Elon University 2021 graduates interested in volunteering as a part of the Peace Corps should begin to prepare their application.
Attention Elon University 2021 graduates looking for a way to impact the world while gaining a new perspective!
The Peace Corps, a government-funded volunteer agency, offers two year-long opportunities. Volunteers serve in over 60 countries and six different sectors: agriculture, community economic development, education, environment, health, and youth development. Candidates can either choose up to three desired countries or opt to be sent anywhere.
Interested students are urged to attend the Peace Corps Virtual Information sessions on Thursday, Oct. 22, at 4:30 p.m. and Friday, Oct. 30, at 2 p.m. Both sessions will be hosted by North Carolina Peace Corps Recruiter Rashad Thatcher.
While the Peace Corps is competitive, it is not as competitive as some might think. Students should not be afraid to apply if they are interested!
During the application process, students are encouraged to meet with Thatcher for mock interviews and revise documents.
When creating a resume for the Peace Corps, applicants should generally use a government style format. Including a list of volunteer experiences shown in a quantifiable way is also highly recommended.
The Peace Corps application includes an area for personal interests and hobbies. Students should use this area to show a bit about what makes them unique.
Another part of the application is the motivational statement. Some of the questions that students should aim to answer within the motivational information include: Why are you here (applying)? What makes you a better candidate? In this statement, candidates should speak about their personal and professional challenges, how they overcame them, and explain how these experiences shaped them into outstanding volunteers, in 500 words or less.
The Peace Corps sends applicants a health history form immediately after the application is submitted. The form must be filled out within 30 days. Otherwise, the application will be void.
Elon’s Student Professional Development Center staff are eager to assist students every step of the way.