Ever wondered about joining the AmeriCorps program? One college graduate details her experience as an AmeriCorps VISTA for teens and young adults looking to take their service to the next level.
Introduce yourself!
My name is Candace, and I am an AmeriCorps VISTA member serving at the United Way of Westchester and Putnam. I am originally from Massachusetts, and after college I moved to Connecticut to accept a VISTA position in New York to learn about the nonprofit industry.
What inspired you to apply?
After graduating college and completing an internship, I knew I wanted to work at a nonprofit because I enjoy helping others and contributing to a purpose that has an impact beyond financial gain. However, almost all of the positions I was interested in required experience that I didn’t have. Then I found an AmeriCorps VISTA position for food insecurity posted on Handshake. I had heard of AmeriCorps VISTA from a previous supervisor who had participated in the program and spoke highly of the experience it provided, so I decided to apply.
"If you are interested in a career working with local communities—especially with nonprofits or government agencies—I suggest applying for the AmeriCorps VISTA program because it provides basic training in all areas of the nonprofit industry and allows you to deeply understand the issues of the people you serve."
What was the application process like? Are there any eligibility requirements?
The application process is simple! Go to the AmeriCorps.gov website and search “AmeriCorps VISTA application” where you can fill out the application. It will ask you for your contact information as well as your interests, education, work experience, skills, and motivation for volunteering. It also asks for two references and their contact information, who are then contacted via email to complete a reference form.
To be eligible for an AmeriCorps VISTA position, applicants must be 18 or older and hold one of the following citizenship or legal residency statuses: U.S. citizen, U.S. National, Lawful Permanent Resident (i.e. Green Card status), and persons legally residing within a state. After applying, I was contacted by AmeriCorps to schedule an interview with a VISTA leader. In this interview, the role was explained to me; I asked clarifying questions, and then I was asked if I wanted my application passed to project sites. (Of course I said yes!) Next, I was contacted by the project site—in my case United Way of Westchester and Putnam—to schedule a virtual interview. I then met with United Way’s Director of Impact and Chief Impact Officer for a virtual interview.
What types of projects did you complete during your time at the United Way?
As a VISTA for the United Way, all of the projects I completed were focused on increasing capacity for food security and hunger relief organizations. For example, I worked with partners such as Volunteer New York! to create a series of training videos to increase their nonprofit partners’ capacity to manage volunteers. I also worked to construct a departmental strategic framework with a food bank. I analyzed and presented program feedback from surveys, created content for online food and social justice challenges, and helped with fundraising through donation requests and grant applications. Through all of these projects, I was able to learn about different departments and their functions while gaining valuable professional skills that I can use to advance my career.
What skills helped you with this role? What skills did you learn?
This role required really strong communication and time management skills. Examples of strong communication include asking questions for clarity, actively listening, and relaying important information to other team members. Time management is an essential skill for any industry! VISTAs often push forward multiple projects at one time, meaning that it is essential for you to be able to prioritize tasks and work efficiently.
What are the benefits of being an AmeriCorps VISTA?
AmeriCorps offers VISTA members benefits that include a biweekly living allowance, noncompetitive eligibility for federal jobs, healthcare benefits, an end-of-service monetary award, and professional development opportunities. Additionally as a VISTA, I was offered numerous opportunities to attend networking breakfasts, conferences, and trainings; build my resume; and develop professional references. As a VISTA, you also receive 20 PTO days along with 10+ holidays!
Do you have any advice for a teen or young adult looking for the next step in their career or service?
If you are interested in a career working with local communities—especially with nonprofits or government agencies—I suggest applying for the AmeriCorps VISTA program because it provides basic training in all areas of the nonprofit industry and allows you to deeply understand the issues of the people you serve.
How can someone apply?
My position is open! Apply for an AmeriCorps VISTA position at the United Way of Westchester and Putnam by sending your resume to the Director of Community Impact, Avery Zuvic, at azuvic@uwwp.org. Or you can visit the Careers page on United Way of Westchester and Putnam’s website and find the UWWP VISTA listing (linked below)!
What's next for you?
Now that I've completed my VISTA service, I'm working on securing a nonprofit job where I can organize and deliver programs to local communities. This way, not only can I participate in hands-on service—something I really loved during my time at the United Way of Westchester and Putnam—but I can also continue to enjoy the behind-the-scenes work of program development, such as researching and planning impactful activities. Being an AmeriCorps VISTA helped me to narrow down my career focus, which centers around fundraising and development, and impact and programming.
Thank you, Candace!