FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, August 19, 2013

Employers Show Growing Interest in Returned Peace Corps Volunteers, Gather to Recruit Thursday in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C., Aug. 19, 2013 – Hundreds of returned Peace Corps volunteers from across the country are in Washington, D.C. today for the start of Peace Corps’ National Career Conference and Career Fair. The four-day conference helps returned volunteers hone and highlight the skills they learned from their Peace Corps service abroad to enhance their competitiveness in the job market.

The conference concludes Thursday, Aug. 22 with a Career Fair featuring nearly 60 employers from both the public and private sectors that are looking to fill positions across a variety of industries, from education and finance to health and development. To accommodate growing interest from employers, Thursday’s Career Fair will – for the first time – be held outside Peace Corps Headquarters at the FHI-360 Conference Center. Participating employers include government agencies like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), non-profit organizations like Doctors Without Borders, and private companies like John Snow, Inc. 

“Employers are increasingly looking for globally competent, culturally agile professionals, and Peace Corps has nearly 4,000 volunteers returning from their service each year who fit this bill,” said Eileen Conoboy, director of the Peace Corps Office of Third Goal and Returned Volunteer Services. “The rising popularity of our career fairs and our need to inevitably start waitlists for employers wishing to hire returned Peace Corps volunteers is a testament to the marketability of those who serve with us.”     

Returned volunteers who attend the career conference will have the opportunity to participate in networking sessions and workshops on topics like interviewing, resume writing, navigating the federal job search, and translating their Peace Corps skills for employers. For certain federal government positions, returned Peace Corps volunteers who successfully complete their service can be hired for noncompetitive appointments for up to one year after their service, making the hiring process simpler and faster for both volunteers and employers. The conference will also include tips to help returned volunteers make a successful transition back to the U.S. and maximize graduate school options through programs like the Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program.

Peace Corps volunteers return from service as global citizens with cross-cultural, leadership, language, teaching and community development skills that position them well for professional opportunities in today’s global job market.

About the Peace Corps: Since President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps by executive order on March 1, 1961, more than 210,000 Americans have served in 139 host countries. Today, 8,073 volunteers are working with local communities in 76 host countries in agriculture, community economic development, education, environment, health and youth in development. Peace Corps volunteers must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age. Peace Corps service is a 27-month commitment and the agency’s mission is to promote world peace and friendship and a better understanding between Americans and people of other countries. Visit www.peacecorps.gov for more information.

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