Book Review: Anthropology Graduate's Guide from Student to a Career

It's no secret: the downturn of the global economy has affected the number and availability of archaeology jobs in the world. Historically, the majority of archaeology jobs (something like 70%) have been associated with new construction; and new construction, except in places where global climate change has wreaked havoc, has come to a halt. But does that mean your brand new anthropology degree is worthless? No! say Carol Ellick and Joe Watkins, in their new book from Left Coast Press, The Anthropology Graduate's Guide From Student to a Career.

The Anthropology Graduate's Guide From Student to a Career. Left Coast Press © 2011

Anthropology's advantages as a career support is that it gives you a broad-based grounding in human cultures. In your four years of college, maybe even some graduate school, you've learned about the variations in human cultures and even have a pretty good idea on the core elements that connect us. With any luck, you've also gained tolerance and respect for the variations and similarities in human cultures. In this increasingly global network of economies, tolerance, respect, understanding and awareness of other cultures is a mighty rare and significant set of skills to have.

The Anthropology Graduate's Guide From Student to a Career includes fifteen chapters in three sections, interlaced with loads of job stories from anthropologists working inside and outside of traditional anthropology jobs. Developed from a class taught by Ellick and Watkins at the University of New Mexico, the Anthro Grad's Guide begins with a section entitled "Preparation". In Preparation, Ellick and Watkins recommend that you begin by keeping a journal. Journaling is good practice for writing, say the authors, and it also helps you create and develop career goals. There are chapters on the varieties of anthropology-based careers, building professionalism, and learning what employers are seeking anthropology students and how to find them.

Section II is called "Development", and that includes help for creating a plan, working on a resume and portfolio, writing letters asking for references and interviews, and applying for jobs. The third section is "Set Yourself Apart", and in this section, Ellick and Watkins provide great advice on how to communicate, why you should attend conferences, the importance of networking, what academic jobs are like, what non-academic jobs are like, and how to get them.

Four appendices are included: a partial list of companies that regularly hire anthropologists (about 350 of them); more job stories; additional career resources; and sample letters, portfolios, and resumes.

Bottom Line

In the past, my best advice to anthropology students looking for a way to use their experiences to create a plan for their career has been to get to the career counselor office on campus. There students, former students, university staff members and sometimes even community members can go in and get help to figure out how their experiences and education fit into the real world outside academics. I'll continue to say that, but I'll also recommend Ellick and Watkins' book, as containing a wealth of information and concrete help specific to people with anthropology backgrounds whose plans have been interrupted by circumstances outside their control.

It's possible that the economy will turn around, and more archaeology jobs will become available in the near future: I hope so, because we're losing a generation of scholars by not having jobs for them. Two bright spots do remain: green energy construction and the greying of the current work force. But if you can't, you really can't find a job, Ellick and Watkins' book will help you find out what color your parachute is.

Ellick, Carol and Joe Watkins. 2011. The Anthropology Graduate's Guide From Student to Career. Left Coast Press: Walnut Creek, California. 258 pages, references and an index. ISBN 978-1-59874-569-6, alkaline paperback.

• Anthropology Graduate's Guide from Student to Career, Compare Prices at Price Grabber
• Anthropology Graduate's Guide, at Left Coast Press

Reviews Elsewhere and Additional Resources

• Review of The Anthropology Graduate's Guide, from Robert Connolly at Archaeology, Museums & Outreach
• What Kind of Career Can I have in Archaeology?
• Sureyya's Journey: Career Change to Archaeology

Disclosure: A review copy was provided by the publisher. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.