Industry Profile -- by Mike Kimmel

A museum is defined as a building or rooms where a collection of objects illustrating science, history, art or other subjects are kept and displayed. Whether we are talking about a wax museum, an art museum, a historic fort, or an antique museum, all have one thing in common; they give us an excellent chance to take a look back at significant historical artifacts and events.

Employment in this field ranges from museum technicians repairing and restoring artifacts, to historians analyzing human history and culture. Many positions in this field tend to be seasonal (see this month's Jump Start for more) or available via contract work. Volunteering, however, is a good way to get your foot in the door and may lead to a full or part-time position.

A strong sense of history and being an effective communicator are key in this industry. Creativity and the ability to concentrate for long hours are also crucial elements in the field. Also, as technology becomes more integrated into museums and heritage institutions, there will be more opportunities for those with an interest in history who also have communication technology abilities.

Educational requirements vary greatly in this field depending on the career of choice. An example is the fact a historian may have to have six years of post-secondary education, where on the other hand, an exhibit designer would not necessarily need any post-secondary education. The provincial government expects most museum positions to grow at a rate that is below average to the year 2005. The following is a list of potential, permanent or contract work opportunities in the museum industry:

Conservators work to preserve the life of a broad range of historical objects including ceramic and glass artifacts, paintings and diaries. Conservators specialize in one area and also give advice to curators on the quality of artifacts, possible treatments for artifacts and also advise them of different preservation options available for objects and materials in the museum. Conservators may work with dangerous chemicals and explosives, however, all positions require attention to detail and manual dexterity.

• Government research predicts below average job growth to 2005
• Government survey shows earnings from $36,000 to 46,000 a year

Museum technicians ensure all of the museum's materials and objects are kept and maintained in an orderly fashion. Assisting with the design of exhibits and preparing objects for research are also duties of museum technicians. Most work is completed indoors. There are no standard educational requirements for this position but strong carpentry skills and mechanical inclination are definitely assets.

• Government research predicts below average job growth to 2005
• Government survey shows earnings from $13,000 to $38,000 a year

Exhibit designers design travelling exhibits, educational and other historical exhibits after careful research. An artistic sense and organizational skills are critical. Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to carry out oral presentations are also key. There are no particular educational requirements for this position, although artistic or graphic art skills are desired.

• Government research predicts above average job growth to 2005
• Government survey shows earnings from $15,000 to $46,000 a year

Curators work in museums or art galleries and help to purchase items such as paintings or sculptures, ensure proper storage and care of these items, help arrange exhibits, plan tours and education programs and supervise other staff. Larger institutions may have junior and/or associate curators in addition to a "head" curator. Curators generally require a masters degree in an area of specialization such as art history, fine arts or history.

• Government research predicts average job growth to 2005
• Government survey shows earnings from $36,000 to $46,000 a year

Archivists prepare, conserve, catalogue and organize documents with historical value for museums, cities and private historical collections. They typically require a masters degree, but some may find employment with a bachelor degree in history or library science. Strong communication and organizational skills are required.

• Government research predicts well below average job growth to 2005
• Government survey shows earnings from $29,000 to $52,000 a year

Heritage interpreters, interpretive naturalists, educators or guides, interpret and explain details pertaining to a specific historical site, natural area or tourist attraction. They may work indoors and/or outdoors depending on the place of employment. A bachelor degree is a common requirement as are skills in research and oral communication.

• Government research predicts well below average job growth to 2005
• Government survey shows earnings from $26,000 and up a year, with seasonal jobs paying in the $10 to $15 an hour range

Anthropologists do extensive research on different sociological issues such as culture, tradition, beliefs, customs and languages. Some anthropologists may also specialize. Each specialization requires different duties but they all must possess excellent reading and writing abilities. In urban settings, anthropologists working conditions are usually very comfortable but sometimes research is performed outdoors in harsh weather. A four-year degree is usually required in this field.

• Government research predicts below average job growth to 2005
• Government survey shows earnings from $31,000 to $47,000 a year

Historians study the history of different geographical locations, research a specific time period or different aspects of the past and attempt to reconstruct the past for displays in a museum. Historians have to be able to adapt to new situations and environments and be able to work well with others. Strong computer abilities and the ability to think analytically are crucial. A masters degree is typically required.

• Government research predicts below average job growth to 2005
• Government survey shows earnings from $28,000 to $89,000 a year

Paleontologists will collect and interpret many different plant and animal fossils found in geological formations. Work can be done inside in a lab, such as classifying a fossil, to being outside for long periods of time organizing an expedition to remove fossils from the ground. The minimum education for this profession is a bachelor degree.

• Government research predicts average job growth to 2005
• Government survey shows earnings from $28,000 and up a year