Career as Anthropologist

Individuals who opt for a career as anthropologists do in-depth research on genetic traits to understand human evolution concerning culture, language, social behaviour, eating habits, literature, arts, music. They answer questions such as how humans adapt to environmental changes, how homo sapiens evolved from animals. There are many areas in the field of anthropology and hence each work differs within its domain in accordance with the requirement. For instance, sociocultural anthropologists seek to understand the internal logic of societies through ethnography. Archaeologists and cultural anthropologists retrieve artefacts from the past and place them in context to understand our history and its relevance for today. Biological anthropology jobs are to study human and non-human primates past and present from ecological and evolutionary perspectives, addressing the intersection of behaviours, culture and biology and how these systems impact health and well being. Anthropologists are interested in knowing why things happen? We usually know how things happen but do we know why? Cultural anthropologists handle big problems such as overpopulation, warfare, and poverty.

Developing processes

Individuals who opt for a career as anthropologists are required to perform various research on their process to search particular artifacts or any other physical evidence. During this process of research and findings, they are responsible for developing various processes and diagnosing methodologies in order to excel the scope of anthropology for the particular section. Developing is one of the most crucial parts of their job duties and responsibilities whether it’s developing methodologies, procedures, samples, and many more.

Study

One of the most important part of their job responsibilities includes studying about the project they are working on. Individuals who opt for a career as an anthropologist are required to constantly study and remain updated at each and every step of the project. They are responsible for studying the project, it’s scope in human development, limitations, efficiency that the project exhibits, and the consequences related to the project. From beginning to end of the project, they are required to analyze each and every aspect of the research and ensure the resources utilized in the project are optimized at its best.

Consultation

Anthropologists are required to consult different professionals including other anthropologists in order to meet certain requirements of the project they’re working on. For instance, the biological anthropologists are required to meet and consult several research scientists working on the same project as them. The linguistic anthropologists are required to consult translators, language experts and professors in order to gain detailed information regarding the history or evolution of a particular language for a particular section of the society. Individuals who opt for a career as anthropologists are also required to interact with other anthropologists specializing in physical anthropology, linguistics, and archaeology.

Training

Another important job duty of an anthropologist involves teaching and guiding students with their interests and research around anthropology. Various anthropologists work as a professor in universities guiding students with the in depth knowledge and understanding of anthropology as a subject and further its application in career development. They also teach and train the students interested in becoming anthropologists. The anthropology professors teach various subjects such as linguistics anthropology, physical anthropology, archaeological anthropology, and cultural anthropology.

Research work

Research is one of the basic and fundamental job responsibilities of anthropologists. None of their projects can be accomplished without a proper conduct of research to the relevant topic. From the beginning to the end of the project, they are required to carry out research at each and every level of the project. The scope of research starts from the pre-research about the project they’ll be working on, to its conclusions and after effects. Anthropology is a broad and interdisciplinary field, which makes it non-negotiable to compromise in research and study, after all it's the study of humankind.

Publishing

Conducting research and studying about their projects is one thing but it won’t matter if the work done is not published. Publishing comes as an important part of the research and study in anthropology. The anthropologists are responsible for publishing their content related to the research they conduct and the work they do for anthropology and its various fields such as biology, cultural, linguistics, and archaeology.

Some of the major anthropology careers list are given below:

Biological Anthropologist: Biological anthropology is defined as the study of humans and non-human primates on their biological, evolutionary, and demographic dimensions. Biological anthropologist jobs mainly focus on the biological and social factors that have affected the evolution of humans and other primates and then generate, maintain, and change contemporary genetic and physiological variation. 

Socio-Cultural Anthropologist: Socio-cultural anthropology is a merged study of social anthropology along with cultural anthropology. Cultural anthropologist manifolds procedures in which people make sense of the world around them, whereas social anthropology is the study of relationships among individuals and groups. 

Linguistic Anthropologist: Linguistic anthropologist studies human communications, verbal and nonverbal communication, variations in language across time and space, the social uses of language, and the relationship between language and culture. 

Archaeologist: Archaeological anthropologist studies the human past through its material remains. These archivists work involve examining archaeology material remains in order to deduce patterns of past human behaviour and cultural practices. An Archaeologist analyses the reasons behind major changes that have occurred in certain cultures and societies. In the career as an archaeologist, I try to figure out the reasons why ancient man gradually stopped hunting and started farming and what may have prompted them to build cities and trade channels. 

The work of anthropologists depends on the specific job. Although most anthropologists work in offices, some collect and analyse samples in laboratories or work in the field. Archaeologists often work for cultural resource management firms. Individuals who opt for a career as archivist or anthropologist often do fieldwork, either in the United States or in foreign countries. During fieldwork, cultural anthropologists are expected to live with the people they study to know about their culture. The roles and responsibilities of archivists can involve irregular or sturdy living conditions and demanding physical exertion. Business anthropologists also work in museums, historical sites and government agencies.

Does Anthropologist require travelling?

Likely

When doing fieldwork, anthropologists may be required to travel and to work for several irregular hours, including evenings and weekends. Individuals who opt for a career as an anthropologist may travel around the world to uncover artifacts to aid in their research.

Employment Shifts

Full Time, Part Time

Archivists who work independently work according to their own timings as they do not have fixed work hours. Whereas, full-time business anthropologists work eight to nine hours a day with weekends off. Some cultural anthropologists also work on an hourly basis or work from home. Individuals who opt for a career as anthropologists are usually consultants or work on a freelance basis.

Employment Nature

Contractual, Permanent

The nature of the employment of an anthropologist can be either contractual if he or she is working on a freelance, hourly or part-time basis. Those working full-time have permanent employment as archivists.

Work Place

Office

Depending upon the type of work, anthropologists work either in offices, universities, or on-field. Business anthropologists usually work the regular nine to five shift or eight hours. Work hours can increase depending on the nature of the work or the project. If there is a deadline to be met for a company, anthropologists sometimes work extra hours. Individuals who opt for a career as an anthropologist work overtime, depending upon the roles and responsibilities they’re required to work for.

Presence in Geographical Area

Urban, Rural, Semi-urban

In India, there are many opportunities that anthropology students can choose. The major job profile for anthropologists is teaching in educational institutes which are located in almost every tier-2 and tier-3 cities in India. The other option for archivists is to make it to organisations such as art galleries, curators, publishing houses, NGOs, archives, museums, libraries, etc which can also be found in almost every city in India. 

Time Pressure

Likely

Although most anthropologists work in offices, some collect and analyze samples in laboratories or work in the field. Business anthropologists who work in fields or outdoors are more likely to face time pressure because of factors such as traveling discrepancies, or weather conditions.

Overtime Details

Generally, anthropologists work according to their time schedule. However, if there is a deadline to be met for a company, anthropologists sometimes work extra hours. Individuals who opt for a career as an anthropologist work overtime, depending upon the roles and responsibilities they’re required to fulfill.

Weekly Hours of Work

Min 45 Hours

Anthropologists usually work the regular nine to five shift or eight hours. Work hours can increase depending on the nature of the work or the project. If there is a deadline to be met for a company, anthropologists sometimes work extra hours. Individuals who opt for a career as anthropologists work overtime, depending upon the roles and responsibilities they’re required to work for.

When it comes to how to become an anthropologist, the first thing that they should know about skills required to become an anthropologist. Some of the essential skills we have mentioned below. 

Curiosity: Curiosity is one of the most crucial skills required for the candidates to excel as an anthropologist. There are various sections of human society that work towards the evolution of human races ranging from socio-cultural factors to economic, and biological factors. In order to understand and conquer the research in the relevant field, it’s important for archivists to be curious enough to know and understand a certain factor responsible for the development of mankind. One must possess the curiosity to understand the different cultures and diversity. 

Vision: Anthropologists should possess a wide perspective of the inscrutable world of variation. Individuals who opt for a career as anthropologists are required to conduct various research across a wide range of anthropological topics. Anthropology careers are required to have a wide perspective in order to ensure the efficiency of the project and the various sectors its scope works on. They must be able to visualise various conclusions available for a particular project in order to decide whether to go about a particular project or not. 

Communication skills: Individuals who opt for a career as an anthropologist are expected to showcase strong communication skills as their main objective is to study the human race and deliver their perspective to the world. Anthropology careers are required to conduct research and complete projects. In order to complete their research and study effectively, they are required to talk and consult various professionals from different fields such as scientists, librarians, professors and many more. Hence, effective communication becomes an inevitable part of the research. 

Thirst for knowledge: The thirst for knowledge will allow the company to adapt to the updates and improvements situations more quickly than its competitors. One should stay updated about current world issues related to everyday life experience in different places by different people, should be familiar to people of different communities which makes it easy to research about them, and should engage in culture comparison. 

Persistent: As an anthropologist, one must be persistent towards the research work that they’re working on. The time and resources required for a particular project can be vaguely identified but is still uncertain. There are various projects that take much more time and resources than predicted. In situations like these, it is important for anthropologists to remain persistent and patient enough to conduct the research properly. 

We have provided below several certification courses that aspiring individuals may opt to upgrade their skills and knowledge for an anthropologist or related roles. 

Career Progression 1

Research Intern: As a research intern, one works under a senior Anthropologist or a professor in order to learn the basic technicalities and gain experience in the relevant field. The day-to-day work of interns includes collecting data according to the need, analysing and studying the data collected, and finally finding a solution or a concluding pattern for the problem. 

Assistant Professor: Assistant Professors are the teachers and trainers who train students studying anthropology. They work in Universities and study the academics of the field. Some work on a contractual basis and some work on a permanent scale. They are responsible to teach the basics of the subjects and train students to be a profound anthropologist.  

Professor: Professors work for a University and are responsible for carrying out credible research on various topics relevant to the field. The professor focuses more on research in comparison to teaching. Although, they do take lectures that hold extreme importance to the subject. They also provide assistantships to the students interested in the field of research and study. 

Career progression details 2

Research intern: Since anthropology is a field of in-depth research with relevance to society and humanity, at both combined and individual level hence, they start their anthropology careers while working as a research intern either under a professor or an independent anthropologist. 

Freelance Anthropologist: There are numerous anthropologists that work independently for a certain domain or sub-disciplines. They are hired by the big industrial companies on a freelance basis in order to complete particular research that can help them with their business model. Business anthropology jobs are to work at an individual level, carrying out research in accordance with their interests and then publishing research papers for certain books or magazines. 

Anthropological Survey of India is a recruiter for anthropologists in the country both at the centre and at the state levels as well. There are many government research institutes that employ anthropologists in India. One can also choose the option to make it to organizations such as WHO, UNESCO and UNICEF. Sectors such as art galleries, curators, publishing houses, NGOs, archives, museums, libraries and several other places. are also options where one can think of starting to work. It is expected that there will be continued growth in the number of these non-academic jobs. The most common profession for Anthropologists is a teacher or researcher. Government organizations like the Archaeological Survey of India, the Planning Commission, and International Organizations such as the United Nations UNESCO or UNICEF hire anthropologists for research. Candidates start anthropology careers right from their college academic sessions. There are several universities and colleges that offer students the opportunity to work as research assistant with their professors. The employment of anthropologists is expected average in comparison to other careers.