Exciting! I would be curious whether you could give more detail on how the 2020 career planning process differs from the general advice in the 2017 career guide?
Compared to the old planning process (https://80000hours.org/career-planning-tool/), the structure is similar, though this clearly separates out longer-term paths from next career moves. Otherwise, the main difference is that this has far more detailed, specific guidance.
More broadly, there are lots of clarifications to our general advice, or explanations with different emphasis. Some of the bigger newer bits include:
The idea of ‘3 strategic focuses’ (opportunism, exploring, betting on a longer-term path).
4 frameworks for coming up with ideas for longer-term paths inc. clarifying your strengths and helping a community, with more specific guidance within each (though a lot more could be done here).
Being clearer about how just ‘getting good at something useful or influential’ can be a good longer-term strategy vs. attempting to solve problems directly (one of the main critiques of our advice in the past). More specific advice on how to get good career capital.
New advice on how to compare different global problems in practice, as well as how to do your own investigation. Also a different framing of problem selection in terms of the world portfolio.
Clarifying that you should both ‘work backwards’ and ‘work forwards’ in determining your next step.
Actively encouraging people to check with their gut, rather than just go with their system 2 analysis (though not to go with their gut either).
Hopefully emphasising personal fit and fit with your personal life and other moral values a bit more.
More minor:
Being generally clearer about how the different parts fit together.
More specific guidance on how to go about the process of career planning.
Generally trying to frame the aim as ‘make a good plan’ rather than ‘achieve certain outcomes’.
Using a modified version of the ‘career framework’ at different points
Exciting! I would be curious whether you could give more detail on how the 2020 career planning process differs from the general advice in the 2017 career guide?
Hi Denise,
Compared to the old planning process (https://80000hours.org/career-planning-tool/), the structure is similar, though this clearly separates out longer-term paths from next career moves. Otherwise, the main difference is that this has far more detailed, specific guidance.
More broadly, there are lots of clarifications to our general advice, or explanations with different emphasis. Some of the bigger newer bits include:
The idea of ‘3 strategic focuses’ (opportunism, exploring, betting on a longer-term path).
4 frameworks for coming up with ideas for longer-term paths inc. clarifying your strengths and helping a community, with more specific guidance within each (though a lot more could be done here).
Being clearer about how just ‘getting good at something useful or influential’ can be a good longer-term strategy vs. attempting to solve problems directly (one of the main critiques of our advice in the past). More specific advice on how to get good career capital.
New advice on how to compare different global problems in practice, as well as how to do your own investigation. Also a different framing of problem selection in terms of the world portfolio.
Clarifying that you should both ‘work backwards’ and ‘work forwards’ in determining your next step.
Actively encouraging people to check with their gut, rather than just go with their system 2 analysis (though not to go with their gut either).
Hopefully emphasising personal fit and fit with your personal life and other moral values a bit more.
More minor:
Being generally clearer about how the different parts fit together.
More specific guidance on how to go about the process of career planning.
Generally trying to frame the aim as ‘make a good plan’ rather than ‘achieve certain outcomes’.
Using a modified version of the ‘career framework’ at different points
That sounds excellent, thank you so much for the detailed response!