10 Reasons to Hire a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer

Found this on the National Peace Corps Association website: http://www.peacecorpsconnect.org/2012/05/10-reasons-to-hire-an-rpcv/

10 Reasons to Hire a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer

By Molly Mattessich on Wednesday, May 30th, 2012

From 2009-11, Thomas Lang served as a Business Volunteer in the country of Georgia. Photo: Peace Corps.

In this economy, businesses want to hire the most qualified, creative, intelligent, passionate candidate they can for a new position. We at the National Peace Corps Association think that people who have served in the Peace Corps – in a developing country with countless chances to develop cross-cultural skills and resourcefulness – make some of the best colleagues around. Here’s a short (slightly cheeky) list of why we think you should hire a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV).

1. We enjoy problem-solving. Need to put together a desk from IKEA, hang paintings, fix the copier, figure out that weird spreadsheet thing? There’s nothing a little duct tape won’t fix.
2. We can talk to anyone and are comfortable anywhere. Whether it’s the village chief, a market woman, a ministry official, or a cranky vendor … we have experience interacting with all kinds of people, in all kinds of settings. And often in a foreign language. Whether your business operates in Niger, Nicaragua, or Niagara Falls, we quickly get the lay of the land and get things done.
3. Save money on the staff retreat. No need to put us up in a fancy hotel on the Vegas strip. We’ll pass on the $16 muffins. Thanks to our modest Peace Corps living allowances, we’ve learned our way around a budget – and will respect yours.
4. Our contributions to the office potluck. Peanut stew, pupusas, Pad Thai, vodka … Congratulations!  Your office gathering just got more interesting.
5. We know our way around flipcharts. In fact, “brainstorming” and “creativity” are our middle names. Returned Peace Corps Volunteers know how to think outside of the box.
6. Overcoming uncertainty is second nature. If there’s one thing that unites Returned Peace Corps Volunteers, it’s this: We got on the plane. Despite the naysayers, we left all that was safe and familiar and departed for an unknown country for 27 months. That takes passion. That takes chutzpah. Teaching a class of unruly teens? Handling clients who keep changing their minds? Piece of cake.
7. We’re goal-oriented. If we can’t figure out how to get it done or who can get it done, we’ll find the kid who will.
8. Patience comes with the territory. After sitting through two years of day-long, under-the-tree meetings, drinking endless cups of tea to see our projects through, even the longest department meetings won’t faze us.
9. We’re pretty healthy. Because we’ve toughed our way through malaria, giardia, boils, schistosomiasis, scary fevers, and weird rashes in places we can’t discuss, we won’t call in sick for a “cold.”
10. We can take casual Friday to a whole new level. We have a certain … confidence.

With less than 200,000 of us in the workforce, we suggest that you hire a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer – before someone else does.
The National Peace Corps Association’s mission is to support RPCVs as they take their next step in changing the world.