Now hiring for SCORE AmeriCorps!
AmeriCorps members sort toiletries for a local shelter.
We have been incredibly lucky this year to have an overwhelming number of applicants for the Northwest Washington Reading Corps. So many, in fact, that we are now having to wait list new applications. But that is not the end of your chances of getting a position with us!
If tutoring kids isn’t your thing, and you’d like to give back to the community by serving in AmeriCorps, then you should consider applying to SCORE AmeriCorps.
SCORE stands for Skagit County Opportunities, Resources, and Energy. The mission of SCORE AmeriCorps is to provide economic opportunity for disadvantaged individuals including financial literacy, housing assistance, job training, and nutritional assistance, and to address unmet energy-efficiency and environmental needs of low-income individuals in Skagit County.
This is a brand new program made possible by the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act of 2009. We have 12 positions available at various non-profit agencies in Skagit County. Here are a few of the places where our AmeriCorps State members will work:
- Habitat for Humanity
- Skagit Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services
- Skagit Housing Authority
- Northwest Agriculture Business Center
- Community Action Housing Program
- Community Action Food Program
A few quick facts about this program:
- 12 AmeriCorps State positions on a team-based project
- All positions start September 1st and end July 15th
- Benefits: professional development, health benefits, travel reimbursement, student loan forbearance, $1050/monthly stipend, childcare, $5350 education award upon successful completion of service
For more information on SCORE AmeriCorps, contact Jennifer Rice at jen@servenorthwestwa.org or (360) 588-5720. To find positions on the AmeriCorps website, type “SCORE” in the advance search toolbar.
Iwillchangeyourlife@HireMePlease.com
Today I came across this article about what your email address says about you to potential employers. As someone who hires people, I quickly found myself spitting water out of my nose as I flashed back to my all time favorite WORST email: partygrrrrrrl420@[I'm really not going to give this out].com. Wait, maybe there was another “r” in there. Hard to be sure.
Did I mention this was on an application for an elementary school literacy tutor?
All right guys and gals, get out your pencils for a pop quiz!
Q: Why didn’t partygrrrrrrl420 get an interview?
- Quinn was worried that this applicant might bring a beer bong to school.
- Quinn had visions of students asking, “Why do you always smell like a fire and look tired during morning reading?”
- Quinn was terrified of who might show up for the interview.
- All of the above….and more!
If you said “All of the above….and more!” you are correct! If you didn’t get it right, you should keep reading.
Here are few tips:
- Your Name@- Use your name! Employers will get to know you in your application, resume, cover letter, and hopefully, your interview. The most important thing in the application process is that they remember YOU, not your extracurricular activities. Also, using your name makes it much easier for employers to find the emails you’ve sent them. I won’t remember that Mikey Torkelson loves Creed (and I wouldn’t hire him on pure principle if I knew that). But I would remember a last name like Torkelson, so m.torkelson@… is much better than mikeyheartscreed@… for so many reasons.
- @SomethingI’veHeardOf.com – Where your email is hosted might say something potentially negative about you. Although I gotta admit I love the fact that I once had an applicant whose email was hosted …@Elvis.com. It stood out to me and, though I hired her, it was because she was a fantastic applicant, not because we shared a love for the King. Because you never know who is reviewing your resume, just remember they may have bad associations with things you like, like Creed. If you have a creative host for your email address, make a new one with a free site like Gmail, Hotmail, or Yahoo, and have that forwarded to mikeyheartscreed@thekingisalive.com. It’s free, easy to sign up, and easy to forward. Done and done.
- Dontwannaknowyourdrugofchoice@ – Echoing point 1, it isn’t advisable to share your extracurricular activities, especially those that include illegal or controlled substances. Employers don’t want to hear about it, and, frankly, it just isn’t professional . Maybe at the work holiday party after a couple years you and your boss will discover you have a mutual talent for shot-gunning PBR; however, you should wait until that relationship has been established.
Now I’m not hating on all unconventional and/or creative email addresses. I’m just hating on them WHEN YOU PUT THEM IN AN APPLICATION FOR A JOB. You really could be giving people the wrong idea. Think of your email address like the gateway to your interview. Would you show up to an interview and say, “Dude, I just chugged three beers at Happy Hour at Red Robin!” Probably not. So just don’t put it on your resume via your email address.
Now, I must end with my favorite email adresses from applicants over the years. Some are examples of what not to do, while others just made me laugh (details have been changed to protect the innocent):
reallyanemailaddress@…
specialkgirl@
kimberlysdaddy@
ireallyhatethecomputer@…
horselover@…
Meghann featured on ServiceNation’s Videopalooza!
How awesome is WRC Project Supervisor Meghann? VERY AWESOME!
Hard to believe, but she's more awesome than this unicorn.
There are so many reasons why Meghann is awesome, but today the reason is because her “How to Apply to AmeriCorps” video was featured on ServiceNation’s Wednesday Videopalooza!
ServiceNation is a national campaign to increase service opportunities and elevate service as a core ideal and problem-solving strategy in American society. Today’s Videopalooza features social change videos. Also represented in the post are our dear friends AmeriCorps Alums and City Year.
The video is a great resource for walking people through the often challenging AmeriCorps application. Go Meghann!
Confused about Cover Letters?
We don’t require them, but this article from Smashing Magaizine has some great tips for cover letters! Could be useful when inquiring about AmeriCorps positions as well! Check it out: What Make s a Great Cover Letter, According to Companies?
AmeriCorps: not just for youngsters
“Isn’t AmeriCorps only for young people?”
As an AmeriCorps supervisor, a big part of my job is clearing up myths about AmeriCorps. Over the years, I’ve discovered that there are rumors out there, like this one, which prevent people from applying. My hope, along with the rest of the staff in my office, is to debunk the myths of AmeriCorps service. We affectionally call these AmeriLore.
The biggest misconception about AmeriCorps is that only people between the ages of 18-25 can serve. Although programs exist which only hire 18-25 year olds (City Year, Earth Corps, Individual Placement) the majority of AmeriCorps positions welcomes people of all ages.
In my office, none of our AmeriCorps programs have upper age limits. For this I am thankful because we get a richness of education, skills, experience, and histories among our members.
Consider the team of 81 members we have at Serve Northwst WA: 36% of our members are over the age of 25. On the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act team (ARRA), 50% of the members are over the age of 30. True, the majority of members on our teams are in the 18-25 year old bracket, but our agency represents a wide range of ages. Our youngest member is 18 and our oldest is 66.
Although some of you more mature folks might cringe at the idea of working with someone fresh out of high school, and some of you folks fresh out of high school might think working with someone outside of your age range would be, like, totally horrible; but I’ve seen success in intergenerational working relationships. It is amazing what we can learn from each other. AmeriCorps is a great opportunity for people of all backgrounds and ages to share their skills.
I wish more folks over the age of 30 would apply for AmeriCorps positions. Serving in AmeriCorps is a great way to start fresh, try a new career path, move somewhere different, or do something meaningful during your retirement. A retired human services exec served as a VISTA for four years in one of our school based programs. He made such an impact on his community that a group of students raised money to build a bench in his honor on the school grounds.
Even better is that with the new Serve America Act, there is legislation which makes AmeriCorps education awards transferable. That means that if you aren’t going to use your education award, your child or grandchild can. How cool is that?
Please help us all spread the word that AmeriCorps is for all ages. We want all of you!
AmeriCorps isn’t for Everyone
Meghan Oakley said it best: AmeriCorps is not for everyone. If you’re considering joining AmeriCorps, I ur
ge you to consider why you want to join, and if you’re ready. Here are some things to consider to help you figure it out.
Five reasons to join AmeriCorps:
- “I have a healthy sense of what I can accomplish in a year.” People who end up in national service are often a tad idealistic. We all want to do great things, but sometimes the reality of what we can accomplish does not meet our expectations. Knowing that you won’t change the world in your term of service is an important consideration for your own mental and emotional health. It never hurts to let your potential AmeriCorps supervisors know that you get it.
- “I’m really motivated to make my community a better place.” Okay, so you probably shouldn’t be expecting to change the world in a year, but that doesn’t mean that the work you do won’t have a huge impact. If you see an immediate need in your community (or in general), AmeriCorps service can be a great way to help address it. If you’re excited about affecting change in your community, say so!
- “I’m ready to make a commitment. ” An AmeriCorps State member serves 10 1/2 months, and an AmeriCorps VISTA serves for 12 months. This is a full-time commitment, and a lot of people are counting on you to see it through. As you’re researching programs, seriously consider if you can see yourself working with them for that long.
- “I want to get real experience, and I’m willing to work hard to do so.” AmeriCorps positions are perfect for people who are in transition and may be looking to gain real-world experience. In the regular job market, so-called “entry-level” positions often still have experience requirements… But how do you get the experience if you’re not qualified already? AmeriCorps, of course! National service positions may have some desired qualifications, but are often willing to train new members if they exhibit potential for growth. Make sure you express what areas you are strong in on your application, but don’t forget to share how you want to grow from your AmeriCorps experience.
- “I enjoy a challenge.” AmeriCorps service is rewarding, but it is hard work. You won’t make much, you’ll work long hours, and you may not see the fruits of your labor for awhile. I’m not trying to discourage you from serving, quite the contrary: I want you to WANT it so bad that you’ll wear the challenge like a badge of honor. Know what you’re getting yourself into and let your potential project know just how ready you are to meet the challenges of your service year head-on.
Five reasons NOT to join AmeriCorps
- “I really-really-really need an Education Award.” It’s a sweet perk, and it will most definitely come in handy if you want to go back to school or have a pile of student loan debt like I do, but it should not be your biggest motivation for serving.
- “I know this one person who did it and L-O-V-E-D it.” That’s awesome! But don’t forget: Every project and experience is different. They may have had a great time, but don’t let it color your expectations. Make sure you find the right service opportunity for you.
- “I desperately need a paycheck.” With our economy in the shape it is a lot of people are out of work. You may really need a paycheck, but I cannot stress enough that if your only motivation is “getting paid” you will probably not be a successful member. Remember: The pay really isn’t that great. You have to really want to do the work you’re applying for to make it worth it.
- “I’ll work on a team if I have to.” Oh man, y’all. If you’re applying for AmeriCorps, especially for AmeriCorps State positions, there’s a good chance you’ll be working on a team. At the Washington Reading Corps, for example, you’ll work on a small team at your school site and a larger team at the project level. Nearly everything you do will be on a team. That doesn’t mean that you won’t have any independent work, but it does mean that if deep down you hate working on a team, you probably want to find a different line of work.
- “I don’t like putting in extra work hours.” AmeriCorps members typically work 40 hours a week, but there are many times when they have to put in more than that. You might have to work full-time at your site and then participate in an 8-hour service project on a Saturday, or stay late one night to prepare for an event. Does putting in extra hours sounds like something you’re willing to do?
‘Tis the Season!
We’re gearing up for recruitment season here at the Northwest Washington Reading Corps, and as such we’ve been coming up with lots of new materials. Check out our latest additions by going to our Program Info!
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