Curate Your Career

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 practical steps to take next, and how to rebuild confidence after a job loss.

From navigating LinkedIn and networking conversations to crafting your story for future interviews, Elin and Alli walk through the mindset shifts and strategies that help museum professionals move forward without losing their sense of purpose or value.

They also explore a bigger truth many people in the field experience: sometimes losing a job isn’t a personal failure. Sometimes it’s a reflection of deeper structural issues within museums, including burnout culture, underfunding, and unrealistic expectations placed on staff.

If you’ve recently been fired, laid off, or are worried it might happen someday, this episode offers honest guidance and reassurance that one job ending does not define your career.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why getting fired doesn’t automatically mean you were bad at your job
How museum professionals often internalize systemic problems in the field
What to do (and what not to do) immediately after losing a job
How to reach out to your network without oversharing or feeling ashamed
The best way to talk about being fired in interviews and professional conversations
Why taking time to reflect before jumping into the next role matters
How to rebuild confidence and reconnect with your professional strengths

This episode is a reminder that career setbacks are not the end of your story. They’re often the beginning of a new direction.
Key Takeaways
Getting fired or laid off does not erase your skills or the work you contributed.
Many museum job losses stem from structural issues like funding challenges, leadership turnover, or unclear expectations.
You don’t need to rush into the next opportunity. Taking time to reflect is critical.
Leaning on trusted mentors, colleagues, and friends can help you navigate the emotional and professional aftermath.
When discussing job loss in interviews, focus on clarity and forward momentum rather than blame or oversharing.
Losing a job can be an opportunity to reassess your career goals and identify what you truly want next.
Chapters
00:00 Why We’re Talking About Getting Fired
04:45 Personal Stories and Museum Career Realities
14:20 The Emotional Aftermath of Job Loss
19:30 Reaching Out to Your Support Network
23:00 Navigating LinkedIn and Public Job Announcements
34:00 How to Talk About Being Fired in Interviews
46:00 Using This Moment to Reassess Your Career
53:00 Rebuilding Confidence After a Job Loss
1:02:00 A Mindset Exercise for Letting Go and Moving Forward
Keywords
museum careers
museum jobs
career transition
museum layoffs
getting fired
career coaching
museum professionals
museum career advice
career setback
museum burnout
professional resilience
museum leadership

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 consultant. Together we unpack how volunteer roles can help you build skills, expand your network, and explore new career directions, whether you’re trying to advance within your field or transition into something new.

We also tackle some of the biggest misconceptions around volunteering, including the idea that it’s “not real experience,” and share practical advice for making volunteer roles work for your career goals.

In this conversation we discuss:
How volunteering can help you build new skills and leadership experience
The right way to approach organizations when you want to volunteer strategically
Why volunteer work absolutely belongs on your resume
How nonprofits can design better volunteer opportunities
The importance of leaving volunteer roles well (and why ghosting hurts everyone)
Why volunteer engagement should be seen as a strategic asset, not free labor

Whether you're exploring a career shift, trying to gain management experience, or simply looking for meaningful ways to contribute to your community, this episode will help you think about volunteering in a whole new way.
Guest
Angela Williamson, CVA
Volunteer Community Relations Specialist, Blood Bank of Delmarva
Founder, Volunteer Engagement Accelerator
Angela helps nonprofits design stronger volunteer programs that attract, retain, and empower volunteers through intentional engagement strategies.

🔗 Connect with Angela
LinkedIn: Angela Williamson
Website: AngelaWilliamsonCVA.com
Key Takeaways
Volunteer work can be strategic career development

Volunteering can help you:
Gain leadership experience
Build new skills
Explore new career directions
Expand your professional network
Strengthen your resume

You can volunteer outside your field
If you're trying to develop a specific skill (like management or budgeting) you can often find opportunities in nonprofits outside your current industry.

Ask for what you want to learn

Instead of waiting for the perfect opportunity, you can approach organizations and say:
“I’m hoping to build experience in ___. Are there opportunities where I could contribute while learning that skill?”
Volunteer experience absolutely belongs on your resume
If a volunteer role helps demonstrate a skill relevant to the job you're pursuing, it can appear alongside professional experience, not buried at the bottom.

Leave volunteer roles professionally

If you need to move on:
Communicate clearly
Provide a transition
Document your work

Leaving well protects your reputation and keeps the relationship strong.

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 consultant. Together we unpack how volunteer roles can help you build skills, expand your network, and explore new career directions, whether you’re trying to advance within your field or transition into something new.

We also tackle some of the biggest misconceptions around volunteering, including the idea that it’s “not real experience,” and share practical advice for making volunteer roles work for your career goals.

In this conversation we discuss:
How volunteering can help you build new skills and leadership experience
The right way to approach organizations when you want to volunteer strategically
Why volunteer work absolutely belongs on your resume
How nonprofits can design better volunteer opportunities
The importance of leaving volunteer roles well (and why ghosting hurts everyone)
Why volunteer engagement should be seen as a strategic asset, not free labor

Whether you're exploring a career shift, trying to gain management experience, or simply looking for meaningful ways to contribute to your community, this episode will help you think about volunteering in a whole new way.
Guest
Angela Williamson, CVA
Volunteer Community Relations Specialist, Blood Bank of Delmarva
Founder, Volunteer Engagement Accelerator
Angela helps nonprofits design stronger volunteer programs that attract, retain, and empower volunteers through intentional engagement strategies.

🔗 Connect with Angela
LinkedIn: Angela Williamson
Website: AngelaWilliamsonCVA.com
Key Takeaways
Volunteer work can be strategic career development

Volunteering can help you:
Gain leadership experience
Build new skills
Explore new career directions
Expand your professional network
Strengthen your resume

You can volunteer outside your field
If you're trying to develop a specific skill (like management or budgeting) you can often find opportunities in nonprofits outside your current industry.

Ask for what you want to learn

Instead of waiting for the perfect opportunity, you can approach organizations and say:
“I’m hoping to build experience in ___. Are there opportunities where I could contribute while learning that skill?”
Volunteer experience absolutely belongs on your resume
If a volunteer role helps demonstrate a skill relevant to the job you're pursuing, it can appear alongside professional experience, not buried at the bottom.

Leave volunteer roles professionally

If you need to move on:
Communicate clearly
Provide a transition
Document your work

Leaving well protects your reputation and keeps the relationship strong.

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 backfires
How hiring managers actually read years of experience
The difference between exposure and ownership
Why overselling and underselling come from the same place
How to stop emotionally gambling on stretch roles

You’ll learn the three categories every job application falls into:
1️⃣ Anchor Roles – where you should be competitive
2️⃣ Strategic Stretch Roles – growth opportunities (without attachment to outcome)
3️⃣ Mismatch Roles – the energy drains that erode confidence

If you’ve ever:
Applied to 100 jobs and heard nothing back
Felt frustrated that “they didn’t see your potential”
Chased a dream title at a dream institution
Or played it too safe because your confidence took a hit

This episode will help you apply strategically, with honesty, intention, and self-compassion.

Because not every application is meant to land an interview.
And that’s not failure. It’s information.
Chapters
00:00 – The Real Question Behind “Should I Apply?”
02:08 – Why the 60% Rule Doesn’t Work Anymore
05:19 – Why Applying Isn’t Free (Protecting Your Energy & Confidence)
10:13 – The Three Types of Applications
12:24 – Anchor Roles: Where You Should Be Competitive
15:26 – Trusting the Process (Don’t Overcorrect Too Soon)
17:47 – Strategic Stretch Roles: Growth Without Emotional Gambling
20:39 – Be a Goldfish: Detaching From Outcomes
24:22 – Title Mismatch & Making Your Case
27:16 – Mismatch Roles: Energy Drains to Eliminate
33:29 – Dream Titles & Hard Truths
36:06 – The Self-Assessment Walkthrough
37:45 – Led vs Assisted: Duties vs Exposure
38:50 – Scope vs Skill (Scale Matters)
40:59 – What Do You Actually Want From This Role?
43:09 – Why We Oversell and Undersell
47:13 – A Real Client Example
48:25 – Strategy as Self-Compassion
Keywords
museum careers
job search strategy
career coaching
museum professionals
career transition
stretch roles
job application advice
years of experience requirements
overselling yourself
underselling yourself
career pivot
hiring manager perspective
museum job market
professional growth
strategic job search

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 talk candidly about guilt, regret, family expectations, and the very real identity shifts that come with career change.

Whether you’re navigating the museum job market, considering grad school, transitioning back into museums, or wrestling with “Am I allowed to want something different?” this episode is for you.

Ask a Mailbag Question:
https://forms.gle/m41nnxPS4TKXQ1i89

Takeaways
Advocacy for museums should be accessible and grassroots.
Higher education in museum studies is a significant investment and not all museum grad programs provide equal opportunities.
Teaching and other transferable skills are valuable in museum roles.
Networking remains one of the most powerful job-search tools.
Guilt and regret are common when considering career shifts.
The museum field is evolving and so are career paths.
Support systems (including family) matter more than we admit.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Mailbag Overview
01:20 Museum Advocacy & Accessibility Rant
09:10 Navigating Career Paths in Museums
25:01 Guilt, Identity & Career Transitions
31:31 Organizational Challenges & Boundaries
33:28 Job Market Barriers
44:00 Transitioning Back to Museums
51:00 Family Supporting Aspiring Museum Professionals

Keywords:
museum advocacy, museum careers, museum studies, career transitions, museum education, transferable skills, museum jobs, networking, grad school decisions, museum professionals, career coaching, museum job market