Tough Times Getting a Job? Go to Church and Get Hired!

Are we allowing the current recession to diminish our faith? Or are we praying harder and exercising our faith more in this tough economy to get a better job? Do you believe that God may be reminding us to get closer relationship with Him and move our lives forward? I came across this article from cnnmoney about a man named Michel Butler who after losing his job, head off to church and got multiple offers and landed the best job he had in his entire career earning him six figures.

A year ago, Butler, 42, was a consultant in the home-building industry in Texas with aspirations of building his own spec homes in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. But six months later, he was an unemployed husband and father of three with no job prospects to speak of.

“The market here really hit the skids in late June, early July, and I knew it was time to consider something outside the industry,” Butler said.

First, Butler joined a free career workshop at a local church, which was open to the public. They met every Saturday evening and covered everything from networking to resume writing and interview skills.

“I think that church organization was really a feather in my cap,” he said. “It helped me focus on my next steps and also gave me refreshers in interviewing and resume writing,” he said.

Then, Butler plugged back into some old networks, including college friends and former employers.

One friend introduced Butler to a local business coach who put him in touch with a few hiring managers and by October he had two interviews in two different industries.

Prudential offered him a job as a financial service agent. They would pay for the training but Butler’s income would be largely based on commission. Although that wasn’t ideal, he accepted right away.

Then came another offer, this time for a marketing position with a six figure salary. “I couldn’t pass it up,” Butler said, so he quit Prudential shortly after starting and went to work as relationship manager at Spear One in Dallas.

Aside from the bigger salary and better job security, “the best part about my new position is that it is fun,” Butler said, which is the last thing he imagined he’d be having after his last career crumbled.

Career coaches agree that Butler was wise to tap into local organizations that could help him brush up on his job search skills and expose him to other job seekers sharing their experiences.

And even after finding full-time employment, they recommend that workers stay in touch with recruiters and keep up with their other resources like their community. Keeping yourself in the game is essential to getting job offers.

I believe that the key here to staying grounded during these economically difficult times is not just running to your church or any other resources, but running to God and keeping your trust in Him. After all, what are our alternatives – trust in ourselves, the banks, our employer? The church is there right in the center plan of God and as a primary institution God ordained for His purpose. And Michael was right to tap on it.

Tags: career, economic crisis, faith in God, job hunting, recession jobs