You’ve written a fantastic resume, a well-crafted cover letter, and you’ve even printed it on premium stock. But now you wait, and wait, and wait for an interview. But alas, you’re not getting an interview, or even a call-back, or at least that dreaded “Dear John” email. If you’re looking to break through, take a look at three reasons you’re not getting an interview.
Nobody knows you
In many, if not most, cases, employers look to hire from within, so if you’re not getting an interview, you might be applying for positions where you’re not “in the circle.” In a church setting, “hiring from within” is difficult to define. There are some churches that aren’t concerned with your degrees or credentials; they’re far more concerned with whether or not they know you. Perhaps they’re looking for someone who is a part of their church body. If that’s the case, good luck getting the job if you’re an outsider!
However, many churches consider their circle of fellowship to be their comfort zone in hiring a candidate for a ministry position. Circles of fellowship can include a lot, or very little, depending on the kind of church or its geographic area, but typically include:
- Like-minded churches in the immediate city/metro area
- Churches belonging to the same association or affiliation
- Bible or Christian Colleges
- Friend-of-a-Friend
These are all fairly straight-forward and sensible, but the last one deserves a special note. Many, in fact, probably a majority of employees get the job because they knew someone. You can call it nepotism if you’d like, but in reality, the reason someone familiar gets the job — or really, the reason why any of the above folks get the job — is because of trust and familiarity. You, the unknown guy with the resume, are a risk — the guy who comes recommended by a pastor-friend is not going to be a loose cannon, a flop, or a dud. And remember, in hiring staff, a pastor is not just taking a risk on you, he is also risking his own credibility and the trust of his congregation.
(If a pastor continually hires non-starters in the church, it can be seen as a lack of leadership or intuition, and can actually lead to a lessening of his respect in the church)
You’re not following up
Some time ago, when I was in the process of hiring an assistant, I had several equally qualified candidates, but from the start, one of the candidates stood out. She had a nicely made resume, a great cover letter, and was courteous and fun during the interview. But, what stood out was the fact that she asked for a confirmation, by email, that I received her resume.
She followed up after our interview with a kind email, thanking me for my time and the opportunity to interview for the position. She asked a few questions, probing to start a discussion — which led to a second interview.
Following our second interview, she again thanked me for the time and wished me luck as I made the best decision for the ministry I oversaw.
And that made the difference. Although you may not be getting the interview, you must capitalize on any opportunity you have to engage in communication with the hiring manager or pastor, because to be honest, this candidate (who did get the job, FYI) was at the forefront of my mind and at the top of my inbox because she placed herself there.
Don’t be obnoxious, but don’t be invisible either — follow up respectfully and professionally to ensure that you stand out in the crowd.
You’re not good enough
The third, and in some situations certainly the most crucial, reason you are not getting the interview is because you’re simply not qualified. Some positions will not post minimum qualifications, so there is very little you can do about it.
In general, I would not recommend applying for a job you’re clearly not qualified for, unless you have an “in.“ If you know the right people, or you’re applying for a position at the church you grew up in, or you have a compelling life story that uniquely qualifies you for a position — be sure to mention that in your cover letter and reflect that in who you list as your professional references.
Beyond that, all you can do is look for a position that does fit your qualifications and level of experience. However, we have a few tips, both for the short term and long term pay-off as you look for that perfect job.
The solution for not getting an interview
First of all, get plugged in to the ministries you’re passionate about. I can tell you that if you tell me your dream job is to be a youth pastor, but you’re not currently working with teens, that sends a red flag. Be passionate and be involved. If you are serious about ministry, get involved in a church with a thriving youth ministry, get plugged in as a Sunday school teacher, and offer to serve wherever you can.
If your church does not have many opportunities to serve, create opportunities. Be forward and ambitious about your intentions and share your call to serve. If God has called you to ministry, He’ll get you there (whether it’s a paid position or not!).
Next, be sure to network. Networking is not just for corporate America, folks. One of the first areas I mentioned in this articles touches on this very topic — it’s all about who you know. So, seek out opportunities to meet-and-greet with visiting missionaries. Stay in touch with friends from college, and connect as much as you can with others in church leadership and ministry positions.
Finally, get listed on job boards, like the one we have here on Pastoral Resume, or those that are available on other websites as well. Often, though not always, it is when churches cannot find their candidates internally or through their circles of fellowship, that they post positions on public and paid job boards — this can be a sign they have exhausted their organic leads and are open to someone they do not yet know.