City Year AmeriCorps Member Pre-Interview Information

Culture and diversity

City Year’s culture is based on the foundation of teamwork and diversity. We embrace diversity of every kind and see differences as strengths that help us meet our goals to get students to graduation. The communities we work in are incredibly diverse. The unique perspectives of our diverse teams enable us to provide the greatest impact for the students we serve. Having a team with different interests, work styles, backgrounds, and experiences helps us ensure there is someone who can connect with and get through to every single student.

The City Year uniform is a symbol of our full-time commitment to service. Please click here for additional information about uniform requirements.

What we look for

• Experience as a tutor, mentor, coach or leader
• Experience working on diverse teams
• Experience working with children
• Demonstration of perseverance in difficult situations
• Commitment to your work and completion of the service year

During the interview, we look for and assess applicants who demonstrate the following competencies:

• Commitment to a cause greater than self
• Cultural Empathy
• Self-Management
• Growth Mindset
• Solution Oriented
• Relationship Building

To learn more about what to expect and how to prepare for the interview, please watch this video.

Eligibility requirements

• A minimum of a high school diploma or GED
• Able to dedicate 11 months to service
• Between the ages of 17*-25
• U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident
• Have served no more than four terms in an AmeriCorps State or National Direct program
• Agree to complete a background or security check

*Must have GED or high school diploma and parent/legal guardian signature required upon onboarding.

Position requirements

• Student Success Coach
  • This is a full-time commitment – a 1700 hour role that averages 10-12 hours per day, Monday through Friday.

• Afterschool Enrichment Coach
  • This is a 900 hour role that averages 25 hours per week, Monday through Friday.
  • This position is offered in Memphis, Little Rock, and New York only.

• School Day Learning Coach
  • There are two roles for this position: a 1200 or 900 hour role. Service terms vary by location.
  • The 1200 hour role averages 35-40 hours per week, Monday through Friday. This position is offered in Boston, Cleveland, Detroit, New York, Orlando, Washington DC, and Little Rock only.
  • The 900 hour role averages 25 hours per week, Monday through Friday. This position is offered in Baton Rouge, Buffalo, New Hampshire, and Los Angeles only.

• The minimum hours requirement (1700, 1200, or 900, depending on the role) must be completed within 11 months to successfully graduate the program and receive all benefits.
• For special training and events, each role may be required to occasionally work hours outside their typical schedule.
• The term of service with City Year is generally from late July until the following June unless stated otherwise by your specific City Year Site. Please note: there will be a mandatory in-person registration day prior to your first day of service. Registration, training, and start dates will be communicated to you as soon as they become available. Failure to show up for registration day will result in a withdrawal of your acceptance in the program.

Benefits

Over the course of your service year, you’ll receive a wide variety of exciting benefits. Please explore the full list of benefits here.*

*Benefits and education award amounts are subject to change. Updates for the 2024-25 service year will become available in the spring of 2024.

Education Award Amount (2024-25 service year):

1700 hours: $7,395.00

1200 hours: $5,176.50

900 hours: $ 3,697.50

Housing

City Year does not provide housing for AmeriCorps members. You will be responsible for securing your own housing. If you are offered a position to serve with City Year, you will be introduced to your local Service Year Advisor, who will provide information and resources to identify affordable housing and to secure roommates if needed.

Deadlines and processing timelines

Applications are processed on a rolling basis. We will process your application according to the timeline below.

Interviews: Interviews will take place within one to two weeks upon submission of your application.*

Notification: We will notify you of our admissions decision within one to two weeks of your interview. Decisions are given every Thursday.**

Confirmation: If selected to serve, you will have until the following Friday from your notification date to either accept or decline your offer.***

If you are not offered a position with City Year, you may reapply for the following service year as long as you continue to meet the eligibility requirements.

*We cannot grant an admissions decision without a valid, complete recommendation form on file. Friends, family members, and neighbors cannot serve as a professional reference.

**You will interview for the location you applied to. If you would like to be considered for another location, please contact your National Admissions Counselor.

***If there are no spots available at your primary location and you are a qualified applicant, we may extend a transfer offer. You will work with your National Admissions Counselor to transfer your application to one of our other available locations.

Eligibility and background check

If you have served four terms (of any length) in an AmeriCorps State or National program you are not eligible to join City Year. If you accept a City Year AmeriCorps member position, you will be required to bring proof of citizenship and employment eligibility documentation to Registration Day. An original Social Security Card is also required. If you cannot demonstrate that you are a US Citizen or Legal Permanent Resident, you are not eligible to serve.

Valid documentation is either:

• US passport
• US Birth Certificate & government issued photo ID
• Legal Permanent Resident Card

Background Check: All AmeriCorps members are required to complete a criminal background check including a National Sex Offender search, FBI Fingerprint search and state searches in their current state of residence and in the state where they will be serving. Applicants who are listed on the National Sex Offender website or have been convicted of murder are not eligible. All other criminal records will be reviewed on a case by case basis.

Vacation, holiday & breaks

City Year AmeriCorps Members are required to serve from the first official day of the program through graduation day. Throughout the year, there will be required events for everyone to attend. A full list of dates will be provided at the beginning of the year.

Please note that our AmeriCorps members serve during most school vacations, except Thanksgiving and the holiday break in December. AmeriCorps members receive most Federal Holidays off. Twelve additional days off are granted for religious holidays, illness, doctor appointments, or academic/career interviews. However, these requests must first be approved by your supervisor.

Transportation and contact information

Additional questions

If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact the National Admissions Team.