Treat it like a real interview. Dress nicely, speak intelligently but politely. If you don't have time to do some background reading, express an interest in learning and being guided. If you tend to be shy, let them know you are interested in improving your communication skills speaking to the public (you'll be surprised - excellent and relevant experience for other jobs, not to mention job interviews!)
I'm shocked by the stories I'm heard of the number of people that are interviewed for jobs at historic sites and don't even bother to skim the information pamphlets available in the entrance! Read that and memorize what you can, at least, even while you are waiting for your interview. That might show more horse sense than all the others being interviewed. The trendy thing nowadays is asking applicants to provide an example of a time that you had to deal with a difficult situation, customer, etc. Try to think of something, even if it seems pitiful at the time - like, "when my sister tries to pick a fight with me, I just walk away and refuse to fight". A safe response might be, "I asked my supervisor for advice to deal with the situation". Try to demonstrate good judgement and common sense and a willingness to follow the guidance of the staff. Don't contradict the permanent staff in front of visitors. Don't use your volunteer position as an opening to grind your own axe - mouth off to the public about your personally held political beliefs, etc. or old cliches about the past. At the same time, a volunteer shouldn't have to tolerate harassment from the public - like sexual harassment from male visitors, for example, or rascist rants. If it's a mediocre site, be prepared to accept and repeat their mouldy-oldy party line about the olden times. Ask a few questions yourself - how many hours they want to to volunteer, what kind of role do volunteers play - cleaning, interpreting, cash, shop, general dogsbody? Will you be in period costume or in their uniform? How many volunteers and how many staff they have? Do they have large events or school programs? Do they have a "Friends of " group? Who are they funded by - state or local government? Our WWI group volunteer yearly at John McCrae House, the author of "In Flanders Fields". At first the site wasn't very interested - shy of reenactors. Now we volunteer every year. I think it helped that no one in our group was an aggressive or wacko reenactor type - we just wanted to help out the site, show off our cool original artefacts and interpret a period / war that was somewhat neglected. We are all pretty moderate, helpful types and in return the staff and regular volunteers provide some great chili! I have a lot of respect for teachers after a day of volunteering - I'm exhausted after talking to visitors all day. I'd do some background reading first. That's a lie - I'm a librarian so I'd do lots of reading! The local public library can probably supply information on the background of that particular site and the family that lived there, general background reading of historical events of that time period, etc. If you Google "Harriet Beecher Stowe", for example, I believe there is a full text version of the American Woman's Home (or whatever it was called) online. Know something about domestic arrangements, standards of living and farming. Modestly let them know you prepared for the interview? If you aren't accepted this year, don't take it personally. They probably don't "hate" you. Maybe they can only accept a few people and one person was just an teensy, weensy bit better in the interview. People respect you when you keep trying. Apply again next year or somewhere else and prepare a little more next time. I'm obviously middle-aged - I'm so full of advice! Sheridan Alder ----- Original Message ---- From: Dawn <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Historical Costume <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2007 11:54:34 PM Subject: [h-cost] volunteering I'm going Wednesday night to turn in my application to be a volunteer at a local historic site. They do 1860's. Nothing fancy, it's a farm house, but it looks like it could be fun. I've met some of the other ladies and they're nice. Wish me luck. I don't know if they're going to interview me tomorrow or have me come back later, but I'm nervous I'll say something stupid and they won't want me. I got turned away from another volunteer job at a site once because I didn't have any experience 'interpreting'. I'm hoping this one goes better. They seem a lot more low-key. Those of you who do volunteer work at sites, how did you get the 'job'? Dawn _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume Get news delivered with the All new Yahoo! Mail. Enjoy RSS feeds right on your Mail page. Start today at http://mrd.mail.yahoo.com/try_beta?.intl=ca _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
