If you are having trouble writing your resume, remember your ministry resume should be focused around who you are (as a person), your experience (within the church), your beliefs (ministry philosophy), and your credentials (licensing, ordination, academic training).

We cannot say enough how important it is to create a focused document that showcases your key skills and experiences. A good many jobseekers try to keep the door open by creating a generic document. More often than not, this tactic lands the resume in the “no” file. Be open to God’s Call and the leading of the Holy Spirit and then put pen to paper and highlight your key abilities that provide an answer to an employer’s needs.

Connect with the reader by painting a portrait of who you are. What are some of your best characteristics? Are you a visionary? Energetic? Focused? Show your heart for service to both the church and the community.

Engage the reader through giving examples of your most relevant work. If you are bi-vocational, create two sections. The first should relate your ministry experience in reverse-chronological order (recent-to-old). Part-time, volunteer, and internship experience should be used too (unless it is more than 15 years old). The second employment section (if bi-vocational) should list your secular work experience in reverse-chronological order. Focus on skills that are used in both employment settings — communication, team building, and leadership skills give the reader of glimpse of your related skills and experience.

Focus your education and ministerial section on the degree / certification held. What year? What institution? Recent grads should include GPA and any honors received and may include a list of coursework completed that is related to the job situation they are seeking. Older individuals do not need to list this type of information as, more often than not, their years of experience offers the reader all the insight needed.

Follow up with your personal information and references.

Pastoral candidates and ministry workers need to give the reader a more personal view of their vision for the ministry, their Christian life, and work experiences. A focused document will pique their interest and prompt them to call YOU for an interview!

Thanks for stopping by!

Blessings,

Tammy Shoup, CPRW

Tammy Shoup, CPRW is a Christian Resume Writer dedicated to helping Pastoral Candidates, Ministry Workers, and Christian Job Seekers launch a successful job search campaign. She is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW), Member of the Professional Association of Résumé Writers and National Résumé Writer’s Association. She is also a past member of the Christian Writer’s Guild.

Are you ready to transition from part-time to full-time ministry work? Or, are you working in a mainstream environment and desire to make the move into a ministry setting? If either of these scenarios fit your situation, read on to find a few tips on how to position yourself as a viable candidate for a new career.

In any career transition situation, the job seeker must focus on the most relevant skills and experience they have that meet the employer’s needs. Start the transition process by identifying your career goal (Ministry Resume). This will give your resume focus and direction and then you can begin matching your skills to those needed by the employer.

Create a list of all of your skills. What knowledge do you possess that the employer is looking for (within the ministry)? Are you a seasoned volunteer? Do you use a key transferable skill within a hobby? Think outside your job situations to unearth all of your skills and concentrate on the ones that match the employer’s needs.

Use a profile or skills summary section to showcase your qualifications. Be job specific and use short phrases beginning with action verbs and positive adverbs to capture attention and demonstrate the value you offer.

§         Effectively communicates with all ages, cultures, and personalities

§         Skillfully trains others to ensure smooth flow of business on a daily basis

§         Easily adapts to challenging situations

You can use categories (Communications Skills) followed by bullet points or you can use titles (Communicator) and short phrases to help the reader quickly identify your skills.

Follow-up with your employment history – Job Title, Company name, Dates of Employment. Remember, you have already highlighted your key skills so there is no need to give lengthy job descriptions. Take the time to highlight impressive skills used. Brevity, major areas of responsibility, and achievements are keys to success. As you go further back in time, use less detail in describing your employment history.

Complete your document by including your academic training and / or professional development. Include degree(s) received and any relevant honors or special awards. If you have career related professional affiliations and / or community activities include this information.  

A note about the length of your resume — it should match the amount of experience you have. Keep your document to one or two pages and only use your most relevant, up-to-date information.

When switching careers, choose one that you are passionate about and make sure you can adapt to the demands of that career or industry as a whole. Establish your career objective and focus the entire content of your resume toward that objective.

Thanks for stopping by!

Blessings,

Tammy Shoup, CPRW

Tammy Shoup, CPRW is a Christian Resume Writer dedicated to helping Pastoral Candidates, Ministry Workers, and Christian Job Seekers launch a successful job search campaign. She is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW), Member of the Professional Association of Résumé Writers and National Résumé Writer’s Association. She is also a past member of the Christian Writer’s Guild.

Both Solomon and Jehoshaphat got it right. They sought God’s direction first and then proceeded with their plans. In Chronicles 18:4, Jehoshaphat said, “But first let’s find out what the Lord says.” (NLT). And, King Solomon wrote “Commit your work to the Lord, and then your plans will succeed.” Proverbs 16:3 (NLT).

Both verses remind us to start with God by turning our plans over to Him (first) allowing Him to carry the load and trusting in His sovereignty. When we include God in our plans, He guides our steps according to His purposes. Because we are so very shortsighted and think only of the immediate, this truly saves us a lot of heartache.

How many times have you and I rushed forward without including Him in our plans or even pausing to see if all the pieces of the puzzle fit? We hurry to make progress. We hurry because we are fearful we will miss an opportunity. We hurry to save money or desire more money, recognition, or, perhaps, fame. We have become accustomed to getting what we want, when we want, how we want. We lose sight of our God given purpose and we begin to leave God out of our plans.

It is so easy to make decisions due to wrong priorities. We want to make progress but, in the end, we actually lose time. We lose days, weeks, months, and even years of opportunity to fulfill God’s plan and purpose for our lives. Even so, God in His infinite wisdom and mercy has made a provision for our shortsightedness. In Romans 8:28, we are told, “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (NKJV) I encourage you – the pastoral candidate, the ministry worker, the Christian job seeker – to not take the long way around but rather stop and prayerfully link your career to God’s purposes by seeking His will first for your life and your circumstances.

Both Solomon and Jehoshaphat got it right and we can too! Take a few minutes to weigh your plans and desires. Have you turned them over to the Lord so He can guide your steps? Always be encouraged that God has your best interest at heart. His “no” or “wait” isn’t to punish us. The Creator of the Universe has “the plan” for our success. Trust Him.

I’d love to hear from you …

Blessings,

Tammy

Tammy Shoup, CPRW is a Christian Resume Writer dedicated to helping Pastoral Candidates, Ministry Workers, and Christian Job Seekers launch a successful job search campaign. She is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW), Member of the Professional Association of Résumé Writers and National Résumé Writer’s Association. She is also a past member of the Christian Writer’s Guild.

In the book of Genesis, Lot and his family found themselves in a less than desirable situation. As the situation deteriorated, God made provisions for Lot and his family to safely leave the city. There was one minor stipulation though. Lot and his family were commanded to not look back.

I’ve been familiar with this Biblical story for years but read it one day with fresh eyes. Lot’s wife did not obey God’s command and she was turned into a pillar of salt. I’m pretty sure that a pillar of salt cannot move and the lesson for me was a big one.

When I look back and lament over missed opportunities or when I wish, without action, for a different outcome, my attitude becomes overcast and it prevents me from fully embracing future challenges. God’s command to not look back was not a threat of punishment but rather a promise of future blessings. I can only imagine Lot’s wife was distressed that she was being displaced form her home or she was fearful of the future. Looking back prevented
her from moving forward.

Life is ever changing! Let us celebrate our past accomplishments and let go of past failures, missed opportunities, or less than favorable outcomes. Let us move forward toward the blessing each day holds for us!

Take a few minutes to evaluate your situation and see if your attitude is overcast. Have you turned into an unmovable pillar of salt looking back at a career lost or fearful of accepting a new Call? Be encouraged that God knows your every need and ask for His guidance in changing your attitude to one of praise and thanksgiving and embrace new opportunities!

I’d love to hear from you …
Blessings,
Tammy

Tammy Shoup, CPRW is a Christian Resume Writer dedicated to helping Pastoral Candidates, Ministry Workers, and Christian Job Seekers launch a successful job search campaign. She is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW), Member of the Professional Association of Résumé Writers and National Résumé Writer’s Association.  She is also a past member of the Christian Writer’s Guild.

Each year, spring reminds us of new beginnings. Trees begin to bud, the grass turns green,
flowers begin to bloom, and with this change comes a fresh perspective.

As you read these words you may be struggling wih your job situation. Maybe God is calling
you toward a new position or career field. Or, perhaps, your job was eliminated due to the
harsh economic climate. Be assured that as we are faced with life’s many challenges that
God is with us. He does have a plan and we can take shelter in Him.

Here you will find resume advice, fresh inspiration, and encouragement to help you through
a successful job search campaign. Feel free to send me suggestions for topics — are their
specific challenges you are facing or questions you have about your job search? Let me
know and we will tackle these obstacles together!

With spring comes hope and, this year, for me it is the hope that you find the resources you need
for your job search! Thanks for stopping by and remember …

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayers and petition,
with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which
transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4: 6 & 7 (NIV)

Thanks for stopping by!

Blessings,
Tammy

Tammy Shoup, CPRW is a Christian Resume Writer dedicated to helping Pastoral Candidates, Ministry Workers, and Christian Job Seekers launch a successful job search campaign. She is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW), Member of the Professional Association of Résumé Writers and National Résumé Writer’s Association.  She is also a past member of the Christian Writer’s Guild.