2010.06.17: June 17, 2010: China RPCV Kate Kuykendall talks about why the application process takes so long for the Peace Corps

Peace Corps Online: Directory: China: Peace Corps China : Peace Corps China: Newest Stories: 2010.06.17: June 17, 2010: China RPCV Kate Kuykendall talks about why the application process takes so long for the Peace Corps

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China RPCV Kate Kuykendall talks about why the application process takes so long for the Peace Corps

China RPCV Kate Kuykendall talks about why the application process takes so long for the Peace Corps

We do try to get the message out that people should apply about a year in advance of when they'd like to depart, because it is a lengthy process, and we're working hard to try and match people with the best assignment possible, in terms of using their skills most effectively. And we also do a comprehensive medical screening process, so we want to make sure we know all about your medical history and that if there are any medical issues that we are capable of taking care of them, so we're pretty cautious about that. The average time for an application is nine to 12 months. Some people can go more quickly than that; it also depends on the time of year you apply. Right now we do have a lot of openings, so it's a great time to apply for the Peace Corps, and if you apply right now, it probably won't take quite that long.

China RPCV Kate Kuykendall talks about why the application process takes so long for the Peace Corps

Heeding Obama's please for public service, college students flock to the Peace Corps

Lauren Kawam

Issue date: 6/17/10 Section: News

The Peace Corps has so many openings now for service opportunities in other countries that they're actively looking for people to apply.

True, it does take nine to 12 months for an application to make it to its final stages. However, with the economy and job market the way it is, perhaps going to a foreign land to volunteer could be just what you need to beef up your resumé.

Kate Kuykendall, a public affairs specialist for the Peace Corps office in Los Angeles, served in China from 1999 to 2001 straight out of college, and said the three months of training prior to the two years of service really helps.

"I taught English at a teacher training college [in China]," she says. "I didn't know a peep of the language, and I had gotten some tutoring experience, but I didn't have classroom teaching experience. That's one great thing about Peace Corps, the training takes place in the host country, and it's the first three months of your service ... [It's] very intensive, and then after the training, that's when you go to your community where you'll live for the two years."

Recently, College Times caught up with Kuykendall to talk about the program, why there are more spots for people in the program and how they're actively seeking to fill them.

College Times: Why are there so many openings now to work with the Peace Corps?

Kuykendall : We're a federally-funded agency, so a lot of the number of openings depends greatly on the amount of funding that we receive. Speaking broadly, I think we first started seeing an increase in interest when President Obama was running for the presidency. He talked a lot about Peace Corps, and he made a call to service, similar to what President Kennedy did in the '60s, when he created the Peace Corps. I think that call to service really resonated with a lot of people. Also, I think the generation that's graduating from college right now is more globally-minded than past generations, and they tend to be a generation that goes overseas over the summer to work on a service project in Africa, or something like that. They're generally more interested in living in different parts of the world, and doing service overseas.

What steps are you taking to seek applicants?

Our office in [L.A.] is piloting a "field-based recruiter" in Phoenix. This is the first time that we have placed a full-time representative in Arizona, so it's an exciting new development. We're really recognizing the potential that Arizona has, and the fact that both ASU and the University of Arizona are some of our top schools.

What are the benefits a person gets from volunteering for the Peace Corps?

I think there are a number of personal and also professional benefits to being a Peace Corps volunteer. At a personal level, it's an opportunity to live in another culture and learn a new language. And at the professional level, Peace Corps does of course look great on a resume, and show future employers that you're a problem solver, and a leader and that you really have those skills to succeed in a global economy. In addition to the benefits to the individual, of course many people are motivated by wanting to help others, in an overseas community.

Explain a little about the application process. Why does it take on average nine months to complete?

We do try to get the message out that people should apply about a year in advance of when they'd like to depart, because it is a lengthy process, and we're working hard to try and match people with the best assignment possible, in terms of using their skills most effectively. And we also do a comprehensive medical screening process, so we want to make sure we know all about your medical history and that if there are any medical issues that we are capable of taking care of them, so we're pretty cautious about that. The average time for an application is nine to 12 months. Some people can go more quickly than that; it also depends on the time of year you apply. Right now we do have a lot of openings, so it's a great time to apply for the Peace Corps, and if you apply right now, it probably won't take quite that long.




Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: June, 2010; Peace Corps China; Directory of China RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for China RPCVs; Application Process; Recruitment





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Story Source: College Times

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - China; Application Process; Recruitment

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