I’ve visited the Americorps website, submitted my application, and called in to talk with a representative. Now I’ve got a telephone interview scheduled for the 29th.
Squeals like a little girl
I’m not in yet, but this is a step in a positive direction. I just can’t wait – my hope is to get an NCCC assignment. I’m nervous about my interview. Any tips from past or present Americorps alumni? I know better than to tell them I’m a serial killer or anything, but what sort of flub-ups should I avoid?
Congratulations! I’m an Americorps volunteer right now with the Nevada Conservation Corps (we call it the NCC - what’s the NCCC). I’m doing stream restoration work for a conservation district . My interview process was different, though - I only ever talked to people in the Nevada program. Never had any contact with the office in DC.
As far as the interview goes, I think the most important thing is to be honest. If you like it, it’s a great job; if you’re into what you’re doing, though, it’s hard to live on what they pay (I can’t afford to drown my sorrows, for example, in anything stronger than water - luckily, I don’t have too many sorrows right now). Whatever your reasons are for being interested in the program, just tell them honestly.
The only warning, if you want to call it that, I’d give is that they don’t pay you squat. If you’re used to living comfortably (I spent 5 years as a civil engineer before I moved to Nevada), you’re gonna need a second job or lower expectations. It’s worth it to me, but I know some people who disagree.
Good luck. Let us know how it goes - if you have more questions, you can email me at the address in my profile (I don’t spend too much time in MPSIMS).
And that’s something that I found totally unfair. Americorps people can work second jobs, but Americorps*VISTA people can’t and are dismissed if it’s found out that they got another job in secret.
Nichol_storm If the placement you’re applying to is anything like the ones in our state, chances are very good that as long as you present yourself as a reasonable, sane, human being, you’ll be offered the position. Last I knew they couldn’t fill 1/3rd of the allowable slots in NH (for 2001) for the literacy challenge (america reads) because of a lack of applicants. I’ll wish you good luck anyway It can be a lot of fun, and it did seem like the straight americorps people were having even more fun than we were, probably because of the direct service ratio.
As for tips: let them know that you’re a team player, who has great ideas but be careful to reveal no aspirations to take over. (the one person who I know who was declined presented herself as if she wanted to take over the director’s position)You’re only working with your placement for a year, but if you’re over or under zealous, you can cause them lots of long-lasting problems that need to be dealt with long after you’re gone. You like people, in fact love people, like a challenge, can deal with situations that might be stressful on occasion, you’re fully able to commit for a year, and won’t leave them stranded (people can only be replaced at certain times, even less for Americorps than Vista since they like to start everyone in AC as a “class” for the year)…
I’m an AmeriCorps tutor. I work with a 3rd grade class at a local elementary school and I really enjoy it. My interview basically consisited of me talking about how much I looooooove children (well, I do like most of them) and how much I looked foward to working with them and helping them get a better education.
I do enjoy being a tutor but what Enginerd said, they don’t pay you squat. That’s the reason I won’t be doing AmeriCorps next year. I need a bit more money than what they’re giving me now. Not to mention getting 900 hours of service in is really hard when you have college during the day and work at an elementary school.
Just be honest and be peppy. They really like pep.
Alum here. I was taught 3rd graders at a small Catholic grade school in Jackson, Mississippi. I was indirectly an AmeriCorps volunteer through a Catholic parent organization, which worked out wonderfully.
However, AmeriCorps is currently being sued because of it! I haven’t talked to Lenkowsky about it, he being a former professor of mine, but I think it’s being smoothed over.
Thanks everyone! I appreciated all the input. I talked with a friend of a friend named Jason, a real sweet guy who did Americorps a few years ago and loved it. There are NCCC campuses in Charleston, SC; San Diego; Perry Point, MD; Denver; and Washington, DC. Jason suggested the Denver campus, but I’d like to hear about the others, too. Charleston would be closest to home, DC makes me nervous about the murder rate, and San Diego would be a world away. Any suggestions?
The salary doesn’t concern me; it pays plenty for what little I need, and I was always one of those people who could live for a month on $30. They’ll be providing room, board and transportation, how much more do I really need?
Enginerd – NCCC = National Civilian Community Corps. My friend Jason called it “Triple C”.
Another alum here! Did Jumpstart during 2000-1 school year/summer. For your own sake:
1.DO NOT let it take over your life!
2.Have a life away from the placement!
3.Realize school and the job CANNOT co-exist well!
4.Understand that it is NOT a singles bar! (see #2)
(YMMV)
I’ll warn you though, I DID NOT take this advice! Learn from someone STILL suffering the consequences!
Oooh, N triple C? I work with someone who did that, she loved it. I also served with someone who did that her first year and said it was “strict but fun” so I guess it depends on your personality. It’s the only placement that gets housing and so on, so that’s always good And, as I understand it, it’s one of the placements that will actually have members of the oposite sex around, so there’d be less cattiness, another good thing. (There were 2 guys in the state who did NH Reads the year I served!)
I re-read your OP and noticed this time about the telephone part. You may be put on confrence call and get questions from more than one person. Don’t let that make you nervous. Some of the summer folks said it freaked them out when they did their phone interviews, but then, they were under the impression that it’d be typical phone call, with only one person.
The interview happened as scheduled on the 29th, and the recruiter seemed pleased enough with me. I don’t think I came across as too crazy, so maybe I fooled her.
Anyway, they’re sending me a package for finger-printing and medical evaluation in a couple of weeks. Much to my disappointment, I learned I wouldn’t get to choose which campus, but that’s all right. I’m really psyched now!
