There is nothing too challenging about the application but there is a lot to do and it takes a long time. For the most part it is like any job app: experiences, education, and skills/training. You need a resume, transcripts, and 3 references. I think it was important to have references that could speak to my personal characteristics rather than just my skills.
Since the Peace Corps is essentially an extensive volunteer trip there are lots of questions about volunteer experience as well as leadership experience. This however does not mean lots of past volunteer work is required. There are questions to see how you will handle difficult experiences that one will definitely face while overseas. Questions about the how you will fulfill the 10 Core Expectations for volunteers are also very important (link below). You need to get medically pre-cleared as well. This requires just answering basic questions to make sure that you can physically and mentally handle the experience.
Next you get contacted by a recruiter to set up an interview. The interview is an hour long. Its a pretty basic interview: why you're interested, experiences, strengths, weaknesses, preferences ect... You can give location preferences, but nothing is guaranteed. After the interview, the recruiter will either nominate you or not. You get nominated for a specific assignment, but you are not told what assignment this is. So I was nominated for Namibia, but I did not know this until I got the invitation.
If you are nominated you must also legally cleared. For this you must get fingerprints and mail them to the Peace Corps office. I am assuming they do a pretty thorough background check. They also ask you to fill out a placement skills questionnaire. This is so they can get a better idea of your capabilities.
If you are nominated you must also legally cleared. For this you must get fingerprints and mail them to the Peace Corps office. I am assuming they do a pretty thorough background check. They also ask you to fill out a placement skills questionnaire. This is so they can get a better idea of your capabilities.
After getting legally cleared, its just a waiting game. I think my application went through pretty smoothly. I've heard of people having to do more for medical and legal clearance. Either way there is a long agonizing wait.
I got legally cleared in October and got my invitation in March. I did email my recruiter a couple times to make sure nothing was wrong. That government shutdown probably slowed things down too for me. They tell you that you will here back at least 4 months before your departure date and in my case they used all their time.
I got legally cleared in October and got my invitation in March. I did email my recruiter a couple times to make sure nothing was wrong. That government shutdown probably slowed things down too for me. They tell you that you will here back at least 4 months before your departure date and in my case they used all their time.
The waiting is definitely the hardest part of the application process, but I'd say it's worth the wait.
10 Core Expectations
10 Core Expectations
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