Applying to the Peace Corps isn’t exactly like applying for a regular job. So it pays to know more about the process and what they are looking for from their applicants. To get more insight, I asked Ryan Stannard, who is a recent Peace Corps Recruiter, some questions. What I really wanted to know is how an applicant can be a more competitive and get an invitation to serve in the US Peace Corps.
Before we get into how to be more competitive in the application process, can you tell us a little more about your previous experience before you served as a PC volunteer?
What made you decide to apply for the Peace Corps?
I was living and working in Japan at the time. I was teaching ESL in both public primary schools and also to adults in business settings. But I wanted to get some more experience in a developing country. And I remembered that I had some university friends that had done Peace Corps straight out of school. When I applied it was a blind application. So, I didn’t know where I was interviewing and was very surprised when I got the invitation to serve in Thailand.
Where did you serve in Thailand?
My site was a small town in the south called Ban Na Doem. It was about 40 minutes away from the provincial capital of Surat Thani. I was an ESL teacher trainer, and my school was a combined primary/middle school in a smaller village. I lived in the main town about 4km away from school. I would usually bike to school every day or get a ride from my co-teachers if the weather was bad.
It was nice to see my experiences in Japan had a good amount of crossover into the Thai school system. My co-teachers were very open to new ideas and ways of running their class. Getting everyone into an “English only” mindset was a challenge. And we were able to focus on phonics/alphabet as soon as I started.
The Thai language was a challenge. It’s very tonal and difficult for native English speakers to get a hold of how to pronounce certain words. Thai culture is extremely rich in history and tradition. As a foreigner sometimes it was hard to break through and gain trust. The training you get at the beginning of service is very extensive. And it does help prepare you for these challenges. I felt like by my second year everyone had made progress, including myself.
On a personal level, Thailand was a great place to explore not only the host country but the region. Traveling around to other countries in SE Asia was relatively affordable. And I was also able to visit Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan when I had vacation days I could use.
When did you become a Peace Corps Recruiter?
I went back to the US in 2016 for grad school at the University of Pittsburgh where I earned a Master of International Development. Thanks in part to scholarship money based on the fact I was an RPCV. After this, I still had non-competitive eligibility to apply for federal jobs. And it just so happened Peace Corps was hiring for a remote recruiter position in Pittsburgh. We weren’t looking to move after grad school so this was a great fit. And the job also helped me get to know Western PA a lot better. Those skills helped me in my current role at HUD where I’m a Program Analyst for the Pittsburgh Field Office.
15 Questions Answered by a Peace Corps Recruiter
Okay, I’m sure those reading want to get to the big questions: How can applicants become more competitive when applying to the Peace Corps?
1. What qualifications are the Peace Corps looking for?
Most important would be the link between your skill set and what the position is looking for – for example you need to have at least 30+ hours of teaching experience to be considered for a placement in Education. If it’s math and science education, you can have a background that’s related but still need to have the teaching/tutoring experience.
Flexibility – the more flexible you are in terms of placement, the better your chances are of getting selected. Don’t apply to Thailand, Morocco, or Costa Rica directly – there are so many applicants that choose to apply there. Be flexible!
Willingness to learn a new language, especially uncommon ones.
2. What are common mistakes made in the application process?
Make sure your CV is related to the position you’re applying for – the CV can be up to three pages, it’s important to have a lot of detail and time periods listed for all activities.
Screwing up the interview – it’s all online, but you need to dress professionally, not have distractions or inappropriate things in your background. Have specific examples and stories ready to go and practice beforehand to be prepared.
Being Dishonest can get you disqualified. Please be up front and honest about any infractions (criminal or otherwise) in your background. If you aren’t up front and they uncover things in the background check you can get disqualified. Same goes for the health screening – don’t conceal information.
Be OK with getting vaccinated – not just COVID-19 (obviously required), but all other types of shots and boosters you’ll need before and during service.
3. How can an applicant show their commitment to community service?
By having examples in their background that are sustained. Mission trip for a weekend to Central America does not equate to development work. Someone who has consistently volunteered in places either in the US or abroad (or worked abroad) for a period of at least 3-4 months is OK. The more the better.
4. What factors are considered for specific countries and projects?
For Spanish/French speaking countries you need to have documented classwork or proof of fluency if you grew up speaking said languages.
Relatable skills (see previous answers)
Health related issues (if you have a peanut allergy, you’re not going to Thailand!)
5. How can an applicant show their language skills?
For French and Spanish you’ll need to either:
- Show documented classwork at the University level
- take a proficiency exam
- explain how you grew up speaking the language.
If it’s a non-Peace Corps language that you have experience in, that’s ok. Talk about it anyways.
I lived in Japan for a few years before applying for the Peace Corps. So I spoke about how I used Japanese language skills at my ESL job for elementary school. I also told them how I worked alongside Japanese colleagues and tried to assimilate as best as possible.
6. How can an applicant stay informed about the application and selection process?
Use your normal email address, not university, and check it often. Also doesn’t hurt to login to the applicant portal every now and again to see if your status has changed or if you have new tasks to complete. Once you’ve been interviewed, your point of contact will be a Placement Officer going forward.
7. Does an applicant need to make their resume stand out?
Yes, absolutely – the more detail the better – show specific dates/times of sustained activities that are related to what you hope to do in PC.
8. How should an applicant approach writing their aspiration statement?
Basically about why you want to be a PCV, what you hope to do during service, and how your background relates to what you hope to do. I believe there is a 4000 character limit so treat this as a professional writing sample and have someone proofread!
9. How can applicants prepare for a Peace Corps interview?
Practice stories and examples – be prepared to talk about times you succeeded AND times you failed and how you bounced back from it and what you learned. Dress professionally and find a quiet space to do the interview – they’re all online.
10. Should an applicant show knowledge about the specific country and/or sector?
Yes absolutely – you’ll know the country you’re being considered for when you interview. Do some research about the country and what challenges they’re facing and also things there that you’re excited about at a professional level.
11. How can an applicant highlight any special skills, qualifications, or experience?
Do this on the resume/CV and be prepared to talk about it during the interview.
12. Are there any specific resources that applicants could use before the interview
Reddit is a good source of information, also looking at Peace Corps blog posts about interview tips are a good start.
13. What type of questions should an applicant expect?
- Why do you want to be a PCV?
- Please talk about a time you succeeded at something and the challenges involved.
- Please talk about a time you failed at something and how did you come back from that. And what did you learn?
- What can you tell me about country X that you’re interviewing for? (cultural differences, news stories, and demographics show the Placement Officer that you researched!)
| Preparing for the Peace Corps Interview Questions You can better prepare for the Peace Corps interview if you have some idea about what kind of questions they might ask. Here is a list of possible questions. |
14. Are there any ways an applicant can showcase their potential?
Don’t count anything out – you can highlight relevant past jobs or volunteer positions but including the breadth of your CV is also helpful. Also, irrelevant languages – please list them! It shows you have the ability and interest to learn a new language that isn’t common.
15. What else can an applicant do during the application process to further enhance their future service?
Future volunteer work is fine to list or discuss as well (the time between the interview and departure) to show the Placement that you’re serious about self improvement and being ready to hit the ground running when staging and training start.
Conclusion
Applying to the Peace Corps requires a different approach than a typical job application. To increase your chances of being selected, it is important to understand the application process and what the organization looks for in its applicants. Ryan Stannard, a recent Peace Corps Recruiter, gave valuable insight on how to be a more competitive candidate and get an invitation to serve in the US Peace Corps.
| Connect with a Recruiter Applicants who connect with a recruiter are 55% more likely to become Volunteers. |
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