Career Advice for a Museum Technician and Conservator

Working as a Museum Technician and Conservator, you will be responsible for the preservation and restoration of cultural artefacts and artworks.

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How to Become a Museum Technician and Conservator

Choosing your career path and learning how to become the person you aspire to be is not always straight forward; getting a job in your chosen industry will take dedication, focus and the right qualifications.

When you have chosen the career path you wish to follow, you will need to learn how to become a Museum Technician and Conservator

Should you wish to work as a Museum Technician and Conservator you will need to evaluate what courses are required, their cost and what qualifications you need. It is important that you also assess whether you have the right credentials from a personality point of view, what the demands of the job are and whether they complement the lifestyle that you desire.

Another factor to consider, should you wish to fulfil your career aspirations, is the number of jobs you will need to have to reach your ultimate job, and the length of time it will take to reach this goal.

Common Qualifications for a Museum Technician and Conservator

  • Two A Levels.
  • A Degree in Conservation, Art History, Fine Art, or Museum Studies.

Key Responsibilities for a Museum Technician and Conservator

  • Assessing the condition of artefacts and artworks.
  • Developing and implementing conservation and restoration plans.
  • Using specialist techniques and equipment to clean, repair, and stabilise objects.
  • Documenting and recording conservation work.
  • Collaborating with curators and other museum staff to plan exhibitions and displays.
  • Ensuring the safe handling, storage, and transportation of artefacts and artworks.

What to expect as a Museum Technician and Conservator

As a Museum Technician and Conservator, you could work for museums, galleries, and heritage sites, or conservation and restoration companies.

Recommended Museum Technician and Conservator Jobs

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How to get Museum Technician and Conservator Jobs

Our advice on how to get a Museum Technician and Conservator job is to focus on preparation and personalisation.

Preparation

This occurs before you write a CV cover letter or complete a Museum Technician and Conservator application. If you have not held a Museum Technician and Conservator position before, it will help to research the industry and review what a typical career path might look like. If you have held a Museum Technician and Conservator role, focus your research on the company where you are seeking employment.

Valuable resources that will help you learn about the employer include the company’s career page, social media page, blog, job ad, and job description. Helpful information will consist of the company’s mission statement, values, and vision. You could also use an employer review site to gain insights on average salaries, what current employees say about the company culture, and what it is like to work for the organisation.

Personalisation

You are now in a position to use what you have learned in your Museum Technician and Conservator CV, cover letter, and application. You should personalise each Museum Technician and Conservator application, cover letter, and CV; prioritising job skills and relevant experience and providing examples that show you have similar values and goals.

This pre-application stage is a crucial step in how to become a Museum Technician and Conservator in the UK. It puts you in a superbly informed state, ready for forthcoming telephone, video, or in-person interviews.

Students: How to Become a Museum Technician and Conservator 

As with all professions, choose your study topics carefully. Review the qualifications needed to be a Museum Technician and Conservator and the subjects you will need to enrol in certification courses, higher education, or online courses. 

Aligning your study subjects

The more closely you align your study subjects with your career path, the more likely you will be to have projects and modules that you can refer to and show a prospective employer that you have practical or theoretical Museum Technician and Conservator experience.

How to get Museum Technician and Conservator Experience

What does it take to be a Museum Technician and Conservator? The best way to find out is to get work experience, which will be invaluable when applying for Museum Technician and Conservator jobs. You can learn how to be a successful Museum Technician and Conservator through internships, apprenticeships, or volunteering for a local business.

How to be a Museum Technician and Conservator Part-Time 

If you are wondering how to get into Museum Technician and Conservator part-time, there are several possibilities. You might find a new employer looking for a part-time Museum Technician and Conservator or find your existing employer is amenable. Often companies recognise the value of flexible hours and having more staff at work during busy times of the day. 

Museum Technician and Conservator freelance work

If you have impressive Museum Technician and Conservator qualifications and experience, you could take on the challenges of working freelance with control over your schedule.

Making a Career Change

How to start a career in this profession if you work in another industry may require studying for qualifications online and focusing on transferable skills when writing your CV and attending job interviews.