Working for the World
By Julie Hofler
Cavalier Daily Associate Editor
Graduation. What an ominous thought for fourth years who still don't have a clue where they will be or what they will be doing after May.
Some students bounce from interview to interview for internships or jobs with consulting, technology or finance firms. But the corporate world's not for everyone.
The Peace Corps, proclaiming to be "the toughest job you'll ever love," will hold an information session tonight from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Madison House Boardroom and will have interviews by appointment Tuesday through Thursday this week.
"It's a fulfilling alternative to something corporate or 'real world,'" Peace Corps recruiter Ben Dunbar said. "It's a vehicle to do work that gives benefit to everyone involved. The worker gets to tangibly improve the community."
The University boasts the highest number of graduates serving the Peace Corps from the mid-Atlantic region, with 700 alumni joining the organization in the past 40 years. About 10,000 people nationwide apply to volunteer with the Peace Corps each year. During the nine-month application process, Peace Corps staffers select about 4,500 volunteers. The Peace Corps offers positions in areas such as health and medicine, education, science and government.
"The Peace Corps is very pragmatic in that it will diversify one's resume," said Dunbar, who used his degree in English to teach the language in Turkmenistan during his time as a volunteer. "This is a great way to get your foot in the door for international work," as well as business and graduate school.
But the current period of international turmoil may cause some potential Peace Corps members to question the safety of volunteering abroad.
"Obviously at this end it does look a little risky," Dunbar said. "But once you're there in the community, it's like living in a bubble. It's very secure."
Peace Corps staff does extensive interviews with each potential site in the 74 countries it works with to ensure proper accommodations for volunteers.
"It's isolating, but so is college when you first start out," Dunbar said. "Embrace the experience. I mean, we do say it's the toughest job you'll ever love"
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