Students have by far the most flexibility in their careers. It’s not uncommon for university students (in the US—maybe some other age in other countries) to do things like switch their major from biology to economics; except in very rare circumstances, 40 year old biologists do not become economists. If you suppose that certain high-impact career paths require very special skills not common in the population, then you might need people to develop those skills early rather than try to find people who already have them. There are some areas of EA that probably do have this property, though the popular perception of it is maybe overblown.
I do think it would be good if there could be more experienced older people in EA, since I think there are probably many people out there with highly relevant and useful experience who haven’t heard of EA but would be receptive.
I think with a more professional focused model there wouldn’t be asks for people to switch professions, but for there to be larger career networks that can support EA by shifting directly into impactful roles using the skills they’ve already got.
There are also lots of experienced people who have heard of EA over the last decade but haven’t got more involved as there has been less outreach directed towards them and ways for them to engage.
Students have by far the most flexibility in their careers. It’s not uncommon for university students (in the US—maybe some other age in other countries) to do things like switch their major from biology to economics; except in very rare circumstances, 40 year old biologists do not become economists. If you suppose that certain high-impact career paths require very special skills not common in the population, then you might need people to develop those skills early rather than try to find people who already have them. There are some areas of EA that probably do have this property, though the popular perception of it is maybe overblown.
I do think it would be good if there could be more experienced older people in EA, since I think there are probably many people out there with highly relevant and useful experience who haven’t heard of EA but would be receptive.
I think with a more professional focused model there wouldn’t be asks for people to switch professions, but for there to be larger career networks that can support EA by shifting directly into impactful roles using the skills they’ve already got.
There are also lots of experienced people who have heard of EA over the last decade but haven’t got more involved as there has been less outreach directed towards them and ways for them to engage.