Careers
The Met’s mission is to collect, study, conserve, and present significant works of art across time and cultures in order to connect all people to creativity, knowledge, ideas, and one another.
Working at The Met
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, also known as The Met, presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world for everyone to experience and enjoy. The Museum lives in two iconic sites in New York City—The Met Fifth Avenue and The Met Cloisters. Millions of people also take part in The Met experience online.
Since its founding in 1870, The Met has aspired to be more than a treasury of rare and beautiful objects. We are committed to fostering a collaborative and respectful work environment with a staff as diverse as the audiences we engage. Our staff members are art lovers who are passionate about working toward a common goal: creating the most dynamic and inspiring art museum in the world.
Every day, art comes alive in the Museum's galleries and through its exhibitions and events, revealing both new ideas and unexpected connections across time and across cultures.
The Museum is committed to fostering a workplace that is inclusive, welcoming, supportive, and collaborative. One way we build community is through Employee Resource Groups centered around shared identities. Throughout the year, we also acknowledge and celebrate staff heritage and identity through collection-based events, activities with community-based organizations, artmaking, and more.
Core Values
Collaboration
Excellence
Respect
Inclusivity
Integrity
Benefits
Insurance
Retirement plan
Paid time off
Disability Coverage
Working at The Met provides exclusive access to one of the world’s top cultural attractions. Here are some perks of working at The Met:
• Explore the Museum before or after hours and participate in staff-only tours and talks with world-class art experts.
• Financial assistance for relevant coursework, seminars, and training programs
• 25% discount for staff in Museum shops
• A subsidized staff cafeteria
• Access to the Museums Council pass, which grants free admission to various museums and cultural institutions
• Take part in a community of passionate and talented individuals
• Play on the staff softball team
• Have your own artworks displayed in the Employee Art Show
• Heritage month/monthly celebrations, like dance classes, boba tea tastings
• Take a moment to reflect with yoga in the galleries or reflect in our Wellness room
• Take your kids to work day
• Social events in the Museum’s most iconic spaces
• Movie screenings
• Free coffee and tea
Applying For Positions
Career opportunities at The Met are as varied as the cultures represented in the Museum’s collection, and require all levels of training, experience, and education. When you visit The Met, sometimes it feels hard to figure out where to start because there is just so much to do and see. Your job search may feel the same way, so we want to provide you with a glimpse of our recruitment process.
If selected for an interview, you’ll be contacted by one of our recruiters. During this interview, the recruiter will share more information about the role and the interview plan. Each role is unique, but they all follow the same process.
- Application Submission
Start by submitting your resume to roles where you meet the minimum requirements. - Initial Screening
If your application matches our requirements, you may be contacted to schedule a recruiter interview. This step helps us get to know you better and answer any initial questions you may have. - Interviews
How many rounds of interviews and the format (i.e. virtual, onsite, panel) will vary depending on the role. - Assessments (if applicable)
Many but not all union positions will require written and/or practical exams. - Reference and Background Checks
If you’re selected as a finalist, we’ll ask for your references and perform additional background checks at the right time. - Offer and Onboarding
Once you’re chosen, we’ll extend a formal offer. If you accept, we’ll guide you through our onboarding process to ensure a smooth start in your new role.
What if I am not sure I have the exact experience for the role I am applying for?
Some of our roles are so niche and specialized that exact experience, skill level, or education is required. For others, we can consider transferable skills, experience, and education, but these tend to be the ones we receive the most applications for. Recruiters and hiring managers will review resumes and reach out to candidates whose experiences they find to be most relevant. A good rule of thumb is to make sure you meet the minimum requirements outlined in the job description before applying and ensure your application materials capture what you could bring to this opportunity.
How long will it take before I hear from someone or get a response to my application?
While we aim to respond to all applications, we are not always able to predict the timeline for a response. As you can imagine, we receive an incredibly high volume of applications for most of our positions. Our recruiters and hiring managers review resumes and together decide who will move forward, so it may take a while to hear back from us. We want to provide you with a resolution in a reasonable amount of time, and unfortunately, this could come in the form of an email that we won’t be moving you forward in the application process. We encourage you to review the status of your application in the Candidate Home Section of The Met Careers Site.
I believe I have transferrable skills and have many of the qualifications The Met is looking for, but I haven’t heard back. Why haven’t I been contacted?
There are many reasons someone might not move through the process, even though they believe they are qualified for a role. In some cases, it may be that other applicants have more relevant experience. We regret we are not able to speak with every candidate. We encourage you to continue applying for future opportunities and to consider roles where your transferrable skills may be even more closely aligned.
What does the interview process look like?
If selected for an interview, you’ll be contacted by one of our recruiters. During this interview, the recruiter will share more information about the role and the interview plan. The number of interview rounds will vary depending on the role.
What does the decision and offer process look like?
Your recruiter is your primary contact throughout your candidate journey. If selected as the finalist, your recruiter will communicate all necessary steps and will reach out to you with an offer. We have subject matter experts to answer any questions regarding our generous benefits packages. Once you’ve accepted, our Onboarding Team will prepare you for your first day!