Anyone familiar with Americorps? (CV, employment, alternative, application)

[FreshFresh]

Is it a good alternative for those unemployed?

Will it help advance ones career?

[annerk]

Advance a career? Probably not. Offer employment when jobs are scarce, yes.

[FreshFresh]

Originally Posted by annerk

Advance a career? Probably not. Offer employment when jobs are scarce, yes.

When I say advance a career I mean after a year of doing the work will I be able to find a job? or will I just be in the same place?

[annerk]

Originally Posted by FreshFresh

When I say advance a career I mean after a year of doing the work will I be able to find a job? or will I just be in the same place?

There's no guarantees. If you have no skills/experience now will it be a reference for an application, yes. If you are an out of work biostatician will it enhance your career? Probably not.

[mike69]

Originally Posted by FreshFresh

Is it a good alternative for those unemployed?

Will it help advance ones career?

I was in it for about a year. It's good for a good cause, but you won't earn much of a living off of it. It might be a good idea for you if you're bored and want to do something to not only get yourself back up and running again while looking for work, but also do something that will make you happy in giving back as well.

[FreshFresh]

Originally Posted by mike69

I was in it for about a year. It's good for a good cause, but you won't earn much of a living off of it. It might be a good idea for you if you're bored and want to do something to not only get yourself back up and running again while looking for work, but also do something that will make you happy in giving back as well.

Are there any other programs like Americorps/Peacecorps?

[mike69]

Originally Posted by FreshFresh

Are there any other programs like Americorps/Peacecorps?

There's a ton of them, those two just stand out nationally, but the ones that I'm thinking of right now are local to me, as they're one of those places where they just have one office location within my county. You might want to contact your city's provider and find out what they have in your area. I'm sure every 15-20 miles you're bound to find a place like this that you can go to help out.

[FreshFresh]

Originally Posted by mike69

There's a ton of them, those two just stand out nationally, but the ones that I'm thinking of right now are local to me, as they're one of those places where they just have one office location within my county. You might want to contact your city's provider and find out what they have in your area. I'm sure every 15-20 miles you're bound to find a place like this that you can go to help out.

What do you mean city's provider? you mean call my local townhall?

[Behe]

Hi FreshFresh, I think that doing some kind of volunteering work really will add vital skills to your CV and make it stand out. Have you considered doing a program overseas? or maybe even a TESOL/TEFL course? Both will give you not only valuable skills but also show to your future employers that you have been proactive whilst out of work and despite not being able to find a job currently, instead of sitting around moping, you will have gone out there and done something with meaning. I guess to help you decide what to do you need to onsider what skills you want to get out of it..with a TESOL course for example you would be gaining a qualification that you can use for life and to travel not only the world but also to teach in Canada and the US to foreigners that have come over and have to learn/improve their English in order to live and work there. You will also learn/improve on your presentation skills, how to think on your feet e.g when someone aske you a question that you haven't planned for, adaptability to new ways of thinking and cultures and the list goes on..Volunteering will teach you team work- how to get on with people even if you don't have anything in common, adaptability and the ethos of getting stuck in where needed. I think my advice to you for your current situation would possibly to take a TESOL course . Whilst volunteering is obviously a brilliant option too and a selfless act in itself, doing something teaching english abroad is providing others with something they can use and develop for the rest of their lives and even improve the life that they currently lead. Volunteering does also provide this also, but many of the projects often seem more short term in comparison. Making the decision just takes a lot of thought and preparation and something for which you need to think of all of the outcomes and how it will be viewed by future employers.
I have taken a TEFL course (120 hour course, which combines a 20 hour TEFL weekend, with a tutor and 100 hours online) myself recently with this company www.i-to-i.com and found it brilliant. The TEFL tutor was so inspiring and helpful that any doubts I had on whether I was doing the right thing completely vanished. I know they also run volunteering programs too so maybe worth checking them out. Good luck with your decision making and I hope you have a great time whatever you decide to do!

[Jillaceae]

I really think it depends on what Americorps program you are looking at. They are very different from each other. Are you looking at Teach America? NCCC? State and National? VISTA? Compensation differs for each, as do requirements for each program. Which are you interested in?

I am almost halfway though a VISTA year. I did VISTA because I decided I wanted to go to grad school in a area I have no work experience in. Getting almost any job is tough, and certain jobs are tougher if you don't have an "in" in the field, so I looked at VISTA as an alternative. VISTA is a what I would suppose could be described as a professional program. You are placed in a non-profit (or government, though that is less common) program that in some way is associated with VISTA's mission (the eradication of poverty). VISTAs don't do direct service (I actually do some, but it is a pretty big exception.), but instead work behind the scenes to capacity build. It is a great way to get professional experience. So depending on what you want to do, it is possible to advance your career with VISTA. Obviously the job market is bad, but it offers some really great experience, and looks great on an resume. Also, some VISTAs end up getting jobs at their assignments. (You certainly can't assume it will happen, but it does.) Not to mention the work is very rewarding! Also, if you are planning on going to college or going back to college, they offer a nice education award that many school is will meet, partially or fully. Collages love VISTAS.