Careers for Graduate Students
What can you do with a graduate degree in anthropology?
To say that you can do anything with a graduate degree in anthropology is trite but true. Our graduate program prepares students for both academic and non-academic careers.
A study of the alumni from our PhD program shows that they hold a variety of positions in a wide range of fields and careers. You can read more about the diverse career pathways of our alumni.
The department, college, and university offer many services and resources to prepare students for careers and life beyond the degree. Below is a list of some of the important resources that are available.
Career Courses at Ohio State
ANTHROP 7005: Careers with Anthropology prepares graduate students from all sub-fields of anthropology for various career paths.
Through this course students develop professional skills by focusing on the ways in which they can apply anthropological concepts, research methodologies, and analytical skills in future careers.
ARTSSCI 6000: Career Exploration for Graduate Students is a one-credit course that introduces skills for discovering a variety of career paths; assessing fit; cultivating necessary skills and networks; and entering a profession.
The course is suitable for graduate students at any stage, with any career goal. Contact Dr. Fosler-Lussier with questions at fosler-lussier.2@osu.edu.
ARTSSCI 6191: Experiential Learning for Graduate Students supports experiential learning that furthers graduate students’ professional development. Experiences may include, for example, community-engaged blends of research and service; job-shadowing; internships; or other projects that extend beyond the boundaries and spaces of academic programs.
Students may receive 0.5-3 credit hours, according to the amount of time devoted to the project.
Career Resources and Coaching
Graduate School - Career Building Strategies and Skill Development
The Graduate School has compiled an extensive list with career building and skill development resources that are available to graduate students at Ohio State.
Beyond the Professoriate
Beyond Graduate School and Beyond The Professoriate provide detailed guidance on developing effective resumes, including instructional videos covering soft vs technical skills, resume formatting, sample resume sections, and more.
Both platforms are free to ASC graduate students and postdocs. You can log into the platform via your institution.
ImaginePhD
ImaginePhD is a free online career exploration and planning tool for PhD students and postdoctoral scholars in the humanities and social sciences.
ImaginePhD is designed to meet this need by allowing users to: assess their career-related skills, interests, and values, explore careers paths appropriate to their disciplines, create self-defined goals, and map out next steps for career and professional development success.
Career Resources and Coaching
Graduate School - Career Building Strategies and Skill Development
The Graduate School has compiled an extensive list with career building and skill development resources that are available to graduate students at Ohio State.
Beyond the Professoriate
Beyond Graduate School and Beyond The Professoriate provide detailed guidance on developing effective resumes, including instructional videos covering soft vs technical skills, resume formatting, sample resume sections, and more.
Both platforms are free to ASC graduate students and postdocs. You can log into the platform via your institution.
ImaginePhD
ImaginePhD is a free online career exploration and planning tool for PhD students and postdoctoral scholars in the humanities and social sciences.
ImaginePhD is designed to meet this need by allowing users to: assess their career-related skills, interests, and values, explore careers paths appropriate to their disciplines, create self-defined goals, and map out next steps for career and professional development success.
Anthropology Careers
The American Anthropological Association has a website dedicated to Anthropology Careers and Employment.
The American Association of Biological Anthropology maintains a website with current job openings.
The Society for American Archaeology has a Career Center with job postings and resources.
Career Coaching
ASC graduate students and postdocs have access to career coaching from both Buckeye Careers and ASC Career Success. To schedule an appointment, log into Handshake and select Career Center, then select Appointments.
ASC Career and Professional Success offers coaching appointments to graduate students and postdocs exploring or seeking non-academic careers.
Buckeye Careers offers career coaching for students seeking academic and non-academic careers.
The Erdős Institute
The Erdős Institute is a multi-university collaboration that helps PhDs get rewarding jobs in industry by providing training (data science boot camps, mini-courses in topics such as data visualisation, quantum computing, UX research, etc.), career exploration seminars, one-on-one career coaching, behavioral and technical interview preparation workshops, employer and Erdős alumni career connections, and job postings.
Admission is guaranteed and enrollment is free for all OSU graduate students, postdocs, graduate alumni, lecturers, and faculty.
Anthropology Careers
The American Anthropological Association has a website dedicated to Anthropology Careers and Employment.
The American Association of Biological Anthropology maintains a website with current job openings.
The Society for American Archaeology has a Career Center with job postings and resources.
Career Coaching
ASC graduate students and postdocs have access to career coaching from both Buckeye Careers and ASC Career Success. To schedule an appointment, log into Handshake and select Career Center, then select Appointments.
ASC Career and Professional Success offers coaching appointments to graduate students and postdocs exploring or seeking non-academic careers.
Buckeye Careers offers career coaching for students seeking academic and non-academic careers.
The Erdős Institute
The Erdős Institute is a multi-university collaboration that helps PhDs get rewarding jobs in industry by providing training (data science boot camps, mini-courses in topics such as data visualisation, quantum computing, UX research, etc.), career exploration seminars, one-on-one career coaching, behavioral and technical interview preparation workshops, employer and Erdős alumni career connections, and job postings.
Admission is guaranteed and enrollment is free for all OSU graduate students, postdocs, graduate alumni, lecturers, and faculty.
Networking Resources
Anthropology Career Readiness Network (ACRN)
The Anthropology Career Readiness Network is a network for instructors and students interested in careers with anthropology.
There are a lot of great resources for faculty interested in preparing students for a wide of range of careers, and great resources for students exploring careers.
National Association for the Practice of Anthropology (NAPA)
NAPA is a professional association that supports all anthropologists in bringing real solutions to communities, organizations, and policymakers, by offering advocacy, information, networks, mentoring, and continuing education.
The NAPA website offers many resources for professional, practicing, and applied anthropologists.
Anthropology on LinkedIn
You can connect with the Department of Anthropology on LinkedIn to stay in touch and keep up with news from the department.
LinkedIn is also a great way to connect with the more than 460 anthropology alumni from Ohio State who are working in a wide range of careers.
You can search for anthropology alumni in particular careers, companies or locations and then connect with them for an informational interview.
Networking Resources
Anthropology Career Readiness Network (ACRN)
The Anthropology Career Readiness Network is a network for instructors and students interested in careers with anthropology.
There are a lot of great resources for faculty interested in preparing students for a wide of range of careers, and great resources for students exploring careers.
National Association for the Practice of Anthropology (NAPA)
NAPA is a professional association that supports all anthropologists in bringing real solutions to communities, organizations, and policymakers, by offering advocacy, information, networks, mentoring, and continuing education.
The NAPA website offers many resources for professional, practicing, and applied anthropologists.
Anthropology on LinkedIn
You can connect with the Department of Anthropology on LinkedIn to stay in touch and keep up with news from the department.
LinkedIn is also a great way to connect with the more than 460 anthropology alumni from Ohio State who are working in a wide range of careers.
You can search for anthropology alumni in particular careers, companies or locations and then connect with them for an informational interview.
Handshake
Ohio State has partnered with Handshake, a platform for college recruiting.
Handshake is a career-management platform that allows Ohio State students and recent graduates to connect with employers.
Graduate students and postdocs are strongly encouraged to utilize Handshake to explore participating employers, including available positions, target disciplines, and more.
International students/postdocs can search for participating employers open to CPT/OPT and visa sponsorship.
AlumniFire
AlumniFire for Ohio State is a grassroots networking community launched by Ohio State community members in 2016.
You can connect with fellow Buckeyes for career exploration, finding old friends, affinity groups, or sharing relevant information.
It has more than 8,000 members and an active job board.
Handshake
Ohio State has partnered with Handshake, a platform for college recruiting.
Handshake is a career-management platform that allows Ohio State students and recent graduates to connect with employers.
Graduate students and postdocs are strongly encouraged to utilize Handshake to explore participating employers, including available positions, target disciplines, and more.
International students/postdocs can search for participating employers open to CPT/OPT and visa sponsorship.
AlumniFire
AlumniFire for Ohio State is a grassroots networking community launched by Ohio State community members in 2016.
You can connect with fellow Buckeyes for career exploration, finding old friends, affinity groups, or sharing relevant information.
It has more than 8,000 members and an active job board.