Shared some thoughts on anthropology students career development and transferrable skills on the grad seminar Uses of Anthropology, by Prof. Shaozeng Zhang, Oregon State University

1. Understanding people on their own
terms
Seeking a job with an anthropology degree
Bo Wang, PhD., Senior User Experience Researcher, Best Buy
Guest Lecture, 4/13/2022 Oregon State University
Guest lecture, 4/23/2022, Oregon State University

2. What is it that anthropology majors do?
● The study of human behaviors
and meanings (the correct
answer in an exam)
● Participant observation…
● Critical thinking plus storytelling
● Postcolonialism,
intersectionality, power,
discourse…
● And more…
● Collective trauma: having to
explain to others what is it that
anthropology majors do?
Hear me out. 90% of my adult life as an
anthropologist, I had little idea what
jobs I will do.
2 min of my job trajectory: grad school,
more grad school, a Postdoc, a gap, a UX
researcher in e-commerce.
How I tell people what I do:
I talk with people, listen to their stories,
and understand them on their own
terms.
This rings true to both of my academic
and industry jobs.

3. Agenda
● Job hunting is a continuous discovery of oneself: a
job is where you want to live out your point of view
● Understand key skills and methods you have
learned in anthropology
● Be tactical: the resume, the LinkedIn, the
internship, the mystery of networking
● Be mindful: anthropologists are striving to be
empathetic human beings

4. As an anthropology
major, I can tell this is
a loaded question…
And don’t get me started in
demystifying the American
Dream: the family’s lineage, the
privilege/disadvantage,
education opportunities, etc…
BUT, as a person, I am
continuously curious about
myself: what keeps me
motivated in doing 24/7 and
also pays the bill…
Continuous discovery of oneself

5. We tend to buy into popular psychology or the past when we
try to discover ourselves. But what about now and future?
If we think that childhood (the past) experience
explains everything, or the personality type (the
chart on the right) determines our decisions, we’d
be wrong, or a successful popular psychologist;
AND we’d be forgetting Malinowski’s ‘participant
observation’ – focusing on the here and now.
Instead, ask: what excites me now? What legacy
do I want to leave? Ask these questions often
when you continue to discover yourself.
Continuous discovery of oneself

6. You know more than you are aware.
I was hesitant about my qualification as I took on
the task of applying for industry jobs. I felt all my
life so far had been spent in universities. What did I
know about the industry?
It turned out that my worry wasn’t entirely
necessary as I am a trained researcher, I am
curious, I take notes on how people act, say, say
one thing and do something else, and I can’t stop
trying to make sense of all my notes. It turned out
that the industry researcher jobs I were
interviewing for expect to see exactly these in a job
candidate.
Key skills and methods
Have I done a course project
for which I did some
research?
Have I searched literature
on a topic and tried to put
together a summary?
Have I done a fieldwork
assignment for which I
interviewed someone and
analyzed it?
Have I presented my paper
or report in front of the
class? A group project?
Secondary
research
Ethnography;
Interview
Research
plan and
execution
Presentation;
Storytelling;
Communication
If none (I don’t buy it), do it now! These go to your resume

7. Empathy is your superpower.
Anthropology: aim to understand people from their cultural standpoint on their own terms.
Researchers in industry: design thinking philosophy–what’s good for people belonging to the marginal group is
best for all.
Why? Compliance laws. ADA–American Disability Act
Further: people tend to do business with companies that hold diversity, equity, and inclusion
commitment and values. “You judge one’s character not by looking at how she or he treats the powerful, but
by looking at how she or he treats the people in the marginal.”--advice for finding a reliable car dealer from a
colleague: calling to ask the receptionist who treats her or him the best.
Key skills and methods

8. Intercultural communication is your daily chore.
Anthropology: is committed to continuing our understanding of cultural differences and shared worldview, environmental
knowledge, skills, care, and responsibilities.
Researchers in industry: every team within the company has their own culture–including shared terminologies, goals,
symbols, power structure, ways of doing things, discourses, and more; how do teams communicate with each other is a
matter of intercultural communication.
The challenge in industry: the siloed approach to problem-solving. Every team is deeply honed in their own
perspective and not willing to give in. E.g., business team wants ROI (return of investment), product team wants added
features, engineering team wants to have a clear purpose for coding, design and research team wants to create pleasant
experiences for users to use the digital products. Researchers have the privilege to interact with all teams and craft a way to
communicate and coordinate with them all.
Key skills and methods

9. Still not convinced? Let’s do an activity!
Step 1: Write down a list of five true facts about chickens today.
Key skills and methods

10. Still not convinced? Let’s do an activity!
Step 1: Write down a list of five true facts about chickens today.
Step 2: Flip the facts. Flip in the way you see fit. These flipped facts will be true facts in 10 years.
Key skills and methods

11. Still not convinced? Let’s do an activity!
Step 1: Write down a list of five true facts about chickens today.
Step 2: Flip the facts. Flip in the way you see fit. These flipped facts will be true facts in 10 years.
Step 3: What are your reflections?
Key skills and methods

12. Still not convinced? Let’s do an activity!
Step 1: Write down a list of five true facts about anthropology today.
Step 2: Flip the facts. Flip in the way you see fit. These flipped facts will be true facts in 10 years.
Step 3: What are your reflections?
Key skills and methods

13. Still not convinced? Let’s do an activity!
Step 1: Write down a list of five true facts about anthropology today.
Step 2: Flip the facts. Flip in the way you see fit. These flipped facts will be true facts in 10 years.
Step 3: What are your reflections?
This activity is important. Keep your notes. Because what you just wrote says about what anthropology looks
like in 10 years and you’re likely be in the peak of your career as an anthropologist whichever job you decide
to take as your career.
Key skills and methods

14. Have a passing resume and start to apply for jobs
and practice by doing interviews
Resume: there is never a perfect resume. Identify your key skills and relevant experiences. No need to go to too much
details. No need to say A when you did B. The recruiters will tell right away if you are bluffing. Do craft your narratives
carefully and truthfully. Don’t sell yourself short. For example, my own resume has 3 main areas of expertise: Research;
Presentation and Storytelling; Communication and Coordination.
When/what to apply? If your experiences and skills fit around 70% of the job description, go ahead and apply! If above that,
you should aim for a higher position.
Networking: First, build out your own LinkedIn Profile. Second, send a note if you want to connect with someone you think is
a key actor in your interested area. Third, if you aren’t sure you’ll get connected, choose ‘follow’ button. Fourth, start
chatting with your connections and ask if you can have a short 25-30 min chat/call to learn about the area of work. Most
people will be happy to do that if they have time.
Resume, LinkedIn, Networking

15. Be mindful and empathetic
What is it that anthropology majors do? The question in the beginning of today’s lecture.
My answer is still that I talk with people, listen to their stories, and try to understand them on their own terms.
I want to add that I try to be mindful and empathetic wherever possible at work. I research people’s experiences in shopping tech
products and getting them delivered and installed in their homes. Whenever I encounter a problem that is sexist, racist, or
discrimination against people with lower socioeconomic status or cultural capital, or people living with disabilities, I speak up and
escalate the problem, and I do so repeatedly, so much so that my partners have to pick up the message and make changes. It is
because I feel rewarded when I advocate for people when they are absent in the decision making of the products that they will use
in their daily life.
I still remember when a single mother shared with me that she was buying a fridge but was asked by the staff that where her
husband was because making a decision on remodeling the stove, dishwasher to fit the fridge was too big a decision for a woman. It
was a slap on her face. I took notes and spoke up five times. Finally, the training manual and program include guidelines to require
inclusive languages in the service flow.
Be mindful and empathetic

16. Thank you!
wangb.pku@gmail.com @soitisrice