I applied online. I interviewed at Peace Corps (Dallas, TX) in Sept 2009
Interview
You can check the website for a detailed explanation of hiring process. It is extensive and took me over a year from the submission of my application to actually getting into my assigned country. The interview seemed laid back and the questions were mostly about leadership, cross cultural experiences/sensitivity and you also have the chance to ask the recruiter any questions. They also ask you if there is any reason you would need to come home or quit before the 27 month contract is over.
I applied online. I interviewed at Peace Corps in Oct 2023
Interview
For the interview process, I reached out to a recruiter to discuss the interview process and conduct a mock interview, which I recommend. The Peace Corps provides you with information to prepare you for the behavioral interview. Specifically, they want to know why you want to be a volunteer and why you are interested in a particular sector or region. Moreover, they send you six bullet points you should be ready to discuss: living or working with people from another culture, working in an unstructured environment, fulfilling an important but difficult commitment, working in a challenging team dynamic, transferring knowledge or skills, failing to achieve a desired goal that was within your control. Then, the interviewer will go over a list of challenges volunteers can face, and you have to be prepared to talk about these. Because the Peace Corps is specific and upfront about what the interview is, I found it straightforward to prepare for, and I think mock interviews are essential in being able to articulate your experience from your resume into why you would be a good fit as a volunteer.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
What is your experience living or working with people from another culture?
It was approximately 60-90 minutes. It was a very straight forward interview. I felt comfortable and the interviewer was very professional. Just research the role you are applying for and the potential country you would serve in.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Why do you want to volunteer with the peace corps.
Applied online. A recruiter reached out to me and send general questions that I can expect. Basically the interview just followed the questions that were mentioned in the email. Lasted around 30 minutes.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
What challenges do you expect abroad as an American person of color?