Finding a job after AmeriCorps service

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Abstract

AmeriCorps members who complete their term of service may be uncertain about the next step. This transition can seem difficult, but having a plan of action is one way to mitigate anxiety and uncertainty about the unknown. This effective practice, drawn from the Corporation for National and Community Service's handbook, Next Steps: Life After AmeriCorps, gives practical ideas about how to hone a job search and find meaningful employment. These suggestions are useful for first time job seekers or for those transitioning from one job to another. A list of online sources for job opportunities and career guidance is provided.

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Issue

Finding a job after national service can seem overwhelming when considering the multi-faceted nature of this task. Coping with the transition from AmeriCorps service member to the next phase will in part determine success at finding employment.

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Action

Managing Transition 

  • Talk with others who have successfully completed this transition.
  • Consider short and long-term decisions. Short-term decisions might include issues of geography and finances. Long term considerations could focus on training and advancement.
  • Seek support from family, co-workers, friends, and community and/or think of ways to increase support options. Talking things over with respected adults is a way to gain insight.

    • Self Assessment and Values
     

  • Conduct an honest assessment of skills and accomplishments, as well as personality traits. People who can clearly describe their skills and accomplishments are at an advantage in applying for jobs and in interview situations.
  • Identify areas of improvement. Consider what it takes to be an attractive job candidate.
  • Visit the AmeriCorps Members and Alumni Web page. These sites include resources for using AmeriCorps education awards, finding employment opportunities, and networking with current and former AmeriCorps members.
    For current members: http://www.americorps.gov/for_individuals/current/index.asp 
    For alumni: http://www.americorps.gov/for_individuals/alumni/index.asp
  • Join the National AmeriCorps Association (formerly named AmeriCorps Alums), which is an independent 501(c)3 non-profit organization that provides AmeriCorps members, alumni, current and former staff resources and support for a lifetime of service, including advancement in nonprofit, public sector, and socially responsible for-profit employment.(http://lifetimeofservice.org/)
  • Besides self-assessment, think honestly about qualities and components of the ideal next opportunity. (For assistance, use the "work value exercise" from Next Steps: Life After AmeriCorps, pp. 21-41, a handbook produced by the Corporation for National and Community Service).
  • Think about enjoyable leisure-time activities. Could these pursuits translate into job choices?

    • Make Informed Decisions

  • Research, identify, and explore options that incorporate values, interests, and skills:
    • Read as much as possible about potential careers of interest.
    • Visit local libraries and career centers.
    • Make an appointment with a career counselor to ask questions.
  • Check out online sources for job listings/career guidance such as:
  • United States citizens from low-income families may be eligible to receive tuition-free training in more than 150 occupations through Job Corps, funded by the U.S. Department of Labor (1-800-733-JOBS).
  • Integrate self-assessment and research information.
  • Intern, volunteer, or "shadow" people who work at targeted occupations or careers of interest.
  • Schedule information interviews with people who work in occupations of interest. They can be located by local networking or through professional associations, informal groups, or labor unions.

    • Set Goals

  • Create a job search action plan, both long and short term. Short-term plans are a specific or focused course of weekly action. Long-term plans are a way to plot out steps over the next several weeks or months.
  • Utilize effective goal setting for a job search by making sure goals are:
    • Specific
    • Behavioral (require action on the part of the seeker)
    • Measurable
    • Realistic
    • Sequential
    • On a timeline
  • Seek encouragement and feedback by sharing goals with others.

    • Take action

  • Develop a resume that summarizes skills, accomplishments, and experiences. Resources like Resumes (2nd Edition) by the National Business Employment Weekly can help with resume writing.
  • Use as many job-searching methods as possible. These include: classified ads, state and private employment agencies, direct applications, placement services, union hiring halls, information from friends and family about where they work, and online job searching such as Craigslist and Idealist.org.
  • Two search methods that tap into the "hidden" or unadvertised job market are networking and direct targeting of employers. It is estimated that as many as 75 percent of all jobs are unadvertised and that 70 percent of jobs are found through these two methods.
  • There are plenty of resources to help with a job search. For example, local community colleges, universities, government job services, and one-stop career centers may sponsor job search resources.
  • When called for a job interview, be prepared! There are several good books on interview techniques such as 101 Great Answers to the Toughest Interview Questions by Ron Fry or Sweaty Palms: The Neglected Art of Being Interviewed by Anthony Medly.
  • Another option is to start a community-based organization or small business. Take advantage of local vocational schools, community colleges, economic development offices, and Small Business Administration (SBA) centers for training and resources.(http://www.sba.gov)
  • Seek career or personal counseling if inertia or feelings of overwhelm set in.

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    Context

    AmeriCorps members who have completed their term of service need tried and true methods to help them take the next step. Times of transition can prove stressful so it is important to have a plan of action in place.

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    Citation

    Hartzell, Nedra Klee, Ph.D. Next Steps: Life After AmeriCorps, Corporation for National and Community Service, 1998.

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    Outcome

    AmeriCorps members who have completed their term of service have found productive and fulfilling jobs in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

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    Posted On

    April 25, 2002

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    Resources

    What's Next: Life After Your Service Year

    http://encorps.nationalserviceresources.org/whatsnext/index.shtml 

    This tutorial will help you plan for transitions after your service term. You will find resources tailor-made for AmeriCorps and VISTA members on:

    • Going to school
    • Establishing a career
    • Continuing in service

    The tutorial also includes exercises that assist you in forming a strategy to use your education award wisely.

    What’s Next builds upon the publication, Next Steps: Life After AmeriCorps.

     

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