Agree; moving into “EA-approved” direct work later in your career while initially doing skill- or network-building is also a good option for some. I would actually think that if someone can achieve a lot at the conventional career, e.g., achieving some local prominence (just as a goal in itself or as preparation to move into a more “directly EA role”), that’s great. My thinking here was especially influenced by an article about the neoliberalism community.
(Urgency of some problems, most prominently AI risk, might be indeed a decisive factor under some worldviews held in the community. I guess most people should plan their career as it most makes sense to them under their own worldviews, but I can imagine changing my mind here. I need to acknowledge that I think that short timelines and existential risk concerns are “psychoactive,” and people should be carefully exposed to them to avoid various failure modes.)
Agree; moving into “EA-approved” direct work later in your career while initially doing skill- or network-building is also a good option for some. I would actually think that if someone can achieve a lot at the conventional career, e.g., achieving some local prominence (just as a goal in itself or as preparation to move into a more “directly EA role”), that’s great. My thinking here was especially influenced by an article about the neoliberalism community.
(Urgency of some problems, most prominently AI risk, might be indeed a decisive factor under some worldviews held in the community. I guess most people should plan their career as it most makes sense to them under their own worldviews, but I can imagine changing my mind here. I need to acknowledge that I think that short timelines and existential risk concerns are “psychoactive,” and people should be carefully exposed to them to avoid various failure modes.)