Career Planning for Anthropology Students

According to a 1994 survey, nearly half of all professional anthropologists work outside of academia in a variety of public and private sector fields from business to medicine to development. The one piece of advice that practicing anthropologists give the most is to think in terms of skills rather than academic degree when planning for a career in anthropology. That means carefully planning a program of course work that matches your career interests and ambitions, as well as taking advantage of internship opportunities to build your experiences and skills outside of the classroom. The following is a list of resources designed to help students get started with the process of choosing and planning for a career with an anthropology degree.

Advice to Anthropology B.A.s

Be Immodest. There are no jobs out there labeled 'anthropology,' but many entry level positions do not specify a college major and are thus open. Your training prepares you as well as any.
Be Bold. You must tell prospective employers what anthropology can do for them. They don't know and won't ask.
Be Prepared. Know what you have to offer and how it interpenetrates with the job skills required. Students who have developed a proficiency in a specific skill, such as statistics or a second language, will have an added advantage on the job market.
Be Eclectic. Your marketability will be immeasurably enhanced if you combine vocationally-oriented course work (criminal justice, urban planning, business, environmental studies, etc.) with your anthropology major.
Be Experienced. Most decent jobs relevant to anthropology B.A.s (especially in government) require experience. New B.A.s can beat this catch-22 by paying your dues while still in school. Search out volunteer and internship opportunities to integrate with your undergraduate coursework.
Adapted from: Robert Wulff, Career Models in Anthropology (1977)

Some Resources for Career Planning:

Visit the PSU Career Center or look up the Career Center website for internship and career opportunities.
For a list of resources just for anthropology majors, see http://www.career.pdx.edu/majoranthropology.htm.
See "Anthropology Resources on the Internet" with links to publications, professional organizations and discussion groups.
Visit the Northern Kentucky University anthropology website, which includes lists of federal and international jobs for anthropology majors.
See the NAPA (National Association for the Practice of Anthropology) page for information on careers in applied anthropology.
For information on working for a non-governmental organization (NGO), see the InterAction website, which includes information on job/volunteer opportunities. The organization is a coalition of over 160 non-profit groups.
- InterAction publishes Global Work, a guide to volunteer, internship and fellowship opportunities, which is available from their website or at the Multnomah County Library.
- InterAction also publishes Monday Developments, a bi-weekly newsletter with job, internship and volunteer listings. For subscription information, see http://www.interaction.org/jobs/index.html.
  
  More general employment sites may also be helpful, depending on what kind of a job you are interested in. See The Riley Guide: Employment Opportunities and Job Resources on the Internet, and America's Job Bank. See also http://monstertrak.com.
Join a professional organization, such as NAPA, NASA, SfAA and AAA, SAA. See below for more information.
Read Practicing Anthropology and the SfAA Newsletter. These are the most career oriented publications in applied anthropology. The emphasis is on networking, resources and advice, rather than scholarship. It is also a great way to find out how others are using anthropology degrees in a variety of fields. Both are available by joining the Society for Applied Anthropology (see below). The special issue of Practicing Anthropology on "Mastering Anthropology: Anthropologists Practicing with a Master's Degree" (Vol. 19 No.2, Spring 1997) is particularly useful.
Look for NAPA Bulletins on subjects of interest to you, such as business, public sector work, legal anthropology, bioanthropology, etc. These bulletins can be ordered from http://www.aaanet.org/napa/publications.htm
Take advantage of the NAPA Mentor Program. Anyone who is an M.A. student finishing their degree can request a match with a professional anthropologist. http://www.aaanet.org/napa/.
Consider signing up for NAPA's Resume Writing Workshop. This is a six-week workshop available to graduate students who are members of either NAPA or NASA.
Visit the Society for American Archaeology's web site for information on careers in archaeology. Also see the web site "Frequently asked questions about a career in archaeology"
To create and post a resume, and search job listings in anthropology, visit http://www.anthrotech.com/career/.
For a list of resources, information on what applied anthropologists do, answers to FAQs and links to other sites, see the Applied Anthropology Computer Network
Practical Gatherings is an organization that networks "workplace anthropologists" and provides resources and career development for students and anthropologists. http://www.practicalgatherings.com

Joining a Professional Association:

The following is a list of professional anthropology associations. All organizations are open to students.

American Anthropological Association: Student membership is $75 (includes one section membership, such as NASA or NAPA). Membership forms are available at http://www.aaanet.org/memsrv.htm.
National Association for the Practice of Anthropology: Student membership is $15. You must join as a section of the AAA (see above).
National Association for Student Anthropologists: Membership is $15. You must join as a section of the AAA (see above).
Society for Applied Anthropology: Student membership is $25.
Society for American Archaeology. Student membership is $50.

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