Museum Assistant
What is the work like?
Museum assistant are responsible for customer care and security in museums and galleries.
As a museum assistant your work would usually involve:
- patrolling to monitor security and make sure the exhibits are in good order
- talking to visitors and helping them with their enquiries
- helping curators and other senior staff to move and change displays and exhibitions.
In independent and privately owned museums with fewer staff, you may have additional duties, including:
- taking more responsibility for security
- issuing of entrance tickets
- serving in the museum shop
- carrying out administrative tasks and/or cleaning.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
You do not need any particular qualifications to become an assistant in most museums, although you usually need a good general standard of education, especially in English and maths. Some of the larger museums and galleries will ask for at least four GCSEs or equivalent qualifications. For some jobs you may be expected to have some A levels or equivalent.
It will be useful if you have:
- experience in customer services
- knowledge of, and interest in, the subject of the museum
- experience as a volunteer in a museum or gallery.
Visit the Museums Association website for tips on finding voluntary opportunities. You can find contact details of museums in The Museums Yearbook. This is published annually by the Museums Association, and should be available in reference libraries. Experience of security work will also be useful for some jobs.
You will need CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) clearance if your job involves working with children.
You may be able to get into this job through an Apprenticeship scheme. The range of Apprenticeships available in your area will depend on the local jobs market and the types of skills employers need from their workers. To find out more about Apprenticeships, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk.
What further training and development can I do?
When you start work, you will be trained on the job by an experienced assistant, learning about the collection and how the security systems work.
You may be able to work towards:
- NVQ Level 2 in Museums, Galleries and Heritage (Visitor Services)
- NVQ Level 3 in Cultural Heritage Operations.
You can also take part in short courses and professional development schemes run by the Area Museums Councils. See the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council website for details of the councils.
Where can I go for more information?
London
SE1 1RQ
Helpline: 0800 093 0444
Southampton Row
London
WC1B 4EA
Tel: 020 7273 1444
London
E1 6NW
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What salary and other benefits can I expect?
- Full-time museum assistants can earn up to £13,000 a year.
- Senior staff can earn between £14,000 and £16,000 a year.
Some museum assistants are part-time, so would earn a portion of full-time rates (known as 'pro-rata' payment).
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
What are the hours and working conditions?
You would normally work 37 hours a week on a rota which includes weekend opening hours. Part-time work may be available.
Your work would usually involve standing and walking for long periods.
You would be likely to wear a uniform, especially in a larger museum or gallery.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
- good communication and 'people' skills
- customer service skills
- a responsible attitude and awareness of security issues
- the ability to remain alert over long periods of time
- the ability to react quickly in an emergency.
What opportunities are there?
You could find work in national museums and galleries (which are usually in cities), local authority museums and galleries, university museums, or independent museums.
Competition for vacancies is strong, so experience as a volunteer is likely to give you an advantage.
With experience as a museum assistant, you could progress to senior assistant.
You may find the following links useful for job vacancies and general reading(links open in new window):
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