You know you need a new job. You might even REALLY want a new job. But opening another job board, rewriting another cover letter, or getting another rejection email? Absolutely not.

If you're frustrated with job hunting, we get it.

Whether you're deep into a museum job search, trying to leave the museum field, or pursuing something completely different, finding the motivation for job search tasks can feel like a full-time job itself.

In this episode, we're sharing the strategies we actually use (and recommend to our clients) to make job searching less overwhelming. Because when your job search motivation has disappeared, the answer isn't necessarily to push harder. Sometimes you need better systems, smaller steps, and permission to do things your own way.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why you're feeling stuck and how to find your motivation for job search activities when you're already exhausted
• Why applying to 10 jobs isn't necessarily better than applying to one that's a genuinely good fit, especially during a competitive museum job search
• Our favorite job search motivation tools, including templates, timers, trackers, organized folders, and a separate job search email
• How to measure progress beyond submitted applications, lean on your network, and take breaks without feeling guilty

If you're frustrated with job hunting because you're doing everything you think you're supposed to do and still not seeing results, this episode is for you.

Sometimes the best way to rebuild your job search motivation is to stop fighting yourself and start making the process easier.

Resources mentioned:

Re-Curate Your Career

The Daily Page by Thyme Is Honey

Episode 4: And Now We Wait... Tips for Surviving the Job Search Waiting Game

Episode 10: Stretch, Match, or Mismatch? Applying Strategically in a Tough Market

Episode 21. Why Your Resume Isn’t Working (And What to Do About It)

Episode 23. Why Your Cover Letter Isn't Working (And What to Do About It)

Keep the conversation going:

What's the part of your job search that makes you want to close your laptop and walk away? Follow Curate Your Career on Instagram and tell us.

Have a career question? Submit it to our mailbag!

Thinking about leaving museums? Work with Elin:

1:1 Career Coaching

Resume Course

Deaccessioned Community

Email Elin at ElinFilbeyCoaching@gmail.com

Looking to enter or grow in museums? Work with Alli:

1:1 Museum Career Coaching

Museum Career Resource Library

Email Alli at yourmuseumcareer@gmail.com

Do you need a personal brand to build a successful museum career? And does that mean posting on LinkedIn every day, becoming a thought leader, or turning yourself into an influencer?

Thankfully, no.

In this episode, we're joined by Haydn Corrodus, a social media and digital marketing consultant who's worked with more than 300 arts and culture organizations, museums, and libraries. We're unpacking what is a personal brand, why professional visibility matters, and how to build a reputation that opens doors without feeling like you're constantly selling yourself.

Because whether you're intentionally building a personal brand or not, people already associate things with you professionally. The question is whether those associations reflect your skills, passions, and career goals.

In this episode, we cover:

• What a personal brand actually is, and why it's about more than aesthetics, followers, or becoming an influencer
• How professional visibility helps you stay top of mind for jobs, collaborations, and career opportunities
• Why emerging museum professionals don't need years of experience to share valuable perspectives
• Ways to build meaningful relationships and professional networks without feeling transactional
• How museum professionals can share their expertise consistently without chasing algorithms or posting every day

The takeaway? You don't need to reinvent yourself to become more visible. Start by sharing what you care about, the work you're doing, and the perspective you bring to the field.

Resources mentioned:

Visible on Purpose

American Alliance of Museums

Connect with Haydn Corrodus:

Website

LinkedIn

Instagram

Keep the conversation going:

Do you feel like you have a personal brand, or does the idea still make you cringe a little? Follow Curate Your Career on Instagram and tell us what you think.

Have a museum career question? Submit it for a future mailbag episode!

Explore life beyond museums with Elin:

1:1 Coaching

Resume Course

Deaccessioned Facebook Community

Build your museum career with Alli:

1:1 Coaching

Museum Career Resource Library

When your museum job starts feeling uncertain, do you wait it out or start planning your exit?

And if you know you want something different, how do you keep your museum job search moving when your current job is draining your energy?

In this mailbag episode, we’re answering three listener questions about career uncertainty, strategic pivots, and figuring out what comes next.

We talk about building an exit plan before you need one, exploring museum career opportunities and adjacent roles, and staying competitive for future museum jobs when your career takes you outside the traditional museum path. We also dig into museum job titles and what to do when your title doesn’t reflect the work you’re actually doing.

In this episode, we cover:

• How to build an exit strategy when your museum job feels uncertain
• Where to find adjacent museum career opportunities that make sense for your skills
• How to keep your experience relevant for future museum jobs when working in a gallery or adjacent field
• Why museum job titles matter and how to make a case for a title change
• How to protect your energy while keeping your museum job search moving in a difficult work environment

Resources mentioned:

Resume Course – Elin’s resource for identifying transferable museum skills and potential career pathways

HigherEdJobs.com - A place to search for roles in the D.C. area and beyond for those seeking alternative career options

EdSkip – A remote job board focused on education-related roles

Upwork and Fiverr – Platforms for exploring freelance and contract work

A Fool’s Errand by Lonnie G. Bunch III

Keep the conversation going:

Follow @curateyourcareerpodcast on Instagram and tell us: What’s the biggest career decision you’re navigating right now?

Have a museum career question you’d like us to talk through? Submit it for a future mailbag episode!

Explore life beyond museums with Elin:

1:1 Coaching

Resume Course

Deaccessioned: A Network for Former and Aspiring Ex-Museum Pros

LinkedIn

Email Elin at ElinFilbeyCoaching@gmail.com

Build your museum career with Alli:

1:1 Coaching

Resource Library

LinkedIn

Instagram

Email Alli at yourmuseumcareer@gmail.com