1. A Career in Practice First Steps for Anthropologists
Nolan / Purdue Student Workshop
A Career in Practice First Steps for Anthropologists
Riall W. Nolan
Purdue University
February 2014
Copyright 2013 Riall W. Nolan - Not for publication or distribution

2. Why This Webinar?
There are more opportunities for anthropologist practitioners than ever before.
Practice is the largest and fastest-growing sector of anthropology, and demand is increasing.
At the same time, training in anthropology does not usually emphasize the practice option
As a result, some of our best anthropologists are not well prepared for the demands of practice.

3. How Our Discipline is Structured
Applied
Anthropologists
Practicing
Anthropologists
Academic
Anthropologists
Inside the University
Outside the University

4. Practitioners Think a Little Differently from Academics
It isn’t just what you know, it’s what you can do with what you know
Commitment to, and acceptance of, social science as a mechanism for change and improvement
Orientation toward client problems and opportunities
Willingness and ability to work with diverse others toward solutions

5. How Practice is Structured
Freelancer
Business Head
Main Practice
Options or
Bases
Private-sector employee
Public-sector employee
University Employee
Non-profit employee

6. Key Characteristics of Practice
Orientation to change and improvement
Primarily client-focused
Collaboration with others
New learning/new specializations
More than just research
Work inside organizations
Work as a series of projects
Significant problems, real consequences
Responsibility for results

7. Results Means “Getting Things Done”
Solving problems
Producing results
Getting along with people
Helping them to get along with each other
Generating and using resources efficiently
Finding new and better ways to do things

8. Three Simple Steps To Getting Hired
Visioning
Networking
Info. Interviewing
1. Get on the List
SWOT Analysis
Portfolio Prep.
More Networking
More Info. Interviewing
2. Stay on the List
Interviewing
Negotiating
3. Get Chosen

9. Starting Points: Your Career Vision
Your Values
What things do you feel strongly about?
How do you strive to live?
What do you respect in others?
What general area do you want to work in?
Sector
Where do you want to be located?
Your Interests
What do you like to do?
What do you already know a lot about?
What would you like to know more about?
Setting
What do you see yourself doing?
Function
Your Skills
What can you do that is useful in several different areas?
What things do you think you’re particularly good at doing?
Who are you working for? What type of organization is it?
Base

10. Components of a Practitioner’s Job
Base:
Government
Corporate
Non-Profit
Freelance/Sole
proprietorship
Small business
University
Sector:
Social services
Public administration
Agriculture
Environment
Int’l development
Manufacturing
Education
Marketing
Planning
Function:
Management
Production/implementation
Design
Evaluation/assessment
Data collection/analysis
Needs assessment
Advocacy
Policy formulation

11. Anthropological Skills in the Job Quest
You know how to quickly find relevant data and extract its significance.
You can pick up the salient points of “local culture” in a setting or organization.
You are not daunted by difference. Instead, you’re curious about it.
You are skilled at asking good questions.
You are comfortable with ambiguity.
You can modify your frameworks as you learn.
You’re not just interested in answers. You’re also interested in what the questions are.

12. Networking To Identify Opportunities
Networking provides connections, information, advice, and access:
Introduces you to role models and mentors
Provides guidance as you search for organizations and opportunities
Allows you to safely test your assumptions and expectations against reality
Can provide an entrée into specific agencies

13. Anthropological Methods You’ll find Useful in the Job Hunt
Domain Analysis: figuring out how grad programs are defined, structured, and arranged, and identifying the values and concepts which drive them.
Informational Interviewing: figuring out what the right questions to ask are, and how to ask them. And then figuring out what the answers mean.
Life Histories: looking at the “career arcs” of students in the program, and afterwards.

14. Researching Organizations Through Informational Interviewing
What does this organization do and how does it do it?
What are working conditions like here?
What qualifications do you need to work here?
How do they make hiring decisions?

15. Comparative Advantage
Doing a SWOT Scan
INTERNAL FACTORS
EXTERNAL FACTORS
Strengths
Weaknesses
Comparative Advantage
Mobilization
Opportunities
Investment/
Divestment
Threats
Damage Control

16. Putting Together Your Resume
A resume is not a CV
It is a brief account of your skills and accomplishments
It has only one purpose: to get you an interview
It is not about you: it is about you in relation to someone else and their needs

17. Creating Your Resume
The best predictor of future performance is past performance
Therefore, stress what you have accomplished, not just what you know
Of particular value:
Presentation and communication skills
Project and team management experience
Creative leadership and problem-solving
A range of research skills
The ability to “get things done”

18. Interviews: What They Will Ask You
Why did you come to us specifically? What are you seeking from us? What do you already know about us?
Why are you here?
What makes you stand out? What are your key strengths, and how do these relate to what we do and what we need?
What do you bring?
What’s it going to be like to work with you? How will you fit in with who’s already here? Is there anything about you we need to know?
What are you like?
Apart from the money, what else will we need to provide, or change, if we bring you on board? Do you have particular needs or preferences?
What will it cost us?

19. Explaining Yourself in the Interview
Pick 3-6 of your best accomplishments. Include difficult or “challenging” situations. For each:
Outline the problem, tasks, issues or opportunities
Describe your strategy or approach
Explain the skills and abilities you used
Emphasize the anthropology in what you did
Describe the outcomes you achieved
Your actions are central to the story, but be sure to acknowledge the work of others.
Connect your examples to your listeners’ needs.

20. What Do Anthropologists Contribute?
Social knowledge – we put culture into the picture
Contextualization and integration– we look further, for broader connections
Synergy – we work well with other disciplines: e.g., engineering, medicine
Versatility -- we don’t just do “research” – we plan, design, and manage.
Innovative -- we often find things that others miss.
Social -- we are very good at working with people.

21. Further Resources AAA Career Center: http://www.aaanet.org/profdev/
and
CoPAPIA Report
Nolan, Anthropology in Practice
Nolan (ed), Handbook of Practicing Anthropology
Briller
Kedia, Domains of Practice
etc