Curate Your Career

Curate Your Career

Curate Your Career is a podcast for museum pros who are staying, leaving, and everything in between. Hosted by Elin (Deaccessioned Career Coaching) and Alli (Your Museum Career Coach), we dig into the real, messy, hilarious, and hopeful parts of museum careers. From burnout and bad bosses to career pivots, salary jumps, and rediscovering what you actually want. 

  1. 4d ago

    22. Live from the American Alliance of Museum Annual Conference: Special Mailbag Episode

    In this special live episode of Curate Your Career, Elin Filbey and Alli Schell take the podcast on the road to the American Alliance of Museums Annual Meeting for their very first live audience recording. What started as a shared idea between two internet friends became a candid, funny, and deeply honest conversation about the realities of museum careers and the questions museum professionals are actually asking behind the scenes. Using audience-submitted questions, Elin and Alli tackle topics including: toxic workplaces and difficult bossesleaving museum jobs without another role lined upnavigating specialization vs. being a museum “generalist”museum grad school and higher education realitiesresume strategy and transferable skillsjob searching outside the museum fieldnetworking (or “fellowshipping”)and how to build sustainable careers in and beyond museums They also discuss: the emotional realities of burnout and underemploymentwhy museum professionals often undersell their skillsthe importance of hands-on experience in today’s hiring marketand how career conversations in museums are often happening quietly behind the scenes instead of openly on conference stages Throughout the episode, one thing becomes clear: 👉 Museum professionals are incredibly skilled, adaptable, and resourceful 👉 But many are navigating systems that make career growth and sustainability difficult This live conversation creates space for honesty, nuance, and practical advice. Whether you want to stay in museums, leave museums, or simply feel less alone while figuring things out. And yes… there are also several references to fantasy romance novels, networking awkwardness, and museum people being “emotional scapegoats for the board.” ⏱ Chapters00:00 Live from AAM: introducing the podcast 03:00 Why we started Curate Your Career 05:00 Grad school discourse and the 3-part series 08:00 “Aching in the Archives” — feeling isolated in museum work 15:00 Transitioning from archival work into public-facing roles 16:00 Toxic bosses and leaving difficult workplaces 20:00 References, reputation, and museum world politics 24:00 Being a museum generalist vs specialist 31:00 Career advice for museum studies students 35:00 Grad school myths and “the hustle” 38:00 Leaving museums for full-time work and stability 44:00 Networking, LinkedIn, and building community 46:00 Labor organizing and transferable skills 49:00 Museum job boards and accessibility issues 54:00 Elin’s career transition story 57:00 Why these conversations matter 🔍 Keywordsmuseum careers museum jobs museum professionals museum burnout museum grad school career transitions museum networking museum resumes museum job search museum career advice AAM conference museum studies careers transferable skills leaving museums

    1h 1m

  2. May 13

    21. Why Your Resume Isn’t Working (And What to Do About It)

    If you’ve been applying to jobs, getting auto-rejected, or hearing absolutely nothing back… this episode is for you. Elin Filbey and Alli Schell break down the biggest resume mistakes they see museum professionals making and why so many resumes fail before a hiring manager even seriously looks at them. Because most of the time, it’s not that you’re unqualified. It’s a strategy issue. It’s a communication issue. Or your resume simply isn’t making it easy for someone to understand why you’re a fit. Throughout the conversation, they unpack: why a resume is a marketing document, not a full record of your careerthe difference between resumes and CVshow museum professionals often write for the wrong audienceand why hiring managers are not going to “connect the dots” for you They also dive into: tailoring resumes to specific job “lanes” instead of sending the same one everywherewhy focusing only on tasks (instead of impact) hurts your applicationshow to better communicate scope, leadership, and responsibilityand why so many museum professionals undersell the complexity of what they actually do The episode also tackles one of the most common areas of confusion in today’s job market: ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) Elin and Alli explain: why overly designed templates often backfirewhy Canva/Etsy-style resumes can create technical issueswhat actually makes a resume easy for both humans and software to readand why “standing out” visually is outdated advice in a digital hiring landscape Throughout the episode, they come back to one core idea: The goal of your resume is not to sound impressive. It’s to make it obvious why you’re a fit for the role. If your resume hasn’t been getting traction lately, this episode will help you step back, rethink your strategy, and understand what might actually be getting in the way. **If you want to meet up with Elin and Alli at AAM in Philly, fill out this short form to be included in updates on where we'll be. Chapters00:00 Why resumes get auto-rejected 02:00 Resume myths and “standing out” advice 03:30 A resume is a marketing document 05:00 Resume vs CV: what’s the difference? 08:00 One page? Two pages? Resume length debates 13:00 Who are you actually writing for? 15:00 Tailoring for museum vs non-museum audiences 18:00 Why you need to “connect the dots” 20:00 Don’t bury the lead: highlighting relevant experience 23:00 Tasks vs impact in bullet points 28:00 Showing scope, outcomes, and responsibility 31:00 ATS systems and resume formatting mistakes 35:00 Why Canva/Etsy templates can hurt your applications 38:00 Keyword stuffing vs strategic alignment 39:00 Why generic resumes don’t work 43:00 Leadership resumes and organizing complex experience 45:00 Final takeaways: clarity, strategy, and alignment Keywordsmuseum careers museum resumes resume tips museum professionals ATS resume tips job search strategy museum job search career transitions resume formatting transferable skills museum jobs resume mistakes career coaching museum career coach

    40 min

  3. May 6

    20. When Leaving Isn’t a Choice: Chronic Illness, Motherhood, and Letting Go of a Museum Career

    Leaving the museum field is often framed as a choice. Better pay. Better work-life balance. A new career path. But sometimes… it’s not a choice at all. In this episode, Elin Filbey and Alli Schell talk with Sam McLaren-Fahey about what it looks like to leave museum work because life requires it, not because you want to. Sam spent years working in museum education and nonprofit programming before transitioning into real estate. But her decision to leave the field wasn’t about career growth or dissatisfaction with the work. It was shaped by: chronic illnessphysical limitationsbecoming a parentand needing to build a life that was actually sustainable This conversation gets into what that looked like in real time, including navigating years of undiagnosed illness, pushing through work while her health declined, and ultimately having to make a decision she didn’t feel ready for. They also talk about: the emotional impact of losing your professional identitywhat it means to grieve a career you lovedand how museum work can stay with you—even after you leave Sam shares what it was like to: move from a physically demanding museum role into more sustainable worknavigate job loss during maternity leaveand eventually build a new career in real estate—one that still reflects her values around education, empathy, and helping people Throughout the conversation, one thing becomes very clear: 👉 Leaving doesn’t mean you stopped caring 👉 And it doesn’t mean that part of you is gone It just means something in your life needed to change. This episode is for anyone who has ever felt like they were pushed out of a career they loved or had to make a decision they weren’t ready to make. ⏱ Chapters00:00 When leaving isn’t a choice 02:00 Sam’s background in museums and education 05:00 Early health challenges and undiagnosed illness 08:00 Working through severe physical decline 12:00 Medical gaslighting and finally getting answers 17:00 Adjusting roles and leaving museum work 20:00 Losing professional identity 25:00 Becoming a parent during a pandemic 28:00 Forced career break and mental health challenges 32:00 Finding real estate (and why it made sense) 36:00 Building a new career from scratch 41:00 Transferable museum skills in a new field 46:00 Collaboration vs competition in different industries 50:00 Money, value, and mindset shifts 55:00 What Sam still misses about museum work 58:00 Flexibility, health, and redefining success 1:00:00 Advice for people navigating similar situations 🔍 Keywordsmuseum careers leaving museums career transitions museum professionals chronic illness and work nonprofit careers career identity working with chronic illness museum education careers career change stories

    58 min

  4. Apr 29

    19. Museum Grad School Series (Part 3 of 3): Alternatives & What the Field Gets Wrong

    If you’ve made it this far in the series, you’re probably sitting with a big question: If I don’t go to grad school… what are my options? In Part 3 of this series, Elin Filbey and Alli Schell break down what it actually looks like to build a museum career without relying on a graduate degree and why that path is more viable (and necessary) than the field often acknowledges. Because while museum grad school is often presented as the “next step,” the reality is: it’s not the only pathit’s not always the most effective pathand it’s definitely not a guarantee of a jobThis episode explores: how the museum field has shifted (but expectations haven’t kept up)which roles actually require degrees and which don’thow to use job descriptions to reverse-engineer your career path and necessary education and how to identify the difference between “required” vs. “preferred” qualifications They also get candid about where the field itself needs to do better... from over-reliance on degrees to lack of training, inaccessible internships, and unrealistic hiring expectations. Because this isn’t just an individual problem. It’s a structural one. 🔑 Key TakeawaysThere is no single path into or within museum careers even if it’s often presented that wayA graduate degree is not a “silver bullet” and does not guarantee a jobMany roles value hands-on experience more than degreesJob descriptions are your best data source. Look for patterns, not one-offs“Required” vs. “preferred” qualifications matter when evaluating rolesYou can build skills through targeted, lower-cost alternatives instead of full degree programsTransferable skills (project management, communication, collaboration) are highly valuable across rolesIf you’re investing time in learning, you need to reflect that on your resumeThe museum field still has major gaps in training, accessibility, and hiring practicesChoosing not to go to grad school is not opting out, it’s choosing a different strategy⏱ Chapters00:00 Where you might be after Parts 1 & 2 02:30 The disconnect between degrees and ROI 05:00 The “grad school or nothing” mindset 08:00 How the field has shifted (but expectations haven’t) 12:00 Roles that do require degrees 15:30 Starting with job descriptions (your data set) 20:00 Identifying patterns: requirements vs preferences 24:00 Using AI, spreadsheets, or manual tracking 28:00 Certifications and targeted training programs 34:00 Webinars and free/low-cost learning 39:00 Libraries, online learning platforms, and YouTube 45:00 Transferable skills and broad skill-building 52:00 Strategic volunteering as professional development 55:00 Internships and fellowships (and their limitations) 59:00 Mentorship, networking, and informational interviews 1:03:00 Conferences, vendors, and hidden opportunities 1:06:00 Where the field needs to do better 1:12:00 Rethinking grad programs (trade school model) 1:18:00 Final reframes and decision-making 🔍 Keywords museum careers museum grad school alternatives museum jobs museum professionals career development museums museum education careers transferable skills museum job search strategy GLAM careers professional development museum internships career transitions

    56 min

  5. Apr 22

    18. Museum Grad School Series. Part 2 of 3: How to Evaluate a Program

    If you’re considering museum grad school, this is the episode where things get real. In Part 1, we talked about whether grad school makes sense in the first place. In this episode, we’re assuming you are considering it and walking through how to actually evaluate programs so you can make a smart, informed decision. Because here’s the truth: Grad school is not just an academic decision. It’s a financial, professional, and strategic one. And not all programs are created equal. In this episode, we break down: how to approach grad school like a mutual selection process (you’re interviewing them, too)the questions you should be asking before committinghow to think about ROI (beyond just “getting a job”)what actually matters when comparing programsand where a lot of museum grad programs fall short We’re also very honest about something that doesn’t get talked about enough: Many museum grad programs are revenue generators for universities. Which means you need to approach this as an informed consumer... asking for data, not just vibes. This episode is here to help you slow down, ask better questions, and make a decision that actually aligns with your goals. 🔑 Key TakeawaysGrad school should be evaluated based on what you want to get out of it... not what the field says you “should” doYou should approach programs like a two-way interview, asking clear and specific questionsROI matters and that includes cost, time, lost income, and realistic salary expectationsLocation can significantly impact your access to internships, networks, and job opportunitiesOnline programs can work but often require you to create your own hands-on experienceInternships are critical, but not always built into programs in a meaningful wayNot all programs provide career support tailored to the museum fieldAlumni networks and faculty connections can be one of the most valuable parts of a programYou are often paying for access and networks, not just courseworkTransferable skills matter both inside and outside the museum field⏱ Chapters00:00 Why you need Part 1 before this 02:30 Treating grad school like an interview 04:00 What do you actually want out of a program? 07:00 Using job descriptions to guide your decision 10:00 Location, cost of living, and opportunity access 13:00 Online vs in-person programs 16:00 “Be a smart consumer”: programs as revenue generators 18:30 Time to completion + working while in school 21:00 Financial realities (tuition, scholarships, hidden costs) 24:00 Faculty connections and real-world experience 28:00 Hands-on skills vs theory 32:00 Internships: required, paid, and competitive 37:00 Job placement transparency (what to ask programs) 39:00 Career support: resumes, interviews, and beyond 40:30 Alumni networks and long-term value 42:00 Transferable skills (and why they matter more than you think) 52:00 Final thoughts + how to make your decision 🔍 Keywords museum grad school museum studies degree museum careers museum jobs graduate school evaluation museum professionals career development museums museum internships arts careers GLAM careers museum education career strategy

    49 min

  6. Apr 15

    17. Museum Grad School Series. Part 1 of 3: Should You Go?

    This is one of the most common questions in the museum field: Should I go to grad school? And the honest answer is… it’s complicated. In this first episode of a three-part series, Elin Filbey and Alli Schell break down what actually goes into that decision... beyond the default advice to “just get the degree.” Drawing from their own experiences (both GW grads), insights from the Museum Pros subreddit, LinkedIn conversations, and years of working with clients, they unpack: why this question is so emotionally loadedwhat museum grad school can offer (and what it can’t)the reality of salaries, competition, and job marketshow much of grad school is really about access and networkswhere programs often fall short (hint: career prep and real-world skills)and the biggest question you should be asking yourself before applying They also talk candidly about: the pressure to “do the right thing”the financial reality (and tradeoffs) of grad schooland why a master’s degree does not guarantee a job This episode isn’t here to tell you yes or no. It’s here to help you make a smarter, more informed decision. 👉 Part 2 will cover how to evaluate grad programs 👉 Part 3 will explore alternatives to grad school 🔑 Key TakeawaysMuseum grad school is often presented as the default path but the reality is far more complexA degree does not guarantee a job, especially in a competitive, low-salary fieldWhat you’re really paying for is often access, networks, and opportunities, not just knowledgeMany programs are too theoretical and don’t adequately prepare students for the job marketHands-on experience (internships, projects, portfolios) is critical early in your career, when pivoting, or when trying to move up in the fieldThe financial ROI of grad school is often unclear or limitedYour location and target job market can influence whether a degree is necessaryThe most important question isn’t “Should I go?” → It’s: “What am I trying to get out of this?”⏱ Chapters00:00 DC food nostalgia + intro 06:40 Why this became a 3-part series 08:00 Why “Should I go to grad school?” is everywhere 10:30 Why this question is so complicated 14:00 The reality of museum jobs (salary, competition, structure) 17:00 What grad school doesn’t prepare you for 18:30 Alli’s experience: expectations vs reality 22:30 Elin’s path to grad school 29:00 Alli’s path + pressure to pursue a master’s 33:30 What you actually get from grad school 36:00 The power of networks + “GW mafia” 40:00 Hands-on skills vs theory 44:00 When grad school is necessary (specific roles) 48:00 Where programs fall short 52:00 Real-world skills you actually need 54:30 Financial reality + ROI 59:00 Location, access, and strategy 1:01:00 The question you should actually be asking 1:02:30 Preview of Part 2 🔍 Keywordsmuseum grad school museum studies degree museum careers museum jobs should I go to grad school museum professionals career transitions museums museum education careers graduate school decision arts careers GLAM careers museum job market

    55 min

  7. Apr 8

    16. Museums Run on Emotional Labor, But Why isn't it Valued?

    There’s a kind of work happening in museums that doesn’t show up in job descriptions, annual reports, or performance reviews, but it shapes everything. The way you calm a frustrated visitor, hold space for a volunteer going through a hard time, how you navigate conflict, or carry the emotional weight of your community. It’s the work beneath the work. In this episode of Curate Your Career, Alli Schell and Elin Filbey sit down with Ashley Witherspoon, licensed clinical social worker and founder of Handmade Dreams, LLC to talk about invisible, emotional labor and why museum work is far more complex than what we measure. Ashley shares how her background in healthcare led her into museums, what she sees as the biggest gaps in support for museum workers, and how we can begin to name, track, and advocate for the full scope of what this work actually requires. Together, they unpack: what emotional and invisible labor actually look like in museum roleswhy so much of this work goes unrecognized (and unsupported)how burnout in museums mirrors what we see in healthcarethe gaps in training, onboarding, and workplace preparationhow museum workers can start documenting and advocating for this laborand what it means to rethink “worth” beyond metrics and productivity If you’ve ever felt like the hardest parts of your job are the ones no one sees, this episode will put language to that experience and give you a place to start. Learn more about Ashley's new initiative, MuseMind! Key TakeawaysEmotional and invisible labor are core parts of museum work, not “extra” tasksThe most impactful work museum professionals do often isn’t reflected in metricsBurnout isn’t just about workload. it’s about unrecognized and unsupported laborMuseums tend to operate reactively instead of proactively when it comes to staff wellbeingTraining is a major gap across the fieldYou can begin advocating for yourself by documenting the labor that happens “below the waterline”Worth is not something you earn through productivity, it’s something you already haveSmall shifts (like naming this work in meetings or reviews) can lead to larger systemic changeRest, boundaries, and recovery time are not luxuries, they’re necessary for sustainabilityMuseum workers are deeply embedded in their communities and carry that impact both inside and outside of workChapters00:00 The Talk That Sparked This Episode 03:00 Ashley’s Path from Healthcare to Museums 08:00 Museums as Spaces for Connection + Care 13:00 Defining Emotional and Invisible Labor 18:00 The Iceberg: What’s Above vs. Below the Surface 24:00 Burnout, Turnover, and Lack of Support 30:00 Why Museums Are Always “Chasing Fires” 36:00 Training Gaps and Frontline Staff Realities 42:00 Making Invisible Labor Visible (and Measurable) 48:00 Rethinking Worth Beyond Metrics 55:00 Stop, Start, Continue: Practical Strategies 1:02:00 Rest, Boundaries, and Recovery Time 1:07:00 What Museums Can Learn from Healthcare 1:12:00 Ashley’s Work + Museum Wellness Guide Keywordsmuseum careers museum professionals emotional labor invisible labor museum burnout museum workplace culture museum jobs career sustainability museum leadership workplace wellbeing museum training gaps museum advocacy museum workforce

    1h 1m

  8. Apr 1

    15. What If You Didn’t Leave the Objects, Just the Museum? Ryan's Story.

    A few weeks ago, Elin shared a LinkedIn post about an alternative career path for museum professionals... and it struck a nerve. What if you could keep working with objects… just not in a museum? In this episode of Curate Your Career, Elin Filbey and Alli Schell sit down with Ryan Jelso, a former curator at The Henry Ford, who pivoted into estate services, appraisal, and personal collections work. Ryan shares what it actually looked like to leave a respected curatorial role, navigate the identity shift, and build a new career that still centers material culture, just in a completely different context. Together, they unpack: what museum professionals often misunderstand about their own skillshow working with “the stuff” translates outside institutional settingswhat it takes to break into estate services and appraisal workand why this field is poised for major growth in the coming decades They also talk honestly about what it means to leave a “dream job,” the grief that can come with that decision, and how to recognize when something isn’t the right fit anymore. If you’ve ever thought, “I love working with objects, but I’m not sure museums are sustainable for me long-term,” this episode will open your eyes to a path you may not have considered. 🔑 Key TakeawaysMuseum skills like research, object interpretation, and inventory management are highly transferable outside the fieldYou don’t have to leave the work you love. Sometimes you just change the contextIdentity is one of the hardest parts of leaving museum workWaiting too long to explore other options can lead to burnout and loss of confidenceEstate services, appraisal, and secondhand markets are growing industries due to generational wealth transferNetworking doesn’t have to be complicated. In-person connection and follow-up matterMuseum professionals often undervalue their ability to see the bigger picture and connect multiple stakeholdersYou can still be a steward of history and material culture outside a museum setting⏱ Chapters00:00 The LinkedIn Post That Sparked This Episode 03:00 Ryan’s Museum Career at The Henry Ford 10:00 What He Loved About Curatorial Work 13:00 When Discontent Started Creeping In 18:00 Identity, Grief, and Leaving a “Dream Job” 24:00 Realizing a Mismatch in Work Style 29:00 Discovering Estate Services & Reselling 32:00 How He Actually Made the Pivot 36:00 Transferable Skills That Mattered Most 42:00 Finding Meaning in a New Role 46:00 Money, Growth, and Career Ceiling in Museums 50:00 Advice for Leaving (Before You Hit Burnout) 57:00 Do You Miss Museums? Would You Go Back? 1:00:00 How to Explore This Career Path 🔍 Keywordsmuseum careers museum professionals career transitions museum jobs estate services appraisal careers transferable skills leaving museums alternative careers museums working with objects career pivot material culture

    1 hr
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5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

Curate Your Career is a podcast for museum pros who are staying, leaving, and everything in between. Hosted by Elin (Deaccessioned Career Coaching) and Alli (Your Museum Career Coach), we dig into the real, messy, hilarious, and hopeful parts of museum careers. From burnout and bad bosses to career pivots, salary jumps, and rediscovering what you actually want. 

Information

  • Creator
    Curate Your Career
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Curate Your Career

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