pumpapa

Sorry to hear about your troubles. Before I applied to my programs, I had the warning talks about scarcity of academic jobs from all but one of my professors. Even then, he did not talk about jobs afterwards but only that it was good to continue education. Anyways, I knowingly and willingly accept a hard life after (hopefully) getting a PhD in socio-cultural anthropology. I know some folks who are in a similar situation to yours, and if you to want to still be in academia you have to continue publishing, attending conferences and whatnot because that is the only way to maintain your presence in the academic battlefield. It's less a matter of qualification and more a matter of timing and luck (which go hand in hand) because certain places will hire you whether you are over or underqualified, depending on their own needs and desperation. Of course you don't have to stay at the call center, and I'm sure within the months of you posting you had been looking for another job. Since I don't really know your situation perhaps you can try picking up an internship...?

I applied for 4 socio-cultural anthro programs for Fall 2020. They should be listed in my signature.