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What can I do with my Anthropology degree

In such a broad field as the literal "study of humans" there is an application in almost every field. However, as I am looking at jobs, I am getting discouraged since practically zero have "anthropologist" in the title. What are some ideas of jobs in which I can use my anthropology degree?
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Lanie’s Answer

Hi William,


Victoria already gave you a great answer, but I thought I would add a little bit more along with my personal experience. My BS is in Social Sciences (part of that was Anthropology), and I also had a lot of friends studying Anthro. I actually ended up doing what Victoria recommended, and I got my MA in Psychology with a quantitative focus. This allowed me to gain a lot of skills in quantitative analysis and research, as well as coding (SPSS, R, Python). Due to this combination, I was able to get a position as a data scientist at a tech company. Companies really value that unique combination of a liberal arts focus with STEM, it makes you a strong candidate and sets you apart.


A lot of my friends that studied Anthropology or Sociology ended up going into human resources or recruiting because of that background in human behavior.

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Victoria’s Answer

Hi William,


I love your question and there are many people that have the same challenge but don't be discouraged.

You are on a journey and your job is out there - and there are multiple jobs you can do with this major. Over the course of your career it is not uncommon to have 4 - 6 different or related careers. And that is okay!


First start by reading this article:

https://www.theodysseyonline.com/15-careers-anthropology-degree


Many people in STEM careers (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) have a variety of degrees that may or may not show up on a standard job description. So a computer scientist might be a physics/art major...or an archeology major might be a data scientist. You will blend your education and your interests into something that is uniquely you and that is very valuable. This is valuable because you have excellent critical thinking skills and many of the jobs in the future haven't been created yet. Consider blending anthropology with STEM: check out this great link: http://www.verizon.com/about/news/bryn-mooser-and-emmy-nominated-ryot. Many people, including Bryn Mooser, are trying to navigate how technology will change the world, change work and home life, and how it will impact how we express ideas and communicate. Here are some things you can do to focus and refine your search:

Victoria recommends the following next steps:

When you interview for a job, be very specific about what critical thinking skills to bring to the job and focus on your value. Don't be discouraged, make your case politely and you will find an employer who gets you. Half steps that help you reach your goal are okay. Figure out what the employer needs before they do by studying the company or organization you are interviewing with. Please let us know what you choose, you are on a wonderful journey.
Figure out what attracted you to anthropology and see what other jobs use those same skills. Talk to your friends, family, and fellow colleagues about what your strong points/skills are. Leverage those skills. If you don't agree that is okay; talking to people will help you figure out what is important to you. I have a hunch you would be excellent at a non-profit because you are interested in the study of who we are. You might be an excellent travel guide or writer because you are used to studying culture.
Think about what is your dream job(s) and take an internship/volunteer/temp work/work to see if it is a good fit. Don't be afraid to try a number of different things until you find something you love or like a lot.
Start a journal and collect jobs that look interesting to you or you think you would be good at doing. See if these align with the Do What You Are book.
Find this book - this is fabulous: "Do What You Are" by Paul Tieger and read the parts that are interesting to you - it is super helpful: https://www.littlebrown.com/titles/paul-d-tieger/do-what-you-are/9780316236751/
Thank you comment icon Thank you for the wonderful response! It is interesting that you mentioned blending STEM with anthropology, as that is what I am strongly considering as I choose a Master's program. I will most definitely make use of the strategies that you mentioned. William
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