Curate Your Career
Curate Your Career is a podcast for museum professionals who are staying in the field, leaving it, or navigating the space in between. Hosted by Elin from Deaccessioned Career Coaching and Alli from Your Museum Career Coach, the show explores the real, messy, and often humorous sides of museum careers. Topics include burnout, difficult bosses, career pivots, salary increases, and rediscovering what you truly want in your professional life. It offers an honest and hopeful look at the challenges and opportunities within the museum world.
Episodes
34. August Job Search Reset: Stretch, Match, Mismatch
August Job Search Reset: Stretch, Match, or Mismatch?Elin and I are taking a short summer break, so we’re bringing back a few episodes that feel especially useful as we head into late summer and the post-Labor Day job search push.This week, we’re revisiting our episode on one of the biggest questions museum job seekers face: Should I actually apply for this job?It’s easy to look at a job descripti
33. August Job Search Reset: Cover Letters
August Job Search Reset: Cover LettersAlli and I are taking a short summer break, so we’re bringing back a few episodes that feel especially useful as we head into late summer and the post-Labor Day job search push.This week, we’re revisiting our episode on cover letters.Love them or hate them, cover letters can be one of the most helpful places to connect the dots between your experience and the
32. August Job Search Reset: Why Your Resume Isn’t Working
August Job Search Reset: Why Your Resume Isn’t WorkingAlli and I are taking a short summer break, so we’re bringing back a few episodes that feel especially useful as we head into late summer and the post-Labor Day job search push.This one is all about resumes... because before you start applying to everything, it’s worth asking whether your resume is actually doing its job.In this episode, we tal
31. Interview Prep 101: What Happens During the Interview
You prepared your stories.You researched the organization.You landed the interview.Now... what actually happens once the interview begins?In Part 2 of this interview series, Elin Filbey and Alli Schell walk through what actually happens during the interview process, from the initial screening call to panel interviews, presentations, final-round conversations, and everything in between.Interviews a
30. Interview Prep 101: What to Do Before the Interview
You got the interview. Amazing. Exciting. Slightly terrifying.Now what?In this episode, Elin and Alli kick off a new series on interviews, starting with everything that happens before you ever enter the Zoom room or walk into the building: the preparation.Because interview prep is not about memorizing perfect answers. It’s about understanding the role, researching the organization, knowing what st
29. Leveling Up Leadership Part 2 of 2: How to Build Leadership Experience Before You Have the Title
This episode is Part 2 of our conversation about leadership skills.In the previous episode, we talked about how to identify and define your leadership experience, especially if you don’t have a formal leadership title yet.In this episode, we’re getting practical.Once you know where you are and where you want to go, how do you actually build the leadership skills you need?Because here’s the thing:
28. Leveling Up Leadership Skills. Part 1 of 2: Are You Already Leading?
Leadership isn't just about becoming a manager.In museums, many professionals are already leading long before their job title reflects it. You might be managing projects, mentoring colleagues, solving problems across departments, influencing decisions, or becoming the person everyone turns to when something goes wrong.In Part 1 of this two-part series, Elin Filbey and Alli Schell explore what lead
27. Behind Deaccessioned Coaching: Helping Museum Pros Find What's Next with Elin Filbey
What happens when the career you've worked so hard for no longer aligns with the life you want to live?In this special episode of Curate Your Career, Alli turns the microphone on co-host Elin Filbey to explore the story behind Deaccessioned Coaching, the ONLY coaching business dedicated specifically to helping museum professionals navigate careers beyond museums!They discuss what led Elin to leave
26. Our AAM Recap: Connections, Careers, and Curate Your Community
What We Learned at AAMFresh off the American Alliance of Museums Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, Elin and Alli are reflecting on their biggest takeaways. It's not from the sessions, but from the conversations, connections, and unexpected moments that happened in between.In this informal recap episode, they discuss what it was like attending AAM as independent museum professionals, how networking f
25. From Teacher to Curator of Education: What Actually Helped Will Break Into Museums
For two years, Will did everything he thought he was supposed to do.He applied for museum jobs. He followed up. He networked. He hired a resume writer. He earned a master's degree. He volunteered.And still...nothing.In this episode, we sit down with Will Turner, a former high school history teacher who spent two years trying to break into museums before finally landing his current role as Curator
24. How to Be a LinkedIn Baddie
We get asked about resumes.We get asked about cover letters.We get asked about interviews.And we get a lot of questions about LinkedIn.How often should you post?Do recruiters actually find people there?Do you need LinkedIn Premium?Should you be networking with strangers?And what does it actually mean to have a "personal brand"?In this episode, Elin Filbey and Alli Schell break down what LinkedIn i
23. Why Your Cover Letter Isn't Working (And What to Do About It)
If writing a cover letter feels like staring at a blank screen while questioning every career decision you've ever made... you're not alone.In this episode, Elin Filbey and Alli Schell tackle one of the most frustrating parts of the job application process: the cover letter.Because despite what many job seekers hope, a cover letter isn't just a formality. In museums especially, it can be the diffe
22. Live from the American Alliance of Museum Annual Conference: Special Mailbag Episode
In this special live episode of Curate Your Career, Elin Filbey and Alli Schell take the podcast on the road to the American Alliance of Museums Annual Meeting for their very first live audience recording.What started as a shared idea between two internet friends became a candid, funny, and deeply honest conversation about the realities of museum careers and the questions museum professionals are
21. Why Your Resume Isn’t Working (And What to Do About It)
If you’ve been applying to jobs, getting auto-rejected, or hearing absolutely nothing back… this episode is for you.Elin Filbey and Alli Schell break down the biggest resume mistakes they see museum professionals making and why so many resumes fail before a hiring manager even seriously looks at them.Because most of the time, it’s not that you’re unqualified.It’s a strategy issue. It’s a communica
20. When Leaving Isn’t a Choice: Chronic Illness, Motherhood, and Letting Go of a Museum Career
Leaving the museum field is often framed as a choice.Better pay. Better work-life balance. A new career path.But sometimes… it’s not a choice at all.In this episode, Elin Filbey and Alli Schell talk with Sam McLaren-Fahey about what it looks like to leave museum work because life requires it, not because you want to.Sam spent years working in museum education and nonprofit programming before trans
19. Museum Grad School Series (Part 3 of 3): Alternatives & What the Field Gets Wrong
If you’ve made it this far in the series, you’re probably sitting with a big question:If I don’t go to grad school… what are my options?In Part 3 of this series, Elin Filbey and Alli Schell break down what it actually looks like to build a museum career without relying on a graduate degree and why that path is more viable (and necessary) than the field often acknowledges.Because while museum grad
18. Museum Grad School Series. Part 2 of 3: How to Evaluate a Program
If you’re considering museum grad school, this is the episode where things get real.In Part 1, we talked about whether grad school makes sense in the first place.In this episode, we’re assuming you are considering it and walking through how to actually evaluate programs so you can make a smart, informed decision.Because here’s the truth:Grad school is not just an academic decision. It’s a financia
17. Museum Grad School Series. Part 1 of 3: Should You Go?
This is one of the most common questions in the museum field: Should I go to grad school?And the honest answer is… it’s complicated.In this first episode of a three-part series, Elin Filbey and Alli Schell break down what actually goes into that decision... beyond the default advice to “just get the degree.”Drawing from their own experiences (both GW grads), insights from the Museum Pros subreddit
16. Museums Run on Emotional Labor, But Why isn't it Valued?
There’s a kind of work happening in museums that doesn’t show up in job descriptions, annual reports, or performance reviews, but it shapes everything.The way you calm a frustrated visitor, hold space for a volunteer going through a hard time, how you navigate conflict, or carry the emotional weight of your community.It’s the work beneath the work.In this episode of Curate Your Career, Alli Schell
15. What If You Didn’t Leave the Objects, Just the Museum? Ryan's Story.
A few weeks ago, Elin shared a LinkedIn post about an alternative career path for museum professionals... and it struck a nerve.What if you could keep working with objects… just not in a museum?In this episode of Curate Your Career, Elin Filbey and Alli Schell sit down with Ryan Jelso, a former curator at The Henry Ford, who pivoted into estate services, appraisal, and personal collections work.Ry
14. Mail Bag #3
In this third Mail Bag episode, Alli Schell and Elin Filbey answer listener questions about navigating early vs. mid-career roles, breaking into (or moving up within) the museum field, and what it really takes to stand out in today’s job market.They unpack the nuance behind “Am I qualified enough?”, especially for those with transferable skills and dive into the realities of freelancing and consul
13. Advocating for Museum Workers (Not Just Museums)
Who gets to shape the future of museums?For a long time, advocacy in the museum field has focused on institutions (funding, preservation, and public programs). But what about the people doing the work?In this episode of Curate Your Career, Elin Filbey and Alli Schell are joined by members of the National Emerging Museum Professionals Network (NEMPN) board to talk about Museum Workers Advocacy Day
12. Soo... You Got Fired. Now What?
Getting fired, laid off, or unexpectedly losing a job can feel devastating. Especially in a field where so much of our identity is tied to the work we do.In this episode of Curate Your Career, Elin Filbey and Alli Schell tackle a difficult but incredibly common experience in museum careers: what happens when a job ends before you expected it to.They talk openly about the emotional fallout, the pra
11. Volunteerism as Professional Development (How to Build Skills Without Another Job)
What if one of the best ways to build new career skills… didn’t involve getting another job?Volunteer work is often overlooked as professional experience, but when done intentionally it can be a powerful way to develop leadership, explore new fields, and expand your network.In this episode, we’re joined by Angela Williamson, CVA, a Certified Volunteer Administrator and volunteer engagement consult
10. Stretch, Match, or Mismatch? Applying Strategically in a Tough Market
Are you applying for jobs you could do… or jobs you’re actually ready for?In this episode of Curate Your Career, Elin and Alli tackle one of the most common (and emotionally charged) questions they hear from clients: “Should I apply if I don’t meet everything?”Together, they break down:Why the “apply if you meet 60%” advice often backfiresHow hiring managers actually read years of experienceThe di
9. Mail Bag #2
In this second Mailbag episode, Alli Schell and Elin Filbey answer listener questions about graduate school investments, career pivots, and the emotional weight that often comes with choosing or leaving museum work.They unpack why not all museum studies programs offer equal opportunity (and how to think critically before enrolling), and how transferable skills can open unexpected doors. They also
8. Leaving Museums Didn’t Mean Failing, It Meant Choosing Myself: Mary’s Career Pivot Story
What happens when your passion for museums isn’t enough anymore?In this episode of Curate Your Career, Elin and Alli sit down with Mary Culler to talk honestly about her decision to step away from the museum field and into a new role in a new field.Mary shares what it looked like to confront financial instability, emotional labor, and work-life imbalance and how she navigated the fear, grief, and
7. Negotiating Isn’t Rude (and Other Lies We’ve Been Told)
Alli and Elin delve into the fears and misconceptions associated with negotiation. The episode covers unsuccessful negotiation experiences, rescinded job offers, and negotiation dynamics. It also discusses advocating for yourself and reaching a mutual agreement, as well as preparation for negotiation and the value proposition. The conversation covers the topic of negotiation in job offers, emphasi
6. Designing Better Museum Internships (for Interns AND Institutions) with Sierra Von Ryck DeGroot
In this episode of Curate Your Career, Alli Schell is joined by Sierra Van Ryck DeGroot, Associate Educator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, for an honest conversation about internships in the museum field: what works, what doesn’t, and what should change.Together, they unpack their own formative internship experiences, the role of mentorship and representation, and why meaningful, paid internsh
5. Not “Just” the Museum Gift Shop: Career Pathways with Melody Caban
In this episode, Alli and Elin are joined by Melody Caban, a museum gift shop consultant, to unpack the often-overlooked role of museum retail and the people who power it. Melody shares her pathway into the field, how museum store work builds highly transferable skills, and why frontline staff deserve a seat at the table in institutional decision-making.We explore how museum stores contribute to i
4. And Now We Wait... Tips for Surviving the Job Search Waiting Game
This episode tackles the challenges of waiting during the job application process, particularly in the museum field. Hosts Elin and Alli discuss strategies to stay proactive and positive while navigating long hiring processes, offering tips on networking, skill-building, and maintaining motivation.Takeaways:Waiting during job applications can be stressful but manageable.Networking doesn't have to
3. Mail Bag #1
SummaryIn this Mailbag episode, Alli Schell and Elin Filbey tackle various questions from museum professionals, focusing on job interviews, career transitions, and the value of education in museums. They provide insights on how to effectively communicate skills, navigate the job market, and consider opportunities outside the museum sector, while also addressing the challenges faced by internationa
2. All About... Us!
Before we dive into career advice, mailbag rants, and hard truths, let’s introduce ourselves. In this episode, Elin and Alli share the stories that led them here and why they’re creating a space for honest conversations about museum careers, whether you’re staying, leaving, or somewhere in between.TakeawaysThe podcast aims to support museum professionals in their career journeys.Both hosts have ex
1. Listen to This Before You Rage Quit Your Museum Job
Before you rage quit your museum job (we’ve all thought about it), listen to this episode. Elin and Alli break down how to tell the difference between a bad week and a bad fit, the questions you actually need to ask yourself before leaving, and how to make a thoughtful exit plan... without burning bridges or blowing up your finances.Ask a Mail Bag Question: https://forms.gle/gfKXWCKe8kMWMgrS6Takea
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