intern

philanthropy manager

guest service agent

facilities engineer

public health intern

The Phillips Collection

The Museum Assistant position is pretty decent. It's a good stepping-stone job for artists and museum professionals. There are opportunities to network and gain experience through interdepartmental detail assignments. Lunches are an hour long and paid and you can opt into a retirement program. However, it is minimum wage, you will be on your feet all day, and there is disorganization from upper management. If I were just reviewing the MA position, I'd give it 4 stars.

Reviewing the Supervisor position, however, I can't give working here more than 2 stars, and that's a whole star just for the paid hour lunches. I received little to no training and dealt constantly with the consequences of incredibly poor management. Any issue I brought to management was either dismissed or became another project on my already full plate. Each day was filled with anxiety and/or chaos and management was consistently demeaning and patronizing. There is no discipline. The promotion of candidates was clearly by favoritism and other unfair practices. I began seriously job hunting within months of being hired. 

I recommend the MA position, but use it only as a stepping stone to another organization. Otherwise, do yourself a favor and look elsewhere.

A typical day:
-Assisting artists, speakers, and performers with presentations
-Setting up multiple video cameras and switching between while recording
-Sound checking and analyzing audio throughout presentations
-Working as a member of a team to create a successful project/experience
-Setting up lighting

What I've learned:
-To communicate non-verbally with a team during presentations/performances so as to not impact the viewers' experience while producing a successful project

Co-workers:
-Working successfully with a wide variety of personalities
-Working for rotating department leaders to set up the event and create a final product

The most difficult part of the job:
-This is a part-time job, so I work on an as-needed basis

The most enjoyable part of the job:
-Using video and editing to create a successful project

Overall, this is not the  best nor the worst place I have ever worked. If you work as a museum assistant be prepared for virtually every other department to stick their nose up at you, and ESPECIALLY beware HR. They should not be allowed to be anybody‘s human resource, period. This museum would be unable to function without its security staff, but we‘re paid minimum wage and given little to no benefits. That being said, they also need to raise their standard for who they hire here—some of these people should not be working with the public and it shows. I have met great people working here and I appreciate the paid, hour long lunches. There is, however, little opportunity for growth. If you‘re a student or part-time artist it‘s a great gig, but not mucj more than that.

A typical day for example is getting posted in a random gallery and assisting any visitors with inquiries. You are not allowed to read or write/take notes while on post. Your job is preventative rather than proactive. You are there in case of emergency evacuation where you simply ensure that the visitors are safe, the art is safe and of course that you are safe. The hardest part of the job is standing on your feet for 8 hours. If your post is empty, you are permitted to sit, but not all of the galleries have chairs in them. The most enjoyable part of the job is being around art history majors or artists all day, everyone is there for a common reason, they love art.

I worked as a customer service representative and administrative assistant for a short period of time. I can tell you for certain that this company has a high employee turnover rate. They hire and fire employees practically everyday. Some of my co-workers there were very nice and actually wanted to help me learn and grow, but others made it clear that they were not interested in that at all. For such a nice company, they sure have some less than amiable people working for them. They don't provide full benefits. Job security is a laugh; they would fire people for just looking at them wrong.

Management is a welcome change of pace from prior experience, they are easy to talk to, and since most have started as museum assistants are understanding of any problems that may arise. Benefits are good, happy to receive compensation for off days and pay is fair. Do wish they were able to compensate for the commute, but the metro card system they have is still convenient. Coworkers are great, most come from similar backgrounds (art school or history) and are generally easygoing. Guests are mostly polite and understanding, and even on busy days the job is never terrifically stressful.

Overall, I very much enjoyed my years working at the Phillips. 

Their board culture and leadership is the very best I've experienced in any organization. As a fundraiser, that is a powerful asset.

Their unique "Phillipsian" culture is strong and can be insular or inflexible at times, but supports innovation in other ways.

My days are usually productive with little interference!  I found it absurd when fellow employees with less experience, did not appreciate the degree of difficulty that goes into doing my job successfully!  I found it very gratifying when the AV Department was able to meet and go beyond the needs of our clients, i.e., internal/external.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Benefits as part time employee 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Full time opportunities are rare.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Very inclusive and diverse groups with a large sense of community arts engagement.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Visitor facing, spend time with incredible art all day with plenty of opportunities for growth.

- Two 15-minute breaks and one-hour lunch break for day-long shift
-Networking and culture
-Very involved at keeping the staff updated on procedures, exhibitions, and recent events
-Ideal
-Dealing with incorrigible visitors
-Being surrounded by art

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Intern 15 salaries reported	$18.10 per hour
Philanthropy manager 1 salary reported	$63,500 per year
Guest service agent 1 salary reported	$18.55 per hour
Facilities engineer 1 salary reported	$41.75 per hour
Public health intern 3 salaries reported	$18.17 per hour

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