3.3 Analysis of job profiles requiring technology skills

3.3.1 Overview

It is perhaps not surprising that all categories (with the exception of that of Consultants) indicated the need for basic computer literacy skills, or Category #1 (see Figure 2).

Number of Position Requiring Basic Computer Skills (#1)

AAM Position Category	Internet/Web Skills (#3)
Directors/Administrators	1
Accounting/Finance	0
IT/Web	7
Exhibitions	3
Programming/Education	12
PR/Marketing	1
Development/Membership	3
Collections Mgt/Registrar	0
Curatorial	1
Conservation	0
Administrative/Clerical	2
Visitor/Customer Services	3
Human Resources	0
Consultants	0

Almost sixty-eight percent (67.9%) of all job postings (129 of 190 – see Table 2 in Section 3.2) stipulated some form of knowledge of basic Office skills, and it can be understood that where these skills were not requested, they were assumed. This does not mean that all job postings articulated the need for complete Office Suite competency; however a certain proportion of job postings in each category listed a need for some combination of the Office Suite skills. In this same logic, that only three of 11 job postings within the IT/Web category requested knowledge of Category #1 skills should be understood as another example of tacit knowledge for this job profile.

One might conclude likewise for Category #3 (see Figure 3), where familiarity with, and use of, the Internet/WWW was considered important in only 17.4% (33) of the job postings (see Table 2 in Section 3.2). These skills should also be considered tacit knowledge. Having said this, two job profiles (IT/Web and Programming/Education) specifically stated familiarity with this domain, particularly for research purposes. IT/Web and Programming/Education departments rely daily on the skills to navigate the web in a critical and productive manner. In general, however, one can assume that with rare exception, incoming and current museum professionals already have a certain level of competency of the skills of Categories #1 and #3.

Number of Positions Requiring Web/Internet Skills (#3)

AAM Position Category	Database Management Skills (#5)
Directors/Administrators	3
Accounting/Finance	2
IT/Web	1
Exhibitions	1
Programming/Education	9
PR/Marketing	1
Development/Membership	2
Collections Mgt/Registrar	5
Curatorial	13
Conservation	0
Administrative/Clerical	2
Visitor/Customer Services	1
Human Resources	0
Consultants	1

If almost 68% of all job postings indicated the need for basic Office software skills, knowledge of relational databases (Category #5) was considered integral to 21.6% of all postings (41 of 190 – see Table 2 in Section 3.2), and the skill was mentioned in at least some job postings within all job profiles, with the exception of Conservation and Human Resources (see Figure 4). The importance of database skills was most notable in the areas of Accounting/Finance (2/3); Curatorial (13/30); Administrative/Clerical Support (2/13); Programming/Education (9/30); and Collections Management/Registrar (5/21).

Number of Positions Requiring Museums-Specific Software Skills (#4)

AAM Position Category	Museum-specific IT Skills (#4)
Directors/Administrators	10
Accounting/Finance	1
IT/Web	2
Exhibitions	1
Programming/Education	0
PR/Marketing	0
Development/Membership	4
Collections Mgt/Registrar	6
Curatorial	2
Conservation	1
Administrative/Clerical	1
Visitor/Customer Services	1
Human Resources	0
Consultants	0

Specialized museums software (Category #4 – see Figure 5) was specified in 15.3% (29 of 190 – see Table 2 in Section 3.2) of all job postings. Ten of 14 categories indicated the need for knowledge of some form of museum specific software (notably Raiser's Edge; PeopleSoft ERP; Premier; PastPerfect; TMS; Crystal Reports; Argus; KE-Emu; Mimsy XG, among others).

Number of Positions Requiring Database Skills (#5)

AAM Position Category	Database Management Skills (#5)
Directors/Administrators	3
Accounting/Finance	2
IT/Web	1
Exhibitions	1
Programming/Education	9
PR/Marketing	1
Development/Membership	2
Collections Mgt/Registrar	5
Curatorial	13
Conservation	0
Administrative/Clerical	2
Visitor/Customer Services	1
Human Resources	0
Consultants	1

This knowledge is particularly relevant to people seeking positions in the following sectors: Directors/Administrators (10/33); Accounting/Finance (1/3); Development/Membership (4/10); Registrar/Collections Management (6/21); and Conservation (1/3), and to a more limited extent (under 20%) in the Curatorial (1/15); Visitor/Customer Service (1/8); Administrative/Clerical Support (1/13); and Exhibitions (1/16); and IT/Web (2/11) sectors.

Specialized non-museum specific software (Category #2 – see Figure 6) was specified in 12.6% (24 of 190 – see Table 2) of all job postings, notably in Exhibitions (8/16); Collections Management/Registrar (6/21); and Curatorial (5/30).

Number of Positions Requiring Specialized Software Skills (#2)

AAM Position Category	Specialized IT Skills (#2)
Directors/Administrators	0
Accounting/Finance	0
IT/Web	1
Exhibitions	8
Programming/Education	1
PR/Marketing	1
Development/Membership	0
Collections Mgt/Registrar	6
Curatorial	5
Conservation	0
Administrative/Clerical	0
Visitor/Customer Services	1
Human Resources	0
Consultants	1

3.3.2 Job profiles

Of 33 job postings under the profile of Directors/Administrators, the most important technological skills were those grouped in categories 1 (19/33), 4 (10/33), and 5 (3/33) (see Figure 7). Specifically, knowledge of management tools and fundraising software in addition to the ability of managing a database are considered important skills for the types of jobs profiled within this sector, including positions ranging from the Director of Membership; Grants Manager; and VP of Exhibitions and Programs; to the Director of Development. Of all of these job types, it is this last position, Director of Development, which requires the greatest familiarity with specialized museum software, notably Raiser's Edge.

Skills required by Directors/Adminstrators (n=33 job postings)

Skill type	Total number of positions
Basic IT skills	19
Specialized IT skills	0
Internet/Web skills	1
Museum-specific software skills	10
Database management skills	3

Within the Accounting/Finance sector, knowledge of PeopleSoft ERP for managing human resources is deemed important for a position as a Controller (See Figure 8).

Skills required for Accounting/Finance Positions (n=3 jobs postings)

Skill type	Total number of positions
Basic IT skills	1
Specialized IT skills	0
Internet/Web skills	0
Museum-specific software skills	1
Database management skills	2

Skills in all five categories are important to museum professionals considering positions within the IT/Web sectors, notably those working in the areas of New Media, Communications, and as IT Project Managers (see Figure 9). Notably, skills related to category #3 (Internet/Web) are considered the most valuable, and in this regard, professionals will want to have sound knowledge of how to design, create and maintain websites and web content; in addition to having familiarity with online communities, taxonomies, SEO (search engine optimization) and web analytics.

Skills Required for Information Technology/Web Positions (n=11 jobs postings)

Skill type	Total number of positions
Basic IT skills	3
Specialized IT skills	1
Internet/Web skills	7
Museum-specific software skills	2
Database management skills	1

In the sector of Exhibitions, skills in categories #1, 2, and 3 are most often required, and are occasionally requested in categories 4 and 5 (see Figure 10). Knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite, Final Cut Studio, Effects, Flash, InDesign, Illustrator, AutoCAD and Vectorworks, as well as PastPerfect collections management software are all considered necessary for careers ranging from Exhibit Developer or Graphic Designer to Media Technician, Exhibitions Coordinator, and Curator of Exhibitions.

Skills Required for Information Technology/Web Positions (n=11 jobs postings)

Skill type	Total number of positions
Basic IT skills	9
Specialized IT skills	8
Internet/Web skills	3
Museum-specific software skills	1
Database management skills	1

Programming /Education job profiles highlighted skills in categories 1, 3, and 5 (see Figure 11). For museum professionals seeking careers as Program Coordinators or Education and Interpretation Assistants, knowledge of graphic design programs such as Adobe Creative Suite is considered an asset, while proficiency in MS Access is also considered important. A certain level of web literacy is also not infrequently mentioned, either for research or to aid in producing material for the museum's own website.

Skills Required for Positions in Programming/Education (n=30 jobs postings)

Skill type	Total number of positions
Basic IT skills	29
Specialized IT skills	1
Internet/Web skills	12
Museum-specific software skills	0
Database management skills	9

For positions in the sector of Public Relations and Marketing, skills in categories 1, 2, 3 and 5 are listed, notably knowledge of MS Access (category #5) (see Figure 12).

Skills Required for Positions in Public Relations / Marketing (n=30 jobs postings)

Skill type	Total number of positions
Basic IT skills	4
Specialized IT skills	1
Internet/Web skills	1
Museum-specific software skills	0
Database management skills	1

Within the sector of Development/Membership, knowledge of the Internet/Web and museums software (Raiser's Edge), and to a more limited extent, databases, is required by professionals seeking managerial positions to oversee grant writing, or as membership database specialists (see Figure 13).

Skills Required for Positions in Development/Membership (n=10 jobs postings)

Skill type	Total number of positions
Basic IT skills	6
Specialized IT skills	0
Internet/Web skills	3
Museum-specific software skills	4
Database management skills	2

To pursue a career in the field of Collections Management/Registrar, strong skills in categories 1, 2, 4 and 5 are enumerated (see Figure 14). Notably, knowledge of Photoshop and other types of imaging software, good photography skills, proficiency with FileMaker Pro or other databases, in addition to TMS or other collections management software systems are all necessary to the skill set required by managers of Collections and Exhibition Services; registrars; cataloguers; technicians and collections assistants.

Skills Required for Collections Management / Registrar Positions (n=30 jobs postings)

Skill type	Total number of positions
Basic IT skills	13
Specialized IT skills	6
Internet/Web skills	0
Museum-specific software skills	6
Database management skills	5

Curatorial job profiles highlighted the need for knowledge in category 5 (databases), especially PastPerfect, Access, and FileMaker Pro, in addition to category 2, specifically Photoshop, Dreamweaver, and Inmagic. In limited instances, knowledge of TMS and collections management software was also indicated (see Figure 15)

Skills Required for Curatorial Positions (n=30 jobs postings)

Skill type	Total number of positions
Basic IT skills	25
Specialized IT skills	5
Internet/Web skills	1
Museum-specific software skills	2
Database management skills	13

The sector of Conservation required knowledge in categories 1 and 4 only (see Figure 16).

Skills Requried for Conservation Positions (n=3 jobs postings)

Skill type	Total number of positions
Basic IT skills	2
Specialized IT skills	0
Internet/Web skills	0
Museum-specific software skills	1
Database management skills	0

To a limited extent, Administrative/Clerical Support job profiles, in which we grouped postings for program assistants, administrative coordinators and office clerks, cited knowledge of databases, or category 5, in addition to web skills as important. Category 1 was by far the most important technological skill for this sector (see Figure 17).

Skills Required by Administrative/Clerical Support (n=13 jobs postings)

Skill type	Total number of positions
Basic IT skills	10
Specialized IT skills	0
Internet/Web skills	2
Museum-specific software skills	1
Database management skills	2

The technological skills required by professionals in the field of Visitor/Customer Services also required, for the most part, proficiency in category 1 (see Figure 18). Web skills are also considered important.

Skilled Required for Positions in Visitor/Customer Services (n=8 job postings)

Skill type	Total number of positions
Basic IT skills	7
Specialized IT skills	1
Internet/Web skills	3
Museum-specific software skills	1
Database management skills	1

Within the sector of Human Resources (with one job posting), only category 1 was indicated.