Careers with(in) Anthropology: Lessons from LinkedIn Profiles of Alumni

Most anthropology majors do not pursue academic careers or work in traditional anthropological fields. Instead, they build careers with anthropology, applying anthropological knowledge and skills in a wide range of professional settings. Yet there is little systematic research on the career outcomes of anthropology graduates with bachelor’s degrees. To address this gap, we conducted a pilot study using publicly available data from LinkedIn profiles of alumni from the Ohio State University’s undergraduate anthropology programs. We analyzed 203 up-to-date profiles from graduates spanning 2000 to 2025, examining educational pathways, current occupations, professional identities, and skills. Our findings reveal diverse career trajectories across business, education, healthcare, government, technology, and nonprofits. While many alumni pursued advanced and professional degrees, few earned graduate degrees in anthropology or currently work in academia. Alumni increasingly describe themselves through professional roles and transferable skills rather than disciplinary identities. The study highlights the broad applicability of anthropological training and demonstrates the value of studying LinkedIn profiles for making career pathways with(in) anthropology more visible.