Guest Services InternAt — Fullerton Museum Center

Guest Services Intern

Fullerton Museum Center – Internship Program

Thank you for your interest in becoming an intern at the Fullerton Museum Center. Our Internship Program is designed to provide hands-on professional experience while enhancing students’ understanding of museum operations, visitor services, and community engagement. This is an unpaid internship that may be completed for academic credit or for non-academic professional experience and lasts for the duration of one academic semester.

Position Overview

The Guest Services Intern will join the Fullerton Museum Center team and gain valuable, real-world experience in visitor engagement, front desk operations, gift shop sales, and event support within a cultural institution. This unpaid internship is offered for the duration of the academic semester and is open to currently enrolled college students or recent graduates, whether or not academic credit is required.

Responsibilities

Typical responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

• Greeting and engaging with Museum visitors to promote interaction with exhibitions
• Sharing information about the Museum to enhance the visitor experience
• Supporting daily operations at the front desk and Gift Shop, including cash handling and POS transactions
• Assisting with special programs, events, and private rentals
• Monitoring gallery presentation quality, including exhibits, lighting, and sound
• Performing general gallery upkeep such as dusting, vacuuming, wiping down desks, and adjusting benches
• Providing information about Museum products, services, and exhibits
• Collaborating with museum staff across departments to support programmatic goals
• Performing other duties as required

Candidates who are organized, professional, and able to work in a fast-paced environment are strongly encouraged to apply.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled college students or recent graduates
• Ability to handle cash transactions and operate a computerized POS or ticketing system
• Strong verbal and interpersonal communication skills
• Excellent customer service skills
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Flexible availability, including evenings, weekends, and holidays
• Punctual, reliable, and professional appearance
• 1–2 years of retail, hospitality, or customer service experience preferred

Learning Opportunities

Although interns are generally supervised by the Guest Services Manager, they will have the opportunity to actively observe and participate in other areas of museum operations. The Fullerton Museum Center staff will work with students and academic advisors to support internship and independent study requirements at the student’s school, if academic credit is being pursued.

Duration & Compensation

• Internship duration: Academic semester
• This is an unpaid internship
• May be completed for academic credit or for non-academic professional experience
• Academic credit arrangements, if applicable, are the responsibility of the intern and their educational institution

Disclaimer

This list of responsibilities and duties is not exhaustive and represents the current scope of the position. Management reserves the right to revise the job description or require additional tasks as circumstances change (e.g., emergencies, staffing changes, workload, or technical developments).

Tasks:

Typical responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:
Greeting and engaging with Museum visitors to promote interaction with exhibitions

Sharing information about the Museum to enhance the visitor experience

Supporting daily operations at the front desk and Gift Shop, including cash handling and POS transactions

Assisting with special programs, events, and private rentals

Monitoring gallery presentation quality, including exhibits, lighting, and sound

Performing general gallery upkeep such as dusting, vacuuming, wiping down desks, and adjusting benches

Providing information about Museum products, services, and exhibits

Collaborating with museum staff across departments to support programmatic goals

Performing other duties as required

Training:

Students participating in the Guest Services Internship will receive structured training and ongoing supervision to ensure meaningful learning and professional development throughout the academic semester.

1. General Orientation (Mandatory):

Introduction to the Fullerton Museum Center’s mission, staff, policies, and workplace expectations

Overview of museum operations and the role of guest services in visitor engagement

2. Role-Specific Training:

Hands-on training for front desk operations, gift shop sales, and POS/ticketing systems

Instructions on visitor engagement techniques and customer service best practices

Guidance on monitoring and maintaining gallery presentation and exhibit spaces

3. Mentorship & Supervision:

Weekly check-ins with the Guest Services Manager or designated mentor to review progress, provide feedback, and answer questions

Support in connecting daily tasks to professional development and learning outcomes

4. Job Shadowing & Hands-On Experience:

Shadowing staff during daily operations, events, and special programs

Supervised participation in visitor services, gallery maintenance, and event support

Opportunities to assist with administrative tasks, reporting, and cross-departmental collaboration

5. Reflection & Feedback:

Interns will receive constructive feedback on performance, professionalism, and visitor interactions

Encouragement to document experiences, challenges, and solutions for personal growth or academic reflection

Learning Outcome:

By the end of the internship, the Guest Services Intern will be able to:

Demonstrate professional visitor engagement and customer service skills in a museum or nonprofit setting.

Assist with front desk and gift shop operations, including cash handling and POS transactions.

Support event and program operations, including setup, coordination, and on-site assistance.

Observe and participate in cross-departmental museum operations to gain a holistic understanding of organizational workflows.

Develop communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills in a fast-paced, public-facing environment.