The world is full of problems–and they can differ enormously in how important they are. Looking at problem significance lets us consider just how big a problem is, and whether it’s something we want to spend our career trying to solve. Making a meaningful impact A lot of jobs sound … Read more
When thinking through career options, we’re faced with dilemmas like: should we focus on helping people or animals? Should we work at a charity or earn more money in order to donate? Should we try to help people who live now or people in the future? Reflecting on our values … Read more
We’ve covered a lot of ground in this guide, from matching your motivations to good opportunities, to mapping your career options, finding and landing impactful roles, navigating obstacles, and more. But, the core idea running through the entire guide is simple: your career can be good both for you and … Read more
Once you know what kinds of roles you’re aiming for, the next step is applying, interviewing, and navigating job offers. That might sound straightforward, but it’s often where people get stuck. You might send out application after application and hear nothing back. Or you might start to get traction, only … Read more
By now, you’ve likely identified a few directions you’re excited to pursue—roles or fields where you could imagine doing meaningful work. The next step is turning those ideas into concrete opportunities. This stage can feel like a leap. Moving from “possible paths” to actual job searches often brings new questions: … Read more
By now, you’ve probably started noticing patterns about what motivates you, what you care about, and how you might want to contribute. The next step is turning those early insights into something more concrete. That doesn’t mean figuring out your whole career in one go, but starting to sketch out … Read more
In the previous chapter, we explored the idea that your career can be one of the best ways to make a difference—and that it’s possible to find work that’s both meaningful to you and valuable to the world. If that idea resonated, you might be wondering how to begin narrowing … Read more
Your career is one of the biggest forces shaping your life. It affects how you spend your time, what you learn, who you meet, and what kinds of pressures and opportunities show up in your day-to-day life. It also extends beyond work, impacting your finances, your relationships, and even your … Read more
Role leverage is the total influence a role has on the impact the organization or company is trying to make. In other words, how critical is this role for the organization’s success? The higher a role’s leverage, the more opportunity there might be to make a big counterfactual impact. Influencing … Read more
At this point, you’ve spent time figuring out how to find meaningful roles, position yourself to get them, and navigate the challenges that inevitably come up. But making a difference through your career doesn’t stop once you land an impactful role; it’s an ongoing process of growth and adaptation. A … Read more
