Peace Corps Slots in High Demand

The agency is a popular destination for business majors looking to make a difference in the world—and on their career journeys

Vinny Wickes
The Peace Corps

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Volunteerism is on the rise in the United States, and business majors are taking notice. One such avenue that recent graduates can take is joining the Peace Corps.

In fact, BusinessWeek.com recently named the organization the 38th-best place to launch a career—out of companies in all industries (see BusinessWeek.com, 9/18/06 "The Best Place to Launch a Career").

The Peace Corps—which was established in 1961—recruits in 12 regions across the country. Vinny Wickes is responsible for New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania—a position which he has held for about a year. Wickes, a University of Central Florida graduate, has a varied background. He served as a squad leader in tactical air assault in Vietnam for the U.S. Army. He also spent 25 years in staffing.

Wickes recently spoke to BusinessWeek.com reporter Julie Gordon about business-related opportunities for Peace Corps volunteers, recruiting tactics, and the benefits of joining. Following is an edited portion of their conversation:

What are the most popular types of programs that volunteers participate in?

Forty-three percent are teaching. And 16% are in business advising. There's a strong IT program component that is available today which seems to attract a lot of people. There is the agrarian side, but that only constitutes about 6%.

It has been reported that volunteerism is up in the U.S. Have you seen a rise in applications lately?

Yes, as a matter of fact this past year we've had a 30-year high.

Why are more people than ever looking into the Peace Corps? (See BusinessWeek.com, 8/8/06, "Forget Jell-O Shots. How About a Volunteer Vacation?".)

At this particular point in time they are looking at a career that's much more global and broader. In addition, I think we're seeing a lot more people who are just interested in spreading a peaceful message around the world. Consequently, I think the Peace Corps has a residual component where people have heard of the Peace Corps, know what it is we do, or at least have a general idea of what we do, and therefore that has helped in terms of guiding people to the Peace Corps.

How competitive is it to get in?

It is competitive. We have 7,810 people in the field right now serving in 75 countries. Each year, we turn over half of those positions, approximately 4,000 positions in a year. And for those 4,000 positions we receive approximately 12,000 applications. So it is very competitive. And that's as a result of countries today who have asked us to serve there. Their needs are becoming more technical. They're becoming much more involved than they once were.

So is that the most appropriate place for a business grad?

I think it would be a very, very good place for undergraduate business majors who are interested in a more broad application of their skills. What they come back from the Peace Corps with is measurable skill sets. It's not anything that they would normally get just going in to work for a company and starting at the bottom, so to speak.

An individual who has gotten their undergraduate degree and they're coming back from the Peace Corps, you and I both know that looking at that resume or that person, this is somebody who has a willingness to help others. They've served their country. They believe in volunteering. They take risks. They adapt to other cultures or they have done so successfully for over two years. They sublimate their societal consumption craze. They do without for two years.