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National Peace Corps Association > News > Polyglot > 10 Reasons to Hire a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer
10 Reasons to Hire a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer
By Molly Mattessich on Wednesday, May 30th, 2012
From 2009-11, Thomas Lang served as a Business Volunteer in the country of Georgia. Photo: Peace Corps.
In this economy, businesses want to hire the most qualified, creative, intelligent, passionate candidate they can for a new position. We at the National Peace Corps Association think that people who have served in the Peace Corps – in a developing country with countless chances to develop cross-cultural skills and resourcefulness – make some of the best colleagues around. Here’s a short (slightly cheeky) list of why we think you should hire a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV).
- We enjoy problem-solving. Need to put together a desk from IKEA, hang paintings, fix the copier, figure out that weird spreadsheet thing? There’s nothing a little duct tape won’t fix.
- We can talk to anyone and are comfortable anywhere. Whether it’s the village chief, a market woman, a ministry official, or a cranky vendor … we have experience interacting with all kinds of people, in all kinds of settings. And often in a foreign language. Whether your business operates in Niger, Nicaragua, or Niagara Falls, we quickly get the lay of the land and get things done.
- Save money on the staff retreat. No need to put us up in a fancy hotel on the Vegas strip. We’ll pass on the $16 muffins. Thanks to our modest Peace Corps living allowances, we’ve learned our way around a budget – and will respect yours.
- Our contributions to the office potluck. Peanut stew, pupusas, Pad Thai, vodka … Congratulations! Your office gathering just got more interesting.
- We know our way around flipcharts. In fact, “brainstorming” and “creativity” are our middle names. Returned Peace Corps Volunteers know how to think outside of the box.
- Overcoming uncertainty is second nature. If there’s one thing that unites Returned Peace Corps Volunteers, it’s this: We got on the plane. Despite the naysayers, we left all that was safe and familiar and departed for an unknown country for 27 months. That takes passion. That takes chutzpah. Teaching a class of unruly teens? Handling clients who keep changing their minds? Piece of cake.
- We’re goal-oriented. If we can’t figure out how to get it done or who can get it done, we’ll find the kid who will.
- Patience comes with the territory. After sitting through two years of day-long, under-the-tree meetings, drinking endless cups of tea to see our projects through, even the longest department meetings won’t faze us.
- We’re pretty healthy. Because we’ve toughed our way through malaria, giardia, boils, schistosomiasis, scary fevers, and weird rashes in places we can’t discuss, we won’t call in sick for a “cold.”
- We can take casual Friday to a whole new level. We have a certain … confidence.
With less than 200,000 of us in the workforce, we suggest that you hire a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer – before someone else does.
The National Peace Corps Association’s mission is to support RPCVs as they take their next step in changing the world.
Post your open position on the Next Step Job Finder. You’ll be glad you did.
The timing on this is perfect, I have a job interview tomorrow. Having been out of work for over 2 years it is really hard to remember why I would be a good employee, I have been turned down so many times. These are the answers to all the excellent interview questions and I know they apply to me. I can pull some confidence from this list, even 30 years later! Thanks!
I love this! I am currently on the job hunt. This article made me smile in this tough economy that seems to not be hiring!!! Thank you!!!
If you can handle flying cockroaches, being stuffed in a truck with goats, people, and fruit, and being on constant village radar you can handle anything. You aren’t a true RPCV until you have a bug story!
We thrive on speaking more than one language and living in other cultures. We don’t fear people who are different; in fact, we realize we might well be “the different” one.
PS Judy B., see previous comment, great and good luck!
What about self-reliance? Not many applicants can say that their supervisor was a full-day bus ride away. We don’t need anyone to hold our hands. And we won’t try to pass our problems to some other department.
I think this needs to include – we don’t need a lot of supervision. We can figure out for ourselves what needs to get done – and just do it! I think most RPCVs can relate to showing up at your site and having to figure out your job with no boss telling you what to do.
This is so funny and true! I just reposted it on my WordPress blog (e-portfolio) to inform others, and also let people know that I’m looking for work.
@Nicole, your comments made me laugh, too. Right on target!
@Judy B, Good luck on your interview!
@Cindy, Check out my nonprofit site with job resources: http://brokebutnotforlong.org/1.html
Just for fun, add after end #2:
Indeed, these experiences have taught us how to respect and obey target authorities and partners in such a way as to painlessly manipulate them into willingly changing their ways for the better i.e. adopting our employers’ agendas. (These skills can also be applied to improving our prospective employers’ business practices, and when we do exert them on you, we do our very best to remember to tell you all about it.)
We’re dedicated – we don’t see work as being finished at a certain hour, we know how to note areas of need and automatically (offer to) fill them even if it’s not in our job description, and we don’t harp on getting compensation or making sure time cards are punched to the “T.”
We know how to work holistically – we will involve an entire community, we can reach people on a personal level, as well as professional.
Hang in there rpcv’s you have done something that most are too selfish to have even considered much less be qualified for. Good People skills can’t be taught only learned in the field (in country on the beach or where ever your job site was). Jamaica 1968
I think the cheeky list is great and hope it helps some RPCVs in their job hunting and interviews. You may want to add something related to the fact that some RPCVs did a lot of physical labor in uncomfortable climates. In my case, as a volunteer I spent the majority of my days working on a farm a few degrees south of the equator where it was 90+F every day and clouds rarely appeared until late afternoon if at all. I’m sure many thousands of volunteers served under similar conditions. So if the air conditioner breaks at 10 am where RPCVs who served in the tropics now work they are unlikely to insist on taking the rest of the day off because of intolerable working conditions.
Below are several tangible terms that could be added to help articulate our PCV experience(s) to employers:
• Self-confidence – The ability to be vulnerable and centered at the same time. This involves not having all of the answers, but not letting that keep you from being confident
and constructively and diplomatically engaging the issue at hand • Objectivity – seeking reliable information as a foundation for making sound decisions • Continuous learning – where assumptions invite inquiry and learning, not debate and polarization • Responsibility – As PCVs we were diplomats, many times having to craft mutually beneficial solutions to real problems. And, we don’t easily shy away from a challenge.
• Self-starter – PCVs have a tolerance for ambiguity and can achieve with minimal direction in sometimes chaotic
environments • Creativity and intuition – We have had to draw upon all available resources to arrive at solutions to challenging problems • Egolessness – A state of mind that transcends trivial selfish concerns, allowing you to do your part to support a vision within established limits and boundaries. The above are excerpts from a 1995 PC Nicaragua newsletter.
Numbers 8-10, AMEN!!!!!
I thought these two will complete the 12-steps.
11. We leave one-size fit-all foot prints – After two years, someone can take my place and do even better, because I have worked with others so that they two can work with others.
12. We always get to the finish line – with results.
This is the first time I’ve been unemployed SINCE finishing PC service in the 80′s! It’s awful, but these remembrances made me laugh, and, made me feel kind of powerful again.
I would add to the skills list:
- culturally sensitive – able to relate to diverse cultures;
- language ability
- better understanding of how U.S. is perceived by others.
Returned PC volunteers have learned first-hand that the cultural diversity of humanity is one of our greatest assets, and we can all learn valuable lessons when we allow ourselves to view the world through another culture’s eyes.
Resilient – when we get knocked down we get right back up and keep going.
Creative problem solver – no one gives us the answer – we find or invent it and then implement it.
Natural leader – we were dropped into a leadership situation in a foreign land and told to figure it out and make it happen.
Non-whiners – we’ve seen how much we have to be thankful for.
Service-oriented – it’s in our DNA.
Passion – we will make it happen.
Perseverance – we don’t give up. (Remember who you are and what you have accomplished and don’t give up on your job search. It will work out, you will find a job and then it will be your turn to help the next person.
It’s pretty obvious that companies with international interests (and aspirations) would do quite well to hire RPCVs.
Most job descriptions make me think: I’ve done harder stuff than this!
My (inward) response to most job descriptions is: I’ve done harder stuff than this!
Martha: Totally agree with you…it is an event to be noted on the calendar when I get a cold in our household…patience…it becomes a personal game of mine watching the levels of agitation in common grocery lines…got to love our skills!
They’re perfect for Start-Ups because just like the Peace Corps there used to taking on tremendous challenges with few resources and under insane time lines.
These days, Peace Corps experience is the best possible preparation a job in any budget-strapped U.S. school or non-profit. We can make do with anything and figure out just about everything.
The only thing I’m still working on is how I’m supposed to get my work phone connected. Back in Morocco in 1972, giving the right guy a carton of Marlboros from the U.S. Navy base would probably have done the trick. Now, at a community college in California 40 years later, I am stumped.
I want to “get out of dodge” so bad, despite the obstacles, it’s going to happen.
I want to use my ESL and immigration law training and RPCV experience in most any other country- I have to do it, it’s calling me, calling me.
Thanks so much, see you in Chicago on June 15th.
I agree with all, but I’ll be the skunk at the lawn party here and remind people that if they are looking into the business or corporate world, PC service is often viewed negatively. RPCVs are sometimes viewed as flaky nonconformists (and conformity is highly valued in that sector) and as not being profit-oriented.
I have to agree with Don above. I had to resign – right before being fired – from my first post-PC job, found through PC placement program. Motive: I had become far too non-conformist to adapt to the staid and rigid work ethic/culture of the AMA.
Love number 6. “We got on the plane.” Maybe one of the hardest parts of the PC experience?
This got me to thinking that I should post two of the nursing jobs that I have open in Colorado on the website. I am looking for an NP in occupational health and a nurse that can head up our OSHA compliance program. Would love to hire an RPCV!
Take this list to your local newspaper. Even use the letters to the Editor column. Let us get the message out there about the unified commitment the RPCV has to offer. We stood together to use make a difference overseas. Now stand together to make a difference once returned.
Vygotsky’s Sociocultural theory provides concrete empirical data to show that people who are bi-cultural and bilingual have a superior aptitude for critical thinking and creativity; it takes 2 years living in a foreign culture to acquire these skills. In addition, Darwin’s Theory states that the most adaptable of the species are those who thrive and for the human species superior language skills are the most important skills to enable adaptation. With globalization it is required to have the skills acquired as a Peace Corps Volunteer. I finished the Peace Corps over 15 years ago and in my opinion RPCV’s are way ahead of the game. My advice is that once you are on the job beware of coworkers who don’t have superior adaptation, bilingual or bi-cultural skills and will be threatened by an RPCV. Really RPCV’s should be running the companies.
Todd…..let’s not stop at the running of the companies…we should be running the country and then even further!!! I love all these comments, another thing I noticed is that there are NO negative idiot comments…we are the group who really do get it!