Over the past six months, I have conducted focus groups with anthropology students for my research as an Anthropology Career Readiness Network (ACRN) intern to find the most effective ways to increase anthropology’s visibility on campus. The feedback was clear: anthropology departments have put too little effort into incorporating career readiness into their programs.
Early in college, I had no idea what career I wanted. I was passionate about understanding and helping others, so I took courses in psychology and sociology. Then, I found cultural anthropology and realized it was the perfect fit for my vision of seeing and existing in the world. I knew that anthropology’s holistic approach to understanding people and cultures was something I would not find elsewhere.
When I transferred to a university, the anthropology community on campus was underwhelming. I admit I am somewhat shy and could have engaged more outside the classroom, but the department lacked visibility in presenting applied courses and events; it also did not communicate the versatility of anthropology as a career path. Despite graduating with honors, I felt underprepared to step into the job market as an anthropologist.
Through my research with ACRN, I found others had a similar experience. Universities often overlook their anthropology departments, which are not prominent on campus, leaving students to suffer the consequences. Student focus group participants told me they need departments to bring vibrancy and relevance to anthropology programs. Here are some suggested areas for departments to improve:
1. Emphasizing Applied Anthropology and Career Pathways
Many students expressed their need for departments to balance offering academic and applied anthropology to educate students about available career paths. The academic job market for anthropologists has limited openings and requires a PhD, so most students enter applied, rather than academic, careers, offering more opportunities for PhD graduates. A BA and MA also can open the door to private, nonprofit, and public sector jobs. Only one exceptional professor set aside time each class to discuss uncommonly addressed aspects of anthropology careers, which is how I learned anthropologists can succeed without graduate school. More professors, advisors, and mentors need to converse with students to make informed decisions about their careers.
For success after graduating, students need to feel confident in their ability to market themselves to employers and to apply anthropology in their work. One student suggested departments invite speakers to highlight careers held by anthropologists to show students how they can utilize the skills they are learning in diverse career paths. They should also create opportunities for work experiences that employers will value.
2. Facilitating Interdepartmental Collaboration
Anthropology’s versatility is unique. Anthropology departments need to access other campus disciplines to communicate its scope. Collaborating with different disciplines could increase anthropology’s visibility and attract new students—for example, ethnography methods studies teaming up with film documentary course to produce an ethnographic documentary project. When, in any work environment, students learn how to apply their theories, reasoning, approaches, and methods, graduates are prepared for success.
3. Hosting Events
Events get students interacting with each other outside of their courses. Unfortunately, departments struggle to make them successful, as many focus group participants and I experienced. Holding campus events needs better input. A few ideas students produced include ways to:
- Increase frequency and visibility of engaging experiences
- Hold live stream/record programs
- Host events with other departments
- Ensure field diversity in guest speakers
- Offer career workshops
- Deliver research presentations
- Organize career expos
- Conduct alumni-student networking events
Departments also need to acknowledge that not all students are career driven or engage with more formally presented opportunities. Some students might be shy like I was, be socially uncomfortable, overburdened by responsibilities and course work, or disinterested in standard departmental events. Departments should prioritize finding unique, engaging initiatives for anthropology-oriented activities such as:
- Incentives to attend events (e.g., swag, food, extra credit, raffle, and prizes)
- Trivia/game nights
- Archaeology sifting events
- Zine workshops
- International culture nights
- End of semester cultural potluck
4. Encouraging Alumni and Graduate Mentorship
Connecting through alumni and graduate mentorship programs can play a pivotal role in undergrads’ success. If I had had the opportunity to connect with alumni and graduate students, my confidence and foundation in anthropology would have been stronger. My focus group participants shared their hope for more departments to create these programs. One even suggested departments make short ethnographic alumni career profile documentaries for students that describe what the alumni do, their problem-solving, and contribution to the work force. Students need these initiatives to connect to future careers.
Reflecting on my own experience and listening to current students, I find it clear that students need to know how to apply theory to real workplace issues. They need to create a strong sense of community among their peers, professors, and alumni as they are navigating their education and building a solid foundation for their career. If my campus anthropology department had taken more initiative to increase its visibility, grow its community, and emphasize the versatility of anthropology, I would have had the confidence I needed to enter the job market after graduation. As my focus group participant said, “Rather than just telling you that you have a career ahead of you, they need to give you the tools to get there.”
