Comments on: Is the Peace Corps a Legit Alternative to Getting a Job?

By: Alisa

Alisa — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 20:33:53 +0000

Sai, as I mentioned before I did Peace Corps, and while I left early for medical reasons and didn’t get the Non-competitive Eligibility benefit I still think it helped my career. I will also say think about what you want to do post peace corps while you’re there…

The Good
1) employers are looking at 100s of resumes, PC is unique and will help you stand out.
2) you have a chance to do a level of self-directed work you don’t often get to do in the US so if you know you want to do grant writing when you’re back write some grants in PC, if you want to do NGO management, start some projects and develop budgets and timelines, if you want to teach in the US, teach while you’re in PC. I don’t know about your country but mine basically put me in a village and let me do whatever.
3) the experience is unparalleled and I found that behavioral interview questions were much, much easier after PC.
4) if you’re interested in working in your country of service, you would have just spent 2 years turning down job offers from locals and expats and could probably get a job, especially an NGO or teaching job, fairly easily

The Bad
1) it takes time to deal with reverse culture shock. Give yourself at least a month between PC and starting a job state-side
2) You might miss some new and shiny technology while you’re gone and have to catch up
3) your typing speed may be shot and you’ll have to catch up
4) you will have to unlearn local etiquette and relearn US business etiquette (sounds silly but I had to remind myself not to take off my shoes before entering my office for months.)
5) working 40 hour weeks will be a shock, but so will hot running water

By: Sai

Sai — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 19:33:02 +0000

I am getting ready to go to the peace corps in a little over 2 months. My only concern is not during my time with PC but the career/financial BENEFITS AFTER the PC. Will I finally have the “relevant experience” for an international career (e.g UN. Foreign Service, etc??). I finished UCLA with two degrees B.A. in International Development and an M.A. in African studies. I am looking forward to the experience but I am TIRED of being BROKE and in debt(student loans, car I voluntarily turned in for repossession) than Ive made in my entire life. With my turning 29 by at the end of my service it will not be long after that I want to start a family and I want to start a REAL CAREER by that time.

I would really like to hear from someone who has benefited career-wise BECAUSE of their connection to PC. Where are you working now? Did working for the PC OPEN doors to the career for your dreams?

By: Kevin Tran

Kevin Tran — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 05:34:26 +0000

Hello,

I am about to enter my fourth year of my undergraduate studies in biochemistry.(almost done! woo!) I am also certified as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and would hope to go paramedic some day. As an aspiring paramedic, I would hope I can practice my medical services so I wouldn’t lose out on it. Does anyone know if there are positions in the Peace Corps that can utilize these skills? I personally wouldn’t mind doing other things in the service (I would love to grow trees and give back to the earth). My focus is emergency care, which I suppose is health related, but I was curious if first aid was available for volunteers.

By: Martin

Martin — Tue, 25 May 2010 02:07:37 +0000

I’m about to begin my service with the Peace Corps this June. I’ll be heading to west Africa as a health volunteer. I just graduated from undergrad and believe this is the best time I have to join the Peace Corps. I’m done with school for now and I don’t have any serious responsibilities such as a house or kids. If your in the same position and have the spirit to help a little, then I would definitely suggest the Peace Corps.
I’m joining because I like the adventure offered and have always been involved with community service, but there are also many benefits for when I’m back in the states. I get incredible experience, benefits for graduate school, and non-competitive status for federal jobs throughout many different federal agencies. I’ve been looking into a future career with the Foreign Service(those who work at the US embassies around the world). After talking to a former ambassador at my school, I learned returned peace corps volunteers often make great candidates for the foreign service. Right now my plan is the Peace Corps, then attend graduate school with benefits from PC service, and then begin a career with the Foreign Service.
I hope this helps and gives you some idea about what you can do!

By: Elena

Elena — Mon, 10 May 2010 07:38:57 +0000

Marie- I highly encourage you to do it. I am a current business Peace Corps volunteer and had similar doubts about PC using my experience, having gotten my MBA degree immediately before getting assigned.

I’m currently working in Business Education in the Kingdom of Tonga and I’m using my skills in business every day, and learning new ones constantly. Your experience in accounting would be invaluable, especially because many small businesses struggle with record keeping, fraud control, and business control systems in general. Regardless of the job field anyone has experience in, Peace Corps tries their absolute best to match relevant skills with relevant jobs.

Be aware, though, that the business situations you will deal with in Peace Corps are not at the level of complexity you are probably used to. For example, you’ll have to convince people they need to keep income statements before you train them on how to keep them.

Peace Corps service will add another dimension to your job experience, and even if you go back to accounting jobs afterward, yes, your resume will be that much stronger and you’ll be that much more interesting of an applicant, not to mention being able to lend a different perspective to any job situation after you finish service.

Business development would be a first choice, probably with business education/advising (what I’m doing) as a second choice. Your student loans can be deferred.

Do some serious thinking about your relationship. Either you’re serious about it and you stay, or you’re not serious about it, you cut it off and you go. Previous relationships rarely survive Peace Corps service- usually the volunteer chooses Peace Corps or the relationship, sometimes once they are already in the country of service, which can lead to problems.

Overall, I highly recommend it. Do it now, as you say, before you get other commitments. Think of the wonderful unpredictable experiences you’ll have, the people you’ll meet, the things you’ll learn, the travel vacations you can take during service (!), and the stories you’ll be able to tell when you’re back.

By: Marie

Marie — Sun, 09 May 2010 20:52:19 +0000

I’m an accountant who just graduated 2 years ago from undergrad. Yes, I have a good paying job that I should be latching onto for dear life in this economy. I also am in a relationship (on the rocks) for the past 5 years. I have a car loan and some college loan debt, but not enough financial reponsibility to feel trapped.

Point is, I can’t help but feel like, I’m 23, an accountant, don’t have kids or a mortgage- this is the time for me to do something like the PeaceCorps. I may not have the chance in the future. 2 years is nothing when you have the rest of your life to work a norm job afterwards…?

Anyone know how the peacecorp would use an accountant? Business development? If I do it, it would be nice to have it relate in some for or fashion to my work history, no?

By: IM

IM — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 04:29:11 +0000

I am a junior in undergrad and I keep going back and forth with wanting to apply or not… I have done my research and gone to career fairs with PC reps, but for me it’s the 2 year period that is uneasing me. For those of you who have actually served, what made you make your final decision?

I am also worrying about adjusting after serving (finding a job, etc.)

Please help me out, thanks!

By: tb

tb — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 19:46:50 +0000

i was a volunteer in west africa from 2000-04. i agree with the comment- need ability to spend a night (or 4) in a tent. the hardest part of corps is not your job, which depending on the country, will not strictly enforce attendance. the most difficult aspect is finding yourself isolated from things familiar- food, people, language, non-verbal comm., everyday interactions. this may sound romantic, but lead many a volunteer to “whack evac.” or terminate their service early due to psychological/emotional issues. Yet, that is an other great aspect of the experience, anytime you want- you can pull the chord and find yourself back in kansas.

the volunteers who made the greatest impact or had the most satysfying experience- really wanted to be there, were open to learning/living in a whole new way. yes, it may look good on a resume, but that is a ridiculous reason to do anything in life. 2 years in a hut, w/o running water or electricity is a long time to sacrfice for something as obtuse as resume building. if you are willing to roll in the dirt, eat with your hands, be aliented, and you can laugh about it at the end of the day- peace corps is for you.

i never looked a the world the same after returning (cliche) & currently live in american samoa with my wife (from philippines). i call peace corps my re-education, much more beneficial than 20+ years of organized education. before you gu, realize this is more about expanding your horizons or character building, than about assisting others in any long-term fashion. what you do will probably be undone after you leave due to the ever-changing politics/reality of the 3rd world. if your ok with that- do it… my website is tales of the south seas http://faa-samoa.blogspot.com/ . good luck!

tusitala

By: Alison

Alison — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 06:50:06 +0000

The rewards for me include living in and learning about a country and part of the world that I knew very little about before coming to (you are able to learn about a culture in a way that a tourist never could), getting to know individuals and being able to debunk myths about Americans (to the Azeris) and about Muslims (to my family and friends), being able to travel around to other countries in my region (I recently went to Turkey and Greece), making a difference in the lives of people that most of the world knows nothing about (there are worthwhile people everywhere and every little bit helps), growing as a person (I have definitely changed for the better; I’ve become more patient, understanding and outgoing), gaining skills like grant writing, working with people of different ages, and organizing projects, and when I return to the U.S. my experience with the Peace Corps will hopefully help me get a job(I hear Peace Corps looks great on the resume but I wouldn’t recommend doing it just for that reason).

Don’t get me wrong, this is the hardest job I’ve ever had but when you add up the good and the bad, in the end there are more good things than bad ones. It does get hard at times but remember that it is really a volunteer experience and you can leave at any time. Let me know if you have any more questions.

By: J

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 22:36:22 +0000

what are the rewards for you? I mean everything from seeing stuff, experiencing, and results. Not what is on the website about dental plans and stuff like that.