What exactly am I learning and how can I use it for fun and profit?

November 9, 2009 11:11 AM

I work in a major US art museum, helping to manage the database that is used to keep track of the art, exhibitions, etc. In the context of this job, I have developed, quite unintentionally, a decent working knowledge of Crystal Reports and a little bit of experience with SQL queries. Other than this museum-specific experience, I know little about the world of databases. What other jobs could I do building on these skills, what else would I need to learn to do those jobs, and how should I go about learning it?

The database software that we use is TMS, which is probably the most common software used by larger museums. I got into this particular job the way most folks do, by doing a lot of data entry at various museums and becoming a relatively advanced user, and stumbling into a job helping to manage the database and train other staff how to use it. Now I want out of the museum database world for a variety of reasons. The thing I like best about my job is the little data cleanup projects that make it easier for users to search for things- taking a hodgepodge of information and making it consistent is pretty satisfying.

So, educate me about the wide world of databases and the job outlook therein. I don't have a huge interest or aptitude in hardcore tech and programming, but I wouldn't mind moving in that direction to some degree.

posted by doift to computers & internet (7 comments total)

Given your experience in non-profit database management, I would think that you would be able to find work in most non-profit organizations' development (i.e. fundraising) departments if you obtained a bit of training in the most commonly used tools in that field (Raiser's Edge should be a dawdle for you after TMS).

Another field that would require some training, but that is growing and lucrative, is the field of cancer registry. Again, it seems like a lot of your current experience would be transferable.
posted by Sidhedevil at 11:15 AM on November 9

Library and Information Science!
jooiiinnn usssssssss
posted by audacity at 11:42 AM on November 9 [1 favorite]

Related to the cancer registry mentioned by Sidhedevil, there's healthcare/medical informatics (It's also a segment of information science). A lot of schools are starting up healthcare informatics programs because it's becoming such a prevalent and lucrative field.
posted by audacity at 11:45 AM on November 9

By "prevalent" I meant that this is a relatively new field with a lot of job openings right now, but if there is a word for that I cannot for the life of me remember it right now.
posted by audacity at 11:47 AM on November 9

Good suggestions so far (though my husband is gearing up to apply to MLIS programs, and I think it's best if we stay a one-librarian family).

The cancer registry/medical informatics idea sounds very intriguing, but I'm curious about the "lucrative" description. The Occupational Outlook Handbook lists the median income as $29,000. That's not nothing, but it's also no more than most entry-level arts jobs. Is there another area of the field I'm missing? Money isn't my only concern, but it's certainly a factor.
posted by doift at 4:59 PM on November 9

You should check out the field of prospect research. Prospect researchers are responsible for identifying new donor prospects, maintaining and programming databases, and researching individuals, corporations, and foundations. The job involves using lots of different types of databases and you can work for foundations, non-profits, hospitals, and universities.

For more information, go to the ARPA website, the professional association for prospect researchers.
posted by JuliaKM at 5:38 PM on November 9

The cancer registry/medical informatics idea sounds very intriguing, but I'm curious about the "lucrative" description. The Occupational Outlook Handbook lists the median income as $29,000.

That's probably for entry-level registrars (who are basically data-entry folks). The people who manage cancer registries, which would be people like you with database experience, earn much better salaries than that. In general, hospital salaries are museum +25%.
posted by Sidhedevil at 5:42 PM on November 9