Lorna, 

I can only emphatically agree with you, and sympathise with your situation. 

If I was less overworked I would have responded to Helen's email in full. But, 
like most people on this list, I simply do not have the time!

With best wishes, Nigel.


> Dear Helen,
> 
>  
> 
> I am astonished to read your recent email saying that museums cannot
> find suitable candidates! It seems that on the infrequent occasions that
> a job comes up in my field (palaeontology), I find myself up against
> people with decades of museum experience, dripping with academic
> qualifications, museum and heritage qualifications, AMAs, strong
> research and teaching backgrounds, infectious enthusiasm and highly
> respected by their peers. How can there possibly be a problem with
> recruitment, when there are so many great candidates out there?
> 
>  
> 
> I am about to become one of them, facing probable redundancy after 18
> months as Assistant Curator, 4 years as Education Officer and 3 years as
> Museum Assistant. I have a broad museums background in everything from
> documentation and collections care, to display and education. For
> example, I am currently spending most of my time repacking old specimens
> and tackling a cataloguing backlog, but this morning I taught a GCSE
> Biology class. At other times of the year I teach primary, middle and
> high schools studying rocks, fossils and skeletons. My PhD research was
> done over eight years on my own time, so it didn't compromise the
> working of the museum. I have had research published in a high profile
> journal, with the museum's address on it, and I am continuously involved
> in high profile research projects outside work. Perhaps I am a jack of
> all trades and a master of none.
> 
>  
> 
> But enough of blowing my own trumpet! The point I am trying to make is
> that there are MANY people out there (not just me!) with the experience,
> qualifications and skills to be a valuable museum employees. The only
> problem I can see with recruitment is that there are fewer jobs
> available and more people trying to get them!
> 
>  
> 
> Does anyone else agree with me?
> 
>  
> 
> Regards to everyone on the list,
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
> Lorna Steel
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
> ________________________________
> 
> From: The Geological Curator's Group mailing list
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Fothergill, Helen
> (LIFELONG LEARNING)
> Sent: 19 January 2006 17:18
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: job applications
> 
>  
> 
> Dear all 
> I'm trying to do a little bit of research about recently advertised
> posts for natural scientists in museums (biology, botany and geology).
> 
> Have you, or your organisation advertised such a post in the past 2-3
> years? 
> What was the post? 
> What sort of qualifications did you expect? (BSc / MSc / Museum
> Qualification / AMA?) 
> How many applicants did you have? 
> What sort of backgrounds did they have (on average)? 
> Would you give as much/more/less weight to volunteer work/contract
> work/museum qualifications? 
> 
> This has come up as a topic due to disturbing comments heard at several
> high-level meetings stating that museums in general are having a hard
> time recruiting natural scientists (or "suitable" candidates).
> 
> Any answers will be treated as confidential unless you state otherwise
> and will form part of a report and/or article on behalf of the
> Geological Curators Group.
> 
> Thanks for any help - Helen 
> 
> Helen Fothergill: GCG Recorder 
> Keeper of Natural History 
> Plymouth City Museum & Art Gallery 
> Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AJ 
> T: 01752 304774          F: 01752 304775 
> W: www.plymouthmuseum.gov.uk 
> 
> The views expressed in this message are personal and must not be
> considered to be the official views of Plymouth City Council.
> 
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> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 




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