How to ApplyHow to Apply

AmeriCorps AmeriCorps VISTAVISTA

Created by: Angela Soto (2009)

What is AmeriCorps VISTA?What is AmeriCorps VISTA?

Your world, your chance to make it better.

As an AmeriCorps*VISTA you'll act on As an AmeriCorps*VISTA you'll act on your passion to help eliminate poverty. your passion to help eliminate poverty.

You'll be the organizer, the builder, and You'll be the organizer, the builder, and thethe social entrepreneur whose job it is to social entrepreneur whose job it is to tap the potential of a community. tap the potential of a community.

The Possibilities are Endless..

Reaching Your PotentialReaching Your Potential

You may start a new program or take over You may start a new program or take over from an outgoing AmeriCorps*VISTA member. from an outgoing AmeriCorps*VISTA member.

You will strengthen your skills in You will strengthen your skills in management, fundraising, training, and management, fundraising, training, and communication. communication.

You'll expand your interpersonal and You'll expand your interpersonal and leadership skills as you work with people from leadership skills as you work with people from all walks of life. Also, you'll feel personally all walks of life. Also, you'll feel personally satisfied when you realize the difference satisfied when you realize the difference you've made.you've made.

Who Is Eligible to Who Is Eligible to Participate?Participate? To qualify, you must be at least 18+ To qualify, you must be at least 18+

years old. years old. Most programs seek members with Most programs seek members with

college degrees or at least three college degrees or at least three years of work experience. years of work experience.

You should have good interpersonal You should have good interpersonal skills and understand that achieving skills and understand that achieving measurable results takes time.  measurable results takes time. 

What Are the Benefits of What Are the Benefits of Service?Service?

As an AmeriCorps*VISTA member, you'll As an AmeriCorps*VISTA member, you'll receive a modest living allowance. receive a modest living allowance.

You'll receive health insurance, training You'll receive health insurance, training and travel expenses, and be able to delay and travel expenses, and be able to delay paying back your student loans while you paying back your student loans while you serve.serve.

When you complete a year of service, you'll When you complete a year of service, you'll receive an education award of $5,550 receive an education award of $5,550

This award can be used to help pay for This award can be used to help pay for college, graduate school, vocational college, graduate school, vocational training, or to pay off student loans. Or, training, or to pay off student loans. Or, you may choose to receive a stipend of you may choose to receive a stipend of $1,500 instead of the education award.  $1,500 instead of the education award. 

What is the Term of What is the Term of Service?Service? As an AmeriCorps*VISTA member, As an AmeriCorps*VISTA member,

you will serve full-time for at least you will serve full-time for at least one year.one year.

Participants serve on average about Participants serve on average about 35-40 hours per week.35-40 hours per week.

It’s Easy to Register!It’s Easy to Register! New Applicants may only apply online viaNew Applicants may only apply online via

the AmeriCorps website:the AmeriCorps website:

http://www.americorps.gov/ Click on the link entitled “JoinClick on the link entitled “Join AmeriCorps” AmeriCorps” Then select your project of interest and Then select your project of interest and

the state in which you choose to serve the state in which you choose to serve in.in.

Next, you click on the apply link and Next, you click on the apply link and you will be asked to “Create a Profile”. you will be asked to “Create a Profile”.

Creating a ProfileCreating a Profile You will be asked to provide your You will be asked to provide your

personal identifying information personal identifying information including your name, Social Security including your name, Social Security Number (Number (SSN), date of birth, and e-SSN), date of birth, and e-mail.mail.

This information is necessary in order This information is necessary in order to enable the system to locate your to enable the system to locate your application.application.

You will then need to create a user You will then need to create a user name and password.name and password.

Components of ApplicationComponents of Application Each portion of the application is indexed Each portion of the application is indexed

by tabs which pertain to the info you must by tabs which pertain to the info you must provide.provide.

The application is categorized by basic The application is categorized by basic information, educational background, information, educational background, experience and skills, community service, a experience and skills, community service, a motivational statement, criminal history, motivational statement, criminal history, and references. and references.

Within each tab you will answer a brief Within each tab you will answer a brief questionnaire on its corresponding topic.questionnaire on its corresponding topic.

Key Key ApplicationApplication Pointers Pointers Take your time and save your Take your time and save your

application often.application often. Get a second opinion of your resume Get a second opinion of your resume

before submittal, preferably by a before submittal, preferably by a professional.professional.

Write down any skills or important Write down any skills or important information that you left out.information that you left out.

Only apply to projects that you will Only apply to projects that you will commit to.commit to.

Try to use references that are either Try to use references that are either academic or work related.academic or work related.

What What IfIf You Forget Your You Forget Your Password?Password?

You would then click on the link entitled You would then click on the link entitled “Forgot your password?” (Or if you forgot “Forgot your password?” (Or if you forgot your user name you would click on its your user name you would click on its corresponding link)corresponding link)

In this case you would need your email and In this case you would need your email and user name in order to retrieve your user name in order to retrieve your password.password.

Saving Your ApplicationSaving Your Application You can save your application so that You can save your application so that

you may complete it at your you may complete it at your convenience at a later time.convenience at a later time.

You must also have an updated You must also have an updated resume available so that the resume available so that the information on your application is up information on your application is up to date.to date.

You must have the emails of your You must have the emails of your references ready so that you may references ready so that you may send reference requests through the send reference requests through the system and complete your application.system and complete your application.

Important Resume TipsImportant Resume Tips Utilize local resources in your Utilize local resources in your

community to assist you in creating community to assist you in creating your resume such as workshops, your resume such as workshops, college resource centers, internet or college resource centers, internet or career development centers.career development centers.

Make sure you list at least the Make sure you list at least the previous five years of work previous five years of work experience on your resume as well as experience on your resume as well as your education and volunteer work.your education and volunteer work.

How to Search ProjectsHow to Search Projects

1.Click on search listing on left side of 1.Click on search listing on left side of screen.screen.

2. Select Program type then choose: VISTA2. Select Program type then choose: VISTA3.Then choose the state and program 3.Then choose the state and program

name.name.For example: New England Farm Workers.For example: New England Farm Workers.4. Click on the title of the agency that is in 4. Click on the title of the agency that is in

blue and it will redirect you..blue and it will redirect you..5.Click on “Click to apply” and then select 5.Click on “Click to apply” and then select

“Submit”.“Submit”.

Submit Your ApplicationSubmit Your Application Congratulations, you are done!Congratulations, you are done! You may now apply to different You may now apply to different

projects until your application is projects until your application is chosen by an agency and you start chosen by an agency and you start your service, so choose wisely!your service, so choose wisely!

ReferencesReferences

AmeriCorps (2009) retrieved July 29, AmeriCorps (2009) retrieved July 29, 2009 2009 http://www.americorps.gov/

Any Questions?Any Questions?

Contact InfoContact Info

Jessica QuintanaJessica Quintana

Lead VISTALead VISTA

Recruitment SpecialistRecruitment Specialist

(413)536-5403 x 223(413)536-5403 x 223

jquintana@partnersforcommunity.orgjquintana@partnersforcommunity.org