Advice for Finding Jobs in the Arts from New NYFA Coach Mary-kate Grohoski

As Sales Manager at NYFA Classifieds, Grohoski offers insights to job seekers on how to navigate their search in the age of AI.

We’re pleased to add Mary-kate Grohoski, Sales Manager, NYFA Classifieds, to our NYFA Coaching roster! Grohoski enjoys sharing information about job seekers’ rights and demystifying Application Tracking Systems (ATS). As a NYFA Coach, she can help you with a resume and/or cover letter review, as well as show you how to make your materials Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) friendly to ensure your application is seen by a human being.

We spoke with Grohoski about hiring trends in the arts and got her advice for job seekers, including why it is important to tailor your application materials with the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) in mind!

New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA): As the Manager of NYFA Classifieds, you oversee the largest arts job board in the country. What has this experience taught you about job opportunities in the arts?

Mary-kate Grohoski (M-kG): As the Manager for NYFA Classifieds, I review and approve over 120 job listings per week. Therefore, with a close eye on jobs in the arts, there are some noticeable trends. January and July tend to be times of the year where there are more job openings (depending on the economy). Despite the fluctuating demands for various jobs, there always seems to be a need for art handlers.

Additionally, I keep up to date on local and national labor laws to ensure that all listings coming through our site are adhering to the laws. They are always changing, and include things like minimum wage increases and additional salary transparency laws. 

Salary transparency has been great because it even motivates employers who are not legally required to include salaries on job listings to include it. After the NYC salary transparency law was enforced starting November 2022, there was a 20% increase in salaries being included on listings that were not legally required to include it.

NYFA: What advice do you have for job seekers in the cultural sector?

M-kG: Network! The arts and cultural community is smaller than many people realize. Networking is the best way to understand different areas of opportunities in the arts. I work with a lot of early career professionals and it is never too early to begin networking.

Networking is the best way to understand different areas of opportunities in the arts. I work with a lot of early career professionals and it is never too early to begin networking.

-Mary-kate Grohoski

NYFA: What is an ATS (Applicant Tracking System), and why is it relevant to those looking for jobs in the arts?

M-kG: An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is a tool that many employers use to help screen candidates during the hiring process. A common misconception about AI Hiring tools is that AI is making all the decisions. This is not true. It is rare for AI to make the final hiring decision and there are also new laws surrounding those specific tools. 

Instead, a recruiter or hiring manager will use the ATS to intake all the application materials. They can use keyword searches to quickly find applications that include their most important hiring keywords. They may also use ATS to send automated emails notifying candidates when they have advanced to the next stage or have not been selected to advance.

Job seekers can identify when an ATS is being used, by looking at the URL when applying for jobs online. If there is a name in the URL that is something other than the company name or job title, then it is most likely an ATS. However, job seekers shouldn’t feel discouraged. There are tools, like Resume Worded, for candidates to use to upload your resume and compare it to a job description. Applicants are then given a “score” out of 100 based on how well their materials (e.g. keywords) “match” the job description. Thus, they can tweak their resumes and try again for a higher score, aiming for around 85 or above.

Jobs in the arts have always been competitive. This is why it’s important to know how to format and write your resumes and cover letters so that your application shows up in the most keyword searches, indicating that you are a strong candidate for the role.

Jobs in the arts have always been competitive. This is why it’s important to know how to format and write your resumes and cover letters so that your application shows up in the most keyword searches, indicating that you are a strong candidate for the role.

-Mary-kate Grohoski

NYFA: As a NYFA Coach, how will you walk job seekers through the application process–particularly navigating the ATS?

M-kG: I’ll walk job seekers through the application process by helping them understand how important it is to tailor your application to each job listing, including the most important keywords. These are essential to standing out in the age of AI. We’ll also talk through how to highlight yourself as the right cultural fit for the organization, as well as tips on how to maximize your time applying by creating “master resumes.”

About Mary-kate Grohoski:

Mary-kate Grohoski has over 10 years of experience in the arts and culture industry with seven years of working for nonprofit organizations. She received her Bachelor of Art in Art History from Christopher Newport University and a Master of Art in Late Antiques and Byzantine History from Royal Holloway, University of London. She joined NYFA after working internationally for museums, galleries, and auction houses.

Mary-kate’s primary focus is acquiring revenue for NYFA through digital advertising (banner ads and listings). She stays informed about labor law updates in order to assure that job listings posted on NYFA Classifieds are legal. She enjoys sharing information about job seekers’ rights and demystifying Application Tracking Systems (ATS). 

By educating job seekers about ATS, she imparts her knowledge of how to get your job application in front of a human being. She works with job seekers to understand their career goals and discover their transferable skills in order to highlight the appropriate keywords and metrics in job applications.

This program is part of NYFA Learning, which includes professional development for artists and arts administrators. Sign up for NYFA’s free bi-weekly newsletter to receive updates on future programs.