The job description for Research Analyst says that the best candidates will have “comfort thinking in terms of expected value and using systematic, quantitative frameworks.” How quantitative should a candidate be to apply? For example, if a person feels comfortable with basic expected value concepts but finds GiveWell’s CEA overwhelming (and probably could never produce something similar to GiveWell’s CEA), is that not quantitative enough?
GiveWell’s CEA was produced by multiple people over multiple years—we wouldn’t expect a single person to generate the whole thing :)
I do think you should probably be able to imagine yourself engaging in a discussion over some particular parameter or aspect of GiveWell’s CEA, and trying to improve that parameter or aspect to better capture what we care about (good accomplished per dollar). Quantitative aptitude is not a hard requirement for this position (there are some ways the role could evolve that would not require it), but it’s a major plus.
The job description for Research Analyst says that the best candidates will have “comfort thinking in terms of expected value and using systematic, quantitative frameworks.” How quantitative should a candidate be to apply? For example, if a person feels comfortable with basic expected value concepts but finds GiveWell’s CEA overwhelming (and probably could never produce something similar to GiveWell’s CEA), is that not quantitative enough?
GiveWell’s CEA was produced by multiple people over multiple years—we wouldn’t expect a single person to generate the whole thing :)
I do think you should probably be able to imagine yourself engaging in a discussion over some particular parameter or aspect of GiveWell’s CEA, and trying to improve that parameter or aspect to better capture what we care about (good accomplished per dollar). Quantitative aptitude is not a hard requirement for this position (there are some ways the role could evolve that would not require it), but it’s a major plus.
What’s Givewell’s CEA?
Cost-Effectiveness Analysis :)