Support Career Development for Young Professionals

Activity/project background

The partner, a charitable organization, provides comprehensive opportunities for Ukrainian internally displaced persons (IDPs) to support their adaptation to living in new communities, including a large career counseling project. They offer services that include: (1) resume development and revisions; (2) orientation to evolving labor markets; (3) reviewing job search essentials and matching individuals to job vacancies; (4) interview preparation and practice; and (5) career exploration and coaching.

Providing career counseling is essential because IDPs, including young professionals, face ongoing employment challenges due to a struggling labor market in different regions of Ukraine, inadequate or no work experience, lack of professional connections, and difficulties in adaptation due to trauma, financial difficulties, and other challenges. Accessing support in this area for young professionals is critical as they work to build their lives and careers to support Ukraine’s economy now and in the future.

In addition to these services, assistance from native English-speaking specialists is beneficial as they can share the latest global labor market trends and opportunities that will help young people strengthen their professional English language skills and adapt to international standards and requirements. Interaction with native speakers helps IDPs develop cultural awareness, improve their language proficiency, and promote their ability to adapt to different communication styles and broaden worldviews. Thus, the organization is seeking the support of one Virtual Service Pilot Participant (VSPP) to support these displaced young professionals through an English language career development club. The VSPP will co-develop a curriculum and co-facilitate 10–12 sessions focusing on career development for a group of 15–20 participants. When the first group finishes, the second group will then cover the curriculum that has been already developed.

The organization has previously collaborated with the Peace Corps through the Virtual Service Pilot. They understand that the role of a VSPP is very different than a Peace Corps Volunteer or Peace Corps Response Volunteer.

Engagement and tasks

The VSPP will engage in the following tasks, in collaboration with their host country partners:

• Coordinate with representatives of the organization to identify priorities for in-depth understanding of the project goals and objectives, including a review of previous career activities and the specificities of the IDP young professionals they serve
• Co-develop a language club curriculum which will include at least 20–24 sessions that focus on professional development, soft skills, professional presentation skills, and job search tips for participants
• Co-facilitate a weekly 1-hour online session for club members (average number of students is 15–20, aged 22–35) per group
• Attend a weekly meeting with Ukrainian colleagues for feedback and discussion
• Guide club members to prepare for at least one peer-to-peer meeting with other young IDPs to share information and knowledge in the areas of professional development and career planning

VSPPs are expected to engage on the tasks listed above for an estimated 5–15 hours per week. This engagement is estimated to be five hours per week.

Online collaboration will generally occur between 5:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m. Kyiv time. Specific times will be determined during orientation.

The host country counterpart will have access to Zoom, Google Meet, Telegram, emails, and WhatsApp for regular communication and collaboration.

Per the Child Protection Code of Conduct, when engaging online with minors (0–18), two adults must be present.

Optional additional activities

The Peace Corps mission is to promote world peace and friendship by fulfilling three goals:

1. To help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.
2. To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.
3. To help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.

Goal 1 will be achieved through the VSPP's engagement and completion of the above tasks. The counterpart and VSPP may also choose to identify an activity that aligns with Goal 2. Additionally, the VSPP may identify a Goal 3 activity to implement during their engagement. See recommendations and tools for Goal 3 activities.

Essential qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in any field

Experience:
• Teaching, tutoring, mentoring, or coaching adults aged 25–35 in any educational institutions or youth clubs
• Career consulting

Intercultural skills and motivation: Flexible, strong cross-cultural agility, high tolerance for ambiguity, able to work independently, resourceful, creative, and genuinely motivated and capable to serve virtually

Desired qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, counseling, or related field

Experience:
• Virtual engagement and communication
• Curriculum and workshop development
• Conducting group sessions for young people
• Coaching, guiding, and/or mentoring young professionals on career planning (e.g. resume, motivation statement writing, job search on LinkedIn, interviews, etc.)
• Understanding and adapting teaching approaches to different conditions and contexts

Terms and conditions of engagement

VSPPs will be engaging with the host country partner, in coordination with Peace Corps post staff, remotely from the US. They should have access to a computer, internet, and telephone in order to enable direct engagement with the Peace Corps overseas office and the Host Country Counterpart assigned by the host country partner.

Orientation with the host country partner will be provided, within the designated virtual service hours, during the first week of virtual service via an online presentation and discussion. The host country partner will provide an overview of its organization, the local context, and how they envision collaborating with the VSPP.

The VSPP will have regular check-ins with their counterpart and bi-weekly check-ins with Peace Corps staff. Spending unstructured time with counterparts can be critical to relationship-building and is encouraged through activities such as coffee chats and informal calls within the weekly 5-15 hours.

Engagement safety and security

The VSPP will receive an orientation on Peace Corps’ Child Protection Policy and how it relates to online engagement along with IT security best practices. The VSPP will be expected to follow safety and security guidelines for online engagement to ensure their safety and that of the Host Country Partner and their counterpart, and any beneficiaries of the engagement.

Supervision requirements

The VSPP will report to a designated Peace Corps staff member. The VSPP will be expected to abide by the Virtual Service Pilot Participant and Donation Agreement and Participant Principles of Engagement. The VSPP will also be expected to check in with the designated host country counterpart as assigned by the host county partner.