4 answers
Sonya
Student
Rock Hill, South Carolina
2
Questions
Asked
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What different types of jobs can you get when you're interested in Anthropology?
Interested in anthropology or anything to do with languages but I don't know if there are many jobs out thereto do with this.
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4 answers
James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian & Software Developer since 1972 => Nutrition Education => Health & Longevity => Self-Actualization.
6180
Answers
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Hi Sonya,
Anthropology, the broad study of human societies, cultures, and behaviors across time, offers a wealth of career paths. Despite its lesser-known status compared to other fields, anthropology provides a plethora of job opportunities in diverse sectors such as academia, research, government, non-profit, museums, and private industry. Here's a glimpse into the variety of jobs you could consider if you're drawn to anthropology:
1. Academic Researcher/Professor: Many anthropologists find their niche in academia, conducting cutting-edge research, publishing scholarly works, and teaching the next generation of anthropologists.
2. Archaeologist: Archaeologists delve into the past, excavating and analyzing artifacts and structures to gain insights into ancient cultures. They work in academic and cultural resource management settings, undertaking fieldwork and lab analysis.
3. Cultural Anthropologist: These anthropologists study modern human societies and cultures, conducting ethnographic research to understand community beliefs, practices, social structures, and cultural dynamics.
4. Linguistic Anthropologist: Linguistic anthropologists explore language within its social and cultural contexts, investigating how language shapes human interactions, identities, and cultural practices.
5. Applied Anthropologist: Applied anthropologists use their knowledge and methods to solve real-world problems in various settings, tackling issues like community development, public policy, healthcare disparities, and environmental conservation.
6. Forensic Anthropologist: These professionals apply their understanding of human skeletal biology to aid in criminal investigations or identify human remains in forensic contexts.
7. Museum Curator: As a museum curator, anthropologists research, preserve, and interpret cultural artifacts and collections, designing exhibits and educational programs to share anthropological knowledge with the public.
8. Cultural Resource Manager: These managers assess and manage the impact of development projects on archaeological sites or culturally significant landscapes, ensuring compliance with cultural heritage protection laws.
9. Market Research Analyst: Anthropologists focusing on consumer behavior and cultural trends can work as market research analysts, helping businesses understand consumer preferences and develop marketing strategies.
10. International Development Consultant: Anthropologists can offer valuable cultural insights, conduct impact assessments, and design culturally sensitive interventions for international development projects.
Bear in mind, while anthropology offers diverse job opportunities, it's a competitive field. Higher-level positions often require advanced degrees like a Master’s or Ph.D. in anthropology or related disciplines. Practical experience gained through internships, fieldwork, or volunteering can boost your job prospects in this field.
Here are the top 5 authoritative references used:
1. American Anthropological Association (www.americananthro.org)
2. Society for Applied Anthropology (www.sfaa.net)
3. National Association for the Practice of Anthropology (www.practicinganthropology.org)
4. Society for Linguistic Anthropology (linguisticanthropology.org)
5. Archaeological Institute of America (www.archaeological.org)
Wishing you abundant blessings,
James.
Anthropology, the broad study of human societies, cultures, and behaviors across time, offers a wealth of career paths. Despite its lesser-known status compared to other fields, anthropology provides a plethora of job opportunities in diverse sectors such as academia, research, government, non-profit, museums, and private industry. Here's a glimpse into the variety of jobs you could consider if you're drawn to anthropology:
1. Academic Researcher/Professor: Many anthropologists find their niche in academia, conducting cutting-edge research, publishing scholarly works, and teaching the next generation of anthropologists.
2. Archaeologist: Archaeologists delve into the past, excavating and analyzing artifacts and structures to gain insights into ancient cultures. They work in academic and cultural resource management settings, undertaking fieldwork and lab analysis.
3. Cultural Anthropologist: These anthropologists study modern human societies and cultures, conducting ethnographic research to understand community beliefs, practices, social structures, and cultural dynamics.
4. Linguistic Anthropologist: Linguistic anthropologists explore language within its social and cultural contexts, investigating how language shapes human interactions, identities, and cultural practices.
5. Applied Anthropologist: Applied anthropologists use their knowledge and methods to solve real-world problems in various settings, tackling issues like community development, public policy, healthcare disparities, and environmental conservation.
6. Forensic Anthropologist: These professionals apply their understanding of human skeletal biology to aid in criminal investigations or identify human remains in forensic contexts.
7. Museum Curator: As a museum curator, anthropologists research, preserve, and interpret cultural artifacts and collections, designing exhibits and educational programs to share anthropological knowledge with the public.
8. Cultural Resource Manager: These managers assess and manage the impact of development projects on archaeological sites or culturally significant landscapes, ensuring compliance with cultural heritage protection laws.
9. Market Research Analyst: Anthropologists focusing on consumer behavior and cultural trends can work as market research analysts, helping businesses understand consumer preferences and develop marketing strategies.
10. International Development Consultant: Anthropologists can offer valuable cultural insights, conduct impact assessments, and design culturally sensitive interventions for international development projects.
Bear in mind, while anthropology offers diverse job opportunities, it's a competitive field. Higher-level positions often require advanced degrees like a Master’s or Ph.D. in anthropology or related disciplines. Practical experience gained through internships, fieldwork, or volunteering can boost your job prospects in this field.
Here are the top 5 authoritative references used:
1. American Anthropological Association (www.americananthro.org)
2. Society for Applied Anthropology (www.sfaa.net)
3. National Association for the Practice of Anthropology (www.practicinganthropology.org)
4. Society for Linguistic Anthropology (linguisticanthropology.org)
5. Archaeological Institute of America (www.archaeological.org)
Wishing you abundant blessings,
James.
Rashmi Nidhi
Consultant
20
Answers
Detroit, Michigan
Updated
Rashmi’s Answer
Anthropology is a versatile field that offers a wide range of career opportunities, both within and outside academia. Here are some different types of jobs you can pursue when you're interested in anthropology:
Academic Anthropologist: Teach anthropology at colleges and universities, conduct research, and publish academic papers.
Cultural Anthropologist: Study and analyze different cultures, their practices, and customs. Work in research, advocacy, or cultural preservation.
Archaeologist: Excavate and study historical and prehistoric artifacts and sites. Work in academia, cultural resource management, or as a consultant.
Linguistic Anthropologist: Study languages, their origins, and how they relate to culture. Can work in academia, translation, or cross-cultural communication.
Medical Anthropologist: Study the cultural aspects of health, healthcare systems, and the impact of culture on health outcomes. Work in healthcare, research, or public health.
Forensic Anthropologist: Use anthropology to identify human remains in forensic investigations, often working with law enforcement agencies.
Museum Curator: Manage and curate museum collections, create exhibits, and conduct research.
Cultural Resource Manager: Work to preserve and protect cultural heritage sites, often in compliance with government regulations.
Corporate Anthropologist: Apply anthropological methods to understand consumer behavior, employee dynamics, and cultural trends for businesses.
Market Research Analyst: Conduct research to understand consumer behavior and market trends, helping companies make informed decisions.
User Experience (UX) Researcher: Study user behavior to improve the design and usability of products and services.
Environmental Anthropologist: Study the relationship between human societies and their environment, often in the context of sustainability and conservation efforts.
Public Health Researcher: Investigate cultural factors that influence public health and develop strategies for better health outcomes.
Nonprofit or NGO Worker: Work for organizations focused on international development, humanitarian aid, or cultural preservation.
Consultant: Provide anthropological insights to organizations, governments, or businesses seeking a deeper understanding of cultural and social dynamics.
Community Development Specialist: Collaborate with communities to develop sustainable projects and address social and economic challenges.
Travel Writer or Blogger: Combine anthropology with your passion for travel and writing to explore and share cultural experiences.
Government Positions: Work for government agencies in areas such as international relations, immigration, or cultural heritage preservation.
Advocacy and Human Rights: Advocate for the rights of marginalized communities, indigenous groups, or refugees.
Educational Program Developer: Create educational programs that promote cross-cultural understanding and diversity.
Academic Anthropologist: Teach anthropology at colleges and universities, conduct research, and publish academic papers.
Cultural Anthropologist: Study and analyze different cultures, their practices, and customs. Work in research, advocacy, or cultural preservation.
Archaeologist: Excavate and study historical and prehistoric artifacts and sites. Work in academia, cultural resource management, or as a consultant.
Linguistic Anthropologist: Study languages, their origins, and how they relate to culture. Can work in academia, translation, or cross-cultural communication.
Medical Anthropologist: Study the cultural aspects of health, healthcare systems, and the impact of culture on health outcomes. Work in healthcare, research, or public health.
Forensic Anthropologist: Use anthropology to identify human remains in forensic investigations, often working with law enforcement agencies.
Museum Curator: Manage and curate museum collections, create exhibits, and conduct research.
Cultural Resource Manager: Work to preserve and protect cultural heritage sites, often in compliance with government regulations.
Corporate Anthropologist: Apply anthropological methods to understand consumer behavior, employee dynamics, and cultural trends for businesses.
Market Research Analyst: Conduct research to understand consumer behavior and market trends, helping companies make informed decisions.
User Experience (UX) Researcher: Study user behavior to improve the design and usability of products and services.
Environmental Anthropologist: Study the relationship between human societies and their environment, often in the context of sustainability and conservation efforts.
Public Health Researcher: Investigate cultural factors that influence public health and develop strategies for better health outcomes.
Nonprofit or NGO Worker: Work for organizations focused on international development, humanitarian aid, or cultural preservation.
Consultant: Provide anthropological insights to organizations, governments, or businesses seeking a deeper understanding of cultural and social dynamics.
Community Development Specialist: Collaborate with communities to develop sustainable projects and address social and economic challenges.
Travel Writer or Blogger: Combine anthropology with your passion for travel and writing to explore and share cultural experiences.
Government Positions: Work for government agencies in areas such as international relations, immigration, or cultural heritage preservation.
Advocacy and Human Rights: Advocate for the rights of marginalized communities, indigenous groups, or refugees.
Educational Program Developer: Create educational programs that promote cross-cultural understanding and diversity.
Nathaniel Wander
anthropology/psychotherapy/writing
35
Answers
Portland, Oregon
Updated
Nathaniel’s Answer
You've gotten the buffet responses from the outside. Let me give you some concrete examples from an anthropologist with almost 60 years in the field.
My ultimate specialty as an anthropologist might be said to be how people acquire ideas and communicate them within social frameworks, but then, that might be said of most social/cultural anthropologists. I feel equipped to do virtually any kind of work that involves the study of social thinking and communicating. Here are a few examples of work I have participated in.
1. I was a consultant on an academic project that sought to understand which groups of women in our society were at greatest risk for HIV disease, and what were the underlying factors for those risks. My specialty in the group was to focus on how the social meanings of motherhood—e.g., it allows you ‘qualify’ as an adult; it might seem to provide a chance to repair the hurts of one’s own childhood; it tenders someone to love lifelong—might lead to childbearing by women who knew themselves to be AIDS-infected. As a result of this work (and a background in substance-abuse related research), I went on to work for a county public health department on a project to learn how to best serve pregnant women who were abusing addictive drugs.
2. Several years later, I worked for a second county health department as a tobacco control educator. My specific jobs were to work with community organizations to pass state and municipal legislation to regulate the sale and use of tobacco products, and to work with organizations and individuals to create community programs for limiting tobacco use. In the first role, I supported the Fire Chief of Salem, Oregon to pass a bill in his city council that licensed tobacco vendors and regulated them against the sale of cigarettes to minors. In the second, I worked with a community organization to lobby for smoke-free restaurants, and with a local magistrate to develop a diversion program for minors charged with cigarette possession. As a fairly decent Spanish speaker, I also did outreach to the residents of a housing estate run by a Latino agricultural workers union. In addition to my background as an anthropologist, I qualified for this position for having served on the mental health services board of a third county’s health department, and having served as a city councilor in that county.
3. In the course of my work at the Marion County Health Department (Salem, OR), I learned about and taught myself to use a massive electronic data base of cigarette industry documents obtained as a result of lawsuits by all the US state attorneys general against the five largest tobacco companies. As a result of that knowledge and my work in tobacco control, I was hired onto a research project at UC San Francisco the repository of that electronic data base—it was a return to academia after two decades away. At UCSF, I worked in the behavioral science department of the School of Nursing on a five-year study using the documents to understand how the tobacco industry fought against tobacco control advocates. I wrote about institutional, especially academic investment in tobacco stocks and the university-based divestment movement; about how the tobacco industry tries to co-opt the terms and ideas of socially responsible investing; about how the industry communicates with political decision-makers and the general public to create cover for its bad behavior. I presented this work—which all falls under the communication rhetoric of framing—at conferences throughout the US an abroad. I also taught medical students how to think ‘anthropologically’ about issues like race, language, ethnicity, gender, and how they influenced health decisions on diet, sexual expression, prescription-following, etc.
4. As a result of the experience gained at UCSF, I went on to work in a public health program at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. There I studied the tobacco industry worldwide, mostly through the UCSF-based documents archive, but also learning how to research electronically in the files of the US Securities and Exchange Commission, Mexico’s stock market regulators, and international health and charitable organizations. Again, knowing Spanish was a great help as one of my main projects focused on the Mexican magnate Carlos Slims and his health foundation—Slim was also the Mexico-licensed manufacturer of Marlboro cigarettes, and a stockholder in and board member of Philip Morris, International. My Spanish allowed me to retranslate some poorly translated Mexican documents that clearly demonstrated Slim’s involvement with Mexico’s then Attorney General in favor of the tobacco industry. I also became knowledgeable and contributed to discussions of the environmental impacts of tobacco-farming in East Africa, Mexico, and India—in graduate school I had specialized in anthropological ecology and my doctoral work began with a study of rice agriculture in India. As at UCSF, I continued to publish and present at conferences worldwide. During my time in Edinburgh, my UCSF work on tobacco industry finance and investing, coupled with my study of Carlos Slim and his financial empire, led to collaboration with the tobacco divestment by Norway’s North Sea oil social investment fund, which eventually resulted in the fund declaring that Slim’s Grupo Carso was essentially a tobacco-financed company, and Norway’s complete divestment from it. It was further my role to supervise master’s degree students in writing dissertations on issues of tobacco and public health.
Undoubtedly that sounds like a lot, but it represents a summary of the final thirty years of my formal career, from about 1984 to 2011. Beyond the ‘what I did,’ it also shows how the ‘one thing led to another’ along an unorthodox career path. In addition to Spanish, my experiences have also led to the acquisition of French, German, Hebrew, Bengali and the Greek and neo-Latin used in biology. I heartily recommend swatting up as many languages and as much linguistics as possible—there’s no better place to learn than the anthropological field.
Think boldly. Acquire skills: Ars longa, vita breva, as the Romans said: ‘It takes a long time to acquire skills; life is short.’ Package your skills so they take you where you want.
My ultimate specialty as an anthropologist might be said to be how people acquire ideas and communicate them within social frameworks, but then, that might be said of most social/cultural anthropologists. I feel equipped to do virtually any kind of work that involves the study of social thinking and communicating. Here are a few examples of work I have participated in.
1. I was a consultant on an academic project that sought to understand which groups of women in our society were at greatest risk for HIV disease, and what were the underlying factors for those risks. My specialty in the group was to focus on how the social meanings of motherhood—e.g., it allows you ‘qualify’ as an adult; it might seem to provide a chance to repair the hurts of one’s own childhood; it tenders someone to love lifelong—might lead to childbearing by women who knew themselves to be AIDS-infected. As a result of this work (and a background in substance-abuse related research), I went on to work for a county public health department on a project to learn how to best serve pregnant women who were abusing addictive drugs.
2. Several years later, I worked for a second county health department as a tobacco control educator. My specific jobs were to work with community organizations to pass state and municipal legislation to regulate the sale and use of tobacco products, and to work with organizations and individuals to create community programs for limiting tobacco use. In the first role, I supported the Fire Chief of Salem, Oregon to pass a bill in his city council that licensed tobacco vendors and regulated them against the sale of cigarettes to minors. In the second, I worked with a community organization to lobby for smoke-free restaurants, and with a local magistrate to develop a diversion program for minors charged with cigarette possession. As a fairly decent Spanish speaker, I also did outreach to the residents of a housing estate run by a Latino agricultural workers union. In addition to my background as an anthropologist, I qualified for this position for having served on the mental health services board of a third county’s health department, and having served as a city councilor in that county.
3. In the course of my work at the Marion County Health Department (Salem, OR), I learned about and taught myself to use a massive electronic data base of cigarette industry documents obtained as a result of lawsuits by all the US state attorneys general against the five largest tobacco companies. As a result of that knowledge and my work in tobacco control, I was hired onto a research project at UC San Francisco the repository of that electronic data base—it was a return to academia after two decades away. At UCSF, I worked in the behavioral science department of the School of Nursing on a five-year study using the documents to understand how the tobacco industry fought against tobacco control advocates. I wrote about institutional, especially academic investment in tobacco stocks and the university-based divestment movement; about how the tobacco industry tries to co-opt the terms and ideas of socially responsible investing; about how the industry communicates with political decision-makers and the general public to create cover for its bad behavior. I presented this work—which all falls under the communication rhetoric of framing—at conferences throughout the US an abroad. I also taught medical students how to think ‘anthropologically’ about issues like race, language, ethnicity, gender, and how they influenced health decisions on diet, sexual expression, prescription-following, etc.
4. As a result of the experience gained at UCSF, I went on to work in a public health program at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. There I studied the tobacco industry worldwide, mostly through the UCSF-based documents archive, but also learning how to research electronically in the files of the US Securities and Exchange Commission, Mexico’s stock market regulators, and international health and charitable organizations. Again, knowing Spanish was a great help as one of my main projects focused on the Mexican magnate Carlos Slims and his health foundation—Slim was also the Mexico-licensed manufacturer of Marlboro cigarettes, and a stockholder in and board member of Philip Morris, International. My Spanish allowed me to retranslate some poorly translated Mexican documents that clearly demonstrated Slim’s involvement with Mexico’s then Attorney General in favor of the tobacco industry. I also became knowledgeable and contributed to discussions of the environmental impacts of tobacco-farming in East Africa, Mexico, and India—in graduate school I had specialized in anthropological ecology and my doctoral work began with a study of rice agriculture in India. As at UCSF, I continued to publish and present at conferences worldwide. During my time in Edinburgh, my UCSF work on tobacco industry finance and investing, coupled with my study of Carlos Slim and his financial empire, led to collaboration with the tobacco divestment by Norway’s North Sea oil social investment fund, which eventually resulted in the fund declaring that Slim’s Grupo Carso was essentially a tobacco-financed company, and Norway’s complete divestment from it. It was further my role to supervise master’s degree students in writing dissertations on issues of tobacco and public health.
Undoubtedly that sounds like a lot, but it represents a summary of the final thirty years of my formal career, from about 1984 to 2011. Beyond the ‘what I did,’ it also shows how the ‘one thing led to another’ along an unorthodox career path. In addition to Spanish, my experiences have also led to the acquisition of French, German, Hebrew, Bengali and the Greek and neo-Latin used in biology. I heartily recommend swatting up as many languages and as much linguistics as possible—there’s no better place to learn than the anthropological field.
Think boldly. Acquire skills: Ars longa, vita breva, as the Romans said: ‘It takes a long time to acquire skills; life is short.’ Package your skills so they take you where you want.
Thiago Carmo
Business Development | MBA
40
Answers
Kirkland, Washington
Updated
Thiago’s Answer
Hi Sonya,
The world is your oyster when it comes to career paths! In the fascinating field of anthropology, you can delve into cultural research, play a vital role in community development, or even bring history to life in museums.
If languages spark your interest, there's a whole universe of opportunities waiting for you. You can immerse yourself in translation work, delve into the intricacies of language analysis, or be at the forefront of cutting-edge natural language processing technologies.
But that's not all! Your unique blend of anthropological and linguistic skills can also be a game-changer in diverse areas such as archaeology, forensic anthropology, corporate ethnography, and international relations. Remember, networking and focusing on specializations can be your stepping stones to success in your chosen field. So go ahead, explore, and conquer!
The world is your oyster when it comes to career paths! In the fascinating field of anthropology, you can delve into cultural research, play a vital role in community development, or even bring history to life in museums.
If languages spark your interest, there's a whole universe of opportunities waiting for you. You can immerse yourself in translation work, delve into the intricacies of language analysis, or be at the forefront of cutting-edge natural language processing technologies.
But that's not all! Your unique blend of anthropological and linguistic skills can also be a game-changer in diverse areas such as archaeology, forensic anthropology, corporate ethnography, and international relations. Remember, networking and focusing on specializations can be your stepping stones to success in your chosen field. So go ahead, explore, and conquer!