Assistant Keeper of Natural History

Job title: Assistant Keeper of Natural History (UK)

What are your qualifications?

A levels: Geology, Business Studies, English Language.

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Jan

Job title: Assistant Keeper of Natural History (UK)

What are your qualifications?

A levels: Geology, Business Studies, English Language.

BSc (Hons) Geology from the University of Wales, Cardiff

MSc in Environmental Analysis and Assessment from Royal Holloway, University of London (not a requirement for my job)

What exactly does an Assistant Keeper of Natural History do?

The Assistant Keeper of Natural History works behind the scenes at a museum with the natural history collections. These collections include specimens from zoology, geology, and botany. (Bigger museums may have separate curators for zoology, geology, and botany).

Apart from formal qualifications, what other skills or characteristics do you need?

Because the job is so varied and involves working closely with the collections, with other departments, and with the public, you need to adapt to different situations very quickly. Working with the collections requires concentration and the willingness to continue learning new things. Creating exhibitions and working with other departments requires excellent communication skills. Interacting with the public through talks, school sessions, and weekend activities necessitates good communication skills, awareness, and enthusiasm.

What sort of organisation do you work for?

A small city museum. The local authority (council) employs museum staff.

If this wasn’t your first job after your studies, what did you do in between?

I volunteered for a year in the Natural History Museum in London while working in a bar in the evenings. I then moved to Bristol and volunteered at Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery in the Geology and Biology Departments for a year and a half, while also working on an IT Helpdesk!

Do you travel within the UK or overseas very much?

We do get to travel around the UK to visit other museums fairly often, at least twice a year with conferences. This is a fantastic way of seeing how different museums display their exhibitions and store their collections. It’s also an excellent opportunity to gain new ideas and network with other museum professionals.

Do you work a regular length day/week or are shifts involved?

We work a regular week. Often, one Saturday a month is used for events and activities either in or outside the museum.

What do you enjoy about your job?

It is the best job in the world! We are paid to take care of natural history collections, research for exhibitions, create activities for schools and the public, and collaborate with university societies to promote natural history. Every day is different and fun. We get paid to be geeks!

What advice or extra information do you wish you’d had before starting this career?

My advice is to volunteer. It provides invaluable experience and insight into how museums operate. Also, be patient. Museum jobs in Natural History only become available about three times a year, so patience is essential. The best approach is to get a job doing anything, then arrange volunteer work at your nearest museum.

What position would you like to hold in 5 years’ time?

Keeper of Natural History!

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