What does it take to get a Peace Corps invitation?

For 27 months we didn’t have typical work hours, we carried our title 24/7, and our work called on a broad range of personal attributes and technical skills. This is why Peace Corps placement officers look for a balance of technical and “soft” skills when assessing applications. We know these are the foundation of a successful service experience, and demonstrating these skills increases your likelihood of securing a job offer: the invitation to service.

1. Technical skills

Peace Corps’ first goal is "to help the countries interested in meeting their need for trained people.” In other words, we need to strengthen capacity in order to achieve sustainable development. This is why different technical skill requirements are posted in each of our job descriptions.

For example, some foreign language teaching experience is needed for many English teaching jobs. Serving in Community Economic Development often requires a degree in the business field or many years of relevant experience; some countries even have a language requirement. These are in place as a result of requests made by the countries that host Volunteers; therefore, you should carefully review the “required job skills” or “language requirements” to make sure you qualify technically when applying (make sure it's clear in your résumé). But don’t assume that this is all it takes.

2. Soft skills

The second skill set placement officers look for, no matter the sector or country, are “soft” skills. These are what enable our Volunteers to meet goals 2 and 3: friendship building and cultural exchange.  

Cultural sensitivity and curiosity; the ability to observe, adapt and take initiative in environments with different structures; resilience—pushing through adversity or challenges; resourcefulness; flexibility; and commitment to effecting positive change—these are soft skills that we assess during the interview, and through the references, your motivation statement and service experience listed on your resume. 

No single degree or life experience can fully prepare you for 27 months of service. If you are selected to be a Peace Corps Volunteer, you’ll find that it will become part of your lifelong identity. You will realize there is much to learn, no matter how much you knew before. So avoid thinking that one single technical skill can secure you an invitation or that your desire to be a Volunteer is all it takes.

These skills are a baseline upon which pre-service training will build, but most importantly, they’re the skills that will be necessary to ease into a new way of life for two years. So make informed decisions when applying, prepare your application as best you can, and make the most of available resources (virtual or in-person recruitment events, Volunteer blogs, Returned Volunteers, etc.). 

Peace Corps service is more than a job; it is an incredibly formative experience and a privilege. Connect with a recruiter to start your Peace Corps journey.