The Lie of the Calling Card Resume

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Transcript

The Myth of Calling Card Resumes

Speaker 1 0:09

What does Saddleback Elevation Church and North Point have in common ? They're big , well-known , often used as calling cards on ministry resumes . But here's the problem A big name on a resume doesn't always equal big impact healthy church staff culture . Today we are going to talk about exposing the myth of the calling card resume . We're going to talk about why churches need to dig deeper and what flashy resumes might be hiding , and how to actually discern actual character and fit , not just impressive job titles . So if you're hiring or you're looking to be hired , this might be a wake-up call that you need .

Speaker 1 0:50

Hi there , my name is Todd Rhodes . I'm one of the co-founders over at chemistrystaffingcom and your host . Right here you're listening to the Healthy Church Staff Podcast . We talked about this a few days ago on the podcast , but I wanted to take a little bit different tack today . Let me start with this Just because someone worked at a megachurch doesn't mean that they're going to be a healthy hire .

Speaker 1 1:11

In fact , that really impressive resume on paper might be hiding some serious red flags . Stick around , I'm going to show you how to spot the difference between real value and shiny packaging .

When Big Names Hide Red Flags

Speaker 1 1:24

All right , we've all seen it right . It's the resume that just makes you say someone applies for your staff and boom , there it is Former worship pastor Elevation Church or creative director Saddleback , and your gut says this is it . I remember at my church in Bryant Ohio when I was an elder . There we were hiring a worship pastor years ago and we had a former American Idol contestant . I don't remember how far he made it , but I had watched American Idol when this person was on and I saw the name and I thought I recognize that name and we thought , wow , that would be pretty impressive if we were able to hire the person that was on American Idol . Your gut says , wow , this is it Right . But here's the problem we often confuse proximity to greatness with personal health or effectiveness . Just being on the roster of a high-powered church , just being a contestant on American Idol or even a finalist , doesn't mean that they led well or they led with integrity , or even hear me , or even that they led at all . In some cases , maybe they were just along for the ride or worse , they left under some really messy circumstances . So you just have to remember that flash doesn't equal fit .

Speaker 1 2:48

Big name churches often have big teams and that role listed might have been one slice of a massive pie or specialized or siloed or even disconnected from a core ministry role . A lot of times we'll interview people that have a big church on their , only to find that it was either a volunteer role or a very insignificant role . But

Flash Doesn't Equal Fit

Speaker 1 3:14

they're putting that face forward on their resume , knowing that they're going to get some calls because they worked at Saddleback or they worked at North Point . Sometimes these roles , when you see them on the resume , give this illusion of broad experience , but the reality could be just really narrow execution and when that person joins your smaller church , expecting the same systems and the same budget and the same culture , you're setting yourself up for some disappointment , and some really fast disappointment . So let's talk just a little bit here about what a big church can sometimes hide , because , if we're really honest , big churches can unintentionally mask dysfunction . Leaders can coast on momentum or hide behind layers of staff , and I've worked with churches where a staff member came from a well-known ministry and flamed out after six months or a year , and it's not because they weren't talented , but it's because they weren't healthy and maybe some of them weren't teachable . Maybe some had entitlement issues because they worked at a big church . Maybe they've never learned how to build something from scratch .

Speaker 1 4:25

What should we look for ? Instead of getting starstruck by a really wowing resume , maybe we should ask some different questions , because a paper resume only has got to tell you so much , particularly when you're looking at a resume from someone from a church that you admire and a church that you know , and you're enamored and think , wow , this would be such a steal if we could hire this person . Ask these questions before you get way out in front of your skis . Okay ,

Questions to Ask Before Hiring

Speaker 1 4:53

what did they actually build in their last role ? What was their actual role like ? How do they respond to failure or to transition , and can they even thrive in a different context without the same resources , without the same recognition , without being on the staff of a big , well-known church ?

Speaker 1 5:14

The real value that you're going to need to assess if you're interviewing a candidate that has this on their resume , the real value is in assessing their adaptability and their character and their EQ , their emotional intelligence , to see if they really would have the ability to lead and the ability to be led in your specific church . Now , a resume might open the door , but the wisdom and the questions that you ask are going to determine whether or not you need to let somebody in , all right . So here's the bottom line for today . A big name church on a resume might be a conversation starter , but don't let it get to you . It should never be the hiring decision maker . You've got to dig deeper . You've got to ask the tough questions , because what worked at a large church might not work at your church and that person that came off of that large church staff might not be the person that's going to fit really well , chemistry-wise , on your team .

Speaker 1 6:18

I hope this has been

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Speaker 1 6:19

helpful . Man , it's a struggle when you see that resume and your jaw drops and you think , wow , they're even actually considering applying here . Take a pause and ask the right questions . All right , that's it for today . Right here on the Healthy Church Staff Podcast . Hope this has been helpful and we'll be right back here again tomorrow .