PLEASE CRITIQUE MY PASTORAL RESUME!! (Qualified but not landing interviews) WHY????

Question

Reverend JOHN DOE

333 BLANK BLANK AVE.
ANYWHERE, ANY STATE, 210000

PROFESSIONAL OBJECTIVE

Seeking a Baptist congregation that will enable me to exercise my calling as a pastor to create a clear vision for a church in the areas of executive leadership, preaching, teaching, and encouraging spiritual growth among God’s people.

QUALIFICATIONS & MINISTRY PHILOSOPHY

I am dedicated to deepening my calling to the ministry. I am equipped with a spiritual gift for building people, families and communities to further the commission of Christ. I have been practicing in the ministry for 9 years. For the past four years, I have been called to pastor “BLANK-BLANK Baptist Church of Taverville in “BLANK-BLANK”, North Carolina. Amburg has grown spiritually, numerically, and financially during my tenure as pastor. In addition to being called to the ministry, I am also a Fine Arts teacher in the ?????? City Public Schools system in Carson City, North Carolina. Teaching has enabled me to develop skills to build a youth and youth ministry that address the total needs of children through education, recreation, spiritual support and mentoring. My ministry philosophy is that the African American church should not simply be an isolated institution that is only connected to the community because of its physical location. Rather the African American church should strive to be the heartbeat of its community by addressing the holistic needs of individuals and the community in which it serves. The most important needs include spirituality, economic improvement and social justice.

SKILLS AND PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS


•Dedicated Pastor/Motivator
•Expositor of God’s Word
•Teacher/Strong Educational Leader
•Community Activism
•Member of N.A.A.C.P
•Southside Rappahannock Baptist Association
•Baptist General Convention of Virginia
•Outstanding Student Leadership (Virginia Union University)
•Ministers Alliance, President 1999 (Virginia Union University)
•Metro Tidewater Ministers Conference

EDUCATION
University of Phoenix
Doctorate Degree in Educational Leadership, (EDD) Emphasis: Curriculum and Instruction candidate
(Anticipated date of graduation-2010)
Master of Arts in Education, (MAED) Emphasis: Curriculum and Instruction-2006

Virginia Union University
Master of Divinity (M. Div.) -2006
Bachelors of Arts (B.A.) -Major, Speech and Drama-1999, *** Laude
Associate of Religion and Philosophy-1999

MINISTRY CREDENTIALS
Certificate of Ordination-December 10, 2000
Certificate of License-September 7, 1997
Evangelism Training-September 7, 1993

I have cut and copied this several times and it still doesn't come out right. My actual resume looks a lot better; font, centering and etc.

Answer 1

I would shorten your objective to one or two lines.

You don't have any experience listed, so this is a functional résumé, and that's what's making employers suspicious. You also need to change "activism" to "activist" to keep these words consistent. "Expositor," "Teacher," and "Member" are good, but you lose these in "Southside Rappahannock Baptist Association" for instance, and you'll need to dress that up.

I'd be cautious about listing yourself as a member of the NAACP. I'm a card-carrying Republican, but I don't advertise it if the interviewer is a Democrat! BTW if you are a community activist, how many organizations are you a member of?

More white space is better than "filler" on a résumé.

University of Phoenix? Me too, going for my Masters. Congrats on the pursuit of a doctorate.

Answer 2

First of all, I do not think it is too long. A resume is not meant to be entertainment or even interesting. Its purpose is to present your qualifications to a potential employer, so they can find the best possible candidates for a particular position. Anyone who'd discard a resume simply because it's too long is either too lazy or too stupid to be in a position with that much responsibility.

As an atheist I'm not exactly a friend of the church, nevertheless, when I read your resume the thing that leaps out at me is that it's only about you. You're seeking a congregation that will enable YOU to exercise YOUR calling and to create (your) vision for (their) church...blah, blah, blah. Nowhere do you actually say what your vision is. You don't give a single clue about your subjective values or your religious beliefs. You are "dedicated to deepening YOUR calling...." Great, but what are you going to do for them? YOU "have a spirtual gift." It's also obviously you have a very large ego and aren't particularly empathetic. Simply stating your qualifications is boastful enough. Instead of constantly blowing your own horn, describe specifically how a skillful pastor benefits his congregation and avoid using words like "I," "me," and "mine" and substitute words like "us," "we," and "them." Be inclusive, not exclusive.

I also noticed that even though you are applying for a position at an African American church you never state what your own race actually is. Are you actually a white member of the NAACP, or are you a black man? The person reading your resume can't tell and it looks like you're trying to avoid the whole issue. What are you trying to pull? I suggest you come clean about your race (black or white) so you don't imply you're being dishonest about it.

Back when I was interviewing and hiring engineers, I liked to have the qualification statistics at the top of the page and the mission statement at the bottom. That way I could quickly sort through the pile and choose the five or ten best qualified applicants. Only then would I even bother to read all that subjective mission statement rhetoric.

Answer 3

Sounds like God has already planted you somewhere to do what you say you want to do.
Four years is just getting started in most church ministries. Is it possible that in just four years you have accomplished all that was set forth for you to do in your current ministry. Or could it be that you are tired of the little love nips that your sheep have given you.
I don't know the reason for your desire to move on but you will find that whatever the reason the same thing will raise it's head in the next church too.
That said, lose the activist ideas, lose the NAACP (unless you are only seeking a black congregation) Try to pare it to a single page that will scan rapidly but grab attention.

Answer 4

I think that you would probably make a great pastor, but reading this gave me 2 concerns.

The first is that you mentioned the NAACP and the African American church. Perhaps you need to broaden your horizons? There are lots of churches out there that would be willing to take a faithful pastor, no matter what his race. Maybe the African American churches just aren't hiring right now.

The second is that you mentioned being a teacher on the side. My father is a pastor, so I understand that you might need the extra source of income. My father did as well. But during that time he worked a second job, the congregation of his church was very wary about his committment to them and his faithfulness to his job. They had no need to worry, of course. But maybe prospective churches see this as a threat.

Don't worry. In God's time, you will find the right church!

Answer 5

Sounds like you would make a fine pastor. You should reconsider your list under skills and associations. Sounds like you want to come into town as a political activist which is what most churches do not want. I would drop the community activist comment and the NAACP membership. Neither has to do with your ability to pastor. Focus on taking care of the flock, tell them your policy on hospital visitations, home bound visitations, crisis counseling and pastoring the churches youth. These are the things people are hungry for in this age of "CEO Pastors" who will not lower themselves to visit an aging church member when they are ill. Tell them you have read the New Testament account of Christ's ministry, you understand what it is and that you are committed to following it and performing it. Best Wishes.

Answer 6

It reads a bit cold....

Where do you talk about the love of Christ, and spreading the good news of the gospel?

I believe that you can have diplomas and teachings, but if you don't have the heart of a pastor than all else is head knowledge.

I am not trying to be mean, but I see alot of education.... and perhaps not so much as gifting from the Holy Spirit.

be blessed in Jesus ~ Vicki

Answer 7

Your resume is fine.

The right job is waiting for you. You have established your desires. Now allow your thoughts and beliefs to harmonize with your desire. Meditate and pray. Think of how you will feel with the right job. Develop detailed fantasies about how you will feel with rewarding activities. Let the Law of Attraction (God) take care of the rest.

As long as you feel good about your relationship with God, you will co-create the best platform for your next jump.

You are an intelligent and sensitive, caring man who will fit in the right spot.

Answer 8

May I suggest that you use (me) and (i) less or not at all.

you might also highlight you counseling skills, you ability to manage several tasks at once. High some social justice cause with out being political. Explain how you empowered your fellow church members as well as how they have helped you grow

Answer 9

You sound a little too political for most churches.
Do you want to be a political activist or Preach the word of God?

Answer 10

Member of the NAACP??? Since when was racism a positive trait for a Baptist minister?