Expert: Ralph Salier - 8/9/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi Ralph,
I'm a 47-year-old woman who had a 17-year career as a court reporter.  Eleven years ago, I "retired" from reporting to raise my kids and return to school.  I graduated from the University of Virginia with a BA in Anthropology, 3.8 GPA in major, 3.7 GPA overall.  In the interest of getting back to work, I have temporarily returned to court reporting, which is not any more fulfilling now than when I quit.  I live in Charlottesville, VA, and want to apply what I learned in Anthropology to a new career and break out of court reporting.  I love the exchange of knowledge and information and research and have considered a Master's in Library and Information Science, but for now, I need to be working and earning an income.  Never having had a 9 to 5 job in one place, I think it would be very hard for me to do that now.  Do you have any advice on what types of careers would match my education and interests?  Obviously, I love observing and learning about people.  I'm also interested in trends of people, how cultures change over time, etc.  Corporate change would be of interest, but again, I don't know how to go about embarking upon a new career.  Thank you, Renee

ANSWER: Hi Renee,

More power to you!!!.  I assume that it is cultural Anthro vs. Archaeology.  UVA is a good school but one with a degree line in Business Anthro which  would have suited you better I think.  I would recommend that you find some place where you can also study supply chain (business schools have this course of study these days) and make sure that you also take some courses in purchasing law and international procurement.    This would  then allow you to get work in the area of international purchasing or international supply chain work.  With your degree, you may be able to get work as a social worker but this is tough work.  You could get a teaching certification and teach history, social studies, even geography (Badly needed in this country).  How about museology and work in a museum?  There are a plenty of them not far from you (DC).  Even Charlottesville has a few museums.  What about being a park ranger? There are several state and US parks in the area too.  How do you feel about doing in depth analytics?  The Rand Corporation is looking for Anthro grads.  (go to "gojobs.com" ) and put in Anthropologist.  Also join www.shovelbums.org and see what kinds of jobs are open for anthropologists.

I'm not sure if I have been much help perhaps I've raised more questions then answered.  Please don't hesitate to come back to me with more questions.  I'd like to help you focus in on some real opportunities but need to know more about why you chose Anthro, what you were hoping to get from this course of study (other then it was a life long dream), and what you would really like  to do from this point forward/  It is also very scary out there at the moment to be unemployed so I know what that is like (Been there done that).

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Ralph,
In fact, just yesterday I took the first test needed to begin pursuing a teaching certification in Virginia.  If I teach, my goal would be to teach anthropology to high school students (along with other social science courses as needed).  The advice about businesses courses was good, and I hadn't thought of that.  Corporate culture change has also been suggested to me, but I don't know how to break into a new field.  I have considered the park ranger option and that appeals to me.  I'm also preparing to take the GRE to apply to Rutgers' online Library and Information Science Master's.  My thinking there is that it would open more possibilities for working in museums and obviously libraries.  I love the exchange of knowledge and information and doing research.  Can you explain in depth analytics?  Actually, going back to school was my life long dream, but I discovered anthropology while taking a survey course at the community college and absolutely loved every class I took at UVA.  Part of my "problem" is I'm interested in so many areas and need to narrow it down.  I am working with a career counselor at the UVA Alumni Assoc. to help me do that.  I'm a member of Shovelbums and have come to realize I probably need a master's or at least some extensive field work to break into that field, which I would love to do.

Thanks for your input,
Renee

Answer
Hi Renee,

Good feed back.  Teaching is probably your best bet at this point.  In-depth analysis is a very narrow and rather esoteric area of research that is done by the folks at Langely or by the Rand Corporation or one of the intelligence gathering and evaluation organizations (both private and governmental are involved with this sort of thing).  I do some of this kind of work for industry evaluating the value chain of metals and  their raw materials coming from mines around the world and the potential for strikes, labor disruptions or governmental disruptions, (like the insergents in Nigeria threatening the oil companies and their production platforms).  This can have a dramatic impact on the price of these critical raw materials.  

To this, however, where a good basics in Anthropology is critical since it is getting into the minds of those "cultural entities" that is needed to do the work.  It is a cool mixture of library and information Science mixed with Cultural Anthropology.  In  this kind of role, you will forever be a student (expert) of the cultures involved.  Living where you do means that you are near the epicenter of this sort of work (DC).  

The Rutgers program is well respected as is the Edison program.  

Hope this helps a bit more.