Research from the RBC Future Skills Report forecast growing demand for workers who can think critically and manage complexity. Our program is designed to produce exactly that kind of graduate — people who can navigate ambiguity, communicate across difference, and lead through complex problems.

Yet, even solvers have to navigate a changing job market, as new disruptions bring new changes. How does anthropology help prepare you to meet this moment?

The World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025 found that across more than 2,800 workplace skills assessed, the vast majority show low or very low potential for replacement by generative AI — particularly those involving nuanced judgment, human interaction, and complex problem-solving. The skills rising fastest in employer demand are precisely the ones anthropology trains directly: analytical thinking, creative thinking, resilience and adaptability, and leadership and social influence. In a world where AI can draft a report but can't read a room, understand why a community resists a policy, or navigate the unspoken rules of a new culture — those are your skills.

Anthropology also prepares you for the broader instability that defines this moment. There are many other challenges we all face today, from political fragmentation to climate change, and these will shape our lives and our workplaces. Navigating the world ahead requires the exactly the sort of systems thinking, cross-cultural fluency, and comfort with complexity that anthropology can bring to the table. Employers aren't just looking for people who can use new tools; they're looking for people who understand why change is hard, who gets left behind when it moves too fast, and how to bring others along. That's the work anthropologists do — and those skills will be needed even more as workplaces adapt to disruption.

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Watch these videos to hear Western Anthropology Alumni reflect on the skills they learned while studying Anthropology that they have found most useful in their work lives.

In this video alumni talk about the many different ways in which the skills they learned while studying anthropology serve them in their work.

In the video below you will find three alumni speaking more specifically about fundamental and valuable anthropological skills like appreciating the complexity of human beings (including co-workers, team-members, and clients), having a capacity to talk with and listen to people (not everyone is good at this!), and being able to move and mediate among co-workers with differing perspectives and skill-sets.

Check out the ACRN's Developing Your Workplace Skills section to learn how you can build your Anthropology-related skills and experience.

Have you been getting all you can out of your time at Western?

Not sure? Please consider the advice of Western Anthro Alumni who were once in your position ...

In this video Anthropology alumni share advice on how to get the most out of your degree and your time as you prepare to step into the professional world. You will hear about the lessons they've learned and what they could have done better, ranging from the importance of remembering why you got into anthropology to getting hands-on field experience (even volunteer) to networking to the value of taking the time you need to think through next steps. These former students were once in your shoes - there is great wisdom in their words! 

In this series of responses, three Alumni reflect on what advice they would give their formers selves ... it's inspiring stuff!

How might a background in anthropology serve you as you set out to find a job?

We know that not everyone outside of the university knows what anthropology is, let alone what the value of someone with an anthropology degree might be. This can be a problem for someone graduating with a degree in anthropology, but it might also be an advantage. To rephrase the question above: How might a background in anthropology help you to stand out in a competitive job market?

In this conversation, Craig Ingram from Western's Career Education office talks about the key skills/competencies that employers are looking for, and gives a sense of how a background in anthropology can set students apart in a competitive job market. Please watch!

Anthropology is a broad and versatile field that offers career opportunities across many work sectors. But how do you know which path best aligns with your skills, competencies, and aspirations? The Anthropology Career Readiness Network (ACRN) has developed a wide range of tools and resources in its Exploring Possible Careers section to help you research common anthropology-related fields and understand the skills required to succeed in them.

In addition, ACRN offers a highly practical competency checklist that allows you to identify and assess your own strengths, making it easier to compare them with the requirements of different anthropology careers.

You can also use the Translating Anthropology Skills to the Workplace worksheet to connect your training and experience to real-world job requirements and identify roles for which you may be well suited. In this worksheet developed by the Anthropology Career Readiness Network you will find a helpful list of anthropological skills and ways in which you might use them in job applications and job interviews by translating your Anthro skills into employer-friendly language.

Another useful ACRN resource is What's in a Name? Job Titles to Explore - a list of Anthropology job titles with potential key words in job posting descriptions to facilitate your job search.

If you are seriously considering applying to a Graduate School after your graduation, then make sure to check out the Deciding about Graduate School resource that you can find on the ACRN website. It is designed to help you decide on what programs would be best for you and what steps you would need to take.

Did you know that 75-80% of jobs are never formally advertised?

Among other things, this means that many people find their most meaningful employment opportunities through relationships with others. Thankfully, we in anthropology know something about relationships! Here you'll find the reflections of three alumni on why networking is important ... and not as "gross" as some imagine.

Learn more about networking:

• through the ACRN's Networking and Informational Interviews tool that discusses such topics as Who Do you Network With?, How Do You Begin and Maintain Your Connections?, and What is Informational Interviews and What Questions Do You Ask?
• by exploring Western's Career Education Networking resources.

Why LinkedIn?

In this conversation, Craig Ingram from Western's Career Education office talks about the value of this networking platform and about the importance of thinking about networking (even before graduation) in general.

More useful information can be found on the ACRN's and Western's websites including:

• Western's advice on LinkedIn
• LinkedIn Profile Features and Checklist (ACRN)
• Growing Your Network tools and blogs (ACRN)

Please consider joining a growing Linkedin network of past and current Western Anthro students. You can find us on Western University Anthropology Network group

The goal of preparing and submitting a job application (including a resume/CV and/or cover letter) is to secure an invitation to a job interview. How, then, can you prepare these documents in a way that encourages an employer to want to speak with you? The resources below are designed to guide you through this process and help you create strong, effective application materials including a job-tailored resume and/or cover letter based on the key words from the job posting.

• Western's Career Education resources
  • Resumes | CVs | Cover Letters
• ACRN's Preparing Your Applications resources including:
  • Distinguishing Resumes, CVs, Portfolios, and Bios
  • Crafting a Cover Letter
  • Showcasing Anthropology to Employers

Even if you have been selected for a job interview from among dozens—or even hundreds—of applicants, you cannot afford to become complacent. Instead you must work hard to prepare for the interview by learning as much as you can about the company, matching your skills and experience with the keywords from the job posting and job description, and, if possible, having a mock interview with a career adviser.

Learn more about interview preparation by checking out the following resources:

• Western's Career Education Interviewing webpage
• ACRN's Interviewing with Employers tools, such as:
  • Job Interview Strategies
  • Interviewing with the STAR Method

So ... you've studied Anthropology and you're looking for a job. Or maybe you're looking ahead to looking for a job in a few years? Watch this brief interview with Jeff Grieve, former head of IT at Western and a graduate of our program, for insights on the hiring process and the distinctive skills that Anthropology students can bring to any work environment.

Alumni of our program go on to do all kinds of things, and we have much to learn from them. Here you will find a series of long conversations with alumni about their backgrounds in anthropology and what they've gone on to do since leaving Western including finding the right career and dealing with uncertainty.