From “Doing Good Better: How Effective Altruism Can Help You Help Others, Do Work that Matters, and Make Smarter Choices About Giving Back” by William Macaskill
Over the last few years at 80,000 Hours, we’ve coached hundreds of people like Peter, as well as people later in their careers, most of whom find the following framework useful in figuring out what their next career steps should be. There are many considerations relevant to choosing the right career for you, and this framework ensures that you give due weight to what’s most important. You should ask yourself:
How do I personally fit with this job? How satisfied will I be in this job? Am I excited by the job? Do I think I could stick with it for a significant period of time? How good am I, or could I become, at this type of work, compared to other people and compared to other careers I might choose?
What’s my impact while I’m working at this job? How many resources can I influence, whether that’s the labor I provide, the people or budget I manage, the money I earn, or a public platform I have access to? How effective are the causes to which I can direct those resources?
How does this job contribute to my impact later on in life? How well does this job build my skills, connections, and credentials? How well does this job keep my options open? How much will I learn in the course of this job about what I might want to do next?