curator at The Henry Ford, who pivoted into estate services, appraisal, and personal collections work.

Ryan shares what it actually looked like to leave a respected curatorial role, navigate the identity shift, and build a new career that still centers material culture, just in a completely different context.

Together, they unpack:

• what museum professionals often misunderstand about their own skills
• how working with “the stuff” translates outside institutional settings
• what it takes to break into estate services and appraisal work
• and why this field is poised for major growth in the coming decades

They also talk honestly about what it means to leave a “dream job,” the grief that can come with that decision, and how to recognize when something isn’t the right fit anymore.

If you’ve ever thought, “I love working with objects, but I’m not sure museums are sustainable for me long-term,” this episode will open your eyes to a path you may not have considered.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Museum skills like research, object interpretation, and inventory management are highly transferable outside the field
• You don’t have to leave the work you love. Sometimes you just change the context
• Identity is one of the hardest parts of leaving museum work
• Waiting too long to explore other options can lead to burnout and loss of confidence
• Estate services, appraisal, and secondhand markets are growing industries due to generational wealth transfer
• Networking doesn’t have to be complicated. In-person connection and follow-up matter
• Museum professionals often undervalue their ability to see the bigger picture and connect multiple stakeholders
• You can still be a steward of history and material culture outside a museum setting

⏱ Chapters

00:00 The LinkedIn Post That Sparked This Episode
03:00 Ryan’s Museum Career at The Henry Ford
10:00 What He Loved About Curatorial Work
13:00 When Discontent Started Creeping In
18:00 Identity, Grief, and Leaving a “Dream Job”
24:00 Realizing a Mismatch in Work Style
29:00 Discovering Estate Services & Reselling
32:00 How He Actually Made the Pivot
36:00 Transferable Skills That Mattered Most
42:00 Finding Meaning in a New Role
46:00 Money, Growth, and Career Ceiling in Museums
50:00 Advice for Leaving (Before You Hit Burnout)
57:00 Do You Miss Museums? Would You Go Back?
1:00:00 How to Explore This Career Path

🔍 Keywords

museum careers
museum professionals
career transitions
museum jobs
estate services
appraisal careers
transferable skills
leaving museums
alternative careers museums
working with objects
career pivot
material culture

They unpack the nuance behind “Am I qualified enough?”, especially for those with transferable skills and dive into the realities of freelancing and consulting in museums. The conversation also tackles one of the most common frustrations in the field: work-life balance. Finally, they break down what’s really happening in final-round interviews when you're not landing the offer.

Whether you’re trying to level up, pivot into museums, explore independent work, or finally land the role you keep getting close to, this episode is for you.

Ask a Mailbag Question:
https://forms.gle/m41nnxPS4TKXQ1i89

Takeaways

• Understanding the difference between early and mid-career roles can shape your job search strategy
• Transferable skills need to be clearly translated to connect the dots for hiring managers
• Freelancing and consulting requires market awareness
• Work-life balance is often a top need of workers in the field
• Framing workplace challenges in terms of organizational impact can drive change
• Final-round interviews often come down to storytelling, clarity, and fit
• Knowing your “why” helps differentiate you from equally qualified candidates
• Aligning with an organization’s values and culture is critical in hiring decisions
• Soft skills (communication, storytelling, presence) are key to interview success
• Feedback, reflection, and practice are essential for growth in the job search

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Mailbag Overview
03:30 Early vs. Mid-Career: Where Do I Fit?
10:45 Transferable Skills & “Translation Work”
20:15 Freelancing & Consulting in Museums
32:10 Work-Life Balance & Weekend Burnout
42:30 Final Round Interviews: What’s Missing?
52:00 Building Skills & Standing Out

Keywords:
museum careers, museum professionals, career transitions, transferable skills, museum jobs, freelancing, consulting, work-life balance, interview tips, job search strategy, museum education, professional development, networking, career coaching

For a long time, advocacy in the museum field has focused on institutions (funding, preservation, and public programs). But what about the people doing the work?

In this episode of Curate Your Career, Elin Filbey and Alli Schell are joined by members of the National Emerging Museum Professionals Network (NEMPN) board to talk about Museum Workers Advocacy Day (MWAD) and the growing movement to center museum workers in conversations about the future of the field.

Together, they explore how NEMPN evolved from a community-focused network into an advocacy-driven organization, why Museum Workers Advocacy Day was created in response to barriers in traditional advocacy spaces, and what it looks like to advocate for fair pay, equitable hiring practices, and sustainable careers in museums.

They also break down a powerful idea: advocacy isn’t just something directors or institutions do. It’s something museum workers are already doing every day.

If you’ve ever felt frustrated by the structure of museum work or wondered how to create change without burning yourself out, this episode is for you.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• What the National Emerging Museum Professionals Network (NEMPN) is and who it serves
• The shift toward advocacy in 2022 and the 2023 strategic plan
• Why Museum Workers Advocacy Day was created and how it’s different from traditional advocacy efforts
• Key issues facing museum workers today (fair pay, unpaid internships, burnout, access to the field)
• Why emerging professionals are often closest to the future of the field
• How advocacy shows up in everyday museum work
• Practical ways to get involved in advocacy, locally and nationally
• Why “you don’t have to do everything” when it comes to advocacy

Key Takeaways

• Advocacy in museums has historically centered institutions but museum workers themselves need representation too
• Museum Workers Advocacy Day was created to remove barriers and make advocacy accessible, free, and inclusive
• Issues like low pay, unpaid internships, and burnout continue to impact the sustainability of museum careers
• Emerging professionals bring fresh perspectives, current knowledge, and direct audience experience that are critical to the field’s future
• Advocacy doesn’t have to be big — it can start with asking better questions, building relationships, and making small changes
• You don’t have to do everything. Advocacy is not all-or-nothing
• Building a more equitable museum field requires collective action, not individual sacrifice

Chapters

00:00 Why Advocacy Feels Out of Reach for Museum Workers
03:00 What is NEMPN? Origins and Evolution
08:30 Who Counts as an “Emerging Museum Professional”?
13:30 Career Development, Community, and Advocacy
18:00 The Shift to Discord + Building Community
21:00 Volunteering as Skill-Building (and Why It Matters)
26:30 The Origin of Museum Workers Advocacy Day
31:00 Why Center Museum Workers (Not Just Institutions)
38:00 What to Expect from MWAD 2026
46:30 Key Issues Facing Museum Workers Today
54:00 Why Advocacy Feels Hard (and How to Start Anyway)
1:02:00 Practical Ways to Get Involved
1:08:00 What Gives Us Hope About the Future

Keywords

museum careers
museum advocacy
museum workers
museum workers advocacy day
NEMPN
museum jobs
career sustainability
museum burnout
unpaid internships museums
museum salary transparency
museum professionals
museum career advice
arts and culture careers

In this episode of Curate Your Career, Elin Filbey and Alli Schell tackle a difficult but incredibly common experience in museum careers: what happens when a job ends before you expected it to.

They talk openly about the emotional fallout, the practical steps to take next, and how to rebuild confidence after a job loss.

From navigating LinkedIn and networking conversations to crafting your story for future interviews, Elin and Alli walk through the mindset shifts and strategies that help museum professionals move forward without losing their sense of purpose or value.

They also explore a bigger truth many people in the field experience: sometimes losing a job isn’t a personal failure. Sometimes it’s a reflection of deeper structural issues within museums, including burnout culture, underfunding, and unrealistic expectations placed on staff.

If you’ve recently been fired, laid off, or are worried it might happen someday, this episode offers honest guidance and reassurance that one job ending does not define your career.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why getting fired doesn’t automatically mean you were bad at your job
• How museum professionals often internalize systemic problems in the field
• What to do (and what not to do) immediately after losing a job
• How to reach out to your network without oversharing or feeling ashamed
• The best way to talk about being fired in interviews and professional conversations
• Why taking time to reflect before jumping into the next role matters
• How to rebuild confidence and reconnect with your professional strengths

This episode is a reminder that career setbacks are not the end of your story. They’re often the beginning of a new direction.

Key Takeaways

• Getting fired or laid off does not erase your skills or the work you contributed.
• Many museum job losses stem from structural issues like funding challenges, leadership turnover, or unclear expectations.
• You don’t need to rush into the next opportunity. Taking time to reflect is critical.
• Leaning on trusted mentors, colleagues, and friends can help you navigate the emotional and professional aftermath.
• When discussing job loss in interviews, focus on clarity and forward momentum rather than blame or oversharing.
• Losing a job can be an opportunity to reassess your career goals and identify what you truly want next.

Chapters

00:00 Why We’re Talking About Getting Fired
04:45 Personal Stories and Museum Career Realities
14:20 The Emotional Aftermath of Job Loss
19:30 Reaching Out to Your Support Network
23:00 Navigating LinkedIn and Public Job Announcements
34:00 How to Talk About Being Fired in Interviews
46:00 Using This Moment to Reassess Your Career
53:00 Rebuilding Confidence After a Job Loss
1:02:00 A Mindset Exercise for Letting Go and Moving Forward

Keywords

museum careers
museum jobs
career transition
museum layoffs
getting fired
career coaching
museum professionals
museum career advice
career setback
museum burnout
professional resilience
museum leadership

Volunteer work is often overlooked as professional experience, but when done intentionally it can be a powerful way to develop leadership, explore new fields, and expand your network.

In this episode, we’re joined by Angela Williamson, CVA, a Certified Volunteer Administrator and volunteer engagement consultant. Together we unpack how volunteer roles can help you build skills, expand your network, and explore new career directions, whether you’re trying to advance within your field or transition into something new.

We also tackle some of the biggest misconceptions around volunteering, including the idea that it’s “not real experience,” and share practical advice for making volunteer roles work for your career goals.

In this conversation we discuss:

• How volunteering can help you build new skills and leadership experience
• The right way to approach organizations when you want to volunteer strategically
• Why volunteer work absolutely belongs on your resume
• How nonprofits can design better volunteer opportunities
• The importance of leaving volunteer roles well (and why ghosting hurts everyone)
• Why volunteer engagement should be seen as a strategic asset, not free labor

Whether you're exploring a career shift, trying to gain management experience, or simply looking for meaningful ways to contribute to your community, this episode will help you think about volunteering in a whole new way.

Guest

Angela Williamson, CVA
Volunteer Community Relations Specialist, Blood Bank of Delmarva
Founder, Volunteer Engagement Accelerator

Angela helps nonprofits design stronger volunteer programs that attract, retain, and empower volunteers through intentional engagement strategies.

🔗 Connect with Angela
LinkedIn: Angela Williamson
Website: AngelaWilliamsonCVA.com

Key Takeaways

Volunteer work can be strategic career development

Volunteering can help you:

• Gain leadership experience
• Build new skills
• Explore new career directions
• Expand your professional network
• Strengthen your resume

You can volunteer outside your field

If you're trying to develop a specific skill (like management or budgeting) you can often find opportunities in nonprofits outside your current industry.

Ask for what you want to learn

Instead of waiting for the perfect opportunity, you can approach organizations and say:

“I’m hoping to build experience in ___. Are there opportunities where I could contribute while learning that skill?”

Volunteer experience absolutely belongs on your resume

If a volunteer role helps demonstrate a skill relevant to the job you're pursuing, it can appear alongside professional experience, not buried at the bottom.

Leave volunteer roles professionally

If you need to move on:

• Communicate clearly
• Provide a transition
• Document your work

Leaving well protects your reputation and keeps the relationship strong.

In this episode of Curate Your Career, Elin and Alli tackle one of the most common (and emotionally charged) questions they hear from clients: “Should I apply if I don’t meet everything?”

Together, they break down:

• Why the “apply if you meet 60%” advice often backfires
• How hiring managers actually read years of experience
• The difference between exposure and ownership
• Why overselling and underselling come from the same place
• How to stop emotionally gambling on stretch roles

You’ll learn the three categories every job application falls into:

1️⃣ Anchor Roles – where you should be competitive
2️⃣ Strategic Stretch Roles – growth opportunities (without attachment to outcome)
3️⃣ Mismatch Roles – the energy drains that erode confidence

If you’ve ever:

• Applied to 100 jobs and heard nothing back
• Felt frustrated that “they didn’t see your potential”
• Chased a dream title at a dream institution
• Or played it too safe because your confidence took a hit

This episode will help you apply strategically, with honesty, intention, and self-compassion.

Because not every application is meant to land an interview.
And that’s not failure. It’s information.

Chapters

00:00 – The Real Question Behind “Should I Apply?”
02:08 – Why the 60% Rule Doesn’t Work Anymore
05:19 – Why Applying Isn’t Free (Protecting Your Energy & Confidence)
10:13 – The Three Types of Applications
12:24 – Anchor Roles: Where You Should Be Competitive
15:26 – Trusting the Process (Don’t Overcorrect Too Soon)
17:47 – Strategic Stretch Roles: Growth Without Emotional Gambling
20:39 – Be a Goldfish: Detaching From Outcomes
24:22 – Title Mismatch & Making Your Case
27:16 – Mismatch Roles: Energy Drains to Eliminate
33:29 – Dream Titles & Hard Truths
36:06 – The Self-Assessment Walkthrough
37:45 – Led vs Assisted: Duties vs Exposure
38:50 – Scope vs Skill (Scale Matters)
40:59 – What Do You Actually Want From This Role?
43:09 – Why We Oversell and Undersell
47:13 – A Real Client Example
48:25 – Strategy as Self-Compassion

Keywords

museum careers
job search strategy
career coaching
museum professionals
career transition
stretch roles
job application advice
years of experience requirements
overselling yourself
underselling yourself
career pivot
hiring manager perspective
museum job market
professional growth
strategic job search

They unpack why not all museum studies programs offer equal opportunity (and how to think critically before enrolling), and how transferable skills can open unexpected doors. They also talk candidly about guilt, regret, family expectations, and the very real identity shifts that come with career change.

Whether you’re navigating the museum job market, considering grad school, transitioning back into museums, or wrestling with “Am I allowed to want something different?” this episode is for you.

Ask a Mailbag Question:
https://forms.gle/m41nnxPS4TKXQ1i89

Takeaways

• Advocacy for museums should be accessible and grassroots.
• Higher education in museum studies is a significant investment and not all museum grad programs provide equal opportunities.
• Teaching and other transferable skills are valuable in museum roles.
• Networking remains one of the most powerful job-search tools.
• Guilt and regret are common when considering career shifts.
• The museum field is evolving and so are career paths.
• Support systems (including family) matter more than we admit.
  

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Mailbag Overview
01:20 Museum Advocacy & Accessibility Rant
09:10 Navigating Career Paths in Museums
25:01 Guilt, Identity & Career Transitions
31:31 Organizational Challenges & Boundaries
33:28 Job Market Barriers
44:00 Transitioning Back to Museums
51:00 Family Supporting Aspiring Museum Professionals

Keywords:
museum advocacy, museum careers, museum studies, career transitions, museum education, transferable skills, museum jobs, networking, grad school decisions, museum professionals, career coaching, museum job market

In this episode of Curate Your Career, Elin and Alli sit down with Mary Culler to talk honestly about her decision to step away from the museum field and into a new role in a new field.

Mary shares what it looked like to confront financial instability, emotional labor, and work-life imbalance and how she navigated the fear, grief, and relief that came with choosing something different.

We talk about turning down job offers, recognizing when a role no longer fits, and translating museum skills into a completely new environment. Mary also opens up about imposter syndrome after the pivot, the power of soft skills, and why career moves don’t have to be permanent to be meaningful.

This episode is for anyone who:

• Loves museums but needs more stability or balance
• Is wondering if leaving means “giving up”
• Is afraid of making the wrong career decision
• Needs permission to choose growth, even when it’s complicated

Key Takeaways

• Financial stability and well-being are valid reasons to change paths
• Emotional labor can quietly shape burnout in museum roles
• Turning down a job offer can be an act of self-trust
• Museum experience builds highly transferable skills, even outside the field
• Imposter syndrome doesn’t disappear overnight, but confidence does grow
• Soft skills often matter more than technical ones in career transitions
• Career decisions don’t have to be permanent to be worthwhile

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction: when passion isn’t enough
01:47 – Mary’s museum career path
03:27 – Recognizing the need for change
05:48 – Job searching, offers, and hard decisions
08:09 – Transitioning into a new role
10:02 – What the pivot revealed
14:51 – Settling into something new
19:09 – Translating museum skills beyond the field
22:40 – Relationship-building and soft skills
24:27 – Imposter syndrome after a pivot
28:36 – Making peace with career uncertainty
31:37 – Prioritizing values and growth
35:06 – Finding your voice — and your next step

Keywords

museum careers, career transitions, museum professionals, leaving museums, transferable skills, imposter syndrome, career pivot, work-life balance, financial stability, career coaching, personal growth

The episode covers unsuccessful negotiation experiences, rescinded job offers, and negotiation dynamics. It also discusses advocating for yourself and reaching a mutual agreement, as well as preparation for negotiation and the value proposition. The conversation covers the topic of negotiation in job offers, emphasizing the importance of considering various forms of compensation and benefits beyond base salary. It also highlights the significance of expressing excitement for the role while negotiating and practicing the negotiation ask out loud. The discussion includes client success stories and practical tips for negotiating effectively.

Takeaways

• Negotiation mindset
• Researching salary ranges Negotiation is not just about base salary
• Consider other forms of compensation and benefits
• Express excitement for the role while negotiating
• Practice saying your ask out loud
• Write down your ideal and minimum acceptable salary ranges
• Consider what benefits are important to you

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview
• 10:59 Unsuccessful Negotiation Experiences
• 16:55 Advocating for Yourself and Mutual Agreement
• 24:25 Negotiation Beyond Base Salary
• 31:15 Tactics During Negotiation
• 39:04 Client Success Stories and Negotiations

Together, they unpack their own formative internship experiences, the role of mentorship and representation, and why meaningful, paid internships are essential for building a more equitable museum field. Sierra shares how strong mentors shaped her career path, how interns benefit from being encouraged to explore beyond their assigned roles, and why feedback from interns should actively shape program design.

To learn more about the Met's internship programs: https://www.metmuseum.org/opportunities/internships

This episode is for:

• Students and early-career museum professionals navigating internships
• Museum staff designing or supervising internship programs
• Anyone questioning whether internships actually serve the future of the field
  
  
• Episode Chapters

00:00 – Introduction & guest welcome
02:15 – Influential internship experiences
05:48 – The importance of paid internships
08:52 – Sierra’s museum origin story
21:04 – Designing meaningful internship programs
28:54 – Mentorship and its long-term impact
32:50 – Networking beyond transactions
37:11 – Building professional relationships
44:30 – Internship experience & resume building
49:31 – Feedback, evaluation, and growth
53:24 – Top tips for interns
01:01:34 – Advocating for fair compensation

Keywords:
internships, museum internships, museum education, mentorship, networking, professional development, paid internships, resume tips, museum careers, internship programs

We explore how museum stores contribute to interpretation, visitor experience, and community engagement from thoughtful product curation to mission-aligned storytelling.

This episode challenges the idea that museum gift shops are “just retail” and makes the case for recognizing frontline and store staff as essential museum professionals.

Takeaways

• Museum gift shop roles are often undervalued, despite their impact on visitor experience and revenue
• Museum retail work builds transferable skills applicable across museums and beyond
• Frontline and store staff hold critical visitor insight that institutions often overlook
• Strong collaboration between museum teams and museum gift shop managers strengthens mission alignment
• Museum stores can be powerful spaces for interpretation, community connection, and storytelling
• Investing in professional development for retail staff benefits the entire organization
  

Chapters

00:00:00 The Value of Museum Gift Shops
00:09:24 Why Museum Retail Roles Matter
00:16:48 Transferable Skills & Career Pathways
00:22:05 Collaborating with Museum Stores
00:27:33 Community Engagement & Product Curation
00:32:43 Museum Stores and the Visitor Experience
00:38:20 Advice for Frontline & Gift Shop Professionals

Learn more about Melody Caban’s work as a museum store consultant and how she helps institutions rethink retail strategy, staff development, and visitor-centered design by visiting Melody's website: https://www.melodycabanconsulting.com/

Keywords:
museum gift shop, museum retail, frontline staff, museum careers, career pathways, transferable skills, museum jobs, visitor experience, museum interpretation, professional development, museum consulting, retail strategy

Takeaways:

• Waiting during job applications can be stressful but manageable.
• Networking doesn't have to be formal; everyday interactions count.
• Always be applying to keep opportunities open.
• Use waiting time to build skills and prepare for future roles.
• Create a job search spreadsheet to stay organized.
• Mock interviews can boost confidence and readiness.
• Document your achievements and feedback for future use.
• Consider temporary roles or projects to gain new skills.
• Leverage your network for support and opportunities.
• Stay proactive and control what you can in the process.

Chapters:

00:00:00 Introduction and Mailbag Question

00:03:00 Challenges of Waiting in Job Applications

00:09:00 Networking and Staying Proactive

00:15:00 Skill-Building During the Waiting Period

00:21:00 Organizing Your Job Search

00:27:00 Leveraging Your Network

00:33:00 Conclusion and Encouragement

Join the Deaccessioned Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1311034453588429/

Keywords: job application, museum jobs, waiting period, networking, skill-building, motivation, hiring process, career tips, museum field, job search

In this Mailbag episode, Alli Schell and Elin Filbey tackle various questions from museum professionals, focusing on job interviews, career transitions, and the value of education in museums. They provide insights on how to effectively communicate skills, navigate the job market, and consider opportunities outside the museum sector, while also addressing the challenges faced by international students seeking work in the field.

ICA Way Coaching with Coach Kwan: https://www.icaway.com/

Ask a Mailbag Question: https://forms.gle/m41nnxPS4TKXQ1i89

Takeaways

• Mock interviews can provide valuable feedback.
• Connect your skills to the job description clearly.
• Storytelling is essential in interviews.
• Identify what you enjoy and want in your career.
• Research how your museum skills apply to other industries.
• Consider your passions when transitioning careers.
• Understand the importance of education in museums.
• Be proactive in seeking opportunities outside your current role.
• Networking can help maintain connections in the museum field.
• International job seekers face unique challenges in the museum sector.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Mailbag Episode

02:43 Navigating Job Interviews in the Museum Sector

10:18 Leveraging Museum Skills in Other Industries

14:29 Considering a Career Shift from Museums

16:34 Finding Value in Education Roles

22:48 International Opportunities in the Museum Field

34:22 Introduction to Curate Your Career

34:58 Engagement and Community Building

Keywords

museum careers, job interviews, career transitions, museum education, international students, museum skills, job search strategies, museum professionals, career coaching, museum industry

Takeaways

• The podcast aims to support museum professionals in their career journeys.
• Both hosts have extensive backgrounds in museum education and coaching.
• Transferable skills from museum work can be applied in various fields.
• The importance of community and support for museum professionals is emphasized.
• Career transitions can be challenging, but coaching can provide guidance.
• The hosts share their personal stories to connect with listeners.
• Real advice tailored to the museum field is a key focus of the podcast.
• The podcast will feature discussions on navigating job applications and resumes.
• Listeners are encouraged to engage and share their experiences.
• Future episodes will include expert interviews and community-driven topics.

Colleen Moore Fairy Castle: https://www.griffinmsi.org/exhibits/colleen-moores-fairy-castle

Ask a Mail Bag Question: https://forms.gle/gfKXWCKe8kMWMgrS6

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Curate Your Career Podcast

02:23 Backgrounds and Inspirations in Museum Education

05:49 Alli's Journey to Museum Career Coaching

09:24 Elin's Path to Museum Education and Career Development

18:06 Transitioning Careers and Finding Fulfillment

18:28 Navigating Career Transitions in Museums

23:35 The Unique Challenges of Museum Careers

28:58 Building a Supportive Community for Museum Professionals

32:07 Future Aspirations and Live Engagements

34:16 Introduction to Curate Your Career

34:52 Engagement and Community Building

Keywords

museum careers, career coaching, museum education, transferable skills, museum professionals, podcast, career transitions, community support, museum field, coaching

Ask a Mail Bag Question: https://forms.gle/gfKXWCKe8kMWMgrS6

Takeaways

• Museum careers are built on passion and dedication.
• It's essential to schedule regular check-ins with yourself about your career.
• Understanding your boundaries and goals is crucial for job satisfaction.
• Identifying pain points can help clarify your career direction.
• You can explore solutions within your current role before making a drastic change.
• Temporary changes in your career can lead to new opportunities.
• Networking and professional development are key to career growth.
• You can apply for both museum and non-museum jobs simultaneously.
• Self-advocacy is important in navigating workplace challenges.
• Reflecting on your ideal workday can guide your career decisions.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Career Decisions

02:10 The Importance of Self-Assessment

19:12 Identifying Energizing Tasks

21:17 Understanding Burnout and Misalignment

24:13 Exploring Career Options

26:17 The 'And' Philosophy in Career Choices

28:22 Temporary vs. Permanent Career Changes

30:58 Scenario Mapping for Career Decisions

34:13 Introduction to Curate Your Career

34:49 Engagement and Community Building

Keywords

museum careers, career coaching, professional development, job satisfaction, museum professionals, career strategies, work-life balance, job market, self-advocacy, career transitions