What do Anthropologists do?

While a few anthropology postgraduates go on to work as lecturers or researchers within academia, a significant number are increasingly finding employment in a variety of sectors, ranging from education, charity and international development to medicine, film and business. Often anthropologists do not follow linear career trajectories, but become involved in various projects in frequently overlapping career sectors.

Becoming an anthropologist means that you must be willing to adapt and explore different career possiblities and at the same time be willing to learn how to apply your skills and knowledge to a specific job. In certain sectors, such as health, or business, you may have to supplement your anthropological training with additional skills and knowledge in order to gain management positions or positions that warrant more responsibility. 

The following resources provide general information on careers in anthropology. For specific resources, case studies and information on certain professions take a look at our pages on various careers sectors. 

Recomended Resources

General

ASA's Apply Network - offers some great information about careers and opportunities for applied anthropologists.

http://www.anthropology.pdx.edu/assets/careers.htm - provides a list of resources designed to help students get started with the process of choosing and planning for a career in anthropology.

http://weber.ucsd.edu/~jmoore/bioanthro/brochure2.html - provides information for physical anthropology students of career opportunities in non-academic settings.

http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072500506/student_view0/career_opportunities.html - provides a list of resources to help bolster your search for careers within anthropology.

Professional Organisations, Associations, and Groups

The American Anthropological Association - the world’s largest association of individuals interested in the advancement of anthropology as the science that studies humankind in all its aspects, through archeological, biological, ethnological, and linguistic research.

The Association of Social Anthropologists of the UK and Commonwealth - The ASA aims to promote the study and teaching of social anthropology, to present the interests of social anthropology and to maintain its professional status. 

The Economic and Social Research Council - The ESRC is the UK's leading agency for research funding and training in the economic and social sciences  

The European Anthropological Association– a scientific organisation which aims to promote research and teaching in anthropology in the different European countries and to promote exchanges of information, workshops, scientific congresses, and schools at postgraduate level

The European Association of Social Anthropologists – a professional association open to all social anthropologists either qualified in, or working in, Europe.

National Association for the Practice of Anthropology (NAPA) – An organization dedicated to the Practice of Anthropology in its most inclusive sense.

The Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland (RAI) - is the world's longest-established scholarly association dedicated to the furtherance of anthropology (the study of humankind) in its broadest and most inclusive sense.

World Council of Anthropological Associations (WCAA) - network of national and international associations that aims to promote worldwide communication and cooperation in anthropology

Books

  What Anthropologists do?
  By Veronica Strang
 (Berg, 2009)

  Great Jobs for Anthropology Majors
  By Blythe Camenson
 (McGraw-Hill Contemporary, 2004)

  Careers in Anthropology
  By W. Richard Stephens Jr.
 (Prentice Hall, 2001)

  Anthropology Career Resources Handbook
  By Margaret A. Gwynne
  (Prentice Hall, 2002)

Articles

http://www.wadsworth.com/anthropology_d/special_features/anthro_careers.html - An essay on anthropology careers by Gary Ferraro.

Films

http://www4.nau.edu/anthro/Movies/ - Northern Arizona University has created a series of films about applying anthropology to various careers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjcD-U1LxH4 - A typical day in the life of an Anthropologist.

Disclaimer: The above information is provided for information and guidance only. It should not be interpreted as endorsement or otherwise by the Royal Anthropological Institute (RAI) for any external institution listed.  Furthermore, the RAI accepts no responsibility for material created by external parties or the content of external websites.