Tara Young is an experienced museum professional and a professor of museum studies at Tufts University. Currently an independent consultant, she has held positions at several museums on both coasts. Most recently, she served on the founding staff of the Museum of Russian Icons, in Clinton, MA, which received AAM accreditation in 2015. Tara has degrees in the history of art and architecture from Harvard College and the University of Pittsburgh, as well as a Certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership at Tisch College of Tufts University. She lives in Central Massachusetts.

With decades of museum work under her belt, Young is uniquely qualified to answer the titular question. Indeed, this is a thorough, thoughtful book that will be of interest to a variety of job seekers, from teens just starting to consider a path to subject specialists looking for a career change to committed potential museum workers who aren’t sure if a professional degree is necessary. Young begins by laying out different types of museums and explaining how different sizes of museum are organized and governed. The bulk of the book walks the reader through the typical museum departments (exhibitions, development, etc.) and details the most common jobs in each area. After describing job duties, she lists the skills, experience, and education necessary to get hired and, most helpfully, the personality traits most suited to the job as well as things to “keep in mind,” like the possibility of working weekends. Each chapter ends with a profile of a museum worker that describes their career path and the best and worst parts of the job. A realistic, practical guide.

• Chapter 1: From Art to Zoology: Types of MuseumsChapter 2: Organizational StructureChapter 3: The Front Line: Visitor ServicesChapter 4: EducationChapter 5: Working with ObjectsChapter 6: ExhibitionsChapter 7: ConservationChapter 8: CommunicationsChapter 9: DevelopmentChapter 10: The Executive OfficeChapter 11: AdministrationChapter 12: Universal Skills and Distinct PathwaysChapter 13: Things I Wish I Had Known When I Was Twenty-Four: Opportunities and ChallengesChapter 14: Where Are Museums Going?Chapter 15: Resources

Tara Young is an experienced museum professional and a professor of museum studies at Tufts University. Currently an independent consultant, she has held positions at several museums on both coasts. Most recently, she served on the founding staff of the Museum of Russian Icons, in Clinton, MA, which received AAM accreditation in 2015. Tara has degrees in the history of art and architecture from Harvard College and the University of Pittsburgh, as well as a Certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership at Tisch College of Tufts University. She lives in Central Massachusetts.

With decades of museum work under her belt, Young is uniquely qualified to answer the titular question. Indeed, this is a thorough, thoughtful book that will be of interest to a variety of job seekers, from teens just starting to consider a path to subject specialists looking for a career change to committed potential museum workers who aren’t sure if a professional degree is necessary. Young begins by laying out different types of museums and explaining how different sizes of museum are organized and governed. The bulk of the book walks the reader through the typical museum departments (exhibitions, development, etc.) and details the most common jobs in each area. After describing job duties, she lists the skills, experience, and education necessary to get hired and, most helpfully, the personality traits most suited to the job as well as things to “keep in mind,” like the possibility of working weekends. Each chapter ends with a profile of a museum worker that describes their career path and the best and worst parts of the job. A realistic, practical guide.

• Chapter 1: From Art to Zoology: Types of MuseumsChapter 2: Organizational StructureChapter 3: The Front Line: Visitor ServicesChapter 4: EducationChapter 5: Working with ObjectsChapter 6: ExhibitionsChapter 7: ConservationChapter 8: CommunicationsChapter 9: DevelopmentChapter 10: The Executive OfficeChapter 11: AdministrationChapter 12: Universal Skills and Distinct PathwaysChapter 13: Things I Wish I Had Known When I Was Twenty-Four: Opportunities and ChallengesChapter 14: Where Are Museums Going?Chapter 15: Resources

Tara Young is an experienced museum professional and a professor of museum studies at Tufts University. Currently an independent consultant, she has held positions at several museums on both coasts. Most recently, she served on the founding staff of the Museum of Russian Icons, in Clinton, MA, which received AAM accreditation in 2015. Tara has degrees in the history of art and architecture from Harvard College and the University of Pittsburgh, as well as a Certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership at Tisch College of Tufts University. She lives in Central Massachusetts.

With decades of museum work under her belt, Young is uniquely qualified to answer the titular question. Indeed, this is a thorough, thoughtful book that will be of interest to a variety of job seekers, from teens just starting to consider a path to subject specialists looking for a career change to committed potential museum workers who aren’t sure if a professional degree is necessary. Young begins by laying out different types of museums and explaining how different sizes of museum are organized and governed. The bulk of the book walks the reader through the typical museum departments (exhibitions, development, etc.) and details the most common jobs in each area. After describing job duties, she lists the skills, experience, and education necessary to get hired and, most helpfully, the personality traits most suited to the job as well as things to “keep in mind,” like the possibility of working weekends. Each chapter ends with a profile of a museum worker that describes their career path and the best and worst parts of the job. A realistic, practical guide.

• Chapter 1: From Art to Zoology: Types of MuseumsChapter 2: Organizational StructureChapter 3: The Front Line: Visitor ServicesChapter 4: EducationChapter 5: Working with ObjectsChapter 6: ExhibitionsChapter 7: ConservationChapter 8: CommunicationsChapter 9: DevelopmentChapter 10: The Executive OfficeChapter 11: AdministrationChapter 12: Universal Skills and Distinct PathwaysChapter 13: Things I Wish I Had Known When I Was Twenty-Four: Opportunities and ChallengesChapter 14: Where Are Museums Going?Chapter 15: Resources