Develop Your Elevator Pitch
It is important to effectively explain your service experience as you network with potential employers. Craft a brief description of what you accomplished during your term of service. Focus on the results of your service.
Elevator Pitch Examples
Example: My role at Volunteer Houston was to recruit volunteers and agencies to stay engaged with our Volunteer Connection Platform. I analyzed how we could improve the platform’s performance. Over the course of my AmeriCorps VISTA term, we revamped our website, launched a Google AdWords campaign, and became the first Volunteer Center in the country to develop a mobile app for finding volunteer opportunities. I’m proud to say we increased our registrations by over 50%.
Example: As an AmeriCorps member serving with the NCCC program, I was part of a 10-person team that spent 10 months traveling the country, living in communities and addressing their most pressing needs. We engaged in various projects, including providing crucial support to towns devastated by natural disasters and helping rebuild communities throughout the South and the Midwest. I am proud to say that we assisted more than 150 people impacted by flooding and distributed more than 1,000 pounds of food and other supplies.
Include AmeriCorps in Your Resume
Lead with AmeriCorps and include a brief description of the specific program you served in. You can also use during an interview to explain your AmeriCorps experience.
Lead with AmeriCorps | Then, provide specific information about the program. As an AmeriCorps member, I served with the... |
| I served with AmeriCorps. | AmeriCorps State and National matches individuals with organizations that see service as solution to local, regional, and national challenges. There are thousands of opportunities in locations across the country to serve with nonprofits, schools, public agencies, tribes, and community and faith-based groups. |
| I served with AmeriCorps. | AmeriCorps VISTA places individuals with organizations that fight poverty, to build capacity and make sustainable change. Through fundraising, grant writing, volunteer recruitment, and so much more, AmeriCorps VISTA members gain experience and leadership skills that put them on track for a life of service in the public, private, or nonprofit sector. |
| I served with AmeriCorps. | AmeriCorps NCCC is a full-time, team-based, residential program for 18-24-year-olds. Whether clearing trails for a national park or building home for families in need, AmeriCorps NCCC members engage in a variety of projects in multiple communities while developing leadership and teamwork skills. |
| I served with AmeriCorps. | AmeriCorps NCCC FEMA Corps serves communities, in coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), through disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. |
Include short, concise bullet points that accurately describe your accomplishments as an AmeriCorps member or leader and quantify your experience whenever possible. Examples:
- Initiative
- Interpersonal and Intercultural Communication
- Adaptability
- Accountability
- Problem solving
Update Your Resume and LinkedIn Profile
- Include AmeriCorps in the “Experience” section of your profile
- Add 3-5 bullet points that describe your accomplishments, similar to your resume
- Remember to quantify whenever possible
- Remember to lead with AmeriCorps and then include a brief description of the specific AmeriCorps program where you served
Employers of National Service
Employers who understand the value of national service are committed to creating opportunities for AmeriCorps alumni
Job Boards and Searches
Take desirable skills and diverse experiences to a new role after serving with AmeriCorps. Here are some resources for members and alumni looking for their next step.
- America's Service Commissions Service Job Board
- AmeriCorps Alums on LinkedIn
- AmeriCorps Alums job board
- Employers of National Service
- Peace Corps Careers
- Careers for Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
- Government Careers on USA Jobs
- Career employment with AmeriCorps
AmeriCorps VISTA Non-Competitive Eligibility
Once you've successfully completed service in AmeriCorps VISTA, you will receive one year of non-competitive eligibility for employment in the federal government. This special hiring status enables you to apply for federal jobs with the advantage of not going through the standard public competitive selection process. That means you can be appointed to federal positions that may not be available to the general public. In addition, your application could be processed faster than others.
Non-competitive eligibility does not guarantee a federal job but provides a valuable opportunity to be more competitive.