About this role
Support Medical Students and Professionals with Career Development
Description: A Ukrainian university delivers undergraduate and postgraduate education in medicine, dentistry, and healthcare-related fields, while actively engaging in academic research, clinical training, and international collaboration.
Medical students and young healthcare professionals face a significant gap in career development skills, including career planning, professional self-presentation, creating resumes and curriculum vitaes (CVs), and writing cover letters. While participants possess strong technical and clinical training, limited exposure to structured career development and conversational practice constrains their access to global education pathways, research collaboration, residencies, and international exchange. The engagement will address this need through a structured curriculum, supporting approximately 20–25 participants, primarily senior medical students and young professionals aged 18–35.
The university is seeking the support of one Virtual Service Pilot Participant (VSPP) to support a career development and communication club for medical students and young medical professionals. The VSPP would fill the gap for English-language career coaching and professional communication that is not locally available. The VSPP will design and facilitate 1-hour weekly sessions over the engagement period, delivering interactive workshops, guided practice, and feedback on career planning, CVs, LinkedIn profiles, interview skills, and goal setting for international medical and academic contexts.
The organization has not previously collaborated with the Peace Corps. They understand that the role of a VSPP is very different than a Peace Corps Volunteer or Peace Corps Response Volunteer.
Desired Qualifications: Education: Bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, counseling, healthcare, or related field
Experience: • Virtual engagement and communication • Curriculum and workshop development • Coaching, guiding, and/or mentoring young professionals on career planning (e.g. resume, motivation statement writing, job search on LinkedIn, interviews, etc.) • Understanding and adapting teaching approaches to different conditions and contexts
Required Skills: Education: Bachelor’s degree in any field
Experience: • Teaching, tutoring, mentoring, or coaching young professionals aged 18–35 in any educational institutions or youth clubs • Career consulting /coaching
Intercultural skills and motivation: Flexible, strong cross-cultural agility, high tolerance for ambiguity, able to work independently, resourceful, creative, and genuinely motivated and capable to serve virtually
Host Country Partner’s Mission and Goals: Poltava State Medical University’s mission is to improve public health by delivering high-quality medical and healthcare education, advancing scientific research, and providing professional clinical care. The university is committed to training highly qualified medical specialists and contributing to the development of healthcare systems both in Ukraine and abroad.
Goals of Poltava State Medical University
1. Provide high-quality medical education: Train highly competent, ethical, and socially responsible healthcare professionals who meet national and international standards.
2. Advance scientific research: Promote fundamental and applied research to expand medical knowledge, support innovations, and integrate scientific outcomes into education and clinical practice.
3. Ensure excellence in clinical care: Deliver professional medical services through clinical partnerships, university-based healthcare facilities, and practical training environments to benefit communities.
4. Foster international cooperation: Develop global academic partnerships, student and faculty mobility, and collaborative research projects to strengthen international engagement and professional exchange.
5. Cultivate ethical and nationally conscious leaders: Encourage students to become democratic, culturally aware, nationally conscious professionals who contribute to society’s well-being and global healthcare challenges.
Virtual Service Engagement and Tasks: The VSPP will engage in the following tasks, in collaboration with their host country partners:
• Co-assess current skills and priorities of club members • Co-develop curriculum which will include at least 10–12 sessions that focus on professional development, soft skills, professional presentation skills, job search tips, creating effective LinkedIn profiles etc. • Co-facilitate a weekly 1-hour online session for club members (average number of participants is 20–25, aged 18–35) • Attend a weekly meeting with Ukrainian colleagues for feedback and discussion
VSPPs are expected to engage on the tasks listed above for an estimated 5–15 hours per week. This engagement is estimated to be five hours per week.
Online collaboration will generally occur between 5:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m. Kyiv time. Specific times will be determined during orientation.
The host country counterpart will have access to Zoom, Google Meet, Telegram, emails, and WhatsApp for regular communication and collaboration.
Per the Child Protection Code of Conduct, when engaging online with minors (0–18), two adults must be present.