Landing More Interviews After Ministry: The Cover Letter Template for Former Pastors Transitioning from Vocational Ministry
Landing More Interviews After Ministry: The Cover Letter Template for Former Pastors Transitioning from Vocational Ministry
Landing More Interviews After Ministry: The Cover Letter Template for Former Pastors Transitioning from Vocational Ministry
Read Time: 5 minutes
Read Time: 5 minutes
LAUNCH YOUR JOB SEARCH
LAUNCH YOUR JOB SEARCH
Overview
Welcome to the Ministry To Marketplace Minute! Today, I’m going to show you one of the most useful tools that no one knows how to use. The cover letter. I’ve seen this asset get people into more interviews, and I’m going to teach you exactly how to do it yourself. So let’s dive in.
Today's Ministry To Marketplace Minute:
Mindset Shift: Don’t feel like you have marketable skills?
Strategy Shift: Explaining the value of vocational ministry.
Do This Right Now: Create your master cover letter.
Who Will Hire Me?: 5 ministry friendly organizations with jobs for ex-pastors.
Overview
Welcome to the Ministry To Marketplace Minute! Today, I’m going to show you one of the most useful tools that no one knows how to use. The cover letter. I’ve seen this asset get people into more interviews, and I’m going to teach you exactly how to do it yourself. So let’s dive in.
Today's Ministry To Marketplace Minute:
Mindset Shift: Don’t feel like you have marketable skills?
Strategy Shift: Explaining the value of vocational ministry.
Do This Right Now: Create your master cover letter.
Who Will Hire Me?: 5 ministry friendly organizations with jobs for ex-pastors.
🧠 MINDSET SHIFT: Don’t feel like you have marketable skills?
🧠 MINDSET SHIFT: Don’t feel like you have marketable skills?
Have you ever wondered if hiring managers look at your church experience and just write you off without getting to know you?
This is why we recommend writing a cover letter.
If interviews are the goal (because you can’t get offers without getting interviews), then you need to get past the initial ATS + resume screen.
Cover letters are different from resumes.
Your resume is a crafted overview of the work experience you have that will show a hiring team why you are the right person for the job. I outlined what a good resume should look like here: Building A Resume That Showcases Your Marketable Ministry Skills.
If you’ve already done that, then you don’t need to write a paragraph version of it.
Instead, use it as a tool. A tool to help someone get to know you beyond the resume. A tool that makes you more than bullets on a one-page (or more) document.
And one of the most important things you can do, right from the beginning, is overcome any objections someone might have against your resume experience.
And the way that we do that in Ministry To Marketplace is with the “Why You Shouldn’t Hire Me” cover letter.
Have you ever wondered if hiring managers look at your church experience and just write you off without getting to know you?
This is why we recommend writing a cover letter.
If interviews are the goal (because you can’t get offers without getting interviews), then you need to get past the initial ATS + resume screen.
Cover letters are different from resumes.
Your resume is a crafted overview of the work experience you have that will show a hiring team why you are the right person for the job. I outlined what a good resume should look like here: Building A Resume That Showcases Your Marketable Ministry Skills.
If you’ve already done that, then you don’t need to write a paragraph version of it.
Instead, use it as a tool. A tool to help someone get to know you beyond the resume. A tool that makes you more than bullets on a one-page (or more) document.
And one of the most important things you can do, right from the beginning, is overcome any objections someone might have against your resume experience.
And the way that we do that in Ministry To Marketplace is with the “Why You Shouldn’t Hire Me” cover letter.
♟️ STRATEGY SHIFT: Explaining the value of vocational ministry.
♟️ STRATEGY SHIFT: Explaining the value of vocational ministry.
Here’s the template: the "why you shouldn't hire me" cover letter.
This version of the cover letter is meant to create intrigue. It is meant to show off your personality and also explain why, despite what the reader sees on paper, you are a great candidate for the role.
Use this cover letter when
There is a bigger mental leap for hiring teams to see a connection between the job you want and your ministry experience
You don’t have any personal connections at the organization
The company doesn’t typically hire people with a ministry background
There are 5 Main Sections of this Cover Letter.
Sections 1, 2, and 5 can more or less stay the same for every cover letter you write. Sections 3 and 4 will be the ones that you customize for each application.
Here’s the template: the "why you shouldn't hire me" cover letter.
This version of the cover letter is meant to create intrigue. It is meant to show off your personality and also explain why, despite what the reader sees on paper, you are a great candidate for the role.
Use this cover letter when
There is a bigger mental leap for hiring teams to see a connection between the job you want and your ministry experience
You don’t have any personal connections at the organization
The company doesn’t typically hire people with a ministry background
There are 5 Main Sections of this Cover Letter.
Sections 1, 2, and 5 can more or less stay the same for every cover letter you write. Sections 3 and 4 will be the ones that you customize for each application.
Here’s the template: the "why you shouldn't hire me" cover letter.
This version of the cover letter is meant to create intrigue. It is meant to show off your personality and also explain why, despite what the reader sees on paper, you are a great candidate for the role.
Use this cover letter when
There is a bigger mental leap for hiring teams to see a connection between the job you want and your ministry experience
You don’t have any personal connections at the organization
The company doesn’t typically hire people with a ministry background
There are 5 Main Sections of this Cover Letter.
Sections 1, 2, and 5 can more or less stay the same for every cover letter you write. Sections 3 and 4 will be the ones that you customize for each application.
Section 1 is Your Title
Section 1 is Your Title
Use: “3 Reasons Why I Wouldn’t Hire Me”
Quick hack: Save as a PDF with the name as “3 Reasons You Shouldn’t Hire Me.pdf” for instant intrigue in ATS/email.
Use: “3 Reasons Why I Wouldn’t Hire Me”
Quick hack: Save as a PDF with the name as “3 Reasons You Shouldn’t Hire Me.pdf” for instant intrigue in ATS/email.
Section 2 is just calling out your non-traditional experience.
Section 2 is just calling out your non-traditional experience.
They might be tempted to write you off by looking at your resume or profile. That is understandable. Here’s why it makes sense from your perspective.
Below is an example of how you could write this section:
They might be tempted to write you off by looking at your resume or profile. That is understandable. Here’s why it makes sense from your perspective.
Below is an example of how you could write this section:
Section 3 is about perspective shift.
Section 3 is about perspective shift.
This section lists off the perceived negatives and shifts their perspective to turn them into positives. It’s the “Why I wouldn’t hire me based on first glance”: Call out possible misconceptions about what you have done and where you have worked.
There are 3 things I want you to call out specifically, in this order.
Lack of technical base. Shift their perspective by commenting on your history of learning new skills and adapting to new scenarios or environments (how many responsibilities you have held, new challenges you have overcome in your job, languages you have learned, especially recently)
Non-traditional background. Talk about the ways that your background is an advantage, which can help to grow the company by bringing in fresh perspectives, different experiences and education, and different backgrounds. Homogony keeps things steady. New perspectives elevate potential.
Experience in pastoral ministry. Comment on how pastoral ministry in your context is different from what they might think. It includes management of people (paid and unpaid), cross-functional influence (working with other teams to get stuff done), recruitment (interviewing, hiring), managing opinions (both from “customers” and staff), project management (handling multiple complex projects at the same time), grit (set up and tear down, working nights and weekends, first one in last one out). In this part, use only what is relevant to the job.
To figure out what is relevant to the job, read both newsletters on the P.A.R.T.S. of the resume (part 1 and part 2).
This section lists off the perceived negatives and shifts their perspective to turn them into positives. It’s the “Why I wouldn’t hire me based on first glance”: Call out possible misconceptions about what you have done and where you have worked.
There are 3 things I want you to call out specifically, in this order.
Lack of technical base. Shift their perspective by commenting on your history of learning new skills and adapting to new scenarios or environments (how many responsibilities you have held, new challenges you have overcome in your job, languages you have learned, especially recently)
Non-traditional background. Talk about the ways that your background is an advantage, which can help to grow the company by bringing in fresh perspectives, different experiences and education, and different backgrounds. Homogony keeps things steady. New perspectives elevate potential.
Experience in pastoral ministry. Comment on how pastoral ministry in your context is different from what they might think. It includes management of people (paid and unpaid), cross-functional influence (working with other teams to get stuff done), recruitment (interviewing, hiring), managing opinions (both from “customers” and staff), project management (handling multiple complex projects at the same time), grit (set up and tear down, working nights and weekends, first one in last one out). In this part, use only what is relevant to the job.
To figure out what is relevant to the job, read both newsletters on the P.A.R.T.S. of the resume (part 1 and part 2).
This section lists off the perceived negatives and shifts their perspective to turn them into positives. It’s the “Why I wouldn’t hire me based on first glance”: Call out possible misconceptions about what you have done and where you have worked.
There are 3 things I want you to call out specifically, in this order.
Lack of technical base. Shift their perspective by commenting on your history of learning new skills and adapting to new scenarios or environments (how many responsibilities you have held, new challenges you have overcome in your job, languages you have learned, especially recently)
Non-traditional background. Talk about the ways that your background is an advantage, which can help to grow the company by bringing in fresh perspectives, different experiences and education, and different backgrounds. Homogony keeps things steady. New perspectives elevate potential.
Experience in pastoral ministry. Comment on how pastoral ministry in your context is different from what they might think. It includes management of people (paid and unpaid), cross-functional influence (working with other teams to get stuff done), recruitment (interviewing, hiring), managing opinions (both from “customers” and staff), project management (handling multiple complex projects at the same time), grit (set up and tear down, working nights and weekends, first one in last one out). In this part, use only what is relevant to the job.
To figure out what is relevant to the job, read both newsletters on the P.A.R.T.S. of the resume (part 1 and part 2).
Section 4 is an abbreviated version of your throughline story
Section 4 is an abbreviated version of your throughline story
as it relates to the job type and the company. This should be no more than 3 sentences.
You can read about crafting your throughline story in last week’s newsletter post: How to Explain Your Ministry Career Change in Interviews: Guide for Former Pastors.
as it relates to the job type and the company. This should be no more than 3 sentences.
You can read about crafting your throughline story in last week’s newsletter post: How to Explain Your Ministry Career Change in Interviews: Guide for Former Pastors.
Which brings us to Section 5: the “thank you + call to action.”
Which brings us to Section 5: the “thank you + call to action.”
A simple “thank you” for not writing you off, and you hope to hear from them soon.
A simple “thank you” for not writing you off, and you hope to hear from them soon.
QUICK WINS
QUICK WINS
✅ DO THIS RIGHT NOW: Create your master cover letter.
✅ DO THIS RIGHT NOW: Create your master cover letter.
Set aside a 30-45 minute block.
Write sections 1, 2, and 5 of this cover letter and save it in a master document.
Write your throughline story and have it ready to insert and tweak for section 4.
Now all you’ll need to do is write section 3 for each job you apply for, rather than a brand new letter from scratch!
Set aside a 30-45 minute block.
Write sections 1, 2, and 5 of this cover letter and save it in a master document.
Write your throughline story and have it ready to insert and tweak for section 4.
Now all you’ll need to do is write section 3 for each job you apply for, rather than a brand new letter from scratch!
🚀 FROM THE COACHING GROUP
🚀 FROM THE COACHING GROUP
From a client who just landed a job that included an ownership stake in the company he will be working for!
From a client who just landed a job that included an ownership stake in the company he will be working for!
🤝 WHO WILL HIRE ME?: 5 ministry friendly organizations with jobs for ex-pastors.
🤝 WHO WILL HIRE ME?: 5 ministry friendly organizations with jobs for ex-pastors.
Because of the time sensitive nature of job postings, we post these in the newsletter only.
Get the newsletter, along with 647+ others, every Friday morning.
Because of the time sensitive nature of job postings, we post these in the newsletter only.
Get the newsletter, along with 647+ others, every Friday morning.
Rooting for you! 🚀
Rooting for you! 🚀
Todd Linder
Founder and Head Coach // Connect with me on LinkedIn
Todd Linder
Founder and Head Coach // Connect with me on LinkedIn
How we can help you:
How we can help you:
The Ministry To Marketplace Interview Accelerator: Join 97 others that have successfully transitioned from ministry into marketplace jobs that value their experience. The Interview Accelerator will give you our proven step by step process, coaching, and community to getting more interviews for jobs that value your ministry experience and support your family. Let's hop on a call!
The Ministry To Marketplace Quiz: Join 500+ other ministry to marketplace job seekers that have taken our 60-second (FREE) quiz to find out what is hindering your job search. You'll get a video and PDF results report straight to your inbox that will identify where you are, and what you need to focus on right now to get results. Take the FREE quiz here.
The Ministry To Marketplace Interview Accelerator: Join 97 others that have successfully transitioned from ministry into marketplace jobs that value their experience. The Interview Accelerator will give you our proven step by step process, coaching, and community to getting more interviews for jobs that value your ministry experience and support your family. Let's hop on a call!
The Ministry To Marketplace Quiz: Join 500+ other ministry to marketplace job seekers that have taken our 60-second (FREE) quiz to find out what is hindering your job search. You'll get a video and PDF results report straight to your inbox that will identify where you are, and what you need to focus on right now to get results. Take the FREE quiz here.
The Ministry To Marketplace Interview Accelerator: Join 94 others that have successfully transitioned from ministry into marketplace jobs that value their experience. The Interview Accelerator will give you our proven step by step process, coaching, and community to getting more interviews for jobs that value your ministry experience and support your family. Let's hop on a call!
The Ministry To Marketplace Quiz: Join 500+ other ministry to marketplace job seekers that have taken our 60-second (FREE) quiz to find out what is hindering your job search. You'll get a video and PDF results report straight to your inbox that will identify where you are, and what you need to focus on right now to get results. Take the FREE quiz here.
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