Overview
Museum assistants take care of customers and security in museums and galleries. This is a responsible job and you will need to be aware of security issues and act quickly in an emergency. Be polite and pleasant when dealing with customers, have good time keeping skills and a good eye for detail. Be confident and enjoy meeting lots of people.
Activities
- Look after visitors, answer their questions and help them find their way around the building.
- Be responsible for keeping valuable exhibits safe from accidents and damage.
- Patrol the building to monitor security and make sure the exhibits are in good order. Report accidents and damage.
- Help curators and other senior staff to move and change displays and exhibitions.
- You may have to issue entrance tickets, serve customers in the shop, do some administration duties and clean the building.
Organisation
Museums range from small art/craft galleries to large buildings with lots of different exhibitions and rooms. In Devon we have a number of museums such as Royal Albert Memorial Museum (Exeter), The Box (Plymouth), Compton Castle (Paignton) and The Museum of British Surfing (Braunton).
Workplace
You would be working indoors and be on your feet for most of the day. Wearing a uniform would be highly likely so visitors would know you were a member of staff right away.
Working Hours
The hours would be full time around 37 per week, although some can be part time hours. Mainly evening and weekends, with some smaller museums open during the day on a rota basis.
Salary
Starting salary £15,000
Qualifications
You do not need any particular qualifications to become a museum assistant, although many museums will require you to have a good general standard of education, especially in English and Maths. You’ll be in a stronger position when looking for work if you have experience in customer care, an interest in museums and their services and volunteering experience in a museum, gallery or heritage attraction.
You could also apply for an apprenticeship. If you have an EHCP you may be able to apply under the Dfe exemption which allows the apprentice to use Entry Level 3 English and Maths qualifications. The apprentice would have to be competent enough to successfully achieve all other aspects of the apprenticeship requirements, become occupationally competent and achieve Entry Level 3 in English and Maths before the end of their apprenticeship.