Top 11 Jobs for Anthropology Majors

Top 11 Jobs for Anthropology Majors Top 11 Jobs for Anthropology Majors If you are fascinated by different cultures, past and present, and are  intrigued  by  how 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. You  will  find  information  below  on the kinds of skills you develop with an anthropology major,  as  well  as  a 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 and  new ways of thinking about life roles. Anthropology majors gather information through observation of groups within foreign cultures or domestic subcultures.  They develop the tools to analyze group dynamics.  Anthropology majors learn to identify patterns of  leadership  and evaluate the effectiveness of organizations. The study of anthropology teaches students to think outside their cultural experience  in  order to find creative solutions to social and organizational problems. Anthropology majors also hone writing skills while recording ethnographies,  writing  field  notes,  composing essays, and researching theses.  They develop the capacity to present material to groups, facilitate group discussions, and build consensus  while  working 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 are  just a few options to consider as you brainstorm possibilities. AttorneyAttorneys practicing in the areas of international, immigration, and human rights law benefit from an  understanding of the varied  cultural contexts  of  different foreign countries.  Anthropology majors tend to  empathize  with and  understand  underrepresented individuals, and want to advocate for their interests. They can communicate effectively with diverse individuals  and  groups. Attorneys draw upon the attention  to  detail and  writing skills  of the anthropology major as they plan their cases and compose briefs and other legal documents. If you are interested in  becoming an attorney, you will first  have 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 the  anthropology major’s knowledge of different socioeconomic and cultural groups. Diversity officers analyze current organizational practices and suggest alternative ways to recruit and  retain employees from different backgrounds.   Foreign Language TeacherForeign language  teachers  teach students how to speak, write, and understand a particular foreign  language. They also typically educate students about the countries and cultures that speak the language  they  are  teaching. 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 skillfully  impart an appreciation for cultures to  their  students  as part of their language instruction. The  organizational  skills  of the anthropology  major are also useful, as foreign language teachers often  develop their own  curricula 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 a  job teaching abroad. This combines an anthropologist’s passion for travel with an interest in education. Foreign Service OfficerA  foreign service 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 enable them to study the customs and norms of their service area in order to carry out diplomatic activity discretely  and  effectively.   Problem-solving skills  developed in college will help an anthropology graduate to assist U.S. citizens  with 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, and  writing skills  are vital to foreign service officers as  they  carry out their work.   Human Resources RepresentativeHuman resources (HR) representatives  help to define the roles of employees and the makeup of the  workforce at organizations.  They cultivate an office culture that supports creativity, productivity, and loyalty among staff. They write newsletters and other intra-company  communications, and organize events to enhance staff morale. HR representatives tap the  problem-solving  and  interpersonal skills  of the anthropology major to resolve issues among  employees,  and  between  employers  and  employees.   International Nonprofit AdministratorAdministrators at international nonprofit 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, and  poverty.   Interpreter/TranslatorInterpreters/translators  translate information from one language to another, dealing  variously  with  spoken language, sign  language, or written language. Anthropology majors can use their cultural knowledge to properly  and  accurately translate communications  into  different  languages. Interpreters  and  translators  can also draw upon the adaptability of the anthropology major to adjust to other cultures and environments as they carry  out their work. Translators and interpreters  must be keen observers who are attentive to detail. The verbal communication and writing skills acquired by an anthropology major can  serve them well. Media PlannerMedia planners  analyze the lifestyles and media preferences of various consumer groups  in  order to decide  which 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 help  a 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 productive. Organizational development specialists use the anthropology majors  interviewing  skills 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 and  research 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 communications  and  projects within an appropriate cultural context. Similarly, specialists in epidemiology study how diseases are transmitted.  They benefit from the anthropologist’s knowledge of how people interact with each other in different cultures, particularly  in  terms  of  their sanitary practices. Social Media SpecialistSocial media specialists think strategically about how to convey electronic media messages to different segments of the public, and influence perceptions  of their products or services. Anthropology majors are equipped to study and analyze the needs and tastes of various demographic groups, and to  anticipate their reactions to communications.   Social media specialists create  written,  verbal, and visual content, and evaluate contributions from other staff. They inject positive representations  of their brand into online discussions,  monitor online threats to their organizations  image, and put  forward  countering messages using  social media outlets.