Yes—student groups will be our main priority for additional support in 2021 (we say a bit more about why here, and we discuss what that means concretely for our groups team here). But we’ll be maintaining or expanding the support we give to all groups, including new initiatives like Virtual Programs.
In my experience with running EA Berlin since two years, outreach to students seemed worthwhile but outreach on recent graduates / young professionals seemed even more worthwhile, as they were actively thinking about career plans and most keen to apply the EA philosophy right away (compared to students who will only make career decisions years later and then may or may not take EA considerations into account). They are often in their early twenties too, usually 21-25 y/o. If you’re interested in this, I would be happy to continue this discussion sometimes via comments, email or a (short) call (if you find it worth your time, no worries if not!).
If you feel like CEA is better suited to focus its own programs to students that seems fair to me, and I appreciate that your programs (especially EAG(x) conferences) remain open to other groups as well. I hope this also applies to the CB grant program, so city groups and national groups have equally good chances of receiving funding compared to university groups focussed on students only.
That’s interesting—I’m surprised by that and wonder if it’s due to some differences between systems? In the UK people often begin to think about internships in their first or second years, and then look for jobs in the 3rd year, so I think there’s quite a lot of ability to influence and discuss career plans early on. In the US degrees are longer, but early on people are trying to decide their major which is also a significant career decision. I also think that students have a lot more time and interest in engaging with new things, and they tend to be easier to reach (e.g. because they all come to activity fairs). How do you find/target these early-career people? And aren’t they already normally in employment/set on a career path?
(I’m German, but have lived in the UK for 4.5 years now.)
My best guess is that you are both right, and large cultural differences are at play. I found this really bizarre when I moved to the UK. In Germany, you are an ambitious overachiever if you have a ‘career plan’ at 22. In the UK this is standard.
Among educated Germans, people take longer to finish their degrees, are more likely to take gap years, change degrees. Internships seem to be much rarer. The ‘summer internship’ system does not seem to exist as much in Germany, and just is not considered necessary in the same way. Most Germans do Master’s (which take 2 years in Germany) as only a Bachelor’s degree is taken less seriously. Having children during your degree is more common.
Educated Germans just start full-time employment much later. This is so extreme that in my friendship circle I do not know any German non-EA who has finished their education (all including Master’s) and started a full-time job before the age of 27 (!).
I agree with Denise’s description and Max’s, but I don’t see how it follows that focusing on professionals is more useful than focusing on students. In fact, I think that Germans taking gap years, changing degrees, etc. makes it more plausible that student groups are a promising target audience, as this allows students to spend more time thinking about EA ideas and make relatively large changes to their careers.
Yes—student groups will be our main priority for additional support in 2021 (we say a bit more about why here, and we discuss what that means concretely for our groups team here). But we’ll be maintaining or expanding the support we give to all groups, including new initiatives like Virtual Programs.
Thanks for elaborating!
In my experience with running EA Berlin since two years, outreach to students seemed worthwhile but outreach on recent graduates / young professionals seemed even more worthwhile, as they were actively thinking about career plans and most keen to apply the EA philosophy right away (compared to students who will only make career decisions years later and then may or may not take EA considerations into account). They are often in their early twenties too, usually 21-25 y/o. If you’re interested in this, I would be happy to continue this discussion sometimes via comments, email or a (short) call (if you find it worth your time, no worries if not!).
If you feel like CEA is better suited to focus its own programs to students that seems fair to me, and I appreciate that your programs (especially EAG(x) conferences) remain open to other groups as well. I hope this also applies to the CB grant program, so city groups and national groups have equally good chances of receiving funding compared to university groups focussed on students only.
That’s interesting—I’m surprised by that and wonder if it’s due to some differences between systems? In the UK people often begin to think about internships in their first or second years, and then look for jobs in the 3rd year, so I think there’s quite a lot of ability to influence and discuss career plans early on. In the US degrees are longer, but early on people are trying to decide their major which is also a significant career decision. I also think that students have a lot more time and interest in engaging with new things, and they tend to be easier to reach (e.g. because they all come to activity fairs). How do you find/target these early-career people? And aren’t they already normally in employment/set on a career path?
CBGs remains open to non-student groups.
(I’m German, but have lived in the UK for 4.5 years now.)
My best guess is that you are both right, and large cultural differences are at play. I found this really bizarre when I moved to the UK. In Germany, you are an ambitious overachiever if you have a ‘career plan’ at 22. In the UK this is standard.
Among educated Germans, people take longer to finish their degrees, are more likely to take gap years, change degrees. Internships seem to be much rarer. The ‘summer internship’ system does not seem to exist as much in Germany, and just is not considered necessary in the same way. Most Germans do Master’s (which take 2 years in Germany) as only a Bachelor’s degree is taken less seriously. Having children during your degree is more common.
Educated Germans just start full-time employment much later. This is so extreme that in my friendship circle I do not know any German non-EA who has finished their education (all including Master’s) and started a full-time job before the age of 27 (!).
Interesting! Thanks for sharing.
I agree with Denise’s description and Max’s, but I don’t see how it follows that focusing on professionals is more useful than focusing on students. In fact, I think that Germans taking gap years, changing degrees, etc. makes it more plausible that student groups are a promising target audience, as this allows students to spend more time thinking about EA ideas and make relatively large changes to their careers.