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Specialist Assignments > FAQ
I live outside the UK. Am I still eligible for specialist assignments?
Right now we’re accepting applications from people of any nationality resident in the European Union (EU) plus Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein. In the future we hope to be able to recruit volunteers for short-term assignments from further afield.
I've got two years' post-qualification experience. Can I do a specialist assignment?
Probably not. Our specialist assignments generally require volunteers with a minimum of five years' experience in their field. This is because the assignments are often highly technical, requiring specialist knowledge in a particular field. So we’re looking for people who can work at senior levels and provide short, sharp consultancy. But it’s possible that you can still volunteer with VSO – if you’ve got at least two years’ post qualification experience, find out about our standard placements.
Can I volunteer with my partner?
You can, but you should bear in mind that you’ve got a lot to achieve in a short space of time, so you won’t get much time to spend with them! There are other practicalities to consider too. If both you and your partner want to volunteer, this relies on 2 requests from our partners overseas that match both your professional skills. Many of our partners ask for only one volunteer. It is unusual for one employer to request two volunteers in the same location at the same time – and even less likely that those two requests will match a particular couple’s skills.
Your prospects of going overseas together are much improved if one of you goes as a volunteer and the other as a non-volunteering partner. We can’t provide financial support for partners, although we do provide health insurance and medical support.
Can I choose the country that I go to?
We look for the best volunteer for each particular assignment and it’s often a great advantage to have an understanding of the context from previous country experience. Choosing particular countries or regions is possible but it may limit the number of assignments we can match you to.
I’ve already done a standard VSO placement. Does that mean I can now do a specialist assignment?
Returned VSO volunteers are well placed to take on specialist assignments as they’ve got lots of experience of working in a developing country. However, it obviously depends on how well your particular skills match our current demand, as not all long-term skills are necessarily used in specialist assignments. We’ll also have to look at how long ago you volunteered with VSO and whether or not you’re considering returning to the same country or organisation.
What timescales are involved?
It usually takes around 12 weeks from being matched to an assignment to getting on a plane. That’s why you need to be available at relatively short notice. Specialist assignments range in duration from less than a month to six months, depending on the requirements of the task.
Can my company get involved in specialist assignments?
We work with companies such as Price Waterhouse Cooper, Accenture and Randstadt who second their staff as part of our corporate partnership with them. They find this really helps them to recruit, retain and develop their staff. We are very keen to develop similar partnerships with more companies and public sector organisations. Find more about your company becoming a VSO business partner.
  
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