I’m a writer through and through, both for work and for creative expression.
I’ve recently felt a deep conviction to find a career and volunteer opportunities that leave the world better than I found it.
So here I am, looking for my next step.
Zach Roush
Karma: 24
Hi there! My name is Zach Roush. Pleased to meet ya 😎
Location: Hanoi, Vietnam
Remote: Yes.Willing to relocate: Not now, but sometime in the future.
Skills:Content strategy
New hire training
Customer service
SEO
Copywriting
Scriptwriting
Graphic design
Time management
Business development
Google suite
Mac & PC expertise
Salesforce
Community management/building
Networking
Creative strategies
Résumé/CV/LinkedIn:
Portfolio: zacharyroush.com/work-with-zachary
Email: zroush17@gmail.com
Notes: I am interested in a variety of cause areas, such as: Climate change, AI, global poverty and education, and global peace. I’ve invested many hours in studying sustainable architecture.I am growing more and more familiar with EA every day, and I’ve completed the 80K career guide as well as an “Intro to EA” cohort. I plan on applying to become a facilitator and taking the intensive course in the next few months.
Although my career experience is in copywriting, my passion is connecting with and helping people. I am currently taking a Community Foundations course through C School; this courser is teaching me all about online communities and how to make them successful. Ideally, I’m looking for work in community-related spaces that work toward EA causes.
That said, I’m also open to content-writing work, but as more of an editor and advisor on content. Not so much the writing.
If you’ve read all this, thank you for your time and consideration. Let’s chat: calendly.com/zachary_roush
Yeah I’ve looked into that, but it’s primarily for job posting. I’m thinking more of a synchronous community with a forum and such. My idea’s inspired by posts like these:
Why Doesn’t 80,000 Hours Have its Own Community?
Hello Creatives!
I’m Zach and I’m a writer—both for work and for personal fulfillment (I have a short story newsletter). I am looking to move beyond copywriting and advertising writing career-wise, but still operate in creative ways.
I am working through the introduction to EA group and have completed the 80,000 hours career guide—I’m getting my feet wet in terms of EA and exploring existential risks, but I’m fully invested in the philosophy and want to make an impact with my creative talents.
I’d love to join the conversation in Slack and learn from everyone here—especially in terms of exploring new career opportunities that have a positive impact in the world.
I feel the same way! Technology and data is so essential for being effective, but we give something up when we ONLY use data and tech to solve problems. But I see this as an opportunity as well, to forge a new kind of artistic culture around saving the world.
Creatives and Effective Altruism
If you’ve spent any time digging in to EA, or reading through the incredible articles on 80,000 Hours (or elsewhere), you’ll notice that many of the issues our future faces are technical in nature. AI ethics and integration. Solving for food supply issues through new farming tactics. Engineering the solutions that our future selves will be grateful for...
But what I’m wondering (for my own career) and for other Creatives: how do we fit in? Where can creatives, whose purview is not in data analytics, engineering, or even technical articles, be part of this EA revolution? Where are the creative-based careers in this industry? How do we make more opportunities for writers, artists, and more?
The most clear idea to me would be the creation of a marketing firm/production company that caters to EA-focused organizations. Then, these companies doing real good in the world would have the means to achieve mass communication on par with larger companies that exist for profit. But, as I am not going to launch this idea tomorrow, it’s just a conversation starter.
Any other ideas? Any other creatives feeling similarly? Anyone want to connect in the very broad idea of how creatives can change the future alongside all other industries and disciplines?
Zach Roush’s Quick takes
Thanks for liking it :) and thank you also for the welcome.
Hello EA world! My name’s Zach. I’m a writer by trade and for passion, and I’m stoked to be here.
I found this community after asking Google “what are some jobs that do good for the world.”
Currently, I work for an ad agency (owned by an AI company) company as a Creative Copywriter. It’s a new job, but I already know that this kind of writing contributes to a destructive economic system (not that it’s all bad, but it’s definitely destructive.)
After that Google search, I found 80,000 as many other have, and now I’m looking for my next steps. That might mean another job (hopefully sooner than later), volunteer opportunities, and building relationships with people who feel similar convictions.
I’ve always had an intense drive to be authentic, to live true to what I believe in and say I believe in, and so this stage feels sort of inevitable. Life is so much bigger than money and cars and careers and comfort and [insert material desire here] - and I feel the need to do something for more than myself.
I came upon this prayer one time (not trying to push religion or anything) and it encapsulates this bone-deep belief I’ve experienced the past few months.
The Blessing of Discomfort—Sr. Ruth Fox, OSB (1985)“May God bless you with discomfort
At easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships,
So that you may live deep within your heart.May God bless you with anger
At injustice, oppression and exploitation of people,
So that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.May God bless you with tears
To shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger, and war,
So that you may reach out your hand to comfort them
And turn their pain into joy.And may God bless you with enough foolishness
To believe that you can make a difference in the world,
So that you can do what others claim cannot be done
To bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.”This is why I’m here. It’s great to be here. I’m looking forward to meeting you!
What are the methods (meditation, self-analysis) and tools (podcasts, books, support groups) you use to keep yourself motivated and inspired in Effective Altruism specifically, and in making a difference generally?