AmeriCorps programs provide opportunities for Americans to make an intensive commitment to service. The AmeriCorps network of local, state, and national service programs engages more than 80,000 Americans in projects around the nation each year. As an AmeriCorps member, you can help make the world a better place: help children learn, protect the environment, or bring needed services to a low-income community. Members gain valuable professional, educational, and life benefits, and the experience has a lasting impact on the members and the communities they serve.

Most AmeriCorps members receive student loan deferment and training, and some may receive a living allowance and health insurance. After you complete your term of service, you will also receive a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award to help pay for college, graduate school, or vocational training or to repay student loans.

AmeriCorps consists of three main programs:

AmeriCorps State and National

Members serve with national and local nonprofit and community groups. For more information and current opportunities, visit https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/publicRequestSearch.do (My AmeriCorps).

AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA)

Members serve full time with agencies and organizations to create and expand programs that bring low income individuals and communities out of poverty. For more information, visit the AmeriCorps website at www.americorps.gov or call 1-800-833-3722.

AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC)

Members carry out projects in public safety, the environment, youth development, and disaster relief and preparedness in a team-based environment. For more information visit, the NCCC website at http://www.nationalservice.gov/programs/americorps/americorps-nccc.

For more information on AmeriCorps and eligibility requirements, visit the New Mexico Commission for Community Volunteerism site at http://www.dws.state.nm.us/nmccv/.

The Peace Corps is one of the most recognized volunteer organizations in the country. It was established in the 1960s to promote peace and help individuals all over the world build a better life for themselves and their communities. Over 220,000 Americans have served in over 140 countries.

Peace Corps volunteers make a 27-month commitment and are expected to live in a manner similar to the residents of the local community they are assigned. In their assignments, volunteers work on a variety of projects with the community, small businesses, local governments, and schools. Volunteer participation can range from HIV/AIDS education to projects that promote sustainable development; it all depends on the needs of the community. Projects and programs are continuously changing to address global needs as they arise.

Volunteers receive foreign language education, international experience, and technical training. These skills are valuable and can serve as a foundation to a successful career, regardless of the career you pursue. Visit the Peace Corps website at www.peacecorps.gov for more information.

Are you curious about joining the military? Military service provides training and education for hundreds of occupations that can transfer over to the civilian sector. It also can be a lasting career as part of our national defense. A career with the military gives you the opportunity to make a living, and a difference, in the world. Entering the military is a big decision, however, because service requires commitment and self-discipline.

The military offers many benefits, including job security, college assistance, career advancement, health insurance, retirement benefits, and self-development. If you're interested in military service or a career in the military, talk it over with friends and family, including some that have served in the armed forces. Take a look at the different branches (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard) to see which will offer opportunities that best fit your career goals. You can also serve part-time through the Reserves or the National Guard. Use the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) Career Exploration Program to decide which career is right for you. You can find the ASVAB Career Exploration tool at http://www.asvabprogram.com.

To join the military, applicants must meet age, educational, aptitude, physical, and character requirements. Requirements and the enlistment periods, basic training, occupational training, and programs all vary by branch of service. Contact a local recruiter for details. Find a local recruiter by following the links below.

Military Branch Websites

• Army: www.goarmy.com
• Navy: www.navy.com
• Marine Corps: www.marines.mil
• Air Force: www.airforce.com
• Coast Guard: www.uscg.mil
• National Guard: www.nationalguard.com

Job Corps is a no-cost education and training program for young people at least 16 years old who qualify as low-income. Job Corps' mission is to teach young adults the skills they need to become employable and independent and place them in meaningful careers or education programs.

Through self-paced programs, Job Corps provides realistic educational and job training experiences and independent living skills training that prepare youth for stable, long-term, high paying jobs. Classroom, hands-on, and work-based learning opportunities are offered in over 100 technical career areas. Students who qualify may take advanced training courses at their community college or at Job Corps Center sites.

Students enrolled in a Job Corps program receive housing, meals, basic medical care, and biweekly living allowances in addition to transitional support services, including help locating a job, housing, child care, and transportation.

New Mexico has two Job Corp Centers—one in Albuquerque and one in Roswell. To learn more about Job Corps, visit www.jobcorps.gov or call 1-800-733-JOBS (5627).

An apprenticeship is one of the best opportunities to get hands-on training and classroom education in a skilled trade. People in an apprenticeship program, called apprentices, learn their skilled trade while working on the job. Registered apprenticeship programs usually last from one to five years, and the apprentice receives a nationally-recognized certificate of completion at the end of the program. Apprentices learn from the best. They’re either trained by a master craftsman or an expert in the field and earn wages as they learn.

If you think you might be interested in being an apprentice, visit the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions’ apprenticeship program website at www.dws.state.nm.us/Job-Seeker/Jobs-and-Careers/Apprenticeship.

An internship is an opportunity to gain real-world experience in a specific career or industry by working for a company or organization for a fixed period of time. Getting experience through an internship will give you a competitive edge when applying for college and/or jobs. An internship will also help you narrow down the list of careers you’re interested in and give you critical networking resources.

Internships can be paid or unpaid. When you intern, make sure you listen, observe, and participate in as many projects as possible. Ask questions and use the internship as a first-step in building your professional path. Take it seriously—the company/organization and people will be good references for you in the future if you make a good impression.

5 Reasons to Intern

• Gain Experience: Many skills are best learned on the job, and an internship will give you a head-start on developing those skills.
• Learn About Professional Settings: The professional environment is very different than the school environment. Find out how to interact and engage in ways that will ensure your success in the world of work.
• Get Insight: Test the waters in a career to see if it’s right for you before you invest in more education or find a full-time job.
• Expand Your Network: Make positive connections with people and start to build the professional network that will be invaluable throughout your career.
• Find Employment Opportunities: Many companies look to their interns when hiring for permanent positions.

Your #1 Resource: Internships | Students Work

Internships | Students Work is the central online hub linking students and job seekers to employers offering career experience opportunities, including internships. On Internships | Students Work, you can browse internship opportunities, prepare application materials, apply for internships, and connect with employers. Visit Internship | Students Work today!

www.dws.state.nm.us/internships

If you’re interested in starting your own business, entrepreneurship may be right for you! Starting your own business is risky, however, so know about entrepreneurship before you get started and learn about the resources available to help you. Here are the first two things to think about:

The Business Plan

A big part of any business startup is developing a business plan. A business plan includes a description of the business and details on how and why it will be successful (e.g., demand, competition, marketing, operating procedures, and financial needs for equipment, supplies, and personnel).

Financing Your Business

It takes a lot of capital (money) to start up a business. You might use some personal savings to finance your business or you might apply for a business loan or other type of financing.

One of New Mexico’s best resources for entrepreneurs is the New Mexico Economic Development Department. Visit https://gonm.biz/business-development/start/ for resources on how to get your business off the ground. The site also has a list of business incubators, business accelerators, and other organizations that are there to help you turn your idea into a reality.  

Volunteering is a great way to learn valuable skills while finding out more about the career you’re interested in. Volunteering helps you gain experience, build skills, engage yourself in the community, meet new people, and develop your résumé. You might find out you really like the career field you’re volunteering in, or that you don’t like it at all. Either way, you have a different perspective than you did before that will help you make career decisions.

Volunteering can also help you network with others. Spending time with people who share your professional and personal interests is a great way to make professional contacts. The people you volunteer with and the organization you volunteer for can be used as professional references when applying for colleges and jobs. They can also help in other ways, such as setting up informational interviews, internships, and job shadowing experiences and providing mentorship and career advice.

Reach out to the organizations you’re interested in to learn about available volunteer opportunities. Don’t forget to ask friends, family, and teachers about opportunities they might know about.