Top five reasons NOT to join AmeriCorps

by Meghan Oakley

categories: Program Fit, Tips for Applicants

Published May 11, 2009 @ 10:05AM PT

Okay. You would think that a blog dedicated to promoting AmeriCorps and helping people learn about all the AmeriCorps opportunities out there wouldn't also be highlighting why you shouldn't be joining. But that is what I'm going to do. As some who not only did an AmeriCorps program, but also now directs one, I know that AmeriCorps is not for everyone. This is lesson #1.

One of the unique things about AmeriCorps that sets it apart from other opportunities (like a job or graduate school) is that it is a commitment that impacts A LOT of people. Most AmeriCorps members commit to terms of service of 10 months or one year. If you get into a position and decide.... hmmm... I don't think that this is right for me... I'm just going to leave now... That is not cool. Not only does leaving your service early (or being miserable the whole time) impact you, but it impacts your project site, the staff, the community that you serve, and the people that you serve beside.

I'm not saying that taking a job or going to graduate school is less a commitment or less serious than serving as an AmeriCorps member, but the commitment is of a different sort. Since there isn't a lot of monetary gain in joining AmeriCorps, you really have to want it. It can be a very rewarding experience, but one that can be equally challenging. So how do you know that you are ready to commit to a year of service? Let's start with the top reasons NOT to join AmeriCorps:

1. Because your cousin Taylor did and he loved it and was so happy: A lot of people find out about AmeriCorps opportunities through friends and family. And honestly, getting a first-person account of an experience can be really helpful in deciding whether you want to serve as an AmeriCorps member. But it is really important to remember that there are thousands of AmeriCorps positions out there and each one has its own unique characteristics and not every position is a perfect fit for every person. You and your cousin Taylor could serve in the same position and have totally different experiences. The important thing is that you figure out which (if any) AmeriCorps program is right for you.
2. Because it looks good on your resume: There is a lot of evidence out there that shows that AmeriCorps members go on to do some pretty amazing work in the non-profit sector and that their year as an AmeriCorps member gave them the experience to do just that. However (and this is a big however), I can guarantee you that if you are going into an AmeriCorps position just to put it on your resume or say that you served, you probably won't have a great experience. A year of service can seem like a lifetime if you aren't invested in the work that you are doing in the moment.
3. Because you don't want to get a "real" job: I know that it doesn't come with a fat paycheck and a corner office, but an AmeriCorps position is a "real" as it gets. If you are graduating from school and aren't ready for the 9-5, you probably won't be ready for the (sometimes) 60 hour weeks that AmeriCorps positions can bring.
4. Because you want to live in (insert exotic destination here): When I tell people that my AmeriCorps service brought me to Maui for two months, they say "Ooo.. Ahh.. that is the life!" And then I mention that we spent Tuesday-Saturday from 8am-5pm cutting down and removing (heavy) non-native trees in the hot Maui sun just yards from the beach. It was like watching a Corona commercial on an airport TV when your flight to Detroit is late. Doesn't matter how pretty it looks... you aren't living the commercial. That's not to say that I didn't enjoy my service in Maui or feel grateful that we got a project there. My point is that your experiences tends to be about 96% about what you are doing (i.e. dragging trees through the sand) and about 4% of where you are. So remember... even though San Francisco or Boston or Miami might sound exciting... don't forget what you are going to do.
5. Because you want to change the world in one year: Call me a cynic, but I think that this is some of the best advice that I received before I started my service in AmeriCorps is that although I was probably going to have an impact on the communities that I served and people I served with, I was not going to change the world in one year. If you go in with expectations of overarching social change as a result of your individual effort, you are going to be disappointed. It takes lots of people and time and commitment to positively impact a community, so remember that you are part of a larger process and not going leave having changed the world.