Returned Peace Corps Volunteers @ State hosted a job-shadowing day in June for 20 former Peace Corps volunteers interested in Department of State careers. Participants saw the work done in the bureaus of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor; Consular Affairs; and Education and Cultural Affairs, among others, and spent time with Department employees who are former Peace Corps volunteers.
“Until now, I’ve found it difficult to translate the job descriptions and Knowledge, Skills and Abilities statements required for USAJobs.opm.gov into real-life examples,” said participant Tina Terrill. “I also wasn’t certain that a Department career was a good match, but now feel much more confident in my career search.”
The group worked directly with the Peace Corps to organize the event, and the Department’s Office of Recruitment, Examination and Employment gave a presentation on the Department’s careers and its need for management, consular and economic officers. The group plans to hold other events promoting Department careers for returned volunteers.
An official employee organization, the group was founded in September 2008 and has more than 375 members worldwide, including Foreign Service and Civil Service employees and ambassadors. Group member Jennifer Cole, a program coordinator in the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs, said “I can see Peace Corps’ influence in my work on a daily basis as it gives me an instant connection to the visitors I work with on the International Visitor Leadership Program.”
If anyone attended this event, could you please email me? I'm hoping to have a FS interview in late Sept/early Oct and would appreciate some first-hand insight.
Thanks -
Andrew Barnes
RPCV Mali 00-02
Posted by: Andrew Barnes | September 14, 2009 at 10:23 AM