80,000 Hours

1. Redefine career success: Focus on impact and fulfillment, not just income

Due to our fortunate positions, there's a lot we can do to effectively make a difference without making significant sacrifices, whatever jobs we end up in.

Impact over income. A fulfilling career is not just about high salaries or prestigious titles. It's about finding work that aligns with your values, utilizes your strengths, and allows you to make a meaningful contribution to the world. Consider these key ingredients for a dream job:

• Work you're good at
• Work that helps others
• Engaging tasks that allow you to enter a state of flow
• Supportive colleagues and work environment
• Fair pay and reasonable hours
• Work that fits your personal life

By focusing on these elements, you can find a career that not only provides financial stability but also gives you a sense of purpose and satisfaction. Remember, even small changes in your career choices can lead to significant positive impacts on the world.

2. Identify the world's most pressing problems to maximize your impact

The most pressing problems are most likely to have the following qualities: Big in scale, Neglected, and Solvable.

Strategic problem selection. To make the biggest difference with your career, focus on problems that are:

• Large in scale: Affect many people or have far-reaching consequences
• Neglected: Receive less attention and resources than they deserve
• Solvable: Have potential for progress and impact

Some examples of pressing global issues include:

• Risks from artificial intelligence
• Global priorities research
• Factory farming
• Biosecurity
• Nuclear security
• Climate change (extreme risks)

By carefully selecting which problems to work on, you can maximize your potential impact. Consider your personal fit and motivation when choosing an area to focus on, as you're more likely to excel and persist in a field that genuinely interests you.

3. Consider unconventional paths to make a difference: Earning to give, advocacy, and research

If you could just earn 10% more, and donate the extra, then that's twice as much impact again.

Think beyond direct work. While many people associate making a difference with traditional charity work, there are other powerful ways to create impact:

1. Earning to give: Pursue a high-earning career and donate a significant portion of your income to effective charities.
2. Advocacy: Use your skills and platform to influence others and promote important causes.
3. Research: Contribute to solving global problems through academic or applied research.

These approaches can often have a greater impact than direct work in non-profits or social enterprises. For example:

• A software engineer donating 10% of their income could fund multiple full-time charity workers
• A successful advocate could influence policies affecting millions of people
• A researcher could discover solutions that revolutionize an entire field

Consider your skills, interests, and opportunities to determine which approach aligns best with your potential for impact.

4. Build flexible career capital to adapt to future opportunities

The best career capital comes from impressive achievements.

Invest in yourself. Career capital refers to the skills, connections, credentials, and resources that make you more valuable in your future career. Focus on building flexible career capital that will be useful across various fields and roles. This approach keeps your options open and allows you to adapt to changing circumstances and opportunities.

Ways to build flexible career capital:

• Develop transferable skills like communication, leadership, and problem-solving
• Gain experience in fast-growing industries or organizations
• Build a strong professional network
• Pursue advanced education or certifications in versatile fields
• Take on challenging projects that demonstrate your abilities

Remember that the most valuable career capital often comes from achieving impressive results, regardless of the specific role or industry. Prioritize opportunities that allow you to make tangible impacts and showcase your abilities.

5. Continuously explore and test career options rather than committing too early

To really work out what you'll be good at, you need to speak to people, learn about the options and try things out. The closer you can get to actually doing the work, the better.

Embrace exploration. Instead of trying to discover your one true passion or committing to a single career path early on, adopt an experimental approach to finding the right career:

1. Generate a list of potential career options
2. Prioritize options based on impact, personal fit, and career capital
3. Conduct low-cost tests to learn more about promising options:
   • Talk to people in the field
   • Read about the day-to-day realities of the job
   • Take online courses or attend workshops
   • Volunteer or do part-time work
4. Reflect on your experiences and adjust your plans accordingly

By treating your career as an ongoing experiment, you increase your chances of finding work that truly fits your skills, values, and goals. This approach also helps you build diverse experiences and skills, making you more adaptable in a rapidly changing job market.

6. Develop a strategic career plan with multiple scenarios

Your plan should change as you learn more, but it's easy to get stuck on the path you're already on.

Plan flexibly. Create a career plan that balances direction with flexibility using the A/B/Z planning method:

• Plan A: Your ideal scenario and primary focus
• Plan B: Alternative options if Plan A doesn't work out
• Plan Z: Your fallback option for worst-case scenarios

When creating your plan:

1. Set specific goals and milestones
2. Identify potential obstacles and how to overcome them
3. Schedule regular review periods to assess progress and make adjustments
4. Stay open to new opportunities and information

Remember that your plan is a living document that should evolve as you gain new experiences and insights. Regularly reassess your goals and strategies to ensure you're on the most impactful and fulfilling path possible.

7. Master the art of getting any job you want

Getting a job is, at root, a sales process. You need to persuade someone to give you responsibility and a salary, and even put their reputation on the line, in exchange for results.

Strategic job hunting. Approach your job search as a strategic process to maximize your chances of landing the role you want:

1. Generate leads:

   • Leverage your network for referrals and introductions
   • Attend industry events and conferences
   • Use targeted job boards and company websites

2. Tailor your application:

   • Customize your resume and cover letter for each position
   • Highlight relevant skills and experiences
   • Demonstrate your understanding of the company and role

3. Prepare for interviews:

   • Research the company and industry thoroughly
   • Practice common interview questions
   • Prepare thoughtful questions for your interviewers

4. Follow up and negotiate:

   • Send thank-you notes after interviews
   • Be prepared to negotiate salary and benefits
   • Consider non-monetary aspects of the job offer

By treating your job search as a strategic campaign, you increase your chances of finding and securing positions that align with your career goals and values.

8. Join a community of like-minded individuals to amplify your impact

If you become a valued member of a community, you'll gain hundreds of connections at once, because once one person vouches for you, they can introduce you to everyone else.

Leverage community power. Joining a community of like-minded individuals can significantly amplify your impact and accelerate your career growth:

Benefits of community involvement:

• Access to valuable networks and connections
• Opportunities for collaboration and knowledge-sharing
• Emotional support and motivation
• Increased accountability for your goals
• Exposure to new ideas and perspectives

Steps to engage with a community:

1. Identify communities aligned with your values and goals
2. Attend events and participate in online discussions
3. Offer your skills and expertise to help others
4. Seek mentorship and guidance from experienced members
5. Collaborate on projects and initiatives

By actively participating in a community of individuals committed to making a difference, you can multiply your impact and find support throughout your career journey. Consider joining existing groups or creating your own if you identify a gap in your field.

Last updated: October 5, 2024