When I was leaving graduate school almost 25 years ago, I decided to pursue a career “outside of the academy.” Now the American Sociological Association (ASA) provides professional development resources for sociologists who are interested in pursuing careers “in practice settings.” This is not a minor, unintentional linguistic distinction; it reflects increasing recognition that these career paths are not alternatives to the norm (sometimes perceived as involuntary), but rather exciting and productive options that can offer great satisfaction to sociologists and meaningful contributions to society.
ASA has a unique role to play in valuing and supporting this extended reach of our discipline. First, we can convene sociologists who are working in practice settings, often without disciplinary peers, to retain strong community connection. We can also provide knowledge and advice about various sectors from a large global network of sociologists, something that is often not possible through faculty advisers with primary experience in the academy.
For example, we invite you to watch our nine-part video series featuring seven sociologists who work in government, industry, and non-profit organizations covering everything from how to convert a CV into a resume to negotiating a compensation package and understanding workplace culture. The featured sociologists also offered personal narratives about what influenced them to enter their careers, opportunities their jobs have presented, and how sociology helps them in their work. We also hope you will attend the annual Sociology in Practice Settings Symposium at the ASA Annual Meeting, which is a full day of workshops, presentations, and networking events. In Los Angeles, look for sessions such as “Exploring and Using Research Methods in Practice Settings” and “Applied Research with the Federal Government.” Please join our LinkedIn group that is growing rapidly, and in a few weeks there will be a link on your member portal that will allow you to join for free a new “community” of sociologists in practice settings. The community will, among other things, have access to an online interactive networking forum, a session at the Annual Meeting, and a modest budget for activities.
This issue of Footnotes is a powerful testament to both the many professional avenues one can successfully pursue with an advanced sociological education and the many ways in which sociologists can have important impact on society through careers in practice settings. These essays provide tangible examples of the ways in which sociological expertise can be deployed to help people better understand our world in practice for a variety of purposes from enhancing equity in organizational practice to technological innovation to crafting science policy. These authors offer an array of experiences and perspectives that we hope will fascinate and inform all sociologists about the broad and impactful reach of our discipline.
