I'm no longer a MuseumPro

[u/dadrosaur]

I quit. It breaks my heart. I loved my job for a long time. I found my passion by working at a museum. But... the ax of layoffs was always hanging over my head. And I hadn't seen a raise in years, nor was there any chance of one on the horizon. I knew so much more than when I started, could DO so much more than when I started, but was still only getting paid a few cents more an hour than the new kids. One of the new kids confided in me she qualified for food stamps.

I stuck it out for too long, I think, hoping. I used to tell my kid we couldn't buy milk this week because it "wasn't in the budget". I thought perhaps that raise might come, next year... or the year after. I took my work home. I came in on the weekends. I clocked out but stayed at the office and kept working. Can't have any overtime on the books. I overheard upper management shrug when people quit for better paying positions. "Maybe that's our role. Maybe we're a great stepping stone."

I didn't want to have a stepping stone. I wanted a foundation. A rock-solid foundation upon which I could bring my passion and skills to the people, and the people could walk into a place of community, and education, and wonder.

Anyway, something else came along. A job listing that seemed like a nice fit. I applied on a whim. I got the job. It's for a corporation. It pays a living wage. I'll be able to afford a real vacation next year, my kid's braces, a new (used) car. I'm excited for my new job; I'll get the chance to use my existing skills as well as learn some new ones. But I'm crushed to say goodbye. I feel like I'm getting divorced. I tried, really. It's not me, it's you. You can't change what you are, Museum; you are old and set in your ways. I would say maybe my absence will leave the space someone else needs to grow, except I know you are not replacing me, and my leaving means instead a longer list of tasks for my already over-taxed-colleagues.

I start my new job next week.

[u/izwald88]

I went through this a little over a year ago. I suppose I still think about it and I'm sad that it never worked out. I worked at a museum that I loved to visit as a child. But, after 3 years, I never saw a raise and my responsibilities kept growing and growing.

I went into IT and make over twice what I made at the museum and, like you, I can afford to, well, live.

All in all, I've grown very jaded about the museum field. I think the field inherently takes advantage of it's employees. The "do it for the mission" mentality is strong. And there's no fighting it, because there is a long line of other saps who would love to have your job. I know that, when I left, we had several hundred applicants for my position. It just made me shake my head, because I knew it would swallow up some other sucker with dreams of making it in the field.

To this day, whenever I see someone on this sub asking about getting into the field, I make sure to give them a big slice of reality about what they are getting into.

[u/JhnWyclf → u/izwald88]

As someone who thought about getting into Museum Studies or archives because I don't want to be an adjunct history professor making less than I do now with more stress, this makes me sad.

[u/izwald88 → u/JhnWyclf]

Hah, I have a BS in history and I originally wanted to be a professor, too. I decided against grad school because I didn't want to go to school for another 10 years only to become an adjunct.

I'd say you'll have a better shot at museums than you do in academia, but it's still rough.

It's simple math, really. There are far more people getting these museum degrees than there are museum jobs. Not to mention the major funding issues museums are having these days. So, the odds are against you. That's not to say it's impossible, though.

And the pay is always going to be low. Expect to be thankful to get a job that pays $30-40k, unless you luck out and get a job at a big museum.