Ever wanted me to answer all those pressing questions you keep meaning to ask? Ever wonder how I successfully link Chuck E. Cheese metaphors with ethnographic fieldwork? Check out my interview on this week’s episode of “This Anthropological Life!” Hosted by Ryan H. Collins and Aneil Tripathy.
“Sometimes ethnographic investigations are pretty straight forward. Sometimes, its like getting submerged in a ball pit with the task of sorting all of the colors, figuring out which ones are older than the others, and grappling with any surprises (and there will be surprises) that come your way. Join us as we talk with Anthropologist Holly Walters on her dissertation work at Muktinath, Nepal and learn about the sacred stones that draw people in as well as spreading out across the globe.”
Syncretism in the Land of Sacred Stones
As it has been noted, Anthropology as a whole isn’t a career in which one makes the major mullaa. However, as Anthropology covers the wide spectrum of humanity, is it safe to assume that the salary will vary according to the area in which you choose to specialize in ? Right now at fifteen, I’m not overtly concerned about how much I’ll be making, I know what I’m interested in and where I’m thinking about directing my life. However, obviously in a few years this will be a concern as will actually finding a job, right? Where do most Cultural and Forensic Anthropologists find work? Or if I were to decide to go into archeology where then, and how often could I expect a job? (After all, it’s not as though mummies pop-up every where, all the time.)
As you noted, the jobs that anthropologists and archaeologists pursue after graduation depend largely on what you want to do and what you specialized in. I’ve had colleagues go into creative freelance writing, international development and charity work, teaching and academia, and even environmental/animal conservation. Anthropologists also go into government work, grant writing, public policy, communications, international relations/business, cultural research, and architecture. As for archaeology, consider CRM (cultural resource management), museum curation, archiving, education, or possibly even urban planning.
Check out what the AAA says about it here: http://www.americananthro.org/AdvanceYourCareer/Content.aspx?ItemNumber=1783