how difficult is it to get a position doing operations work for an EA org, especially if you have some but not tonnes of operations experience?
For a long time I would discourage people from going into operations unless I (or they) had reason to think they’re an especially good fit because I thought it was difficult to get in (mostly based on reading this post, and my assumption that operations roles have looser requirements than other roles, so more people tend to apply).
However, at recent EA conferences I’ve talked to a lot of people interested in operations, and over a six month time frame, I tend to find that almost all of them that continue to actively look for work in operations find it.
Like Martin and Amrit said, a lot of these positions go unadvertised. Of our current staff at RC, none of us formally applied for our roles. Two of us are former volunteers, one is a former contractor, and two are people our staff/former staff knew from working together at other organizations who were asked if they wanted to be on our team, without a formal hiring round. It’s not impossible to get a job by applying directly—in fact, if you have demonstrated interest in EA, I think you have a good chance at at least making it through the first round of applications—but you’ll likely have more luck by being proactive with a few organizations that you’re especially interested in working at.
+1. Like Marisa mentioned, some operations individuals get jobs without applying to jobs via the “traditional” route. I started off as a contractor and was promoted to a full-time employee.
For a long time I would discourage people from going into operations unless I (or they) had reason to think they’re an especially good fit because I thought it was difficult to get in (mostly based on reading this post, and my assumption that operations roles have looser requirements than other roles, so more people tend to apply).
However, at recent EA conferences I’ve talked to a lot of people interested in operations, and over a six month time frame, I tend to find that almost all of them that continue to actively look for work in operations find it.
Like Martin and Amrit said, a lot of these positions go unadvertised. Of our current staff at RC, none of us formally applied for our roles. Two of us are former volunteers, one is a former contractor, and two are people our staff/former staff knew from working together at other organizations who were asked if they wanted to be on our team, without a formal hiring round. It’s not impossible to get a job by applying directly—in fact, if you have demonstrated interest in EA, I think you have a good chance at at least making it through the first round of applications—but you’ll likely have more luck by being proactive with a few organizations that you’re especially interested in working at.
+1. Like Marisa mentioned, some operations individuals get jobs without applying to jobs via the “traditional” route. I started off as a contractor and was promoted to a full-time employee.