How to Write a Resume for a Museum

Landing a job at a museum starts with a strong resume.

Museums across the country offer many employment opportunities. These commonly include positions for administrators, archivists, conservators, curators, educators, IT professionals, marketing specialists, and retail sales associates. However, these positions tend to be popular and in high demand, so you will need to write a professional resume to highlight your experience in museums. Each resume should not only be tailored to your strengths and areas of expertise, it should also be customized to each museum and position you apply for.

Instructions

1. Create your heading by typing your full name at the top of your resume. Type your current address, phone number, and e-mail address under your name. If you have a professional website that features your museum work experience, list the URL in the heading as well.

2. Type your objective statement, specifying which position at the museum you are seeking. Mention any skills or achievements you have specific to the type of museum, such as "former history professor" or "biology graduate student."

3. Write your "Qualifications" or "Summary" section and describe your general expertise (art, history, archiving, etc.) and the types of museum positions you have filled, such as curator, educator, or gift shop manager. Also state your general work ethic, years of experience, and general abilities you can offer as a museum employee.

4. Type the "Experience" or "Museum Work History" section of your resume. This will most likely be your largest section and should include all of your current and previous employers in the museum industry, listed in reverse chronological order. Each listing should contain your title (Curator, Exhibit Manager, etc.), the name of the museum, location (city and state), and dates of employment. Under this information, indent and write in detail about specific responsibilities and tasks associated with the position, such as inventory recording, art conservation, display construction, etc. Also, mention career highlights and successes such as newly developed programs and cost reduction.

5. Create the "Education" section and list in reverse chronological order all of your education history. Each listing should contain the degree or program title, such as B.A. Museum Technology or Anthropology, as well as the institution name, location, and date of completion or graduation. Any certifications or licenses pertaining to the position or degree obtained may be listed as well and should include the name of the governing organization that granted them.

6. Type the "References" section of your resume at the top of the second or last page. List three to six references in alphabetical order, or order of relevance. Each reference should contain a full name, title, company or museum name, location, phone number, and e-mail address.

References

• Aroj: Museum Technician Resume
• Job Results Management Institute: Museum Education Director Resume Template
• Museum Professionals: Museum Resumes by Category