The Ministry To Marketplace Method: 10 Proven Steps for Pastors Leaving Vocational Ministry to Land Corporate Jobs
Apr 11, 2025
Read Time: 3.5 minutes
Todd Linder
Founder & Head Coach
Overview
Welcome to the Ministry To Marketplace Minute! In today’s episode, we’re going to break down the 10 step process used by all 81 people (at the time of this writing) to transition into the marketplace from ministry jobs. We’ve spent years honing this process to be as effective and quick as possible. So let’s dive in.
Today's Ministry To Marketplace Minute:
Mindset Shift: The job search is like sports
Strategy Shift: The method of getting a marketplace job
Do This Right Now: Where do you need to start in the method?
Companies Hiring: 5 ministry friendly companies with open positions
🧠 MINDSET SHIFT: The job search is like sports.
The job search is like sports. Every sport has seasons. Pre-season, regular season, post-season, and off-season.
In the same way, the job search has these. What is going to get you the best results is recognizing that your best job search results will happen when you have a great pre-season and regular season.
Pre-season is where you do the work. Before the wins and losses. Get the reps in, learn the plays, and build the team. This is all of the prep work so that you make every conversation, every application, and every interview count.
Regular season is the process of getting the interviews that will lead to offers. That’s where we count the wins and the losses.
♟️ STRATEGY SHIFT: The method of getting a marketplace job.
Let’s talk about the method. The step-by-step process that every client in the Interview Accelerator follows to get more interviews for the jobs they actually want, faster. If you do these things, in this order, you will get better results - we’ve seen it every time.
Pre-season:
Focus on getting your mind right and setting good expectations for the success rate and how long the job search will take. It will always take longer than you think, and success is closer to 30% than 70%.
Get clarity on the types of jobs you are aiming for next (title and level). If you can’t communicate what you want to do or where you want to go, you’ll never get there. You’ll be aimless.
Translate your experience so that it makes sense to hiring managers for that specific job you are aiming for. This isn’t just about words; it is about only having experience on your resume that aligns with the job descriptions you will see.
Identify who the people are who will help you by cheering you on and making introductions for you. 15 people minimum on this list.
Regular Season:
Now identify “Target Organizations” - places that you want to work, that will pay you what you need to make, that will see your ministry background as an asset rather than a liability. Have a list of 30 you are targeting at all times.
Create a list of connections that will be more likely to help you and have a conversation with you if you reach out to them. This will include people you know and people who don’t know you… yet. I recommend 200.
Start reaching out to that list. 50 people per week. Aim to get introductions that lead to interviews, but don’t be weird about it. Build up your social bank account so that when you make a withdrawal, you’ve got a positive balance to withdraw from.
Audit weekly. What’s working? What isn’t working? What do you need to change? Which Target Organizations are hard to connect with? Which people are you getting traction with, and which ones are ghosting you?
At the end of the month, prune the non-responsives and get back up to the target numbers.
Repeat until you get a job.
✅ DO THIS RIGHT NOW: Where do you need to start in the method?
Look at the Strategy Shift section. What have you done? What haven’t you done? Go to the earliest number in the method that you haven’t completed and start there. Don’t move on until you finish it.
🚀 FROM THE COACHING GROUP
Over the last few weeks, I've made an exceptional amount of connections at my top company (Monday.com), got referred for a position, and have a phone interview on Tuesday! 🚀
🤝 WHO WILL HIRE ME?: 5 ministry friendly organizations with jobs for ex-pastors.
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How we can help you:
FREE Ultimate Guide To Your Ministry To Marketplace Transition Our entire process in a free (yes, FREE) guide that walks you step-by-step through the essentials of landing a marketplace job that you'll enjoy, and supports your family. Each section builds on the next: clarity, translation, resume, and LinkedIn connections… everything you need to start seeing traction in your search. You can sign up here >>> Sign up for the Ultimate Guide.
The Ministry To Marketplace Interview Accelerator Join 120+ others who 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 for getting more interviews for jobs that value your ministry experience and support your family. Let's hop on a call!
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