"[…] what you do with your career is probably the most important ethical decision of your life."
- 80,000 Hours
What to consider in career planning
What are the biggest global issues?
Pick a pressing social problem that is big, solvable, and overlooked by others. The bigger the problem, the more individuals can benefit from its solution. If few others are working in the area, there are better opportunities for you to make a big difference on the margin. Examples of pressing problems are: alleviating global poverty, improving animal welfare, and reducing global catastrophic risks.
What’s needed?
Consider what bottlenecks hinder progress in the chosen problem and what professions would effectively solve them. Is more research needed? Money? Entrepreneurship? Policy changes? Communications? Community building?
What fits you best?
The leaders in their fields often account for a disproportionate share of progress. Research shows that we perform best in roles we enjoy and that match our strengths. Which of the promising professions would suit you? To find your best fit, think like a scientist: make some best guesses at the most promising paths and jobs, identify key uncertainties, perform cheap tests to resolve them and keep updating your plan every 1–3 years.
We’re here to help
Book a free chat with one of the EA UK team who are happy to guide you in your career planning decisions.
Career guidance, job boards and programmes
80,000 Hours
80,000 Hours provides research and support to help students and recent graduates move into careers that effectively tackle issues that threaten the future of civilisation.
Probably Good
Probably Good helps people find careers that are good for them and good for the world. They provide tools, ideas, and direct support to empower more people to make a positive impact through their work.
Animal Advocacy Careers
Whether you’re brand new to animal advocacy or are seeking to build on your existing knowledge skillsets, Animal Advocacy Careers may be able to help you increase your positive impact for animals.
High Impact Professionals
HIP enable working professionals to increase their positive impact with an accelerator program, talent directory and other resources
Successif
Successif focus on mid-career and senior professionals, and help them leverage their expertise to address pressing global issues.
Ambitious Impact
Ambitious Impact helps individuals find and transition to high-impact career paths in entrepreneurship, research and grantmaking
BlueDot Impact
BlueDot Impact runs courses that helps individuals develop the knowledge, community and network to pursue careers in AI safety and biosecurity.
Training for Good
Training for Good helps individuals kickstart policy and journalism careers that reduce risks from emerging technologies.
Tälist
Tälist connects top talent with sustainability and environment careers in the Food Tech and Alternative Protein sector
EA Opportunities
EA Opportunities help individuals find impactful, skill-building opportunities
Laure Boissat, Senior ESG Analyst at the FAIRR Initiative, ex-PwC
