Case studies: Museum curator: Peta Cook

Peta is heritage and collections manager for Kingston Museum. Peta entered the sector after completing an archaeology degree at Liverpool University, gaining an MA in Museum Studies from Newcastle University and going on to secure an Associateship of the Museums Association (AMA), the professionally recognised qualification for the sector.

My first job after graduating was with a small museum in rural Suffolk. The role involved me dressing up in themed costume to support an exhibition one day, through to running the shop and café the next. However, the experience gained helped me to secure my next post, which was on a regional museums collections and exhibitions team.

This was a much bigger team and so I was allowed to create and run my own exhibition themes and start to develop a specialist area, while also providing me with the confidence to apply for my next post, which was as a regional museum development officer.

This role had a very different focus as it was now my job to support museums that were applying for a nationally recognised accreditation. This work would involve me in devising and delivering staff training, helping senior staff to bid for and secure external funding, while ensuring they were delivering their regional priorities and objectives set by their employers, the local councils and authorities.

This job ultimately provided me with the experience, contacts and networks to apply for my current position as heritage and collections manager for Kingston Museum, London.

The job I hold now is a senior post within the local council, which involves managing a small team of both paid staff and volunteers, writing policies and procedures, securing external funding, managing budgets and attending senior council meetings.

I work with a range of partners, from small community groups through to Kingston University Museum and Heritage Department, working with academic staff and their teams of researchers.

My long-term career goals are to work overseas and complete a PhD. Museums are an exciting and challenging sector, which can provide openings for individuals to work internationally, especially if you have additional core skills, such as archaeology, teaching or research experience, a language or a unique specialist area, recognised by the sector.

I would say to those currently thinking about how to secure their first role to be open minded; don't rule out anything - especially at the start. Try to secure as much experience as possible, regardless of what it is, even if you don't think it will be recognised as sector relevant or specific. Keep your networks broad and your contact list long; these are two excellent ways to find out what's going on, who's hiring, who's moved jobs recently and therefore, potential new openings and opportunities. If possible, and if you can afford to, volunteer and, finally, ensure you get a reputation for all the right reasons - the sector is something akin to a community, so if you're spotted as someone keen and willing to get stuck in, you will get noticed.