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Understand what makes for a high-impact career.
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Your most important decision
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Effective altruism
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Why problem selection is crucial
The case for reducing existential risks
This could be the most important century
Our current list of pressing problems
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Which careers let you contribute most?
Some solutions are far more effective than others
Our list of high-impact careers
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Fit is more important than you think
Strategy
What is career capital?
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Coordination and impact
Balancing impact and doing what you love
Aim higher: a rational case for dreaming big
Three career stages
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How much do careers differ in impact?
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Preventing an AI-related catastrophe
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Grantmaker
Operations management in high-impact organisations
Research into global priorities
Biorisk research, strategy, and policy
China-related AI safety and governance
Forecasting research and implementation
Sometimes-recommended paths
High-impact but especially competitive
Promising but under-researched
Impactful if you're an especially good fit
Recommended career capital
Steps to build your skills and network
Making the most of your current job
Doing good in any career
How to invest in yourself
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How many lives does a doctor save?
What's the impact of voting?
Advice for undergraduates
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2017 career guide
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Read the full guide →
Introduction
Your most important decision
Summary
Foundations
A definition of impact
Future generations & their moral significance
Effective altruism
Global priorities
Why problem selection is crucial
The case for reducing existential risks
This could be the most important century
Our current list of pressing problems
Contribution
Which careers let you contribute most?
Some solutions are far more effective than others
Our list of high-impact careers
Personal fit
Fit is more important than you think
Strategy
What is career capital?
How much to explore?
Coordination and impact
Balancing impact and doing what you love
Aim higher: a rational case for dreaming big
Three career stages
Conclusion
How much do careers differ in impact?
Read the full guide →
Go to problems hub →
Top areas to work on
Preventing an AI-related catastrophe
Catastrophic pandemics
Building effective altruism
Global priorities research
Nuclear war
Epistemics and institutional decision making
Climate change
Great power conflict
Other promising areas
Promoting positive values
Space governance
See more →
Go to problems hub →
See all our career reviews →
Key categories of impactful careers
Government and policy
Organisation-building at effective nonprofits
Research
Applying an unusual strength to a needed niche
Communication
Earning to give
List of top-recommended career paths
AI safety technical research
Long-term AI policy
Founder of new projects
Helping build the effective altruism community
Grantmaker
Operations management in high-impact organisations
Research into global priorities
Biorisk research, strategy, and policy
China-related AI safety and governance
Forecasting research and implementation
Sometimes-recommended paths
High-impact but especially competitive
Promising but under-researched
Impactful if you're an especially good fit
Recommended career capital
Steps to build your skills and network
Making the most of your current job
Doing good in any career
How to invest in yourself
See all our career reviews →
See all planning resources →
Create a high-impact career plan
8-week career planning course
Summary
Career plan template
Annual career check-up
Make good career decisions
Make an immediate decision
Improve your decision-making skills
See all planning resources →
Selected topics
Moral philosophy
Skills
Job satisfaction
Anonymous advice
Unconventional advice
What to study
Advocacy
Catastrophic risks
Meta-causes
Priority paths
See all topics →
Top articles from outside our guides
What makes for a dream job?
Best charities to donate to
Misconceptions about effective altruism
High-impact research questions
What are your chances of getting elected to Congress, if you try?
How many lives does a doctor save?
What's the impact of voting?
Advice for undergraduates
All articles →
2017 career guide
All career guide pages →
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Ryan Carey
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10
Blog posts
10
2015
June
Announcing the effective altruism handbook
Blog post
2014
June
The payoff and probability of obtaining venture capital
Blog post
Which university has better entrepreneurs?
Blog post
What is the average net worth of Stanford entrepreneurs?
Blog post
Increasing your earnings as a doctor
Blog post
Case series – why and how to learn programming
Blog post
May
How much do Y Combinator founders earn?
Blog post
Biographies of Top Entrepreneurs
Blog post
April
App Academy interview with Buck Shlegeris
Blog post
2012
February
Professional philanthropy vs professional influencing
Blog post
