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Re: sigh, the job market/reply and my two cents worth
Dear Future Archivist:
Indeed, it's a meat-grinder world out there in the fields for which you are
headed.
In my 20-years of undegreed experience within the museum field, I have had
to put up with seasonal funding, limited-term funding and the occasional
special contract job, all for pretty crummy pay, and without benefits!
So now I return to college and university to go after those degrees,
but I'm changing my focus away from museology and archival assistance and am
moving to my first love -- historic (architectural) preservation. I suspect,
however, it will be a case, economically speaking, of "jumping out of the
frying pan and into the fire." But, if I'm lucky, and agressive, there's a
lot of consulting to be done, and at much better pay levels. And, consulting
includes travel. Yay!
> ----------
> From: Jackson, Bill[SMTP:Bill.Jackson@HARLEY-DAVIDSON.COM]
> Reply To: Archives & Archivists
> Sent: Wednesday, March 29, 2000 7:32 AM
> To: ARCHIVES@LISTSERV.MUOHIO.EDU
> Subject: Re: sigh, the job market
>
> If I understand the statement below, I guess I'd have to take issue with
> it.
> I agree that many take positions in "cultural organizations" for reasons
> other than pay. A former co-worker once told me, "You don't want to work
> at
> the _____ Historical Society for the money, you do for the intellectual
> stimulation."
>
> That may be the case, but it still does not always justify some of the
> cases
> that are out there. Some of the positions that are posted ask for a
> disproportionate amount of experience and expertise with relation to the
> compensation, and the fact that it has always been that way and has been
> institutionalized doesn't make it any more just. Also, I get the sense
> that
> telling people to do their homework and look for jobs elsewhere
> oversimplifies the issue to some degree.
>
> My opinion, no one else's.
>
> Bill
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: richard cox [mailto:rjc@LIS.PITT.EDU]
> Sent: Wednesday, March 29, 2000 8:27 AM
> To: ARCHIVES@LISTSERV.MUOHIO.EDU
> Subject: sigh, the job market
>
>
> <snip>
>
> My two cents? There are many, many excellent and well-paying jobs out
> there for RECORDS professionals, but they may not always be in archival
> programs and institutions. Moreover, if the profession looks to
> traditionally low paying positions in historical societies and other
> cultural organizations, it will always be whining about a lack of
> appreciation. People who take those positions make a career choice often
> having to do with other interests and issues than salary compensation.
> Individuals who want to make a career in records work need to obtain the
> appopriate education, commit to life-long learning to retain skills and
> knowledge, and be open to critically important records positions in
> government, corporations, universities, and other organizations.
>
> <snip>
> Confidential e-mail for addressee only
>
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> Problems? Send e-mail to Robert F Schmidt <rschmidt@lib.muohio.edu>
>
A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List!
To subscribe or unsubscribe, send e-mail to listserv@listserv.muohio.edu
In body of message: SUB ARCHIVES firstname lastname
*or*: UNSUB ARCHIVES
To post a message, send e-mail to archives@listserv.muohio.edu
Or to do *anything* (and enjoy doing it!), use the web interface at
http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/archives.html
Problems? Send e-mail to Robert F Schmidt <rschmidt@lib.muohio.edu>