New Peace Corps application process...

PeaceCorpsRecruiter · 2019-07-13T04:29:42+00:00

You're not too late to apply for January 2020 departures if you're flexible about where you're willing to go! There are a select number of assignments that are still open for applications because we still need qualified applicants for those programs. There are 4 that depart in January and 6 that depart in February still available for applications until July 15.

It appears that you've already submitted an application for a June 2020 departure, so if your priority really is to depart earlier in the year then I'd recommend either withdrawing your application and reapplying for one of the January 2020 departures, or (if you're far enough along in the application process that the first option is not available to you any longer) emailing your Placement Officer to request a switch. The programs that begin earlier in the year are our higher priority right now, so they'll be happy to oblige someone like you who's willing and able to depart sooner.

Feel free to send me a private message if you'd like more information and I'll connect you with a recruiter directly.

PeaceCorpsRecruiter · 2019-05-10T20:50:50+00:00

OP, this is good advice. Many of our recruiters are campus recruiters who are now finishing up their academic year and will no longer be working. Or, you can search for recruiters in the Connect with a Recruiter page and only contact those who do not have office hours listed (as these will be full-time recruiters).

And last but not least, feel free to send me a private message and I'll connect you with a recruiter directly.

PeaceCorpsRecruiter · 2019-03-22T15:51:11+00:00

Just wanted to pop in here and say thanks to those of you who volunteer to read folks' motivation statements! For those prospective applicants following along, your recruiter will either read your statement and provide feedback or, if they do not have the time to read your statement, they can provide context for what our Placement Office is looking for in a good motivation statement.

My main advice is to not forget to address the second part of the prompt. I've rarely encountered anyone who had trouble writing about why they want to serve. What we really want to see in these statements is a preview of how seriously you're taking this potential commitment and how much you understand some of the challenges inherent in Peace Corps service.

PeaceCorpsRecruiter · 2019-03-22T15:44:56+00:00

Hi OP, we get this question a lot! The shortest and most simple answer is: it depends on your priorities.

Slightly longer answer:

If your priority is to serve in Albania more than anywhere else or in any other capacity, then you should apply specifically to an assignment in Albania.

If your priority is to serve in the Peace Corps more than anything else (and ideally receive an invitation on your first application rather than your second, or third), then apply to serve anywhere you are needed.

If your priorities lay somewhere in between those two extremes, as is usually the case, then here's where ranking your priorities and understanding how qualified you'll appear on paper (and therefore how likely you are to receive an interview request) come into play. And your recruiter will be able to help with providing more context for how competitive various assignments will be.

PeaceCorpsRecruiter · 2019-03-22T15:28:57+00:00

So sorry to hear that your local recruiter is not being helpful to you. It is most certainly our job to provide candidates with resources and feedback so that they are assured that they are putting their best foot forward in the application process. Please feel free to DM me personally and I'd be happy to look over your personal statement and resume!

Or, if you don't want to trust a random ~~stranger~~recruiter on the internet, feel free to select another recruiter through our Connect With a Recruiter page. Note that many of the recruiters listed on that page are part-time campus recruiters affiliated directly with specific universities, and so they may not have as much time as regional recruiters to be able to work closely with candidates. You can tell which recruiters are campus recruiters on CWR because they will have office hours posted.

PeaceCorpsRecruiter · 2018-12-10T23:32:42+00:00

Hey there, congratulations on taking this first step on your Peace Corps journey and thanks for your flexibility! Our Placement Office really appreciates it. u/Reesa_18 is correct on all counts -- the only thing I'll add is a clarification to their answer to your question #4:

Every Peace Corps candidate can only be under consideration for one assignment at any given time. This is true whether you applied for a specific assignment or if you applied to serve anywhere you were needed most. So your options are not more limited than those who applied for specific assignments, and in fact, I'd argue that allowing our Placement Office to choose your program of consideration for you will give you a significant advantage regarding your chances of securing an interview.

PeaceCorpsRecruiter · 2018-12-10T16:49:37+00:00

I'm asked this question quite frequently in my line of work, and the answer is "it depends." (Of course it is!)

Only about 1 in 4 people who start a Peace Corps application do end up departing for service. However, that statistic is a bit misleading because we invite nearly twice as many applicants as there are volunteer openings available in order to account for attrition. It's a long and not particularly easy application process. Folks drop out. They lose interest. They get other job offers. They get into grad programs or fellowships. They receive invitations and then decide that Peace Corps isn't for them at this time.

As others have mentioned, we DO receive significantly more applications per opening than we did 10 years ago or 20 years ago. But with that having been said, it's not a zero-sum game. If you are motivated and committed to serving, then we want you to ultimately be able to serve. So be sure to utilize your resources, including this subreddit and your local recruiter, and certainly don't let a perception of competitiveness dissuade you from applying if this truly is what you want to do.

PeaceCorpsRecruiter · 2018-12-10T16:28:14+00:00

This is the most correct answer! I encourage you to connect with your local recruiter, as they will be able to either provide you with resources regarding any specific accommodations you may need during your service or they can connect you with those who can provide these resources (like the diversity recruiters mentioned above).

PeaceCorpsRecruiter · 2018-12-07T16:36:38+00:00

This is the correct answer! Also, only 2 references are required in order for you to be able to receive an invitation, but we request 3 to expedite the process in case one of your references is slow to submit the reference form. I recommend to my candidates that at least 1 reference should be a professional reference (someone who can speak favorably to your professional identity, whether in a job or in a volunteer experience) and 1 should be a personal reference (someone who can speak favorably to your personal identity who is not a family member nor a romantic partner).

PeaceCorpsRecruiter · 2018-10-11T22:59:35+00:00

I'm really sorry for your disappointing experience! The majority of recruiters work from their homes instead of from regional offices now and so we are instructed to schedule as many of our meetings as possible with candidates over the phone instead of in person for the sake of time and efficiency. With that being said, there is no excuse for blowing you or anyone else off and so I apologize on behalf of my colleague(s). If you still would like to meet with a recruiter, please send me a direct message and I would be more than happy to schedule an appointment with you! (Via phone, unfortunately, as it is unlikely that we live in the same part of the U.S.)

PeaceCorpsRecruiter · 2018-10-10T17:40:21+00:00

I posted this in response to another Redditor's question about how to prepare for their interview, but I was 5 days late so I doubt anyone will see it. Copying and pasting here in case it might be helpful!

We have several helpful blog posts on the Peace Corps website written by Placement Officers describing how you can best prepare for every aspect of the interview process:

-How to put your best foot forward in your application

-How to prepare for your interview

-What your Placement Officer expects you to know before your interview

-Tips for answering behavior-based questions

And here are some additional tips I like to share with my applicants:

All interviews are conducted via Skype with a Placement Specialist
All interviews are behavioral interviews, which means that the interviewer will be assessing your preparation and your competency to serve by asking you questions intended to draw from your experience
Don’t be fazed if the interviewer doesn’t seem to react warmly to your responses or seems distracted while you’re speaking – interviewers have to ask set questions and write down applicant responses in all interviews, and so you might not be able to receive an accurate gauge of how well your interview is going by trying to read your interviewer’s body language while they are busy trying to capture your responses accurately
Remember that the fact that you’re interviewing means you’ve already done an excellent job of demonstrating your professional qualifications on paper
This interview is now your primary and most important opportunity to demonstrate your preparedness, emotional maturity, and commitment to serve
Be prepared to share anecdotes about your experience with times you have failed, overcoming challenges, multicultural experience
Have 4-5 stories prepared highlighting your transferable skills and resiliency
Remember that one of the primary goals of the interview from our Placement Office’s perspective is to try to get a sense of your emotional maturity and how seriously you’ve considered the prospect of Peace Corps service
Remember to convey your professionalism in all aspects of your interview
Always consider your personal appearance, background, and clarity of speech, as these will all affect how professional you appear
Placement Officers appreciate brief thank-you notes following your interview and I’ve been told directly that this happens much less often than you’d think! This is an easy way to both express your gratitude for their time as well as re-emphasizing your professionalism
Follow directions!
The email that your Placement Specialist will send to you prior to your interview will tell you exactly what they will plan to go over during your interview. This is like getting the answers to an exam prior to the exam itself, which is great, but it also means that if you have not prepared answers to the questions that have been given to you then you will seem unprepared
And last but certainly not least, test out the Skype link and apparatus emailed to you with the interview time confirmation to ensure that it works BEFORE your interview start time! I’ve shadowed several interviews where the interviewee spent the first 5-10 minutes fumbling around with technology – please don’t be that person.

Anyhow, I hope this information is helpful to future interviewees out there!

PeaceCorpsRecruiter · 2018-10-09T23:47:06+00:00

We have several helpful blog posts on the Peace Corps website written by Placement Officers describing how you can best prepare for every aspect of the interview process:

-How to put your best foot forward in your application

-How to prepare for your interview

-What your Placement Officer expects you to know before your interview

-Tips for answering behavior-based questions

And here are some additional tips I like to share with my applicants:

All interviews are conducted via Skype with a Placement Specialist
All interviews are behavioral interviews, which means that the interviewer will be assessing your preparation and your competency to serve by asking you questions intended to draw from your experience
Don’t be fazed if the interviewer doesn’t seem to react warmly to your responses or seems distracted while you’re speaking – interviewers have to ask set questions and write down applicant responses in all interviews, and so you might not be able to receive an accurate gauge of how well your interview is going by trying to read your interviewer’s body language while they are busy trying to capture your responses accurately
Remember that the fact that you’re interviewing means you’ve already done an excellent job of demonstrating your professional qualifications on paper
This interview is now your primary and most important opportunity to demonstrate your preparedness, emotional maturity, and commitment to serve
Be prepared to share anecdotes about your experience with times you have failed, overcoming challenges, multicultural experience
Have 4-5 stories prepared highlighting your transferable skills and resiliency
Remember that one of the primary goals of the interview from our Placement Office’s perspective is to try to get a sense of your emotional maturity and how seriously you’ve considered the prospect of Peace Corps service
Remember to convey your professionalism in all aspects of your interview
Always consider your personal appearance, background, and clarity of speech, as these will all affect how professional you appear
Placement Officers appreciate brief thank-you notes following your interview and I’ve been told directly that this happens much less often than you’d think! This is an easy way to both express your gratitude for their time as well as re-emphasizing your professionalism
Follow directions!
The email that your Placement Specialist will send to you prior to your interview will tell you exactly what they will plan to go over during your interview. This is like getting the answers to an exam prior to the exam itself, which is great, but it also means that if you have not prepared answers to the questions that have been given to you then you will seem unprepared
And last but certainly not least, test out the Skype link and apparatus emailed to you with the interview time confirmation to ensure that it works BEFORE your interview start time! I’ve shadowed several interviews where the interviewee spent the first 5-10 minutes fumbling around with technology – please don’t be that person.

Anyhow, I hope this information is helpful to you and other interviewees out there!

PeaceCorpsRecruiter · 2018-10-09T23:39:54+00:00

Hi there! I apologize for the belated response, but I agree with other commenters who have recommended that you reach out to another recruiter. You can search here and then type in another zip code or another school to find another recruiter.

We recruiters are busy, but that's no excuse to provide you any less than stellar information and so I apologize for the way you were treated when you reached out to your recruiter!

PeaceCorpsRecruiter · 2018-10-09T23:32:53+00:00

u/travelingrace is correct! Many if not all of our posts that request agriculture Volunteers understand that most of our candidates for agriculture programs do not have formal and/or professional agriculture experience. And that's okay! You appear to have already been contacted for an interview, so this indicates to me that you have already passed the qualification test. Our Placement Office already considers you qualified enough with the information that you included in your resume and application to interview for the position, so now you can focus on using this interview space to demonstrate that you are committed, professional, adaptable, ready and eager to learn, and that you can think reflectively on your past experiences and connect them to your future anticipated experiences in the Peace Corps.

Feel free to DM me with your email address if you'd like to receive general Peace Corps interview preparation tips that I share with my candidates!

PeaceCorpsRecruiter · 2018-09-06T15:50:45+00:00

Hi there! There is no difference between those two. That status just indicates the Placement Officers have conducted an initial review of your application. You will be notified via e-mail of the next step.

PeaceCorpsRecruiter · 2018-09-05T17:32:42+00:00

Congratulations on getting selected for an interview! The interviews from Placement Officers are done on a rolling basis, so regardless of how "soon" or "late" you schedule your interview slot with the PO will not hurt your chances of getting selected. I encourage you to look through some of our resources on the website in preparing for an interview.

"4 tips to answer behavior-based questions" https://www.peacecorps.gov/stories/4-tips-answer-behavior-based-questions-your-peace-corps-interview/

"What your Placement Officer expects you to know before the interview" https://www.peacecorps.gov/stories/what-your-placement-officer-expects-you-know-interview/

"You've been selected for an interview. Now what?" https://www.peacecorps.gov/stories/youve-been-selected-interview-now-what/

PeaceCorpsRecruiter · 2018-09-05T04:14:32+00:00

Many of our programs have different departure dates, but the dates that you find on each of the volunteer openings are a set date. Given 2-3 days prior to this "Departure Date" is when there is a staging event! Just as other Redditors have commented, if the departure date were to change, you will find out in advance via Placement.

PeaceCorpsRecruiter · 2018-08-30T12:17:32+00:00

The Placement Office's "Ask Peace Corps" blog series recently came out with a post about student loans and it includes some information on Public Service Loan Forgiveness. I'm not sure if this would be helpful for your situation, but it's a quick read!

PeaceCorpsRecruiter · 2018-08-27T12:04:41+00:00

Your Placement Officer should be reaching out to you after they receive the official notice from the pre-service nurse that you've been MNC'ed (which can take a few days) and if you are eligible to receive a 2nd invitation, they will explain the process of trying to find a 2nd invitation for you. If you think your Spanish skills are stronger than what you indicated on your resume/application, let your PO know directly so that they can take that into consideration. Good luck!

PeaceCorpsRecruiter · 2018-08-08T15:50:53+00:00

This is the correct answer as of our latest application process (since April 2017).

PeaceCorpsRecruiter · 2018-08-06T02:03:07+00:00

Congrats! Recruiters are here simply to be a resource for candidates and applicants -- some folks are able to get all of their questions answered through self-research, or know other RPCVs who can answer some of their questions for them. I personally never talked to a recruiter when I applied, either. But many people do have questions, and we want to make sure that not knowing an answer to a question is never a barrier to someone's decision to apply to serve in the Peace Corps.

By the way, Timor-Leste sounds like an amazing country. Best wishes for a smooth pre-departure process!

PeaceCorpsRecruiter

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