Does this count?

Question

I am intersted in joining the peace corps. I know you really dont make any money but they cover your living expenses. After you serve your time does this experience count as work experience. I mean if you get a job 2 year later, did you work for two years or "take 2 years off", in corpoartions eye? No one seems to be able to answer this questions. Will companies treat you with the work expierence you only had in the states or the work expierence you had abroad? I might apply to go get MBA after my times as well? And was curious of the result.

Answer 1

I was a PCV over 30 years ago. The state of California counted my 2 years as worth 24 of the 30 post-graduate units needed for a teaching credential. The school I taught at (briefly) when I returned to the USA gave me credit for two year's experience on the pay scale - that is, my starting salary was higher than it would have been if I had been fresh out of college.

I have put "Peace Corps Volunteer" on every job application I've filled out and every resume I've written since 1972.

Answer 2

As someone who was actually IN the Peace Corps, I can tell you that it is most definitely considered as working for two years. You do not enter the Peace Corps and simply get sent abroad with no guidance. They are very careful about matching you up with a country looking for someone with your background, and will provide you with more extensive training depending on where you are placed. If the timing is right, you might even have several countries from which to choose (I was offered a position in four different locations).

When I returned to the U.S., my experiences made me a well sought after candidate for many positions, and my employers told me they were pleased to hire someone who not only had the background they required, but who they knew is capable of operating under extreme conditions, working with people of varying backgrounds, has good communication skills, etc.

FYI: the screening process for Peace Corps takes about a year (on average) so if you do decide to go for it, don't think you'll be on a plane the next day. You'll have plenty of time to get immersed in everything that is involved, and if you then decide that it just isn't for you, that is perfectly all right. Also, they do pay your living expenses and give a small spending allowance; you'll receive a $200/month stipend for your time as well, which is paid when you leave.

All the best to you! :D

Answer 3

I would say this can count as work experience if what you are doing in the Peacecorp is applicable to the job you are applying for. Even if the skills you learn don't apply to the "work" skills needed for a specific job, this is still a good experience and will be viewed as such by many employers.

A common misconception people have is that it is bad to have gaps of time between work. There is actually nothing wrong with it as long as you have a good explination of what you were doing. Taking time for personal development shows a lot of credibility and responsibility on the part of an applicant.

Answer 4

It depends on the type of job/career.

Corporations and any small business do not care about what you have on paper it’s what you can do and for how much is what they care about. The paper is just a reference, and anyone can fake or make up information that they put on paper.

The question you should be asking yourself is: Will the experience that I obtain in the peace corp. give me what I need to be able to do the job? Or, what type of experience will I get at peace corp.? Can I obtain the same experience some place else, faster, cheaper?

Answer 5

I don't want to bad mouth peace corps but I think you deserve a honest answer. Based on your question, it seems as though you are a bit lost and confused in what you would like to do in life. Please give it some thought. If helping mankind and you would like to have a job for the greater good of mankind, then peace corps is the way to go. However, if you are looking to get experience in work and skills, you will not learn much in peace corps. Leadership? You might know how to give orders, but in the real world, you must learn to win trust. Peace corps gives you authority, real world, you must earn it.

If I were to work in the HR department, 2o years in the Peace Corps means nothing to me. All I am interested in is how good you are at understanding things and learning and creating, and overcoming stress. How educated you are (in broad) and what are your specialties?

Peace corps don't offer what the corporate world need.

Answer 6

Speaking as someone with many years of HR experience, I would see Peace Corps experience as a definite plus. It not only gives you work experience, it gives you WORLD experience - immersion in different cultures and languages, the ability to make do with limited resources, etc. In today's global work environment, that experience is increasingly valuable.

Good luck!

Answer 7

In my opinion companies see this in a good light. You are an outlier because you have been abroad and can probably speak a different language. In the USA, only about 12% speak more than one language.

This is also the story that they told me at university, and I believe it.

Answer 8

It has to be great on a resume.