Online RPCV Career Workshop: Resumes and Cover Letters

Wednesday, September 8, 2010, 1:00 – 2:00 pm (EDT)

Attend this FREE online workshop for résumé and cover-letter tips and best practices, and to have your questions answered by our staff. Join us from the comfort of your own home or your favorite coffee shop! All you need is a computer and an Internet connection.

Register online
Registration closes 5:00 pm EDT on Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Spaces are limited and registrations will be approved on a first-come, first-served basis. Due to technical constraints, late registrants cannot be admitted to the session.

For more information, email rvsevents@peacecorps.gov with the subject line "September 2010 online career workshop."

October 2010 RPCV Career Conference (Washington, DC)

Tuesday, October 12 – Friday, October 15, 2010

"Thank you for putting on an excellent conference. It was informative, interactive, relevant and enjoyable. [Returned Volunteer Services] did a great job of showing us how to sell our Peace Corps experience to employers, and gave us confidence that our ... experience was something that employers want."

June 2010 career conference participant Derek WarrenRPCV Zambia 2008-10

Register online
Registration is open through midnight (EDT) on Thursday, October 7, 2010.

For more information, email rvsevents@peacecorps.gov with the subject line "October 2010 career conference."

Tuesday, October 12, 2010 – Sharing Your Peace Corps Story

9:00 – 9:30 am

Registration

9:30 –10:00 am

Welcome and Overview

The opening session will introduce the structure and goals of the career conference. We will review the schedule and attendees will be introduced to the staff and volunteers on-hand to assist throughout the week.

10:00 – 10:30 am

Storytelling I

Hone your narrative skills and meet other participants at this warm-up session.

10:30 – 11:30 am

Storytelling II

Learn how to talk to others about your Peace Corps experience in an effective and efficient manner through the art of storytelling. Gain first-hand experience in communicating the many benefits and skills you've developed, succinctly and confidently. As storytelling is an integral part of an effective job search, this session serves as the basis for Tuesday afternoon's workshops.

11:30 am – 12:15 pm

Workshop: Identifying Peace Corps-Related Skills and Accomplishments, Part 1

Self-assessment is a critical first step in achieving your career goal. Using various methods to bring forth accomplishments, participants in this session will identify skills used/developed and generate a summarizing list of qualifications. Please review your Description of Peace Corps Service (DOS) and other service records (e.g., journals, letters home) before the workshop to facilitate reflection.

12:15 – 1:15 pm

Lunch break (lunch is not provided)

12:45 – 1:15 pm

Special lunch-time session: Sharing Your Story with Schools

Attend this session, hosted by Coverdell World Wise Schools, to hear about a unique opportunity to tell your story and highlight your projects on the Internet.

1:15 – 2:45 pm

Workshop: Identifying Peace Corps-Related Skills and Accomplishments, Part 2

2:45 – 3:00 pm

Break

3:00 – 4:15 pm

Your Written Story I: Effective Resumes

One of the most useful things RPCVs can do for their job search is learn how to present their professional qualifications articulately and succinctly. This session will help you develop a tightly-focused resume, and discuss dos and don'ts for resume-writing.

4:15 – 5:00 pm

Your Written Story II: Engaging Cover Letters

This session will help you develop a well-structured cover letter. You'll learn why it is different from your resume, and how to organize your thoughts for the all-important 20-second verbal resume.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010 – Sharing Your Qualifications

9:00 – 9:30 am

Registration

9:30 – 9:45 am

Welcome and Day One Review

This discussion will give participants a chance to reflect on the first day of workshops and activities, and to ask any questions they have.

9:45 – 10:45 am

Workshop: Elevator Pitches, Your 30-Second Story

What do you say when you find yourself waiting for the elevator with a senior manager of an organization you'd like to work for? Attend this workshop to learn how to make a connection that gets you the follow-up.

10:45 – 11:30 am

Demonstration: Informational Interviews

An informational interview is an excellent way to find out more about a career field that interests you, to get the inside scoop on working for a particular organization, or simply to get critical feedback about your resume. Here you'll learn more about the follow-up that collects candid, yet substantive, information for making important career decisions.

11:30 am – 12:00 pm

Workshop: Job Interviews, Part 1

Composure and professionalism are critical for the interview phase of the job search. So is practice! This session will address the dos and don'ts of interviewing and will give you a chance to practice your skills in brief mock-interviews with a group of RPCVs.

12:00 – 1:00 pm

Lunch break (lunch is not provided)

12:30 – 1:00 pm

Special lunch-time session: Sharing Your Story with Schools

Attend this session, hosted by Coverdell World Wise Schools, to hear about a unique opportunity to tell your story and highlight your projects on the Internet.

1:00 – 2:30 pm

Workshop: Job Interviews, Part 2

2:30 – 3:30 pm

Panel discussion: Networking

Getting a job is about whom you know, not just what you know. As a result, more than half of your job search time should be spent on networking. This presentation will discuss the value of networking and give pointers for doing it successfully.

3:30 – 3:45 pm

Break

3:45 – 4:30 pm

Discussion: Resources Specific to RPCVs

Here you will learn about the myriad of job and career-related resources specifically available to RPCVs through both Returned Volunteer Services and the RPCV Career Center.

4:30 – 5:00 pm

Panel discussion: Peace Corps Offices Serving RPCVs

Successful transitions from Peace Corps to life and work in the United States carry special opportunities and challenges. Returned Volunteer Services, the RPCV Career Center, the Office of Medical Services, and Volunteer and PSC Services have been invited to hear and discuss the diverse concerns of recently returned PCVs. Be sure to take this opportunity to ask your specific questions.

Thursday, October 14, 2010 – Federal Employment and RPCV Career Fair

9:00 – 9:30 am

Registration

9:30 – 10:30 am

Presentation: RPCV Noncompetitive Eligibility

The federal government is hiring 200,000 employees in the next few years. RPCVs should be pleased to know that the job application process for some federal vacancies may be quick and easy. Under the provisions of an Executive Order, Peace Corps Volunteers who complete service are awarded one year of noncompetitive eligibility (NCE) for federal employment, which greatly simplifies the federal hiring process for an applicant who meets the minimum qualifications for the position. Hear about how NCE works and how you can use this special hiring authority to gain employment at any of the competitive service federal agencies.

10:30 – 10:45 am

Break

10:45 – 11:45 am

Presentation: Standing Out to Federal Employers

The federal application process will change significantly in the next few months, as agencies move away from requiring the written narratives known as KSA statements. Attend this session to learn more about showcasing your knowledge, skills, and abilities within your federal application.

11:45 am – 12:15 pm

Presentation: What Happened to My Federal Application?

Have you ever applied to a federal job and then heard nothing back from the agency? How do you know whether your application was received, or whether you qualify for an interview? This presentation will provide a basic overview of the way the federal hiring process works once an application has been submitted for a federal position, and discuss some general selection considerations used by agencies in the federal government.

12:15 – 4:00 pm

Lunch break (lunch is not provided)

4:00 – 7:00 pm

RPCV Career Fair

Representatives from over 30 employers will be on-hand to discuss current and future job opportunities with RPCVs.
Please note: employer attendance is reflective of organizations' staffing needs and recruitment schedules.

Registered employers include:

• Association of Schools of Public Health
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Chemonics International
• Development Alternatives, Inc. (DAI)
• English Language Fellow Program
• Europ Assistance
• Global Health Fellows Program
• Nathan Associates
• Peace Corps Fellows
• Peace Corps Response
• Population Services International
• Sheladia Associates, Inc.
• U.S. Department of State
• U.S. Department of State, UN Employment Information & Assistance Unit
• U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA)
• USAID, Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance

*New employers register daily!

Friday, October 15, 2010 – Employer Information Sessions

9:00 – 9:30 am

Registration

9:30 – 10:45 am

Employer Information Session #1: TBD

10:45 - 11:00 am

Break

11:00 am – 12:30 pm

Employer Information Session #2: Working at Peace Corps (www.peacecorps.gov/jobs)

As a federal agency, the Peace Corps has a variety of jobs throughout the country and the world that help the agency ensure that volunteers are efficiently trained, protected, and supported in their work overseas. At this panel discussion, you'll meet with representatives from a variety of Peace Corps offices who will discuss the structure of the Peace Corps and the diversity of exciting jobs available to qualified professionals. You'll also have a chance to become more familiar with the Peace Corps' online application tools and hiring methods.

12:30 – 2:00 pm

Lunch break (lunch is not provided)

1:00 – 1:30 pm

Special lunch-time session: Peace Corps Response

Attend this session to learn more about opportunities to serve overseas again on a short-term basis and to put your professional expertise to work while making a difference. This is an informal brown-bag session featuring guest panelists who previously served in Peace Corps Response. Come hear about what motivated them to serve and how they benefited professionally from their Peace Corps Response experience. You will have the opportunity to ask questions following the short presentation. The event is free and open to all RPCVs. Bring a drink, your lunch, and your questions! Please plan to arrive ten minutes early to sign in.

2:00 – 3:30 pm

Employer Information Session #3: TBD

Other Upcoming Events

Mark your calendars for these FREE career events for RPCVs only. Please monitor this page throughout the year for more information and details on how to register! Feel free to contact rvsevents@peacecorps.gov for more information about any of our upcoming events.

Online RPCV Career Workshop: Networking and Social Media for the Job Search

Friday, December 10, 2010
11:00 am – 12:00 pm (EST)

February 2011 RPCV Career Conference (Washington, DC)

Tuesday, February 22 – Friday, February 25, 2011

June 2011 RPCV Career Conference (Washington, DC)

Tuesday, June 14 – Friday, June 17, 2011

October 2011 RPCV Career Conference (Washington, DC)

Tuesday, October 25 – Friday, October 28, 2011

Regional Career Events

RVS is beginning to offer one-day regional career events throughout the United States in an effort to reach out to RPCVs regardless of where they live. This summer, RVS conducted events in Los Angeles and Chicago, complete with morning workshops followed by an afternoon career fair. For more details on upcoming career events, please monitor this website.

The Peace Corps Career Center

The Peace Corps Career Center in Rosslyn, VA, hosts monthly career readiness events for RPCVs in the greater DC area, including résumé review and feedback sessions.  Learn more by joining the RPCVNetwork listserv to receive announcements about these events.

1525 Wilson Blvd.
Suite 100
Arlington, VA 22209
e-mail: rpcvcareercenter@peacecorps.gov

View directions to the career center online.