How to Get a Job at an Auction House (Step-by-Step)
How to Get a Job at an Auction House (Step-by-Step)
Whether you’re obsessed with fine art, vintage watches, designer handbags, cars, or weird historical objects, auction houses are where a lot of that action happens.
From global giants handling multimillion-dollar paintings to small local salerooms doing estate clearances, they all need staff. The trick is understanding:
What jobs actually exist
Where you realistically fit right now
How people really break into the industry
Let’s walk through it.
1. Understand the Types of Auction Houses
Not all auction houses are the same. Roughly, you’ll see:
Major international houses – high-end art, luxury goods, marquee evening sales, global offices
Mid-sized regional houses – good-quality art, antiques, estates, specialty sales
Local auctioneers / salerooms – estates, storage units, house clearances, mixed lots
Specialist houses – focused on cars, wine, jewelry, comics, collectibles, or industrial equipment
Big names are harder to enter and often require more credentials; local/regional places can be easier starting points where you learn the trade from the ground up.
2. What Jobs Exist at an Auction House?
When people think “auction house,” they picture the auctioneer with the gavel. But that’s just one role. Real-world jobs include:
Front-of-House & Client Services
Receptionist / front desk
Client services assistant
Bidding registration and paddle desk
Telephone bidding coordinator
You’re the face of the house—meeting clients, answering questions, registering bidders.
Cataloguing, Specialists & Research
Cataloguer
Specialist assistant / junior specialist
Researcher
Provenance / authenticity researcher
These people describe, research, and value items, prepare catalogues, and liaise with sellers and buyers.
Operations & Logistics
Porter / saleroom assistant
Warehouse / back-of-house staff
Art handlers and installers
Shipping and logistics coordinators
They move, unpack, photograph, and set up lots; handle packing and shipping after the sale.
Admin, Marketing & Online Sales
Office admin / sales admin
Marketing and social media
Online catalog and e-commerce management
Photographer / imaging specialist
Modern auction houses rely heavily on online bidding and digital marketing, so these skills are in demand.
Auctioneer
The auctioneer usually starts elsewhere (portering, cataloguing, specialist work) and moves into calling sales after years of experience.
3. Entry-Level Jobs That Actually Get You In
Most people don’t walk in as “Art Specialist.” They start in roles like:
Porter / saleroom assistant – physically move lots, set up previews, assist during the auction
Front-of-house / client services – greet people, register bidders, answer basic questions
Admin / office assistant – process invoices, help with cataloguing schedules, manage paperwork
Photography / imaging assistant – help photograph items for catalogues and online listings
These jobs:
Put you in the building
Let you learn how auctions really work
Expose you to specialists, consignors, and regular buyers
From there, you can move up as you prove yourself.
4. Education and Background: What Helps (and What Doesn’t)
For Art & Luxury-Focused Houses
Helpful (especially at mid-to-large houses):
Degree in Art History, Fine Arts, Archaeology, Design, or a related field
Knowledge of specific categories:
Modern & contemporary art
Old masters
Decorative arts
Jewelry and watches
Wine, cars, or other specialties
But you don’t need a PhD to carry furniture, print paddle numbers, or answer phones.
For General / Local Auctions
More important than degrees:
Hard work
Reliability
Customer service
Willingness to do physical tasks (moving furniture, loading vans, setting up sales)
A background in retail, logistics, antiques dealing, art handling, photography, or admin can all be relevant.
5. Skills Auction Houses Really Care About
Across roles, they tend to value:
Attention to detail
Mislabelled or misdescribed lots = angry customers and lost money.
Customer service
Many clients are anxious, wealthy, or both. You need a calm, professional manner.
Physical stamina (for porters/handlers)
Moving furniture, crates, paintings, and boxes all day is demanding.
Organization and time management
Sales have fixed deadlines; catalogues and viewings must be ready on time.
Writing and research (for cataloguers/specialists)
Clear, accurate catalogue entries and research into history/provenance.
Tech comfort
Online bidding platforms, CRM systems, spreadsheets, digital catalogues, and photography setups.
Language skills can also be a strong plus in international markets and cities with global clientele.
6. How to Get Relevant Experience Before You’re Hired
If you have zero experience, start building a track record that looks “auction adjacent”:
Ideas:
Work or intern at a gallery or antique shop
You’ll learn about objects, pricing, and clients.
Volunteer at a museum, art fair, or local historical society
Cataloguing, events, or visitor services experience transfers well.
Help with estate sales or house clearances
Real-world exposure to mixed lots, pricing, and logistics.
Do freelance cataloguing or photography for dealers
If you know how to write clear descriptions and shoot decent product photos, that’s valuable.
Even retail jobs can be spun positively:
Fast-paced
Inventory handling
Customer service
Handling payments
All of that is relevant to auction environments.
7. Where to Find Auction House Job Listings
You won’t see many of these on random job boards only once in a while; instead:
Check auction house websites directly for “Careers,” “Jobs,” or “Work With Us.”
Look at art-world job boards and classifieds often used by galleries, museums, and auction houses.
Browse local general job boards using search terms like:
“Auction assistant”
“Saleroom porter”
“Cataloguer”
“Auction house receptionist”
Keep an eye on social media accounts of local auction houses; smaller firms sometimes post on their feeds rather than on big boards.
And don’t ignore smaller or regional houses—they are often more open to training new people.
8. Making Your CV and Cover Letter Auction-Ready
Tailor It to the Role
If applying for porter / saleroom assistant:
Highlight:
Physical work (moving stock, warehouse, construction)
Customer service
Reliability and punctuality
Example bullets:
“Loaded and unloaded inventory daily, handling items safely and efficiently.”
“Set up and broke down displays and events under tight time constraints.”
If applying for front-of-house / client services:
Emphasize:
Reception, call handling, retail, or hospitality work
Calm, professional manner
Ability to multitask at busy times
If applying for cataloguing / specialist assistant:
Emphasize:
Any art/antiques/luxury product knowledge
Research and writing skills
Experience handling objects carefully
Any collection or inventory work you’ve done
Show Real Interest in Objects
Mention:
Collecting experience (books, records, watches, vintage clothing, etc.)
Any buying or selling experience (flea markets, online platforms, consignment)
Courses or self-study you’ve done about art, antiques, or specific categories
You want to look like someone who genuinely cares about the stuff being sold, not just someone who needs a random job.
9. How to Approach Smaller Auction Houses Directly
Smaller auction houses may not always advertise widely. A direct approach can work, if you do it right.
Steps:
Research the house
What do they sell? Art, estates, cars, industrial equipment, collectibles?
Who are their typical clients?
Send a short, targeted email or letter
Attach CV.
Express interest in specific roles (porter, front-of-house, assistant).
Mention any scheduling flexibility you have.
Offer to help for major sales
Many houses need extra hands on viewing and sale days.
Being helpful on those days is a great way to get noticed for future openings.
Be prepared to start with part-time or casual work
Helping with big auctions, weekend sales, or clearance jobs can lead to permanent roles if you prove yourself.
10. What to Expect in an Interview
Auction house interviews aren’t usually high-theory; they’re checking:
Can you show up on time, look presentable, and talk to clients politely?
Are you comfortable around valuable objects and careful with them?
Can you handle hectic periods when a catalogue deadline or a big sale is looming?
Expect questions like:
“Why do you want to work specifically in an auction house?”
“Tell me about a time you handled a difficult customer or situation.”
“How comfortable are you with physical work / moving heavy items?” (for porter roles)
“What categories of art or objects are you most familiar with?” (for cataloguing roles)
“Have you ever bought or sold anything at auction or online? How did you find the process?”
Good answers:
Show you understand the basic rhythm of auction work (viewings, sale days, post-sale admin).
Demonstrate reliability—examples of early mornings, late nights, or event work.
Convey real curiosity about objects and how markets work.
11. Working Your Way Up Inside an Auction House
Once you’re in, progression often looks like:
Porter / saleroom assistant → senior porter / head porter → junior cataloguer or operations manager
Admin / receptionist → client services coordinator → sale administrator → specialist assistant
Cataloguing assistant → junior specialist → specialist → senior specialist / department head
If you aspire to become an auctioneer, you’ll usually:
Start in a back-of-house or specialist role
Learn the market and the clients deeply
Begin by calling smaller or charity sales under supervision
Gradually take on more important auctions as you prove yourself
The key is to:
Be reliable
Show interest in learning about objects and markets
Volunteer to help with extra cataloguing, late-night setups, or special projects
12. Common Mistakes to Avoid
Avoid:
Applying to high-end houses only as “Head of Contemporary Art” with no experience
Sending generic CVs that don’t mention objects, markets, or client-facing work
Acting like the job is 100% glamorous—most of it is physical, repetitive, or administrative
Being careless around items during interviews or trial shifts
Being snobby with clients or colleagues—auction houses serve both ultra-wealthy collectors and regular people clearing out grandma’s house
Instead, aim to be:
Curious
Practical
Down-to-earth
Respectful of both the items and the people involved
13. Action Plan: How to Get an Auction House Job in the Next 6–18 Months
Pick your entry lane
Porter / operations
Front-of-house / client services
Cataloguing / specialist assistant
Admin / marketing / photography
Build one or two related experiences
Retail, gallery, antiques shop, museum, logistics, photography, event work.
Study your local auction market
Which houses operate nearby?
What do they sell? At what level?
Target 5–10 auction houses
Check their sites regularly.
Set alerts on job boards for “auction” and “catalogue” keywords.
Prepare a focused CV and cover letter
Emphasize relevant skills and your interest in the type of objects they sell.
Apply and reach out directly (especially to smaller houses)
Email introductions, ask about helping on busy sale days.
Once you’re in, learn everything
How items are consigned, photographed, catalogued, stored, marketed, and sold.
Ask questions, watch specialists, and help where you can.
Final Thoughts
Getting a job at an auction house isn’t about being born into the art world—it’s about:
Starting in a realistic entry-level role
Showing up consistently and working hard
Caring about the objects and the clients
Gradually building expertise in a category or function
If you put yourself in the room—literally, in the saleroom—and become the person everyone can depend on, you’ll find that doors open: more responsibility, more interesting sales, and eventually, maybe even your own gavel.
