How to Fix Your Job Search:
Getting Jobs Faster as a Former Pastor
How to Fix Your Job Search:
Getting Jobs Faster as a Former Pastor
How to Fix Your Job Search: Getting Jobs Faster as a Former Pastor
Read Time: 5 minutes
Read Time: 5 minutes
Overview
Welcome to the Ministry To Marketplace Minute! In today’s article, we’re going to focus on how you know if your job search is working, and what you can do about it. We’ll dig into the stages of the job search, how to measure it effectively, and where specifically you need to focus your time to make improvements to get further faster. Let’s dive in!
Today's Ministry To Marketplace Minute:
Mindset Shift: How to be successful on the job search.
Strategy Shift: The process of getting jobs as a former pastor.
Do This Right Now: Transitioning from ministry faster.
Who Will Hire Me?: 5 ministry friendly organizations with jobs for ex-pastors.
Overview
Welcome to the Ministry To Marketplace Minute! In today’s article, we’re going to focus on how you know if your job search is working, and what you can do about it. We’ll dig into the stages of the job search, how to measure it effectively, and where specifically you need to focus your time to make improvements to get further faster. Let’s dive in!
Today's Ministry To Marketplace Minute:
Mindset Shift: How to be successful on the job search.
Strategy Shift: The process of getting jobs as a former pastor.
Do This Right Now: Transitioning from ministry faster.
Who Will Hire Me?: 5 ministry friendly organizations with jobs for ex-pastors.
LAUNCH YOUR JOB SEARCH
LAUNCH YOUR JOB SEARCH
🧠 MINDSET SHIFT: How to be successful on the job search.
🧠 MINDSET SHIFT: How to be successful on the job search.
If you’re not tracking your results, you won’t know if you’re winning - or what you need to work on.
I talk to so many people that think they know why their job search isn’t working.
But when we get deeper in the conversation, it is mainly guessing.
I don’t want you to guess.
I want you to know how to improve.
To know what you need to work on.
To be confident in your process.
And in order to do that, you need to know
What you need to be tracking
What the numbers mean for the adjustments you need to make.
If you’re thinking, “Todd, I hate numbers, I don’t want to track my job search. That takes so much time.”
You’re right. It does take time. But so does everything worth doing and every skill worth learning.
So if you’re not tracking your job search yet, ask yourself, “why not?”
No wrong answers.
No judgement.
Just why not?
And then move onto the strategy below.
If you’re not tracking your results, you won’t know if you’re winning - or what you need to work on.
I talk to so many people that think they know why their job search isn’t working.
But when we get deeper in the conversation, it is mainly guessing.
I don’t want you to guess.
I want you to know how to improve.
To know what you need to work on.
To be confident in your process.
And in order to do that, you need to know
What you need to be tracking
What the numbers mean for the adjustments you need to make.
If you’re thinking, “Todd, I hate numbers, I don’t want to track my job search. That takes so much time.”
You’re right. It does take time. But so does everything worth doing and every skill worth learning.
So if you’re not tracking your job search yet, ask yourself, “why not?”
No wrong answers.
No judgement.
Just why not?
And then move onto the strategy below.
♟️ STRATEGY SHIFT: The process of getting jobs as a former pastor.
♟️ STRATEGY SHIFT: The process of getting jobs as a former pastor.
Let’s start with what you need to be tracking.
You want to be tracking stages of the job search and your conversion metrics.
Let’s start with what you need to be tracking.
You want to be tracking stages of the job search and your conversion metrics.
Understanding the stages of the job search.
Understanding the stages of the job search.
You can think of your job search like a mountain.
You can think of your job search like a mountain.
Level 0: At the bottom of the mountain, before you climb anything, it is just searching. Looking at job boards, websites, etc. You’re just on flat ground and you haven’t started actively applying (climbing) yet.
Level 1: You start climbing when you start putting yourself out there. We have seen that the most effective method is to reach out, which I wrote about in detail in my article 15X Your Interview Chances After Leaving Vocational Ministry.
Level 2: Conversations. You’re actually talking to people about the job you want next. People you know, and people who didn’t know you before.
Level 3: Introductions. You’re getting introductions to people at organizations you want to work for. And those people have some sort of influence on your ability to get a job.
Level 4: Phone Screens. The first, less formal interview - usually a quick call to see if you’re a fit.
Level 5: Interviews. More formal, sometimes multiple rounds with different people on the team.
Level 6: Final Interviews: The last stage before an offer, where you’re likely one of the top 2 or 3 candidates.
Level 7: Offer! Yep, the one you’re waiting for! Where you sign on the dotted line and get to start that awesome new job!
It is very rare that anyone skips steps—each stage builds on the one before it. If you’re stuck at any point, it’s usually because something in that stage needs to be tweaked or improved.
Level 0: At the bottom of the mountain, before you climb anything, it is just searching. Looking at job boards, websites, etc. You’re just on flat ground and you haven’t started actively applying (climbing) yet.
Level 1: You start climbing when you start putting yourself out there. We have seen that the most effective method is to reach out, which I wrote about in detail in my article 15X Your Interview Chances After Leaving Vocational Ministry.
Level 2: Conversations. You’re actually talking to people about the job you want next. People you know, and people who didn’t know you before.
Level 3: Introductions. You’re getting introductions to people at organizations you want to work for. And those people have some sort of influence on your ability to get a job.
Level 4: Phone Screens. The first, less formal interview - usually a quick call to see if you’re a fit.
Level 5: Interviews. More formal, sometimes multiple rounds with different people on the team.
Level 6: Final Interviews: The last stage before an offer, where you’re likely one of the top 2 or 3 candidates.
Level 7: Offer! Yep, the one you’re waiting for! Where you sign on the dotted line and get to start that awesome new job!
It is very rare that anyone skips steps—each stage builds on the one before it. If you’re stuck at any point, it’s usually because something in that stage needs to be tweaked or improved.
How do you know what to measure?
How do you know what to measure?
The easiest thing to do is to track your conversion rate of action to result over a set time period. I like traction actions “per week”.
So it would end up in a ratio: results / actions = your conversion rate.
And you only track from one level to the next.
Ex: Level 1 to Level 2 (reach outs to conversations). Level 4 to Level 5 (phone screens to interviews).
Let's look at an example.
If you’re spending your time reaching out. Let’s say you reached out to 10 people and got into 2 conversations. Your conversion rate would be 20%.
If you got 5 introductions and 2 turned into phone screens, your conversion rate for introductions to phone screens would be 40%.
The easiest thing to do is to track your conversion rate of action to result over a set time period. I like traction actions “per week”.
So it would end up in a ratio: results / actions = your conversion rate.
And you only track from one level to the next.
Ex: Level 1 to Level 2 (reach outs to conversations). Level 4 to Level 5 (phone screens to interviews).
Let's look at an example.
If you’re spending your time reaching out. Let’s say you reached out to 10 people and got into 2 conversations. Your conversion rate would be 20%.
If you got 5 introductions and 2 turned into phone screens, your conversion rate for introductions to phone screens would be 40%.
How do you know where to focus your effort?
How do you know where to focus your effort?
Now that you know how to track your job search effectively, we need to understand where you want to focus your effort and on what.
The easiest place to start is wherever you are stuck in the process. Where your conversion rate is the lowest.
If you are at level 0, then you need to do the actions that get you to level 1.
If you are stuck at Level 3 - getting introductions but not talking to anyone on the hiring team, then focus on improving the things that get you from the introduction to the phone screen.
I recommend trying to hit 30% at each level before focusing on moving to the next one. (even the best baseball players bat close to .300)
Now that you know how to track your job search effectively, we need to understand where you want to focus your effort and on what.
The easiest place to start is wherever you are stuck in the process. Where your conversion rate is the lowest.
If you are at level 0, then you need to do the actions that get you to level 1.
If you are stuck at Level 3 - getting introductions but not talking to anyone on the hiring team, then focus on improving the things that get you from the introduction to the phone screen.
I recommend trying to hit 30% at each level before focusing on moving to the next one. (even the best baseball players bat close to .300)
How do you know what to focus on improving?
How do you know what to focus on improving?
Here’s how we want to diagnose and focus our effort. Remember, you want to focus on improving each level starting from the bottom until you hit at least 30% conversion rate.
(the links below are to other articles we’ve written on the subject)
If you’re stuck at Level 1 (reach outs), ask,
Is your LinkedIn profile strong and aligned with your message (if you’re reaching out on LinkedIn)?
Are you doing enough reach outs to hit a 30% mark?
If you’re stuck at Level 2 (conversations), ask,
Are you building trust and likeability with the person?
Are you making it clear what you’re asking for?
Are you having enough conversations to hit a 30% mark?
If you’re stuck at Level 3 (introductions), ask,
Are the introductions you are getting high quality?
Are you making it easy for people to introduce you?
If you’re stuck at Level 4 (phone screens), ask,
Are you addressing the objections to your ministry experience early?
Are you clearly speaking to the job requirements?
Are you getting creative on how to stand out?
If you’re stuck at Level 5 (interviews), ask,
Are you asking good follow up questions to clarify your answers?
If you’re stuck at Level 6 (final interviews), ask,
Is there a technology or competency that you need to upskill?
Do you need to target other types of organizations where you can be more competitive even without having the technical requirements that might make someone a more attractive candidate?
Here’s how we want to diagnose and focus our effort. Remember, you want to focus on improving each level starting from the bottom until you hit at least 30% conversion rate.
(the links below are to other articles we’ve written on the subject)
If you’re stuck at Level 1 (reach outs), ask,
Is your LinkedIn profile strong and aligned with your message (if you’re reaching out on LinkedIn)?
Are you doing enough reach outs to hit a 30% mark?
If you’re stuck at Level 2 (conversations), ask,
Are you building trust and likeability with the person?
Are you making it clear what you’re asking for?
Are you having enough conversations to hit a 30% mark?
If you’re stuck at Level 3 (introductions), ask,
Are the introductions you are getting high quality?
Are you making it easy for people to introduce you?
If you’re stuck at Level 4 (phone screens), ask,
Are you addressing the objections to your ministry experience early?
Are you clearly speaking to the job requirements?
Are you getting creative on how to stand out?
If you’re stuck at Level 5 (interviews), ask,
Are you asking good follow up questions to clarify your answers?
If you’re stuck at Level 6 (final interviews), ask,
Is there a technology or competency that you need to upskill?
Do you need to target other types of organizations where you can be more competitive even without having the technical requirements that might make someone a more attractive candidate?
QUICK WINS
QUICK WINS
✅ DO THIS RIGHT NOW: Transitioning from ministry faster.
✅ DO THIS RIGHT NOW: Transitioning from ministry faster.
Map these stages out on a spreadsheet or document. (or use the one we created!)
Start tracking your actions and results on a weekly basis.
Refocus your energy on getting a 30% conversion rate at the level where you are stuck.
Map these stages out on a spreadsheet or document. (or use the one we created!)
Start tracking your actions and results on a weekly basis.
Refocus your energy on getting a 30% conversion rate at the level where you are stuck.
🚀 FROM THE COACHING GROUP
🚀 FROM THE COACHING GROUP
He said that, just based on that email, he told the founder that they needed to hire me. (This stuff works!)
He said that, just based on that email, he told the founder that they needed to hire me. (This stuff works!)
🤝 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 583+ 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 583+ others, every Friday morning.
Rooting for you! 🚀
Rooting for you! 🚀
Todd Linder
Founder and Head Coach // Connect with me on LinkedIn
How we can help you:
The Ministry To Marketplace Coaching Program: Join 90 others that have successfully transitioned from ministry into marketplace jobs that value their experience. Our coaching program will give you our proven step by step process to getting a job faster in the marketplace, weekly coaching calls and check ins, and community with others on the same journey as you. Book a call here.
The Ministry To Marketplace Quiz: Join 486+ 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.
Want to hire someone with a ministry background? We always have 20-30 people in our coaching group who are hire ready! Email me (todd@launchpoint.co) with a link to the job description and I'll personally take a look in our coaching community for someone that fits, make sure their resume is lined up, and connect you with them directly. (completely FREE)
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