Exploring Alternatives to Professing: Careers for Anthropologists and Archaeologists

When you're an anthropologist or an archaeologist, the academic world is often the first and most obvious career path. However, do you know that there are many other rewarding avenues you can explore? This article explores the career opportunities available for those in these disciplines beyond the traditional academic realm.

The Shift from Academia: A Personal Journey

I, as an anthropologist myself, faced exactly this question when I was near the completion of my master's degree. I had developed a strong interest in the diverse cultural perspectives that anthropology offers, yet I found myself increasingly disenchanted with the academic lifestyle. In search of alternative paths, I turned to a revered mentor in the field, who provided invaluable advice.

Spotlight on Business Needs

My mentor highlighted a significant business need that anthropologists can uniquely address. All businesses, from established fields like plumbing to emerging areas like social media and digital advertising, require a deep understanding of their customers. Anthropologists, with their expertise in studying human behavior and culture, can help bridge this gap.

Alternative Career Paths

One such path has been increasingly popular among anthropologists and archaeologists in the technology sector, particularly through roles in product management. These roles involve guiding the creation and development of digital products such as apps or websites to meet market needs. Companies also hire for positions like user experience researchers, who conduct interviews with users to improve product usability. Additionally, data analysts who study customer data to drive informed business decisions are in high demand.

Insight from Anthropological Skills

These roles require the application of anthropological skills, as they all involve understanding people and their behaviors. From developing products that resonate with diverse audiences to optimizing customer experiences, these anthropologists can bring unique insights to the table that wouldn't be possible with business or marketing alone.

Real-World Examples: Success in Diverse Roles

To gain a better sense of these career paths, I took a closer look on LinkedIn. Here are some interesting job titles and companies where anthropologists and archaeologists have found success:

User Researcher at Facebook Independent Publicist and Filmmaker Research Scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Management Consultant at McKinsey Company Data Scientist at Google Market Research Analyst Research Scientist at Intel Director of Consumer Insights Digital Lead at Accenture

By leveraging their anthropological skills, these individuals are contributing to a wide range of industries and making meaningful impacts in their respective roles.

Conclusion: Embracing Diverse Opportunities

Whether you're an anthropologist or an archaeologist, the world of business offers many exciting opportunities beyond academia. People skills, combined with the ability to study and analyze human behavior, can lead to fulfilling and impactful careers in product management, user experience research, and data analysis. Don't let the traditional academic path limit your career options; explore the diverse opportunities available and see where your skills can take you.

For those intrigued by these alternative paths, I highly recommend reaching out to professionals on LinkedIn and asking for more information. With persistence and a little networking, you can uncover a powerful and rewarding career in business.