Welcome to The Nonlinear Library, where we use Text-to-Speech software to convert the best writing from the Rationalist and EA communities into audio. This is: Thank You For Your Time: Understanding the Experiences of Job Seekers in Effective Altruism, published by Julia Michaels on July 10, 2024 on The Effective Altruism Forum.

Summary

The purpose of this research is to understand the experiences of job seekers who are looking for high-impact roles, particularly roles at organizations aligned with the Effective Altruism movement (hereafter referred to as "EA job seekers" and "EA organizations," respectively).[1]

Organizations such as 80,000 Hours, Successif, High Impact Professionals, and others already provide services to support professionals in planning for and transitioning into high-impact careers. However, it's less clear how successful job seekers are at landing roles that qualify as high impact.

Anecdotally, prior EA Forum posts suggest that roles at EA organizations are very competitive, even for well-qualified individuals, with an estimated range of ~47-124 individuals rejected for every open role.

Given that some EA thought leaders (Ben West, for example) have suggested working in high-impact roles as a pathway to increasing one's individual lifetime impact (in addition to "earning to give"), it seems important to understand how well this strategy is working.

By surveying and speaking with job seekers who identify as effective altruists directly, I have identified common barriers and possible solutions that might be picked up by job seekers, support organizations (such as those listed above), and EA organizations.

The tl;dr summary of findings:

A majority of EA job seekers are recent graduates or early career professionals with <10 years of experience.

Self-reported perceptions about their job search are overwhelmingly negative, with 89% of survey respondents citing negative feelings such as stress, frustration, and hopelessness.

In 1:1 interviews, subjects cited problems with employer hiring practices (lack of transparency, inconsistent definitions, and lack of feedback provided) as well as perceptions that EA organizations are seeking elite, Western talent. Lack of elite credentials, the "right" connections, and both economic and geographic barriers were cited.

Possible solutions include more networking and pursuit of alternatives (for job seekers), more practical guidance (provided by support organizations), and improving transparency and feedback (for employers).

None of these recommendations, however, will address the core problem of demand for "high impact" jobs outstripping supply. Job seekers may find it helpful to consider a wide variety of opportunities across the nonprofit, government, and private sectors. Creating a broad definition of what "impactful" work means (and/or which organizations are considered "effective") may also reveal more options.

Research Questions

Where are EA job seekers in their career journey?

How do EA job seekers feel about their current search?

What barriers do EA job seekers face?

What resources, beyond what's currently offered, might help EA job seekers prepare for and obtain high-impact roles?

Existing Evidence

The EA community has already done quite well in provisioning individuals with resources and services to support their transitions into a high impact career field. The most well-known resource is 80,000 Hours, which provides a job board, career guide, and very limited 1:1 coaching. Successif provides customized services aimed at mid-career professionals including coaching, mentoring, training, and matching.

High-Impact Professionals provides a directory and "impact accelerator" workshop for professionals who want to identify different pathways to impact. All three organizations appear to be grant-funded and apparently offer their services for free. All appear to have a competitive application process and limited capacity to meet demand from job seekers. There are oth...