In which you'd apply.

Well, howdy!

You might be concerned at the alarming rate of posting, but there’s actually a simple explanation. Most of the posts, at least until I leave for service, are pre-written. These involve general Peace Corps related things. However, this is not JUST a Peace Corps blog. This will be an amalgamation of how I feel, what I’m up to and other things I care about.

“BUT, I only want to read out the Peace Corps!” You might say, and to that… I give you this! All Peace Corps Related Posts have been sneakily coded. The titles are all similar, or at least they are for now. So, just look out for similar titles and that’s the Condensed Experience (as seen through me)! Read everything, If you want to... I guess… or whatever…

This post entails the application process! If you thought all you needed to do to join the Peace Corps is be willing to serve, then I’m sorry to disappoint you. The application process, while not exactly difficult or challenging comes before that. The online application itself is quite extensive, covering pretty much everything that might be relevant. Medical, criminal, scholastic and personal histories are all requested. This is because it is like any other application, akin to a college/graduate school application. If there are any suggestions for this part is to read all the instructions carefully… before, during and after, as you will need information and documents you might have not been aware of. Also, do your research. Like with any job application/interview, knowing what your potentially signing up for is important (and gives you an edge in the long run).

If you’re interested, the application is readily available online. I’ll try to remember to post statistics about the application process and such, so keep an eye out for that!

If memory serves me right, there is a waiting period of varying lengths (I think mine was about 3 months, emphasis on think and mine… Some may be longer/shorter). During this time, you’re expected to continue to look more and more appealing to your potential recruiter by volunteering or adding things to your resume.

 If you make the cut, you are contacted by a recruiter. He or she may request more information, and/or may schedule an interview. If you live close to a recruiting office (you’d know, since you did your research!), the interview may be in person. I don’t, so my interview was done via webcam. Treat it like any other interview… Dress professionally, have everything you need in hand and make sure you are in an area where you’ll be uninterrupted for at least an hour. I had copies (both hard and digital) of my resume and other pertinent information… such as my prior research highlights and a couple of interview questions for the inevitable “so, do you have any questions for me?”

After another short waiting period, you may be contacted with your initial invitation. This does not mean you are in, but merely that you moved on to the next step. Each step whittles down more and more applicants until you get the supposed “cream of the crop” in the end.

Next post will cover what happens after that! At this point, you are 1/3 of the way into getting your final invitation! Congrats!

I realize the amount of pictures in this post is entirely too low... So here's something punny: