Okay, so it's a "preliminary" interview. I'll be meeting with the senior pastor and ministry administrator of the church I applied to (this is the FULL TIME position ). Then, he said that the second step is getting together with the entire staff, because it's important that we all work together as a team...
This is SO the church I want to work at, which makes me double nervous.
Next Thursday evening, at 5:00 is the first step. I felt like such a dork on the phone. I stuttered a couple of times. The thing I keep reminding myself is that these people WANT me to be the one who works out. I worked in the staffing industry for 2.5 years, and that was the biggest thing our staffing managers told the temps: Don't be nervous - they want you to succeed at the interview, and they want to be able to succeed at hiring you.
Easier to say to someone else than to remember it myself.
So...to all of you SP's and wives of SP's who have interviewed potential staff members: I need advice!!
What do I wear when the senior pastor calls it an "informal" interview? (I know it's kind of a "girly" question to ask, but it's important!!)
What are some things that you look for in a candidate, specifically in an interview?
Can you suggest any questions that I should ask him?
Is there anything else that I need to know that I'm not thinking of?
I have a ton of experience working with kids, but I've pretty much "walked" into every position - leadership or not - that I've had. I've never had to sell myself when it came to a ministry position.
I really, really, really want this to work out!! I could spiritualize it and say, "Well, if this door closes, then the Lord has something better planned for me," but to be totally honest (and He knows my heart anyway!), I want THIS door!!
CONGRADS, PUPPETMASTER! In answer to your questions:
What do I wear when the senior pastor calls it an "informal" interview? (I know it's kind of a "girly" question to ask, but it's important!!)
Something very professional. Small feminine touches are okay, but nothing frilly. A dress suit - black, navy -- in fact the suit you wore for liscensing/district council would probably be perfect. Jewelry and a bit of perfume and all that is great, but this is not the time to pull out your new gaucho's (can you believe they are back?) and hot pink shoes. You want to think professional and business like for this. Keep in mind it's doubly important for us women - to be taken seriously in the man's world that we move in. Note: if you get this job which I pray you will, aside from when you are doing children's ministry (I know casual dress is most often necessary when you are working with kids, and that is understandable) I would recommend that in adult services and activities that you at least dress business casual. This helps in letting the adults know you are not a kid - you are a professional, and should be treated as such. My dh and I have had staff members who after coming on have complained that some of the congregation don't treat them like adults, or ministers. The problem is, they dress way too casual for things that are really inappropriate. More on this later if you want further clarification. But I will say, I see a real difference in how staff are viewed and treated dependent upon how they present themselves while they are working.
What are some things that you look for in a candidate, specifically in an interview?
Relax. Take a deep breath. Let them get their question fully out on the table. Do not interrupt. Listen closely and see how the conversation is leading. You can probably tell the things they are looking out for, both positive and negative, but just listening. What they did not like about the past will probably be hinted at...the future direction surely will be. LISTEN first to see where they are heading, then carefully make your comments. Most pastors hire their next person based on what DID NOT work in the past. If they liked the last person they are probably looking for similar characteristics, but if they did not, a majority of what matters to them in this interview depends on what went wrong. For instance, if my husband and I have someone who is just terrible in the office, does not come in on time, etc., then a lot of our questions center around punctuality, work ethic, personal discipline, etc. If we feel the last person was not Pentecostal enough a lot of our questions will center around..."What do you think is important in the aspect of worship and altar time with the children..." etc. LISTEN and see where they are headed.
Above all - do not talk about the negative things of your current church. Do not give a disclaimer, "I love pastor, but..." Believe me this will go over like a lead balloon no matter how many disclaimers you put on it. Pastors do not want to hear somebody say anything that smacks of any negativity about their other pastor - because no matter what your heart is on the matter, I'm telling you - they believe it's only a matter of time before you tell somebody else that about THEM. So they will steer away from you. If they ask, What is the most difficult thing about your current job? Don't say, "C.A.'s". Pick something difficult but more benign. Don't focus on finances, either. You might say, "It's difficult to have so many dreams, but be on very limited resources at my current situation...it's a smaller church and sometimes we struggle with that." This is a very non-threatening answer. Think about anything negative they might ask you beforehand, and practice your answer. This is not deception. You will tell them something that was difficult, but there is no reason for you to air all the dirty laundry.
Can you suggest any questions that I should ask him?
Be careful not to ask anything with a negative slant. Put everything in the positive. For instance, if you felt your current pastor doesn't spend enough time with you, don't say, "Will you ever spend any time on me or invest in me?" Instead say, "Relational ministry is very important to me. Do you have a relationship with your staff where you meet with them on a regular basis?"
Think of everything that is important to you that you desire in a pastor, and WORD IT ALL POSITIVELY.
Do not ask about finances at all until the candidation point, if you do indeed candidate. If you do, it will pretty much be over with right there.
Is there anything else that I need to know that I'm not thinking of?
Make sure your husband is with you for the interview. If they have not invited him, ask if it would be permissible for him to come. It is valuable just to have him there for the observation. He will be able to watch reactions and give you a lot of feedback afterwards. Make sure he understands all the above that I told you. If you have it going on, but your spouse lays it all out on the table (more than should be) it could be a disaster.
It would be my advice, if they ask you if it would be alright for them to contact your current pastor, to say, "I have a good relationship with my pastor, however, I would prefer that you not simply because I do not want to alarm him that I am leaving before it actually comes to fruition. I am not sure how long it will take before the Lord opens the door for my next position, and do not want to cause these months to be uncomfortable for either one of us."
Practice articulating your greatest passions in ministry. Focus on them, minimize your weaknesses but be prepared to answer a few questions about your weaknesses. Think in advance of how you would respond to questions of all kinds about your weaknesses.
Some things that really floats our boat when it comes to a candidate:
* The fact that they can clearly communicate their passion and the call of God upon their life.
* A submissive spirit.
* Their desire to be an armor bearer.
* Flexibility
* The understanding of the difference between the ministry and a job/career.
* SUPPORTIVE AND INVOLVED SPOUSE - cannot state this enough
* Integrity
These are just a few of my thoughts, and they are my opinions of course, not something written in stone, but I will say I this - dh and I have had great success with interviews that we have done - both being interviewed, and hiring staff.
Contact me off board personally if you need to - glad to help you anytime. I'm believing God's door will open for you SOON!
Thanks so much for the great tips, Deanna! I caught a glimpse of my hair in the mirror today, and YIKES! I definitely need a trim before the interview, too .
And I don't plan to wear gauchos . Talk about THE most unflattering clothing item from the past making its way back...now if they bring back Zubas and big poufy bangs, I will break down and cry!
Seriously, though - it is a great reminder to keep things positive. We left an independent charismatic church that was starting to get "kooky" and unbiblical, but when we came to the church we are at now, we didn't tell them "The senior pastor is a wimp who is allowing heretical teachings into his church!" even though that was how we felt. Instead, I focused on my calling, saying, "God has called me to be a children's pastor, and what I believe theologically falls most in line with the A/G - so we are looking for an A/G church to be a part of and serve in while I complete the credentialing process."
I have already going over potential quetions/answers in my mind all afternoon...I probably will until I get there...thanks for your prayers and support!
Wow! It looks like Deanna covered it all! The only thing I would add is that for a CP we would definately be looking for someone who is energetic, creative, enthusiastic and who has a vision for the children. One who would help them to be baptized in the Holy Ghost, etc. I'd like to see children know how to listen to God at a young age and move in the gifts of the spirit but also display the fruit of the Spirit. And I would look for a CP sensitive to teaching them these things in various ways. Kids need to experience God besides at church and be used of God on a day to day basis in their schools, home, etc. Having a vision for the children is vital and as you know, being in a church who has a vision for the children helps you fulfill the call of God on your life! May you have a dynamic day!
). Then, he said that the second step is getting together with the entire staff, because it's important that we all work together as a team...
You want to think professional and business like for this. Keep in mind it's doubly important for us women - to be taken seriously in the man's world that we move in. Note: if you get this job which I pray you will, aside from when you are doing children's ministry (I know casual dress is most often necessary when you are working with kids, and that is understandable) I would recommend that in adult services and activities that you at least dress business casual. This helps in letting the adults know you are not a kid - you are a professional, and should be treated as such. My dh and I have had staff members who after coming on have complained that some of the congregation don't treat them like adults, or ministers. The problem is, they dress way too casual for things that are really inappropriate. More on this later if you want further clarification. But I will say, I see a real difference in how staff are viewed and treated dependent upon how they present themselves while they are working. 
