Is the Peace Corps a Legit Alternative to Getting a Job?

Despite nearly a 4.0 GPA at a respected university, resume counseling, and mock interview practice, I had a very hard time finding a job upon graduation. At least 100 resumes and applications and many months in I was able to find ’something’. Not an ideal job, but a springboard to another job. It seemed like every job out there was looking for someone with at least 2 to 3 years of experience.

This was in the first half of the decade when the economy was expanding. I can only imagine the challenge and frustration that job market holds for those who just graduated earlier this month. In times of economic contraction, it goes beyond saying that there is a lot of very talented people competing for fewer jobs these days. So, what is one to do after months and months of nothing but rejection letters come?

Get experience. There are some legit volunteer opportunities out there that can provide you with character building, unbelievable experiences. Some even pay you beyond covering your basic livings needs.The first such experience that we’ll cover is the Peace Corps. 

What is the Peace Corps?

The Peace Corps is a U.S. federal agency that reports to Congress. There are currently close to 8,000 Peace Corps Volunteers worldwide. The Peace Corps has 3 goals in its mission:

1. Helping the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.
2. Helping promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.
3. Helping promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.

Volunteers typically serve 27 months - 3 in training, and 24 on their assignment.

How do I Apply for the Peace Corps?

You can apply on the Peace Corps site. Essentially, the steps are:

1. Submit the application.
2. Interview.
3. Get medical and legal clearance.
4. You qualify based on skills and suitability.
5. Get contacted with a placement.

What Areas of Focus Does the Peace Corps have?

Right now, the Peace Corps focuses in the following areas:

• Education, youth outreach, and community development
• Business development
• Environment
• Agriculture
• Health
• HIV/AIDS
• Information Technology
• Food Security

What Benefits Does the Peace Corps Provide for Service?

1. Professional Benefits

• Global marketplace skills: you get up to 3 months of training prior to your assignment in addition to the incredible experience that your assignment will provide.
• Job placement support.
• Non-competitive eligibility for federal jobs. If you serve two years, you get 1 year of non-competitive eligibility. This means that for federal jobs seeking prior federal service, you could be eligible to be hired before the general public without any prior federal experience.
• Credit towards federal retirement if you decide to go into federal employment.

2. Educational Benefits

• Credits and financial incentives for Master’s degrees at over 50 colleges and universities.
• Fellows/USA scholarships.

3. Financial Benefits

• Two days of vacations per month (24 per year).
• Living allowance so that you can live a lifestyle ’similar to locals’.
• $6,000 upon completion of the program.
• Deferment of federal student loans. Can’t pay back your loans because you can’t get a job? Defer them while working in the Peace Corps!
• If you have a Perkins loan, you can actually 15% of your student loans in each of the first two years, and 20% in each of the last two years in a four year term. That’s 70% of your student loans!

4. Medical Benefits

• Comprehensive medical.
• Comprehensive dental.
• Affordable health insurance for up to 18 months following service.

We’ll cover a few more post-grad alternatives in upcoming posts, so stay tuned!

To the Readers:

• Have you or anyone you’re close with volunteered with the Peace Corps? How did it go?
• Would you consider the Peace Corps if you couldn’t find a job or were laid off?