In-Progress Applicants

After you submit your application, our placement team springs into action. Learn about the steps and what to expect as we assess your application.

Once you’ve submitted your application to serve as a Peace Corps Volunteer or Peace Corps Response Volunteer, we will review it for basic information like availability date, education, and language skills.

Need to access your application? Log in to the applicant portal

If you have applied to go where you are needed most, a placement officer will identify a specific assignment that matches your availability, skills, and interests.

What happens during the application review?

Once your basic information has been assessed and your application is in a program that you qualify for, you will be placed under consideration and will receive an email with additional information about the program.

If you have applied to a program where your medical needs cannot be met or where you are not a competitive candidate, we may review your application for an alternate assignment.

Some programs are exceptionally competitive and there are not enough positions for all who apply and are qualified for that position. Other programs have unique skills requirements that some of our candidates do not meet.

I received a confirmation email that my application is under consideration. Now what?

Placement officers will dive deeper into your assessment to determine your competitiveness.

You might be asked to submit transcripts or complete a form to clarify your experience/skills. Use the form to explain how your experiences make you a competitive applicant for the position.

Don’t worry if we do not request these documents — each program has different requirements.

The placement team will contact competitive candidates for interviews based on their skills and experience.

What should I expect for the interview?

The virtual interview will take 60-90 minutes. Be sure to prepare answers to the questions in the interview request email and take these additional steps below to support your success if you are new to the interview process:

• Connect with a recruiter for help preparing
• Research your country of consideration (check out information on where we serve)
• Wear professional attire
• Prepare a clean, distraction-free environment to take the call from
• Check the time — most interviews are scheduled for Eastern Standard Time
• Make sure your Zoom program is working properly
• Log on 10 minutes early
• Let your passion for serving boldly and human connection shine

What should I say about my legal history during the interview?

During your interview, a placement specialist will ask you directly if there is any new or additional information regarding your legal history that you need to disclose.

Take this opportunity to clarify if you have any questions or concerns regarding a legal issue that you mistakenly omitted on your application. If you forgot anything when you were filling out your application, this is your final opportunity to share previous legal history.

What happens after the interview?

All applicants hear back once final decisions have been made.

If your application is unsuccessful, we encourage you to continue gaining applicable experience and reapply to serve. When you do, connect with a recruiter, update your resume, and focus on a strong Motivation for Serving statement.

Those invited to serve will proceed to the medical and legal clearance process.

Learn what happens after you're invited.

Questions about an existing application? Email us at [email protected].