I think many talented EAs are looking for EA jobs, but often it’s a question of “fit” over just raw competence.
For the significant majority of EAs, does there exist an “EA job” that is a sufficiently good fit as to be superior to the individual’s EtG alternative? To count, the job needs to be practically obtainable (e.g., the job is funded, the would-be worker can get it, the would-be worker does not have personal characteristics or situations that prevent them from accepting the job or doing it well).
I would find it at least mildly surprising for the closeness of fit between the personal characteristics of the EA population and the jobs available to be that tight.[1]
For most social movements, funding only allows a small percentage of the potentially-interested population to secure employment in the movement (such as clergy or other religious workers in a religious movement. So they do not face this sort of question. But I’d be skeptical that (e.g.) 85% of pretty religious people are well-suited to work as clergy or in other religious occupations.
I don’t understand why this is relevant to the question of whether there are enough people doing e2g. Clearly there are many useful direct impact or skill building jobs that aren’t at ea orgs. E.g. working as a congressional staffer.
I wouldn’t find it surprising at all if most EAs are a good fit for good non e2g roles. In fact, earning a lot of money is quite hard, I expect most people won’t be a very good fit for it.
I think we’re talking past each other when we say “ea job”, but if you mean job at an ea org I’d agree there aren’t enough roles for everyone, but most useful direct work/skill building roles aren’t at ea orgs so it doesn’t seem very relevant, and if you mean directly impactful job or useful for skill building your claim seems wrong, seems like there are many jobs that will be better fits for people than e2g motivated ones (imo).
For the significant majority of EAs, does there exist an “EA job” that is a sufficiently good fit as to be superior to the individual’s EtG alternative? To count, the job needs to be practically obtainable (e.g., the job is funded, the would-be worker can get it, the would-be worker does not have personal characteristics or situations that prevent them from accepting the job or doing it well).
I would find it at least mildly surprising for the closeness of fit between the personal characteristics of the EA population and the jobs available to be that tight.[1]
For most social movements, funding only allows a small percentage of the potentially-interested population to secure employment in the movement (such as clergy or other religious workers in a religious movement. So they do not face this sort of question. But I’d be skeptical that (e.g.) 85% of pretty religious people are well-suited to work as clergy or in other religious occupations.
I don’t understand why this is relevant to the question of whether there are enough people doing e2g. Clearly there are many useful direct impact or skill building jobs that aren’t at ea orgs. E.g. working as a congressional staffer.
I wouldn’t find it surprising at all if most EAs are a good fit for good non e2g roles. In fact, earning a lot of money is quite hard, I expect most people won’t be a very good fit for it.
I think we’re talking past each other when we say “ea job”, but if you mean job at an ea org I’d agree there aren’t enough roles for everyone, but most useful direct work/skill building roles aren’t at ea orgs so it doesn’t seem very relevant, and if you mean directly impactful job or useful for skill building your claim seems wrong, seems like there are many jobs that will be better fits for people than e2g motivated ones (imo).