[Linkpost] “How Unofficial Work Gets You Hired: Building Your Surface Area for Serendipity” by SofiaBalderson

Tl;dr:

In this post, I introduce a concept I call surface area for serendipity — the informal, behind-the-scenes work that makes it easier for others to notice, trust, and collaborate with you. In a job market where some EA and animal advocacy roles attract over 1,300 applicants, relying on traditional applications alone is unlikely to land you a role.

This post offers a tactical roadmap to the hidden layer of hiring: small, often unpaid but high-leverage actions that build visibility and trust before a job ever opens. The general principle is simple: show up consistently where your future collaborators or employers hang out — and let your strengths be visible. Done well, this increases your chances of being invited, remembered, or hired — long before you ever apply.

Acknowledgements: Thanks to Kevin Xia for your valuable feedback and suggestions, and Toby Tremlett for offering general [...]

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Outline:

(00:15) Tl;dr:

(01:19) Why I Wrote This

(02:30) When Applying Feels Like a Lottery

(04:14) What Surface Area for Serendipity Means

(07:21) What It Looks Like (with Examples)

(09:02) Case Study: Kevin's Path to Becoming Hive's Managing Director

(10:27) Common Pitfalls to Avoid

(12:00) Share Your Journey

The original text contained 4 footnotes which were omitted from this narration.

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First published:

July 1st, 2025

Source:

https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/5iqTPsrGtz8EYi9r9/how-unofficial-work-gets-you-hired-building-your-surface

Linkpost URL:
https://notingthemargin.substack.com/p/how-unofficial-work-gets-you-hired

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Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

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