September 1, 2006 Hot Translating Your Peace Corps Experience, Part II: Mapping your Qualifications Resources By: Peggy Seufert, Program and Training Specialist Highlights Upcoming 2006 RPCV Career Events The events will be held at Paul D. Coverdell This article is a follow up to the August 23 career workshops where participants shared their accomplishments and identified some key Peace Corps Headquarters skills that Volunteers develop and strengthen during their Peace Corps Service. 1111 20th Street NW very Volunteer returns with a (or hidden) needs? Who were your articulate concrete statements re- Washington, DC 20526 Ecollection of stories—personal partners and participants? What lated to your accomplishments or professional, frivolous or fright- resources were available or lack- and qualifications: ening, silly or serious. Maybe those ing? What were the assets and Visit stories have already been written in challenges you encountered? Situation: What was the situa- www.peacecorps.gov/rpcv/events letters and journals, or maybe they Which actions or influences of yours tion? What problems or chal- for event updates. are still waiting to be told. This were central to the story? How did lenges did I face? Where? article hopefully helps you translate you maintain momentum or change Task: What needed to be done? (more information on page 12) the stories of your Peace Corps courses of action? End your story How did I get involved? What service into a set of qualifications with a statement such as, “I discov- were the objectives? that will get you in the door and one ered that I could …..” Actions: What did I specifically step closer to the right place for you do? What was my role? Was I Peace Corps Hotline at this stage of your life. Step 2: part of a team? Robert Michon Brainstorm a list of the knowledge, Results: What were the out- Editor Let’s start by exploring different skills, and abilities you demon- comes? What were the unin- Manager, Returned Volunteer Services paths to identify your accomplish- strated or gained from that experi- tended outcomes? Heather Groome ments and then “mapping” your ence. Ask your listener to help iden- Assistant Editor qualifications to the knowledge, tify the KSAs related to the story. If After you have outlined your Admin. Ass’t, Returned Volunteer Services skills, and abilities (KSAs) that em- working alone, turn over the index “STARs”, set aside some time to ployers, graduate schools, and other card and generate a list of KSAs reflect. As above, ask yourself To place job announcements, visit community organizations seek in that emerged from the story. what you learned from the various www.peacecorps.gov/rpcv/hotline applicants. One path to discover experiences, and identify the or contact your meaningful accomplishments Step 3: KSAs critical to the accomplish- Peace Corps is by sharing short stories or “verbal Repeat with other stories until you ment. These can be technical and Returned Volunteer Services Phone: 202.692.1430 or snapshots” about the projects in are comfortable with your skills and interpersonal. 800.424.8580, ext. 1430 which you worked. You can do this are ready to present yourself in E-mail: [email protected] Fax: 202.692.1421 verbally with a friend or family writing and in person. The next step is like star-gazing member. Or you can do this in writ- —trying to find the patterns of ing on index cards. Most graduate school and job stars and naming the constella- Join the RPCVNetwork applicants will have to present tions and celestial bodies. There Listserv Step 1: themselves in written applications, are as many ways to organize Focus on a specific story in which resumes, and cover letters. One your qualifications as there are you learned something important. model for citing your accomplish- stars in the sky. You can consult To receive additional job listings, sign up for the Yahoo! group called Try to use a work situation or a ments in writing is to use the STAR the skills checklists in your RPCVNetwork. challenging experience for learn- model, which is a simply structured Career Resource Manual or ref- ing. Shy away from stories where format for organizing your skills. erence other online resources Go to www.yahoo.com, select the listeners “had to be there.” In STAR stands for Situation, Task, such as UM-Duluth’s transferable “Groups,” search for “RPCVNetwork” and “Join.” Include your PCV name, country/ one minute describe the situation Actions, and Results. The following dates of service. or context. What were the expressed questions can help you define and Continued on page 12 Hotline For Returned Volunteers / From the Office of Domestic Programs works with state and local programs and other years’ experience with volunteer management or PUBLIC SECTOR entities; conducts onsite reviews. Qualifications: demonstrated success in leadership. Deadline: BA/BS; strong writing, analytical, communication, 9/7/2006. For more information and to apply visit SCHOOL NURSES • Phoenix and organizational skills; ability to work effectively position number “4431” at www.wsujobs.com or Positions available with Phoenix Elementary School in teams; valid driver’s license required; may phone Lisa Clyde, EEO coordinator, at District #1. Duties: work in school-based clinics include frequent travel. Salary: $35K–$60K. Send 509.335.2822; e-mail: [email protected]. and on-site student dental services; provide student cover letter and résumé to Heather Graham, USDOL screening and care. Qualification: bilingual in Span- ETA, JFK Federal Building, Room E-350, Boston, AGRICULTURE AGENT • Hill City, KS ish and English preferred. For more information MA 02203; phone: 617.788.0170; e-mail: RO1- Position available with Kansas State Research and and to apply, phone Lynette Cook at 602.257.3904; RA - [email protected]. Extension. Duties: provides primary leadership in website: www.phxelem.k12.az.us. the development, dissemination, and implementa- 4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM tion of research-based information and educational FIELD ENGINEER • Window Rock, AZ EXTENSION COORDINATOR • Tacoma, WA programs for agriculturally related issues. Issues Position available with the U.S. Public Health Position available with Washington State Univer- will include, agronomic and livestock production Service, Indian Health Service. Duties: manages sity. This is a 12-month appointment. Qualifica- and economics, environmental stewardship, farm water and sanitation projects on the Navajo Reser- tions: BA in a social science or related discipline; and ranch management, agriculture public policy, vation, the largest and one of the most traditional two years’ experience in youth development; any horticultural production and management, and Indian reservations in the U.S.; supervises combination of relevant education and experience natural resources conservation and enhancement. engineering design and construction; provides may be substituted for the educational requirement For more information and to apply, visit first-time service to Navajo families that do not have on a year-for-year basis; demonstrated experience www.oznet.ksu.edu. water in their homes. Qualifications: BS or higher in in developing, delivering, and managing programs civil or environmental engineering. For more for youth. For more information and to apply, visit DISASTER OPERATIONS SPECIALISTS information and to apply, phone Adam Bjornstedt position number “4425” at www.wsujobs.com AND REGIONAL ADVISOR • Nepal (RPCV, Jamaica) at 928.871.1350; address: Office or phone Lisa Clyde, EEO coordinator, at Positions available with Office of U.S. Foreign of Environmental Health, P.O. Box 9020, Window 509.335.2822; e-mail: [email protected]. Disaster Assistance. Duties: the regional advisor Rock, AZ 86515; fax: 928.871.1462; e-mail: will oversee disaster response activities, and [email protected]. MASTER GARDENER PROGRAM develop and coordinate preparedness, mitigation, EXTENSION COORDINATOR • Tacoma, WA and training programs; the disaster operations PROJECT OFFICER • Boston Position available with Washington State Univer- specialists will assist in grant management and the Position available with the U.S. Department of sity Extension. This is a 12-month appointment. development of response strategies. Qualification: Labor, Employment and Training Administration Qualifications: BA in social sciences, education, must be a U.S. citizen. For more information and to (US DOL/ETA). Duties: manages grants; oversees horticulture, administration, or other relevant field; apply, visit www.globalcorps.com. For more workforce development; oversees workforce any combination of relevant education and information, phone Amy Feldman at 202.661.9377; security; provides performance and financial man- experience may be substituted for the education e-mail: [email protected]. Do not send agement; supports all phases of the grant life cycle; requirement on a year-for-year basis; minimum two résumé. PRIVATE SECTOR FINANCE AND CONTRACT HOT! OPPORTUNITIES ADMINISTRATOR • Bethesda, MD Position available with Abt Associates Inc. Duties: provides home-office management and coordinates PROGRAM SPECIALIST • Honolulu, HI logistical support for project activities; supports the GS-9/11 position available with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition development of project proposals; provides Service (FNS). Duties: monitors and assists with FNS programs in Hawaii and the Pacific financial management and analysis support by track- Basin. Qualifications: strong oral and written