Top 11 Jobs for Anthropology Majors

Top 11 Jobs for Anthropology MajorsTop 11 Jobs for Anthropology MajorsIf you are fascinated by different cultures, past and present, and areintriguedbyhow they impact relationships, work roles, gender roles, and social institutions, then you should consider an anthropology major as a possible foundation for your career. An anthropology major will provide you with diverse skills that you can apply to many different types of jobs, in institutions ranging from public health to law to education. Youwillfindinformationbelowon the kinds of skills you develop with an anthropology major,aswellasa list of ten jobs that are ideal for an anthropology major. Anthropology Major Skills Anthropology majors have an intense curiosity about the diversity of cultures throughout human history.They are open to new ideas andnew ways of thinking about life roles. Anthropology majors gather information through observation of groups within foreign cultures or domestic subcultures.They develop the tools t o analyze group dynamics.Anthropology majors learn to identify patterns ofleadershipand evaluate the effectiveness of organizations. The study of anthropology teaches students to think outside their cultural experienceinorder to find creative solutions to social and organizational problems. Anthropology majors also hone writing skills while recording ethnographies,writingfieldnotes,composing essays, and researching theses.They develop the capacity to present material to groups, facilitate group discussions, and build consensuswhileworking toward common goals. Top 11 Jobs for Anthropology Majors Many factors, such as your personal values, abilities, interests, and graduate training, will impact your career choices if you major in anthropology.However,here arejust a few options to consider as you brainstorm possibilities. AttorneyAttorneys practicing in the areas of international, immigration, and human rights law benefit from anunderstanding of the variedcultural contextsofdiffer ent foreign countries.Anthropology majors tend toempathizewith andunderstandunderrepresented individuals, and want to advocate for their interests. They can communicate effectively with diverse individualsandgroups. Attorneys draw upon the attentiontodetail andwriting skillsof the anthropology major as they plan their cases and compose briefs and other legal documents. If you are interested inbecoming an attorney, you will firsthave to go to graduate school and receive a law degree. Diversity OfficerDiversity officers work to promote diversity in various organizations. In this role, they need theanthropology majors knowledge of different socioeconomic and cultural groups. Diversity officers analyze current organizational practices and suggest alternative ways to recruit andretain employees from different backgrounds. Foreign Language TeacherForeign languageteachersteach students how to speak, write, and understand a particular foreignlanguage. They also typically educate students ab out the countries and cultures that speak the languagetheyareteaching. Anthropology majors understand the cultural basis of idioms and other subtleties of language, so they are well equipped for this role. They are enthusiastic about foreign cultures and can skillfullyimpart an appreciation for cultures totheirstudentsas part of their language instruction. Theorganizationalskillsof the anthropologymajor are also useful, as foreign language teachers oftendevelop their owncurricula and plan the details of their lessons. If you do not know a foreign language but are interested in international cultures, you might also consider ajob teaching abroad. This combines an anthropologists passion for travel with an interest in education. Foreign Service OfficerAforeign tafelgeschirr officer works for the government, serving as a diplomat in a foreign country. Foreign service officers must understand the social and cultural context of the countries where they work. Anthropology training will en able them to study the customs and norms of their service area in order to carry out diplomatic activity discretelyandeffectively. Problem-solving skillsdeveloped in college will help an anthropology graduate to assist U.S. citizenswith issues as they arise in their assigned country. Foreign service officers draw on the attention to detail of the anthropology major as they carefully document their cases.Interpersonal,verbal, andwriting skillsare vital to foreign service officers astheycarry out their work. Human Resources RepresentativeHuman resources (HR) representativeshelp to define the roles of employees and the makeup of theworkforce at organizations.They cultivate an office culture that supports creativity, productivity, and loyalty among staff. They write newsletters and other intra-companycommunications, and organize events to enhance staff morale. HR representatives tap theproblem-solvingandinterpersonal skillsof the anthropology major to resolve issues amongemployees,andbe tweenemployersandemployees. International Nonprofit AdministratorAdministrators at international non-profit- organizations orchestrate programs that serve the needs of particular populations in various countries. These administrators need to design and carry out initiatives with an understanding of the cultural contexts in the countries where they operate. Administrators at international nonprofit organizations can harness the problem-solving skills of the anthropology major as they devise solutions to issues like famine, disease,drought, andpoverty. Interpreter/TranslatorInterpreters/translatorstranslate information from one language to another, dealingvariouslywithspoken language, signlanguage, or written language. Anthropology majors can use their cultural knowledge to properlyandaccurately translate communicationsintodifferentlanguages. Interpretersandtranslatorscan also draw upon the adaptability of the anthropology major to adjust to other cultures and environments as they car ryout their work. Translators and interpretersmust be keen observers who are attentive to detail. The verbal communication and writing skills acquired by an anthropology major canserve them well. Media PlannerMedia plannersanalyze the lifestyles and media preferences of various consumer groupsinorder to decidewhich media platform (magazines, newspapers, television, internet, etc.) a company should use to advertise a product. Media planners must communicate effectively and work collaboratively with other members of an advertising team.The anthropology majors ability to respect differences can help a media planner to foster positive interactions among diverse team members and clients. The anthropology majors knowledge of cultural groups can also helpa media planner to understand different consumer groups. Organizational Development SpecialistAn organizational development specialist works within an organization to develop, coordinate, and lead programs that help the company to be produ ctive. Organizational development specialists use the anthropology majorsinterviewingskills to gather information from staff about roles and processes. Organizational development specialists write detailed reports of their findings.They formulate recommendations and present their suggestions for improving organizational effectiveness to management groups. These reports require strong writing andresearch skills. Public Health SpecialistPublic health specialists oversee initiatives that address health needs within various communities. They plan and carry out programs to educate the public about ways to prevent,treat, or limit the impact of diseases and health problems.The cultural awareness of the anthropology major would help public health workers to frame their communicationsandprojects within an appropriate cultural context. Similarly, specialists in epidemiology study how diseases are transmitted.They benefit from the anthropologists knowledge of how people interact with each othe r in different cultures, particularlyintermsoftheir sanitary practices. Social Media SpecialistSocial media specialists think strategically about how to convey electronic media messages to different segments of the public, and influence perceptionsof their products or services. Anthropology majors are equipped to study and analyze the needs and tastes of various demographic groups, and toanticipate their reactions to communications. Social media specialists createwritten,verbal, and visual content, and evaluate contributions from other staff. They inject positive representationsof their brand into online discussions,monitor online threats to their organizationsimage, and putforwardcountering messages usingsocial media outlets.