Erin
On reflection the skills and experience I gained as a volunteer helped me into employment as a Learning Assistant.
Becoming a Learning Assistant with Glasgow Museums had been my goal for a while. To be successful I knew I had to gain as much experience as possible shadowing the Learning team I wanted to be part of.
While studying Museum Education I had the opportunity to volunteer at a variety of venues.
I started as a Gallery Assistant at the People’s Palace. I was encouraged to apply for the volunteer Learning and Access role. I signed up to volunteer at Saturday Art Club at GoMA once or twice a month. Over the next year I gained an invaluable insight of how to deliver informal learning sessions. I learned more about roles and responsibilities. It also allowed me to become a valued member of the team, receive constructive feedback and build relationships with learners.
It gave me the opportunity to expand my knowledge and made me even more earnest to pursue this career. The volunteer role was fulfilling and rewarding. I used the knowledge and experience I gained during my studies and volunteering in my interview. One year after my volunteering journey I became a Learning Assistant.