This is something we’re still trying to figure out since taking over the project earlier this year (and it is, for good reasons, the most common question I get when talking to users about the board). For many people the other boards will already do a good job if you’re looking for these types of roles. We’re still evaluating the amount of resources we want to spend on improving the board, alongside talking to students and group members to better understand what they find useful.
My thinking on the unique value of the Opportunities board is still developing, but here are some ways I’m thinking about the board being useful:
A less intimidating space for the specific audience it’s targeting. Many group organisers use the board to show group members or people who just heard about EA.
By focusing only on part-time roles we may be able to get much more breadth here than the other boards are able to, including opportunities that don’t fit neatly on a job board. I’m especially optimistic about finding ways to source more local opportunities outside of US and Europe (something 80k isn’t focusing on right now but which @Conor Barnes 🔶 mentioned has been requested)
I could also imagine the EA brand and EA website being more effective at driving traffic than e.g. Probably Good, which may mean we should in fact not be strongly niched but instead also start showing full time roles (especially with 80k’s move towards more AI Safety roles)
More exposure to good opportunities seems valuable in general. Some people will come across 80k or Probably Good, others will find the Opportunities board. We’ve already heard impact stories from people who found a role here they wouldn’t otherwise have seen, either because it wasn’t on the other boards, or because they weren’t looking there at the time.
I’m still exploring if this is the right niche and how to communicate it more clearly. For now I’m fairly optimistic the board is helping people find work they otherwise wouldn’t, which makes me excited to keep developing and growing it.
I get updates from all these lists emailed to me, and the EA Opportunities Board is one of my favorites because it often has part-time opportunities (eg fellowships, courses, part time work) which I think don’t make it into some of the other lists’ headlines (either because the opportunity is small, or too EA-niche). Just my two cents.
This is something we’re still trying to figure out since taking over the project earlier this year (and it is, for good reasons, the most common question I get when talking to users about the board). For many people the other boards will already do a good job if you’re looking for these types of roles. We’re still evaluating the amount of resources we want to spend on improving the board, alongside talking to students and group members to better understand what they find useful.
My thinking on the unique value of the Opportunities board is still developing, but here are some ways I’m thinking about the board being useful:
A less intimidating space for the specific audience it’s targeting. Many group organisers use the board to show group members or people who just heard about EA.
By focusing only on part-time roles we may be able to get much more breadth here than the other boards are able to, including opportunities that don’t fit neatly on a job board. I’m especially optimistic about finding ways to source more local opportunities outside of US and Europe (something 80k isn’t focusing on right now but which @Conor Barnes 🔶 mentioned has been requested)
I could also imagine the EA brand and EA website being more effective at driving traffic than e.g. Probably Good, which may mean we should in fact not be strongly niched but instead also start showing full time roles (especially with 80k’s move towards more AI Safety roles)
More exposure to good opportunities seems valuable in general. Some people will come across 80k or Probably Good, others will find the Opportunities board. We’ve already heard impact stories from people who found a role here they wouldn’t otherwise have seen, either because it wasn’t on the other boards, or because they weren’t looking there at the time.
I’m still exploring if this is the right niche and how to communicate it more clearly. For now I’m fairly optimistic the board is helping people find work they otherwise wouldn’t, which makes me excited to keep developing and growing it.
I get updates from all these lists emailed to me, and the EA Opportunities Board is one of my favorites because it often has part-time opportunities (eg fellowships, courses, part time work) which I think don’t make it into some of the other lists’ headlines (either because the opportunity is small, or too EA-niche). Just my two cents.
Thanks for clarifying, Agnes!