Making the Ask: Developing Negotiation Tactics in the Field of Conservation

Online, self-study
Instructors: Ariel O'Connor and Caitlin Richeson

Navigating employment offers can be intimidating to conservation professionals at all stages of their careers. What is appropriate to negotiate in a contract? What are the tools and tactics we can apply in negotiating positions? How can we use these negotiation tactics to advocate for ourselves to ensure the best employment package? As we enter into a field affected by COVID-19, this self-study course aims to supply long-term negotiation skills for both emerging conservators negotiating a salary for the first time and established conservators looking for a refresher.

This self-study course will provide the tools to confidently and knowledgeably approach compensation package negotiations and making the ask for yourself. Pairing the intricate knowledge and background of a conservator with the strategic skills and tools of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), this course will help to develop the confidence and skill set of conservators to confidently approach the negotiation table. Although content is provided in-part by AAUW, this course will benefit both men and women. As participants gain the skills to negotiate and advocate for themselves, they can utilize these tools in a broad range of circumstances thereby more confidently advocating for conservation within museum settings and private practice.

This self-study course is based on a live virtual workshop presented by ECPN in conjunction with the 2020 AIC Virtual Annual Meeting.

This program is supported by the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation (FAIC) Endowment for Professional Development. FAIC was created by a grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and is supported by donations from members of the American Institute for Conservation (AIC) and its friends. Programs are made possible with the assistance of many AIC members, but no AIC membership dues were used to create or present this course. FAIC relies on your contributions to support these and its many other programs. Learn more about donating to the foundation here.

Ariel O'Connor

Ariel O'Connor is an Objects Conservator at the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Lunder Conservation Center in Washington, DC. Prior to joining SAAM in 2016, Ariel worked at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Walters Art Museum, Harvard Art Museums, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Her research interests focus on challenges in contemporary art, along with materials and technology in archaeological Asian art. Her archaeological fieldwork includes seasons at the Aphrodisias Excavations, Mugello Valley/Poggio Colla Archaeological Project, and Gordion Excavations Project. She holds an M.A. and C.A.S. in Art Conservation from Buffalo State College, and a B.F.A. in Dance with a Spanish Language and Literature minor and Pre-Med concentration from Tulane University. She served on the American Institute for Conservation (AIC)’s Objects Specialty Group board from 2017-2019, and was the Washington Conservation Guild board Logistics Co-Chair from 2016-2017.

Caitlin Richeson

Caitlin graduated from the Winterthur/University of Delaware Program for Art Conservation (WUDPAC) in 2019 with a M.S. in Objects Conservation with a minor in Preventive Conservation. She is currently an Assistant Conservator at the American Museum of Natural History.  Prior to joining AMNH she completed graduate internships at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the Stedelijk Museum, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), and Glenstone Museum. She holds a B.F.A. in Art History, Theory, and Criticism from the Maryland Institute College of Art. She is a member and certified facilitator for the American Association of University Women (AAUW).

Key:

Complete
Failed
Available
Locked
Lectures
Part 1: AAUW Negotiation Tactics, by Caitlin Richeson
Recorded 12/18/2020
Recorded 12/18/2020 Click "View Video" to watch the lecture. Once the video appears on your screen, you can click "Watch in YouTube" if you wish to easily see the chapters of the video (listed in the YouTube description).
Part 2: Conservation Negotiation Tools, by Ariel O'Connor
Recorded 12/18/2020
Recorded 12/18/2020 Click "View Video" to watch the lecture. Once the video appears on your screen, you can click "Watch in YouTube" if you wish to easily see the chapters of the video (listed in the YouTube description).
Slides from Lectures
Part 1 Slides: AAUW Negotiation Tactics, by Caitlin Richeson
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource.
Part 2 Slides: Conservation Negotiation Tools, by Ariel O’Connor
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource.
Resources
Conservation Negotiation Resource Guide
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource.
AAUW Work Smart Workbook
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource.
AAUW The Simple Truth About the Gender Pay Gap 2018
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource.
AAM National Museum Salary Survey 2017
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource.
Counter Offer Letter Template
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource.