Museum Careers: Immersion Excursion to the Detroit Institute of Arts

April 26, 2011

Detroit Institute of ArtsEarly one spring morning around 7 a.m., small groups of students could be seen making their way through the darkness to the Career Center, coffee cups in hand.   An early morning resume emergency?   A last-minute problem with a personal statement? A group interview with a particularly gung-ho employer?

No, this group of 23 students, along with staff members from The Career Center and the Museum Studies Program, was headed to Detroit for an Immersion Excursion at the Detroit Institute of Arts (the DIA). The Career Center Immersion Excursions offer students a chance to experience “a day in the life” of professionals from different fields.  Recent excursions have included a trip to two very different advertising agencies in Chicago, a small record label in Ann Arbor, and a large company in Kalamazoo that designs and manufactures hospital equipment.

For those unfamiliar with the DIA, it is one of this country’s most important art museums, with a vast collection spanning from ancient times to contemporary works, including Islamic, African, Asian and European art.  Particular strengths are the American collections, contemporary African-American painting, and the Diego Rivera Detroit Industry frescoes.  A very successful 2007 renovation and expansion significantly added to the exhibit space.

Upon arrival, we were greeted by twelve DIA employees and received an overview of the various major job functions in the museum: from curatorial work and exhibit management to food service, education programs, event planning, and grant writing.  Most helpfully, everyone also described their personal path to their career.  We were surprised to learn that the DIA has almost 300 employees, distributed over 25-30 different departments. In addition, the museum has 800 volunteers, who work from just a few hours a month to several times a week.  Clearly, there is a lot more to museum work than curatorial work.

Then we divided into smaller groups who each spent an hour with a DIA employee, either to get a tour of that person’s work area, or to observe whatever tasks the person was doing – a planning meeting for an upcoming exhibit, greeting visitors, etc.  Then back to the conference room to get paired up with a different DIA employee for a second hour. Then it was time for lunch at the cafeteria, along with a little time to browse the exhibits, or just hang out.  The group was back in Ann Arbor by 2:30.

Overall student response was extremely positive.  We all enjoyed the feeling of being behind the scenes and learning about how much thought goes into a museum exhibit – from the color and height of the pedestals to the arrangement and lighting in the room.  Among some of our insights:

  • The best way to enter a museum career is to volunteer, preferably in different kinds of museums.  Major museums like the DIA have numerous volunteer opportunities, but any internship is likely to be unpaid.
  • Museum work earns relatively low pay, but has a high degree of job satisfaction.  Everyone we met felt incredibly enthusiastic and privileged to be part of the DIA.
  • Art museum jobs can be divided into two categories: “core museum jobs” (like curator or exhibit coordinator) where an art history degree (often at least a Master’s) is crucial, and “non-core museum job” (like grant writing, event planning, or education programming) where other skills may be equally valuable.
  • To become a curator at a major museum, you will need a PhD from a first-rate art history program and as many different volunteer experiences you can compile.
  • Money is a constant struggle, and fund-raising is at the heart of the enterprise – the area of fundraising/ grant writing/ development department is the biggest department in the entire museum.  Effective grant writers will always be in demand.

Our thanks go to Sondra Jenkins, HR director at the DIA, and Errol Wint from The Career Center for designing such a successful program.   Everyone at the DIA was incredibly welcoming and gracious although this was a particularly busy time of year.  Given that it was a Friday, the museum was bustling with school groups and visitors exploring the wonderful museum.

If you’re interested in learning more about jump-starting your career in museums, make an appointment at The Career Center.

Photo credit: digdowntowndetroit/CC BY 2.0

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Posted by kirstenherold

Two Upcoming Immersion Excursions

January 26, 2011

Immersion Excursions are a unique opportunity for students to experience a “day in the life” at a specific organization, or in a particular industry. We’ve hosted immersions at multiple sites in Chicago, and with organizations as diverse as McKinsey & Co., Target, and Caterpillar.

This semester we’re offering a few more opportunities including an insider’s perspective on the music business, and a chance to learn about the always-popular marketing and advertising industry:

Music Industry Immersion Excursion with Ghostly International
Are you interested in working in the music business and want to learn more about the types of jobs available in the industry?

The Career Center is partnering with Ghostly International, a music-publishing company and record label located right here in Ann Arbor, to host an event just for you!

UM alum Jeremy Peters, Ghostly International’s Director of Creative Licensing and Business Affairs, will lead out this exploration into careers in the music industry on Friday, February 11th at The Career Center. Jeremy will talk about his experience working through the ranks from intern all the way to his current position, including the variety of roles he’s held along the way. Participants will have the chance to talk to Jeremy and other guests from different facets of the music industry, and will take part in a ‘case-study’ style simulation to gain a better understanding of what the business-side of music is really like. The day will end with a quick tour of Ghostly International’s office, a short walk from The Career Center.

This is a half-day event beginning at 9am and concluding at approximately 12pm. To be considered, interested students must submit a resume and a short (half-page) document explaining their interest in the music industry and what they hope to learn from this experience. Applicants will be considered on a rolling basis until 11:59 PM on February 3rd. This experience is open to students of any class level or major.
Questions? Please e-mail: tsuchii@umich.edu or call Scott Tsuchiyama at The Career Center, 734-764-7460.

Marketing and Advertising Immersion Excursion in Chicago
The Career Center announces a unique opportunity for students to get an insider’s look into marketing and advertising agencies from the people who know them best. The San Jose Group and Ogilvy have generously opened their doors to University of Michigan students to learn more about their companies, what a typical “day in the life” looks like, and tips for finding success in these fields.

On Monday, February 28 (Spring Break), Career Center staff will be in Chicago to guide participants through on-site visits to the San Jose Group and Ogilvy offices. This is an all day event and students must be able to be present in Chicago to participate. Travel arrangements are the responsibility of the student. The event will begin at 9:30 am and conclude at approximately 2pm.

Interested students must submit a resume and short essay to be considered. Applicants will be notified of their status following the February 3 deadline. Questions? email Geni Harclerode (gmichaud@umich.edu) at The Career Center, 734-764-7460.

This event is co-sponsored by Michigan Advertising and Marketing (MAM)

How to apply:
1. Log on to your Career Center Connector account: https://umich-csm.symplicity.com/students/

(Don’t have one yet? Just type in your umich email address under “Forgot My Password and have a password sent to you. Complete the profile and you’re all set!)

2. Upload your resume.

3. Find the “Music Industry Immersion Excursion” or “Marketing and Advertising Immersion Excursion” posting in the Jobs/Internships tab. Tip: Filter by “Position Type: Short Term Experience”

4. Click on the posting and follow the instructions to apply.

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Posted by Scott Tsuchiyama

Big Yellow Recap: Immersion Excursion at Caterpillar Inc.

August 11, 2010
Caterpillar excavator toy

It looks bigger in person

It’s almost comical to compare the size of the toy excavator I brought home last week to the size of the real ones I saw being built. But considering the limited space available on my desk, it was the perfect sized souvenir to bring home from Caterpillar’s Aurora plant. I had the opportunity to travel to the Chicago-area facility with a group of students and a colleague on one of our Immersion Excursions last Thursday, and learned a lot about Caterpillar Inc. and their Technical Marketing Development Program. A big thank you goes out to our hosts: Angela, Dean, Trevor, Brad, Kiara, and Hanni!

The day started out with something that’s taken very seriously at Caterpillar: safety. Dean ran through the facility’s safety procedures, and we were introduced to the steel-toe caps everyone must wear over their shoes, OSHA Toes. Knowledge (and safety goggles) in hand, we were able to move on to the fun stuff.

There was ample opportunity throughout the day to hear about career paths of a variety of CAT employees, including current interns and recent graduates. One theme that kept coming up was the wealth of opportunities available, as long as you’re willing to “raise your hand,” as our hosts kept telling us. Some were able to fill in skill gaps in technical or marketing areas in order to advance within the company. Others worked on special projects with company vice presidents. Our primary recruiting contact, Angela, was able to take on her role (one she holds in addition to her day-to-day responsibilities) simply by showing an interest and asking for exposure to college recruiting. It’s clear that opportunities for growth and advancement at CAT are there for the taking, as long as you show a little initiative.

Six Sigma guru Trevor ran us through a ‘rental simulation’ that offered a great opportunity to see first-hand how CAT solves problems and eliminates waste, rework, and idle time. All the participants were assigned roles to represent many aspects of CAT’s business and its customers. We ran through the simulation the first time, and it was much more difficult than it seemed — lots of missed equipment deliveries and communication issues across the board! After a debrief and application of some problem solving frameworks taught to us by Trevor, we ran the simulation a second time and fared much better. Our experience with the simulation made it clear that solid communication skills, an ability to work well as part of a team, and strong leadership skills are valued for potential Caterpillar employees.

Students and CAT employees at the immersion excursion

Posing with some brand-new machinery

After a nice lunch, we had the opportunity to tour the massive Aurora facility. We traveled over 2 miles, and that’s not even the whole place! Considering the sheer size of some of the equipment being made, it’s no wonder there was such a focus on safety at the start, and throughout the day. We witnessed metal being cut by laser and plasma (like a focused lightning bolt, our guide told us), 10 foot tall tires, and a machine that had to be shipped over to Japan in pieces, because there isn’t a crane big enough to pick it up off the boat fully assembled! It was also an opportunity to view some of the frameworks from the simulation being put into practice, and see that the organizational culture we heard about in the presentations was truly present throughout the facility.

In all, it was an enjoyable and informative day in Aurora, and we look forward to Caterpillar visiting campus this fall. They’ll be on-campus September 28th at the SWE/TBP Engineering Career Fair on North Campus, and September 29th at the Fall Career Expo at the Michigan Union (hosted by The Career Center). They’ll be recruiting for both full-time and internship positions. You can learn more about CAT and the Technical Marketing Development Program here: http://www.cat.com/cda/layout?m=190569&x=7 or connect with CAT on Facebook and @catcareers on Twitter.

You can read more about our immersion excursion programs, and check out this first-hand account of a previous immersion focused on marketing and advertising. Be sure to keep an eye out on this blog for the announcement of more immersions throughout the year!

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Posted by Scott Tsuchiyama

Technical Marketing Immersion Excursion at Caterpillar, Inc.

July 12, 2010


Want to get a jump start on your job/internship search for next year?

Interested in a global company who is hiring and will be recruiting at UM this fall?

Considering career options in marketing, consulting, management and/or sales?

Does a rotational training program sound interesting?

Interested in jobs in Chicago area, across the U.S., with the opportunity to eventually work abroad?

a Caterpillar truck

The Career Center is partnering with Caterpillar, Inc. to offer a Technical Marketing Immersion Excursion. Caterpillar is generously opening their doors to University of Michigan students to learn more about their company, what it takes to make it in their Technical Marketing Rotational Development Program , and how YOU can be a part of the action.

On Thursday, August 5, Career Center staff will be in Aurora, IL (suburb of Chicago) to guide participants through an on-site visit at Caterpillar, Inc. Participants will be given tours, meet with staff (including recent grads.) and recruiters, and participate in real-life simulations so you can better understand the work involved in technical marketing and the culture of CAT.

This is an all day event and students must be able to be present in Aurora, IL to participate. The event will begin at 9am and conclude at approximately 3pm. Interested students must submit a resume to be considered. Applicants will be considered on a rolling basis until 11:59 PM on July 21.

How to apply:

  1. Log on to your Career Center Connector account: https://umich-csm.symplicity.com/students/

    (Don’t have one yet? Just type in your umich email address under “Forgot My Password and have a password sent to you. Complete the profile and you’re all set!)

  2. Upload your resume.
  3. Find the “Technical Marketing Immersion Excursion” posting in the Jobs/Internships tab (Job ID # 12605). Tip: Filter by “Position Type: Short Term Experience”
  4. Click on the posting and follow the instructions to apply.

    5. All applications will be reviewed and selected students will be notified by The Career Center via e-mail shortly after the application deadline. Students selected will receive additional details when confirmation e-mails are sent. Participation is limited and preference will be given to seniors and juniors. We encourage you to apply early, as space is limited!

    Questions? Please e-mail: immersions@umich.edu or call Lynne Sebille-White or Scott Tsuchiyama at The Career Center, 734-764-7460.

    Photo credit:Sideshow Bruce / CC BY 2.0

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Posted by Scott Tsuchiyama

Immersion Excursions: What a difference a day makes!

January 20, 2010

Students at the News America Marketing Immersion Excursion

Students at the News America Marketing Immersion Excursion

At The Career Center, I regularly get the chance to visit employers on-site at their offices, and more often than not, I walk away thinking, “Wow – students should really get a chance to check this place out!” And usually in that same week, I will have had at least one conversation with a student raising questions like, “How am I supposed to know what it is I don’t know?”, “I think I might be interested in this, but how can I be sure?” and (a personal favorite), “What exactly does a consultant do anyway??”

Essentially, these questions are where the idea for our Immersion Excursion program came from. We knew companies were eager to interact with students in a more unique way, showing students what a “day in the life” of their office looks like, and we knew that many students felt like they could have a much better sense of what a company or an industry actually does if they could experience it first-hand.

Since our Immersion program began a couple years ago, I’ve watched students develop business plans, create a PR pitch, brainstorm a new ad campaign, predict spring fashion trends, hear a live radio broadcast, and work through consulting case studies, all side by side with industry professionals – many of them Michigan alums! What’s even more amazing is that this takes place in one day, and often students walk away with a much better understanding of whether this industry or organization could be a good fit for them.

Each semester The Career Center offers approximately 5-6 Immersions covering a wide range of industries and types of organizations. Applications are now being accepted for the following Immersions with more to come:

-Target Stores on February 4, DUE Jan 25
-Citizens Insurance on February 12, DUE  Jan 31
-Domino’s Pizza headquarters on February 19, DUE Feb 7

All applications can be found on The Career Center Connector. Search under the Jobs/Internships tab and filter by “short term experience” under the position type.

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Posted by genih

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