World of Work Blog

As a student in Syracuse University’s Renée Crown Honors Program, I knew I would finish my undergraduate experience with the longest research paper I had ever written. Any subject within the constraints of my major(s) would be acceptable. Fortunately, in the summer of 2024, I participated in the Jucu Project Field School with Transylvania Bioarchaeology, a non-profit organization. It was in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, that I realized how much I enjoyed [...]

If you are starting a consulting practice, one of your first decisions is how much to charge for your expertise. Price yourself too low and you undervalue your work; too high and you may lose opportunities. Two common approaches can help you establish an appropriate rate: value pricing and cost-plus pricing. 1. Value Pricing Value pricing sets your fee according to what your client believes your expertise is worth rather [...]

When people ask what you can do with an anthropology degree, my response—“spend a week walking around Northern Ireland talking to strangers”—probably is not the answer they are expecting. Yet somewhere among the conversations with locals, walking tours through Belfast, and making sense of competing stories about the same conflict, I found myself relying on many of the skills anthropology has taught me. What started as a research trip quickly [...]

When I started undergrad, I was a pre-med biology major. I had done all the research pertaining to this and what was required for the career I apparently wanted. I had told my friends, family, and everyone else I knew exactly what my plans were, which meant I had a lot of eyes on my journey going forward. Everything changed, however, when I found anthropology. I took an intro class my [...]

“This was a very difficult decision on our part and please, do not take this as a reflection of your character or work…” Few people talk about sitting in front of a video screen as the vice president of your department tells you that, due to government funding changes, you no longer have a job. Your sense of time and place narrows as your mind tries to suppress the swell [...]

Growing up across six countries and navigating many different schools, cultural landscapes, and languages, I noticed early that difference often created discomfort. The immediate response to differences was not curiosity; it was distance. Most people fail to engage with the unfamiliar and seem unwilling to expand rigid identity categories. My curiosity to understand “difference” and make meaning of my own experiences is what drew me to anthropology. By working in [...]

Two years ago, I helped a Morocco-based agricultural initiative, Al Moutmir, understand how to scale their offerings. This account is multifaceted: An example of infusing anthropological methods for public good, small business development, student enrichment, and personal growth. It also illustrates the value of anthropology in helping to solve urgent real-world problems and enhancing careers. The Al Moutmir Initiative Farmers throughout the world face myriad challenges, among them inadequate water [...]

It is hard to believe but the Anthropology Career Readiness Network (ACRN) turns five years old this month. I want to use this blogpost to celebrate both ACRN’s accomplishments and the man, Riall W. Nolan, who has been instrumental in ACRN’s success. As he steps back from the day-to-day intensity of this work, I want to recognize some of the important contributions he has made in advancing career readiness and [...]

Word on the street is that anthropology faces major challenges today. Departments are closing. Student enrollments are down, especially for undergraduates. Even the very value of the subject is scorned in some circles. Now there is a new positive force for anthropology. The workbook, Teaching Tools for Anthropology Careers: Resources for Instructors and Departments, has arrived. Produced by the Anthropology Career Readiness Network (ACRN) with multiple editors, it is the [...]

Multi-national, global workplace teams need to add anthropologists to their organizations now more than ever. Anthropology provides a framework for understanding how economic uncertainty, political unrest, and social changes power the workplace. Anthropologists argue that organizations are complex cultural systems embedded in larger socio-political economic environments—where power, identity, and meaning are constantly negotiated. By using ethnography to observe the hidden social dynamics, unspoken rules, and cultural behaviors, workplace anthropologists can [...]

The greatest learning in my career happens when I am with my colleagues at conferences, chatting between sessions in hallway corridors and connecting online about the value of anthropology in our respective industries. After volunteering with the National Association for the Practice of Anthropology and learning from colleagues at the Society for Applied Anthropology, the Washington Association of Professional Anthropologists, and Ethnobreakfast, I decided it was time to build an [...]

When I first began working virtually, I thought I was simply offering services -designing brochures, formatting documents, creating visuals, managing communications. What I did not realize was that virtual work would become one of the most powerful career-readiness classrooms I could ever enter. Today, as a Virtual Assistant for the Anthropology Career Readiness Network (ACRN), a Fiverr seller, and a Canva design specialist, I see client work not just as [...]

Although it seems much longer, it was only a year or so ago that the federal government started wiping out grants, employment and positions, long-standing policies and agreements, committees, groups, and entire agencies. Those who read beforehand the Project 2025 report would have had some inkling of what was to come, but the speed and scale of the demolition has been breathtakingly tragic. Anthropologists of all stripes were caught in [...]

“What am I going to do after college?” That is the big question nearly all of my seniors brought to class, but it is not one that a professor can answer. A professor can do plenty to respect the question, however, by connecting students with professional practice and career development. Senior Seminar is the capstone class for Anthropology, Sociology, and Criminal Justice majors at Messiah University, my liberal arts school [...]

After an epically disappointing experience with AI-generated essays, I realized that the term paper was as dead as a doornail. I needed an alternative assignment and chose a term-long community-based research project. During the fall of 2025, I worked with Portland State University’s Director of Emergency Management (PSU-EM), the Community Preparedness Manager at the Portland Bureau of Emergency Management (PBEM), and the Anthropology Career Readiness Network (ACRN) to implement a [...]

The James H. McDonald Leadership Endowment program funds leadership development programming at the Society for Applied Anthropology Annual Meeting (SfAA) and throughout the calendar year. Directed primarily toward mid-career professionals and SfAA leadership, the funds support training and skill building for SfAA members seeking a greater impact in the field. The award is designed to rotate programming targeted at three principal cohorts: Applied Scholars, Anthropology Departments (Department Leaders), and Practitioners. [...]

Return-on-investment (ROI) is a hot button topic for college graduates entering the workforce. Yet, according to CNBC, the job market builds pressures for 2025 becoming the toughest in a decade. College graduates also are dealing with the meteoric rise of artificial intelligence (AI). This poses a threat to most entry level jobs, because companies and employers see AI as an opportunity to reduce cost and improve efficiency. So, what does [...]

Professionally, I have extensive managerial experience spanning 16 years at two major companies: McDonald’s and ALDI. This background helped me develop skills in time management, multitasking, profit and loss, customer service, marketing, scheduling, and training employees. Despite those achievements, something felt missing. When I decided to complete my BA in anthropology at Southern New Hampshire University, I discovered a new sense of purpose. Learning about medical anthropology sparked a deep interest in how culture shapes health experiences. When I [...]

Many of us often take our professional associations for granted. We recognize they are there and offer certain membership benefits, but if asked, we are hard pressed to name them. We also do not typically voice our appreciation to staff or board members when those associations engage in innovative and supportive activities. In this blogpost, I want to draw your attention to the good that professional associations do—particularly when they [...]

When the Anthropology Career Readiness Network (ACRN) brought its Departmental Advisory Initiative (DAI) to California State University, Northridge (CSUN), it initiated a structured and collaborative effort to assess and strengthen how the department prepares its students for professional success beyond graduation. Over several days, faculty, staff, and students engaged in guided discussions, reflective exercises, and strategic assessments aimed at advancing the department’s long-term commitment to career readiness. As both an [...]

As a graduate in Cultural Anthropology and a current Social Media Intern with the Anthropology Career Readiness Network (ACRN), I have come to realize how deeply anthropology continues to connect people, even beyond academia. This year, my work with ACRN introduced me to Willing Observers, LLC, a firm founded by anthropologists Dr. Luzilda (Lucy) Arciniega and Dr. Melissa (Missy) Maceyko. Its mission is to train individuals and organizations to notice [...]

“What will you do with a PhD in anthropology?” “Why do you want a PhD anyway?” If you’ve done a PhD in anthropology, you know these types of questions—particularly if you do not plan to become a professor. When I was eight, I read Margaret Mead’s biography and fell in love with anthropology. From that day, I wanted to be an anthropologist. I was drawn to the exoticness of it, [...]

Have you ever met an anthropologist who did not want to share a story, an idea, or an insight with you? Maybe you have—but not I—and I have almost 50 years in the field. Each of us has some truth to tell. No matter our employment status, we constantly observe, evaluate, and weigh conclusions in our surroundings. For that reason, I believe that each of us has a blogpost for [...]

What we eat, where and how we eat—is never just about food. These choices reflect our identities, social roles, and even aspirations. In anthropology, that makes food an ideal entry point to observe how people live and express themselves. But beyond research, learning to read food spaces can also prepare students for careers in media, branding, and more. I experienced this firsthand in Rio Paranaíba, a small town in Minas [...]

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 [...]

Searching for your path during your undergraduate studies is daunting. Finding your footing can be your biggest obstacle, but you have more time than you think. I was able to work three other jobs, take 15 credits, and still pursue and secure an internship. Many questions arose when entering my internship as an undergraduate student a year and a half into my degree: Where do I begin? What should I [...]

I have never had “Anthropologist” as a job title, but anthropology has been part of everything I have done, even before I could name it. I am still at the beginning of my career, but my journey so far has been full of discoveries. It has been a kind of domino effect, where one curiosity led to the next. I was born and raised in Bulgaria, and for my Bachelor’s [...]

In June 2014, I left my tenure-track position in anthropology to maintain my passion for applied anthropology and to harness my knowledge to serve the public. Academia had provided benefits and promotion to associate professor, allowing me to enhance my scholarship. Even so, I still felt unfulfilled and wanted to use my skills to interact with the “real world.” I started over with temporary jobs, teaching online, and volunteering for [...]

It is time to rethink what it means to be an anthropologist. While academic teaching is still the assumed goal for PhD anthropologists, the vast majority of us will not follow this traditional path. Despite the changing landscape, misinformation abounds about alternative career paths. This ambiguity around what it’s really like to work outside of academia puts students and potential career changers at a disadvantage, as they often struggle to [...]

My attraction to anthropology began early. Photographs in National Geographic stimulated my interest in other cultures, especially since I was growing up in a homogeneous community. My undergraduate major at William and Mary acquainted me with anthropology, and the four-field approach, learned as a graduate student at Cornell, convinced me that I could study anything through the anthropological lens. This holistic interdisciplinary perspective has enabled me to maintain my identity [...]

Hint: Pop culture is key! If anthropology is the study of people, meanings, and culture, why does it sometimes feel like our events stay trapped in an anthro-bubble? What can we do as anthropologists to help this bubble pop? The answer is in the name—Pop Culture—modern culture transmitted through mass media, usually relating to younger audiences. Pop Culture typically centers on societal features such as fashion, music, movies, and slang. [...]

In a previous World of Work post, I said that introducing anthropology to new audiences should include interesting stories. I have found that lecturing about my work experience is not particularly engaging for high-school and college students. My engineering career is a big domain jump for many of them. Scenarios emphasize the breadth of anthropological application and encourage students to offer their own perspectives. This post shares how I used [...]

I am opening here without a museum reference, but please bear with me. In May 2025, I attended a launch ceremony for graduating seniors of the Arlington, Virginia, Affordable Homes and Communities (AHC) non-profit organization. Through AHC advocacy, these students from difficult backgrounds were attending university, often the first in their families. Fortunately, AHC relies mostly on nonfederal funding sources, so their essential mission to provide fair housing and promote [...]

Be Curious and Go: Our Anthropologist Superpower At least once a year, most anthropology societies, professional associations, networks, hold meetings. If you are lucky, like I was, one of the big ones will host their annual meeting near you. SfAA (Society for Applied Anthropology) held theirs in Portland, Oregon (March 25th-29th). This six-day conference registered over 1,700 people. I came to the SfAA Conference as someone who felt out-of-touch with [...]

In late January 2022, I arrived on the Caribbean Island of Aruba to conduct ethnographic fieldwork for my bachelor’s thesis on sustainable tourism. I have always had a passion for traveling, remembering the wonderful trips with my father when I was younger, and long been intrigued by sustainability. A course on anthropology and sustainability demonstrated that I could combine these passions to investigate their intertwinement in Aruba. Aruba’s slogan is [...]

A growing anti-college movement in the US suggests foregoing college altogether. Why? Costs are ridiculous. Employers hire people without degrees. Many believe colleges politically indoctrinate students, as seen in mandates to erase diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. Colleges are also seen as “bloat”— rife with bureaucracy and programs that do not result in decent jobs. Strada reports 52% of graduates are underemployed a year after graduation. Even 10 years later, [...]

I started working on voice assistants as a usability challenge in 2019 after one of the students in my User Experience (UX) Principles class asked, “I naturally speak in Spanish and English within the same sentence. Why can’t Google Assistant handle that?” This compelling question motivated me to explore the intersection of conversation design and user experience. I have been studying conversational UX ever since. Conversational UX/conversation design entails writing, [...]

When I was younger, becoming a professor of anthropology excited me. As I progressed through a tour in the United States Marine Corps years ago, visions of a future lecturing students captivated me. Why did I want to be a professor? In retrospect, the goals I held were one, to find something useful and good for the world; two, to stimulate my interest; and three, to generate income. I left active duty [...]

As an anthropology student, I often wondered how my academic knowledge would translate into real-world career opportunities. When I joined the Anthropology Career Readiness Network (ACRN) as an intern, I had high hopes, but I did not realize just how impactful the experience would be. Looking back, I can confidently say that this internship shaped my professional path in ways I had never expected. One of the most important aspects [...]

A rite of passage for students is the fabled internship. However, I applied for internships without response . . . until I connected with the Anthropology Career Readiness Network (ACRN). This team threw me into a world of applied work with real world problems and excellent career advice. The anthropology vocabulary and theories I had learned in the classroom came to life and each Zoom meeting with the Anthropology Career [...]

Anthropologists may say, “It’s too bad you don’t get to use your anthropology anymore” when I talk about working at a big box retailer. But nothing could be further from the truth. Business anthropology has taken software development in-house to build less costly technology solutions, including “enterprise” software. In 2019, I landed in the enterprise software space of a major US retailer. I had nearly given up on applying through [...]

In my first decade in industry, I increasingly found myself working on strategy projects which, while suffused with cultural insights and analysis, had me slowly gravitating away from ethnographic research. But in the later 2010s I had the opportunity to get back into more fieldwork projects. In one such project, a yearlong study of Latino voters in Texas in 2020, I sifted through hundreds of hours of interview data; it [...]

I have long advised people interested in a global economic development career to study anthropology, better still, anthropology with development studies, as I did at Sussex University. There are not enough people focused on understanding people in the technology-for-development world. You see plenty of ‘Technology Advisor’ roles, but where are the “People Advisors?” I do not think I have seen a single technology job description require time spent in the field to understand [...]

Ah, to reconnect with former colleagues! It is straightforward for some and difficult for others. Reconnecting may offer undiscovered opportunities in one’s career, but is it possible to link up with the past in a substantive way? This blog shares our experience reconnecting: it is the story of the collaboration between two former university students who reconnected after 30 years and agreed to rebuild their relationship and share their networks [...]

In a previous blog, I wrote about how I observed anthropology from the “outside in,” where I described my endorsement of our field to non-anthropologists. Here, I discuss anthropology from the “inside out,” or how I apply my skills and training to create solutions for my clients. My Work History A PhD in cultural anthropology is the backbone of everything I do. I have spent the past 20+ years applying [...]

In the summer of 2024, I traveled to Mexico where I conducted nine weeks of ethnographic research with Central American migrants in Monterrey and Mexico City, two epicenters of migration from Central American. I returned to the University of Virginia (UVA) my senior year, with a deeper understanding of the migrant experience along the Mexico–US border. I also experienced profound gratitude for the relationships I formed with the immigrants I [...]

From August to December 2023, I conducted ethnographic fieldwork in several Chinatowns in Bangkok, Thailand. An early piece of advice I got was that no matter how comprehensively I planned the process, not much would go as expected. This guidance was unnerving to hear as an undergraduate about to fly halfway around the world for first-time fieldwork. Some conclusions that I drew will be useful for undergraduates planning research abroad: [...]

A few months ago, I was at a wonderful lunch event when I overheard two men next to me grumble, “f***ing anthropology!” I turned to confirm what I heard, and they explained that an employee wanted to pursue an anthropology degree, which they didn’t support. I have a PhD in anthropology, so I shared that not only is it a fascinating field, but it has been incredibly valuable in my [...]

As the academic anthropology job market continues to devolve, anthropologists are finding opportunities at the forefront of innovation, applying their unique skills and perspectives to shape the future of emerging technologies (EmTech). This intersection of anthropology and EmTech offers exciting career opportunities for those willing to explore beyond traditional academic paths.   Understanding the EmTech Landscape Emerging technologies encompass various fields, including artificial intelligence, blockchain, robotics, space technology, and biotechnology. [...]

Recently, I networked with anthropology instructors at universities in New England. My purpose: To recruit candidates for a paid summer internship in cultural resources management (CRM). The position was open through the spring and the field season was fast approaching. Following a dozen unanswered cold emails, I connected with an academic contact at a prestigious undergraduate program. The current job market is hot for archaeologists working outside the academy. According [...]

I recently ran a nearly 10-week workshop on applied anthropology methods with eight ambitious high school students (15–17 years of age). They worked on individual projects. The curriculum, which I developed, was to include the following requirements: introduction to the discipline conducting individual literature reviews teaching field and data management ethics researching method selection developing interview and survey questions evaluating best interview practices performing qualitative data analysis finalizing a presentation. [...]

Frequently anthropology faculty point out that they do not know how to include examples from anthropological practice into the courses they are teaching. Fortunately, making this pedagogical change is not difficult and well worth it. As someone who has split his career between the academy and advertising agencies, I offer this case study as an example.  First, you ignite students’ interest by starting with a real-life problem. The Art of [...]

In 2019, I did not think twice to begin working with a non-profit group, #NotInMyCity, leading anti-human trafficking movement in Alberta, Canada. I felt my 20+ years’ experience heading organizational culture and change initiatives had prepared me to engage in this complex and wicked problem. Although I had never participated directly in the non-profit sector, a colleague employed with #NotInMyCity felt my project and change management skills would benefit their [...]

Getting started in the field of anthropology is no easy feat. I questioned what future awaited me as an anthropology student. Usually, undergrads first encounter anthropology through their professors, many trained in the “lone ethnographer” approach to fieldwork. So, what is an anthropology undergraduate to do? At the early stages of anthropology careers, we need professors to invest in us. A lot. We need their time (to train us) and [...]

Hi, there! I’m a Mexican woman researcher who, since January 2022, has joined Accenture Song, a dynamic consultancy company. Moving from academia to a corporate enterprise was not an easy decision, but entering academia at a university in Mexico was more difficult, due to the low rate of tenure and the huge number of post graduates. Besides, I was curious about how a PhD in Anthropology could integrate into business. [...]

I am wrapping up my first year in graduate school at the University of Florida (UF). I hope some of my thoughts will assist you undergraduates who are wondering if an anthropology or archeology graduate program is for you. I received my BA in anthropology with a concentration in environmental sustainability, focusing on climate change, severe weather, and water systems. I’m currently pursuing my MA in anthropology with a certification [...]

Storytelling has always captivated the human imagination, connecting us across time and cultures. It is an ancient art form that transcends boundaries and allows us to make sense of the world. While anthropologists and social scientists are renowned for their analytical prowess, their training to tell compelling stories, especially for public audiences, is often lacking. To remedy this, we created a free self-paced online course called Anthropologists on the Public [...]

Alumni are like extended kin: both are based on “connections.” With kin, association is based on family (e.g., marriage/partnership, offspring) while connections with alumni come about by virtue of shared experience – typically in a college or university. How many of us have ever reached out to an alum? Has it ever occurred to us that they might be an excellent source of insight and useful advice? And what do [...]

The acceleration of artificial intelligence (AI) is sending shockwaves across industries. As companies rapidly adopt AI to streamline operations, conduct research, and drive innovation, what does this change mean for the role of anthropologists in business? How can anthropology graduates position themselves to deliver value in an AI-driven future? Insights from the Frontlines of Business Anthropology In a recent webinar, I hosted on “AI in Business Insights, Innovation, and Strategy,” [...]

The future of organizational anthropology, a field I have identified with for over 20 years, has claimed more attention for me over the last year or two. One result has been two fascinating roundtable sessions I co-designed with colleagues* for conferences that brought together anthropologists working with organizations. While organizational anthropology has existed as a practice or sub-discipline for almost 50 years, this field has received less recent attention [...]

My Job Interview for Fordham Business School Back in 2011, as an anthropologist, I was employed at BBDO advertising, after years of working in similar agencies as director of consumer insights. I wanted to make the ‘jump’ to academia. I thought the skills and practices that I learned in consumer research could be taught in a business school. So, to make an academic connection, I contacted one of the senior [...]

Transitioning out of a career you worked hard to build can be unmooring and heartbreaking. It leaves you feeling lost about how to proceed. Yet, uncertainty can be a doorway to possibility. If you create an internal compass to navigate the change, you could reorient your life towards a future you craft. For anthropologists changing careers, I share my story and a process for finding your way. A Story For [...]

Undergraduate anthropology majors are immersed in a wide body of ethnographic work from near and far. In other words, they read extensively about others’ experiences and research in “the field.” Relatively few of them (at least of a cultural-anthropology bent) have any deep, systematic engagement with real-world problems. I offer thoughts here about experiential learning to generate discussion and illustrate how a well-intentioned program went significantly astray. Now you [...]

“Anthropology helps us think about the world differently; it helps us uncover social silences.” These words by anthropologist and journalist Gillian Tett resonated in my mind while attending the conference “Building Careers in Anthropology” on Friday, May 13th, 2022 held at the Gabelli School of Business, Fordham University, New York. The one-day conference, which I attended with two of my undergraduate majors, was packed with valuable information, reflections, and [...]

Higher education institutions are remarkably diverse: rural/urban; private/public; union/nonunion; R1/research intensive/regional comprehensive/liberal arts; religious/secular; and the list goes on. Today, in most institutional settings there is at least lip service paid to the linkage between education and career. All will have a career center and have some minimally loose ideas, often not completely correct, of how the social sciences fit into the larger work world. Enter the liberal arts university, [...]

The “field” and “fieldwork” are central to the discipline and the ethnographic project. However, ethnographic field schools seem to be on the wane, especially those oriented toward undergraduates. We might step back and ask: Why does such a central feature in identity and practice receive such scant training in anthropology? It’s a good question because together these are critical rites of passage for our professional development. How can we expect [...]

A frequently-asked question to Anthropology students about their choice of major is “What are you gonna do with that?” Inspired by the 2018 AAA Annual Meeting in San Jose, the Rollins College Anthropology department faculty decided to make some structural changes to infuse professionalism into all parts of our academic programs. Some of these changes included: Swapping the Anthropology theory core course for an ethnographic methods course to provide [...]

Great question!  You are not the only one asking this question.  Anthropology instructors have growing concerns that their students are not finding employment opportunities that put their anthropological skills to use. They wonder what more they could do to assist. Some suggest that the students reach out to certain alums they remember.  Others point their students to the career planning office on campus. Many doubt their own abilities to do [...]