Fishtrap, Oregon Historical Society: Please give me a job.

Stumbling through my past, via blogs which I have completely forgotten and neglected, I find myself marveling over the  huge changes just a few small years can bring.

After completing my degree in Arts Management, I returned to my beloved Portland and, alas, could not find employment in the non-profit arts sector.  I was interviewed by the Portland Art Museum for my dream job - and lost out to, I'm told, someone from the Getty.

I wound up volunteering to write grants for a couple of organizations in town, which was interesting, but failed to pay the rent.  I was on my last financial legs when Donate Life NW came through with a real, grown-up job.  Just in time!

Overall, I have been happy at Donate Life NW.  My colleagues are generally pretty cool, and I have gotten to participate on numerous projects.  For example:

• I oversaw the development of our statewide Programs 3 year strategic plan, including the determination of goals relative to data and staff resources (revolutionary for this org)
• I have overseen the start-to-end program development of both a high school field trip and a statewide curriculum, including stuff like proposed budgets
• I have assisted in the composure of five-figure grant proposals... fingers crossed
• I have revitalized an aging program by identifying new opportunities & partnerships
• I have overseen a social media campaign and am now well versed in strategic SM managment
• I am, like, awesome at website updates
• I have spearheaded the development of a visual branding policy
• I have written loads of policy & procedure guides so as to help our regional staff and in-house staff to understand what the hell we're supposed to be doing in as efficient a manner as possible...
• I have independently designed collateral for statewide use in high schools, thankfully taking advantage of my Adobe training in some small way
• Basically, I'm an office wunderkind.  And people like me, to boot!

On the down side, my job gives few opportunities to connect with my own personal values (writing, art, history, culture, etc.).  I spend my days googling the structure of the cornea, and giving presentations to kids that basically revolve around their inevitable deaths (organ donation, if you're wondering).  I feel kinda sapped, two years in, due to this pesky feeling that I am not at all connected to our mission - a feeling totally incomprehensible to anyone not within the non-profit sector. Suffice to say, if you choose to have a career with meaning, it's inevitable that that meaning can't be too arbitrary.  I'm not denying that my current work is important, and very valuable - hell, it's literally about saving people's lives.  But... like most people, I wish I had a job that inspired me (if this is even possible).

Having been forced to re-launch my career outside of the sector for which I'd been aiming - it gets kinda discouraging, as the years go by.  The logistics of career-switching are daunting.  For example, as much as I would have given my lady balls for a job in Education with the Portland Art Museum, I can safely say that I would be unable to pay my current mortgage, had I gotten the job.   

But I keep my eyes open.  I tell myself that one day, the right job will be there, at the right time.

I kinda wish the time were now.  Oregon Historical Society is hiring a Curator, and Fishtrap wants a Program Coordinator.

Here is what my REAL cover letters to them would say:

Dear OHS:  I got a degree in Museum Studies and am a history nerd.  Seriously, I'd be a great hire!  My dad is a flippin' regional history expert and I grew up in a house filled with 19th century saddles. I helped edit his book on Oregon saddle history.  I'm pretty sure that I can figure out this job, so please interview me.  I admit that I do lack the formal curation experience, due to the goshdarned lack of jobs in the museum industry, but.  I have a degree and a brain, and I did work at the Smithsonian once upon a time - why doesn't anyone on the West Coast care about this?  - Let's talk.

Dear Fishtrap:  I love you.  You are beautiful.  Seriously, coordinating workshops for writers at the foot of a mountain paradise in Eastern Oregon???  I feel like I need to finish my book before you'll take me seriously, and that's okay.  I can wait.  I love you.