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What does a career as a folklorist look like?

I'm really interested in the field, but it looks like the majority of jobs are academic, and I'm not sure if I'm interested in those. Are there other jobs, or any jobs that lean heavily on folklore but aren't necessarily designated as folklore-based?

career college spring25 folklore folklorist
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Karin’s Answer

Hi Ryan,

Folklorism, and related fields in ethnography and anthropology are fascinating. Topics extend across the disciplines of history, art, religion, philosophy, literature, archeology etc. As such, you have a lot of freedom to follow your interests and make it what you want it to be.

You would, like you said, find employment typically in academia and in museums. If that's not something you are interested in, you'll might have to make up your own job. Photography would go well with it too.

You could write books or make documentaries. You could write childrens' books or develop games on the basis of old stories and myths. You could work as a journalist. You could be an event manager for folkloristic festivals or start your own festival. You could be a tour guide. I am sure you can come up with many more options depending on where you want to focus your career.

Like many majors that are not in a STEM field, folklorism does not lead into a pre-determined career but gives you the opportunity to find your own niche.

I hope this helps! All the best to you!

KP

Karin recommends the following next steps:

https://www.edmates.com/career-guide/folklorist
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/mythology-degree
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Rose’s Answer

Hi Ryan! Being a folklorist is a fantastic choice if you love learning about people and keeping cultures alive. Folklorists often work in places like museums, nonprofits, universities, or programs that focus on public culture. They talk to people in communities to learn about their traditions and life stories, and they also record things like oral histories, songs, and cultural practices. A big part of the job is researching cultural heritage and local history. You'll also get to write reports, books, and articles, and help create materials for museums. The best part is helping communities document and celebrate their traditions. To get started, you'll need a bachelor's degree in fields like folklore studies, anthropology, history, cultural studies, or sociology. Some useful skills for this career include:

1. Interviewing and listening
2. Research and writing
3. Being sensitive to different cultures
4. Public speaking
5. Recording audio and video
6. Archiving and documenting information
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