Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: UNESCO Convention • Community Engagement • Museum Curation

Tangible Heritage

Term from Cultural Preservation industry explained for recruiters

Tangible Heritage refers to physical cultural artifacts that we can touch and see, like historic buildings, monuments, artifacts, artwork, and archaeological sites. It's different from intangible heritage (which includes things like traditions and languages). People who work with tangible heritage focus on protecting, preserving, and managing these physical pieces of history for future generations. This could involve restoration work, documenting artifacts, managing museum collections, or overseeing historic sites. Related terms you might see include "cultural heritage," "material culture," or "physical cultural heritage."

Examples in Resumes

Supervised conservation treatments for Tangible Heritage objects in museum collection

Developed preservation strategies for Material Heritage sites in urban areas

Led documentation project of Physical Heritage artifacts using digital technologies

Created condition reports for Tangible Cultural Heritage objects prior to international exhibition

Typical job title: "Heritage Conservators"

Also try searching for:

Conservation Specialist Heritage Manager Cultural Heritage Expert Museum Conservator Historic Preservation Specialist Collections Manager Archaeological Conservator

Where to Find Heritage Conservators

Professional Organizations

Job Boards

Networks

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How would you develop a comprehensive preservation strategy for a large museum collection?

Expected Answer: A senior candidate should discuss risk assessment, preventive conservation, storage conditions, handling procedures, staff training, and budget management. They should also mention experience with conservation planning and policy development.

Q: Tell me about a challenging conservation project you managed and how you addressed stakeholder concerns.

Expected Answer: Look for answers that demonstrate leadership, problem-solving, stakeholder management, and technical expertise in preservation methods while balancing various interests and budget constraints.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What factors do you consider when assessing the condition of a heritage object?

Expected Answer: Candidate should mention environmental conditions, material composition, previous repairs, damage assessment, and documentation methods. They should also discuss how they would prioritize conservation needs.

Q: How do you maintain proper environmental conditions for different types of artifacts?

Expected Answer: Should discuss temperature and humidity control, light exposure, pest management, and monitoring systems, showing understanding of different material requirements.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What is preventive conservation and why is it important?

Expected Answer: Should explain basic concepts of preventing damage before it occurs through proper handling, storage, and environmental control, rather than just treating existing damage.

Q: How do you document the condition of heritage objects?

Expected Answer: Should describe basic documentation methods including photography, condition reports, measurement taking, and maintaining accurate records of observations.