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Appropriate female dresswilliamslynn6-09-07  8:47 pm
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Anonymous (69-161-85-5.bflony.adelphia.net - 69.161.85.5)
Posted on Saturday, December 23, 2006 - 12:57 pm:   

I am wondering what to expect when I get passed medical clearance- Will a letter come in the mail with my assignment, or will a Placement Officer contact me to discuss where I might be going first and ask for a bit of my input? I completely understand I cannot pick where I want to go, but am curious to know if I have any voice in it at all... Thanks!
Anonymous (209.59.109.13)
Posted on Thursday, February 08, 2007 - 7:04 pm:   

Hi- I am currently a PCV and from talking to other volunteers once I arrived it seems that depending on who your recruiter is you may have a lot of input or little to no input into which placement office you're passed on to. Unfortunately I was in the latter group, but I know others who had very different experiences. Once you've been passed from your recruiter to placement, my undrstanding is that you're passed to the office of a specific region and that is where you'll be going. You may be contacted before an invitation is sent to ensure there's a reasonable chance that you'll accept the offer, but as far as which specific country you'll go to, at least from what I've heard, they try to fill up whatever country is leaving first within the time frame that you have said you can leave.

Keep in mind that I know about the system only from the outside, so I don't know what the 'official' practices are. Also, don't get too antsy-- if possible!-- about hearing back right away. You might hear quite soon, or, in my case, it was more than 4 months after I got my medical clearance before I was told anything.

Anyhow, my point is try not to get too anxious about it, if you can help it...really though, I'm not one to talk- I ran home every day from work and checked the mail for about a month after my medical clearance came through, because I'd been told I'd hear something within 2-3 weeks! =) Take care, and best of luck!
Anonymous (69.150.58.251)
Posted on Friday, February 09, 2007 - 5:52 pm:   

You receive a letter for the formal invitation and then upon clearance a full information packet for the country assignment; however, the placement officer might call you in the meantime if s/he has questions about the fit, etc. The following web site page explains the steps pretty accurately - including the frustrating part where you might find out quickly or it might take awhile (I was lucky - 3 months from application to departure but my position was in strong demand and short supply). Also, you CAN call the PC placement department and be connected with your placement officer.

From:

http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=learn.howvol.stepstoapply

----------------------------------

What does "nomination" mean?

After your interview, your recruiter will match your skills with a program that needs those skills and nominate you to that program. Nomination means that you will know the general program you will work in, the geographic region, and your approximate departure date.

If this sounds like a step in the right direction, it is! But take note—nomination only means that your recruiter has recommended you for a given program. A formal invitation to that program can only be made after your medical and legal review is complete and after you have been deemed qualified and suitable for Peace Corps service by our Placement Office.

Something to think about: we will take into consideration any preferences you have for where you'd like to serve. But when deciding on your nomination, your recruiter is most concerned with finding a fit between your skills and a country's needs. You'll need to be flexible and trust that we will match you up with the program that is best for both you and the community you'll be serving.
MajorOz (64-91-12-192.dyn.centurytel.net - 64.91.12.192)
Posted on Friday, December 07, 2007 - 8:51 pm:   

I impressed on them that the term PCV contains the word: "Volunteer".
I volunteer to go to an island no more than 30 degrees from the equator -- Caribbean or Pacific.
Somebody has to; it might as well be me.
Call me when you have a slot.

They did
I had a wonderful time
The locals in my assignment benefited greatly from what I had to offer. We still keep in touch.

cheers

oz, Micro 61

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