How can I get a job in a museum or gallery?

With over 10 years of experience in the arts sector, SOAS Collections & Engagement Officer Cecelia shares her career advice based on the most frequent asked questions by SOAS students. 

Are you graduating this year? Firstly, congratulations! You can breathe a sigh of relief because your hard work, late-night essays, revision, and cramming are now done and dusted. But now a new stress might be creeping in… the dreaded question of “How do I get a job?”

If this applies to you, I've gathered a few frequently asked questions, as well as some of my tips and tricks for students looking to get a job in the arts.

How can I get an internship?

Many galleries now offer paid internships (thank goodness, am I right?). Look around at the institutions you like, sign up for their newsletters, and it doesn’t hurt to email them. If they don’t reply the first time, send a polite and brief follow-up. Don't fret - the person managing the inbox will have a lot of emails every day, so they might not have gotten back to you because they were really busy. 

Some large institutions now offer traineeships or apprenticeships. For example, there is a summer internship programme at Wellcome.

Does volunteering help you get a job?

Volunteering is a really good way to start in museums if you possibly can. Only commit to what you can manage with your other commitments (like getting a paid job to tie you over in this unpaid position) and work to get what you want from it. Ultimately gaining more experience will always help you get a job.

Plus, you can use this opportunity to try things and work out what you like. You are doing that organisation a huge favour by giving them your time, so use it to learn.

The sector is competitive... so take any opportunity to learn as much as possible.

How can I make the most out of my internship?

If you would like to work or learn something specific, I would suggest asking your manager at the internship. Sharing your ideas and showing you are keen will go a long way. Plus, the worst they can say is no. Use it as a learning experience. For example, if you have never worked on an event before, ask if you can help in any way.

That means you will gain insights into what doing a task is like, which should help you learn more about what you want to do in the future. Even if you hate it, that is still useful! Remember knowing what you don’t like and what your strengths and weaknesses are, is also important.

The sector is competitive. Sadly, multiple people often go for the same role, so take any opportunity to learn as much as possible. I would also suggest checking out Artquest for helpful advice on internships. 

Where do I find jobs in the arts?

There are several sites for looking for jobs in the arts. The art world is made up of several ‘institutions’, let’s say: artists’ studios, not-for-profit galleries, museums, and commercial galleries. Commercial galleries and artists’ studios will sometimes advertise roles on different sites, so it is useful to sign up for lots of newsletters and keep an eye out on a few sites. 

Where to find a job or internship:

• Arts Jobs
• Run The Check
• DRAW Recruitment
• Museums Association

I’ve got an interview, how do I prepare?

Research is key when preparing for an interview. Ensure you have looked through their website and understand their position in the art world, what they do, and how they differ. They will likely ask you why you would like a job at their institution, so it is important to research and have something unique to say. 

A fun way to prepare is to visit galleries and exhibitions. Often you get asked about the pieces you have seen recently and your opinion of them. In my interview for my role at the Brunei Gallery SOAS, I was asked exactly this question, and because I had researched the gallery, I knew a particular artist had a show several years ago.

This artist had a major exhibition at the Tate which I went to see. Yes, the exhibition was amazing, so I obviously wanted to see it anyway, and while this kind of preparation might sound like a lot, it helps to show the panel your dedication. Plus, who doesn’t want to stomp around London seeing lots of exhibitions?

Does it matter what subject I studied for my degree?

What matters more than subject-specific knowledge is applying what you learnt during your studies to the jobs and opportunities you want. As a task, write down the things you gained from your programme and compare them to the job specs of roles you like the look of. Do they match up or can you draw on some other aspect of your studies to show you are right for that role?

This might help you determine what kinds of roles you want to go for and what suits your skills and experience. It's important to do something you enjoy, so spend the time on this task, do it a few times and see if things have changed since you last completed it. Knowing your own skill set is a useful starting point. 

Do you have any final advice?

My final piece of advice is that you are an asset to any organisation you join and your ideas and energy are valuable. Remember that you've got this!