10 Essentials to Getting Hired as a Youth Pastor

If you are in student ministry (or want to get into student ministry), chances are you will face TRANSITION (and probably more than once).

Finding a new youth ministry job can feel like an incredibly daunting, frustrating and hopeless task. While transitions in ministry require a lot of faith, risk, courage and stamina, you can position yourself to minimize the grief and increase the hope.

Over the next number of weeks, you will have the opportunity to examine each of these 10 essentials in detail (including helpful examples, ideas, templates and such).

Here is an overview of the 10 essentials to getting hired as a youth pastor:

1. Refresh Your Resume

The role of the resume is to get you the initial interview.

2. Determine Your Doctrine

What are to your essentials and non-essentials? 

3. Figure out Your Philosophy of Ministry

Your ministry philosophy is the "WHY" of ministry.

4. Monitor Your MySpace

Who uses MySpace anymore? Exactly. What is the personal “brand” you are portraying of yourself online?

5. Pray Away Your Pride

Not your will... His will. Watch God open and close the doors in the midst of the process.

6. Ask Before You Apply

Be selective. If you don’t think you’d be a good fit, don’t apply.

7. Network like Nobody Else

Do you want to know the dirty little secret of getting hired into a new student ministry? Network.

8. Investigate Before You Interview

The Boy Scout motto says it best, “Be Prepared.”

9. Turn the Tables

Interview the prospective church/ministry during the interview.

10. Consider the Offer Carefully

Just because you receive an offer, don’t respond too quickly.

Get ready to examine each of these essentials in detail over the next several weeks. If you are anything like a number of the youth pastors I connect with each month, you may be in the midst of considering a transition RIGHT NOW. If so, send me an email at mattmaiberger@gmail.com and share your story. I’d love to pray for you. Don’t worry… it’s 100% confidential.