Jobs for Change - The Wrong Reason (and the Right Ones) to Leave AmeriCorps Early

The Wrong Reason (and the Right Ones) to Leave AmeriCorps Early

categories: Tips for Applicants, AmeriCorps

Published November 05, 2009 @ 03:35PM PT

One question that I get a lot from people interested in applying for AmeriCorps is: "If I find a better job, can I leave early?" Technically, yes. Would I recommend it? No. Of course, there are plenty of situations that would require someone to "honorably" leave their service early. Which ones are which? Read on.

Before I go into the good reasons and the bad reasons to leave your service early, I would like to note exactly how AmeriCorps is different from many full-time jobs in this regard. Specifically, it is a different kind of commitment:

When you join AmeriCorps, you commitment to 10 months to 2 years of service, and AmeriCorps commits to you. Although you technically can leave early, you take an oath that you won't.

People and communities are hurt when you leave early. Why? Chances are that a nonprofit has jumped through a lot of hoops to get you to their organization (trust me, I make the hoops). If you leave, they might not be able to get someone to replace you, and the service will go undone.

So what are the right reasons and wrong reasons to leave AmeriCorps early?

WRONG REASON: You found a higher paying job. (If it was money you are after, you shouldn't join AmeriCorps anyway)

RIGHT REASON: You have a family emergency that requires you to take care of a family member full-time

WRONG REASON: You don't like your boss.

RIGHT REASON: The person who first developed your project has left, and they have decided to re-assign your position.

WRONG REASON: It wasn't EXACTLY what you expected.

RIGHT REASON: You have a medical condition that keeps you from serving.

So how do you avoid getting yourself into a situation where you want to quit for the wrong reasons? Make sure that you ask the right questions in your interview and that you don't join AmeriCorps for the wrong reasons.

Photo Attribution: eHow.

Share this Post

Comments (2)

What if your Americorps "job" makes you so miserable, so unhappy, so depressed that some days you come home thinking that everything is hopeless, you're in the wrong place and you'll never be happy again; furthermore, your supervisor is inane, your work is infused with so much bureaucracy it's almost impossible and your organization is extremely hypocritical and greenwashy? Is that a good reason?

Posted by Max w. on 12/24/2009 @ 08:42AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Max
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
Thanks for your post.From want you are saying, it sounds like you have already made up your mind that your AmeriCorps position is not for you and its time to move on. Despite this, I would recommend thinking about these questions:

Have you sought internal or external conflict mediation with your supervisor? (Many AmeriCorps program offer this support)

Have you tried to address your issues with your organizational environment in a constructive way?

If the answers to these questions is yes, but nothing improved, then I would consider transferring to a new project or ending your service early.

Posted by Meghan Oakley on 12/31/2009 @ 11:13AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Meghan
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply

Add a Comment

For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

Comment

Check Spelling

Email me when there are new posts to this thread
Comment Policy

Comments on Change.org are meant for further exploration and evaluation of the ideas covered in the posts. To that end, we welcome constructive comments. However, we reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive, abusive, or off-topic; that contain ad hominem attacks; or that are designed to subvert or hijack comment threads rather than contribute to them. Repeat offenders may be permanently removed from the site at our discretion.

Author

Meghan currently serves as the Project Manager for the AmeriCorps*VISTA Program at Pennsylvania Campus Compact. In 2004, Meghan served as a Corps Member in the Western Region of AmeriCorps*National Civilian Community Corps.

Most Popular Jobs for Change Articles

This Week This Month

Change.org

Home

Job Listings

Questions & Answers

Employers