Anthropologist Job Description: Overview, Education & Training Requirements, Job Outlook and Salary
Submitted by: Gypsy Santiago
Job Overview: An anthropologist is a scientist that studies origin, distribution, evolution, cultures and races of humans and conducts extensive research on social customs, human physique and various artifacts such as clothing, weapons, tools and pottery, among others. These scientists apply anthropological data and techniques to answer problems in human relations of various fields, such as political administration, foreign and industrial relations. They may specialize in certain studies, such as psychological anthropology or urban anthropology, among others.
Education, Training and Knowledge Requirements: Completion of bachelor’s or master’s degree could qualify candidates to administrative or research positions, while doctoral degree is required for majority of the positions available in this field. Those planning to become an anthropologist must take a major in anthropology while taking up their 4-year-course along with specialized courses, such as foreign languages, geology, geography or culture. It would take up to 8 years to complete to obtain doctor's degree in anthropology. Years of fieldwork experience is a plus. Continuing education is also required throughout their careers.
Skills & Abilities: Anthropologists should have excellent research skills and extensive knowledge in science, mathematics, statistics, and history. They should be highly organized, analytical, inquisitive, detail-oriented and critical thinkers. These scientists should also be able to handle technologies used in collecting data, examining findings and recording information. They should be able to work well with others and independently, adapt to different cultures and possess superb written and verbal communication skills.
Duties:
They are responsible in gathering data on physical development, behavior, social, cultural and physical development of human groups and their characteristics such as, values, customs, and other cultural roles. These scientists also perform data analysis on physical objects, such as human remains, and present hypothesis based on the results of their analysis. Other tasks include interviewing people from all walks of life and using scientific techniques in solving problems related to their fields. Other tasks would depend on the specialization of anthropologists. For instance, physical anthropologists study human remains, while linguistics anthropologists research on language development of a certain human group.
Earnings & Job Outlook: The employment growth of this field is expected to be average through 2014. However, expect competition to be tougher compared to other fields. New jobs are often found in the government and private industries. Reported salary in 2004 is at $43,890 median annual earnings. Those with doctoral degrees earn higher than professionals with a bachelor’s or master’s degree, particularly if they write books or give lectures.
Gypsy Santiago is a professional resume writer and career search strategy/career branding coach with years of experience in assisting job seekers prepare for the job market. She helps create career-targeted resumes, provides useful tips about career transition, offers future career ideas and guide jobseekers about effective job search techniques.
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Word Count: 440 Date: Tue, 3 Aug 2010 Time: 10:21 PM
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