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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Create a Religion
Resume in 5 Simple Steps

  • Step 1: Add Contact Info

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  • Step 2: Include Work Experience Details

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  • Step 3: Provide Education Details

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  • Step 4: Select Your Skills

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  • Step 5: Fill in Your Background

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Get Expert Writing Recommendations for Your Religion Resume

Religious recruiters look for candidates with a commitment to the ministry, an understanding of scripture and someone with strong character and integrity. Written by certified resume writers, LiveCareer’s religion resume examples show you how to articulate those qualities as well as how to format and design a strong document.

When you are ready to craft your own resume, consider using LiveCareer’s Resume Builder, which offers you pre-written content suggestions for every section of your resume. Here are some examples of content our builder might recommend:

  • Coordinated and spearheaded programs to increase church members’ service throughout community
  • Provided spiritual care through visitation, counseling and prayer
  • Officiated special services such as weddings, funerals, baptisms and nursing home services
  • Accompanied morning worship services on organ as part of worship team

6 Dos and Don’ts for Writing a Religion Resume

  • Do give examples of your service. Those who aspire to work for religious organizations should include examples of their past religious service. Applicants should consider using experiences such as spreading the gospel, volunteering with their church, running religious services and interpreting or teaching the Bible’s teachings to show their expertise.
  • Do include valuable business skills. Applicants with business experience should demonstrate these bankable skills. After all, churches, synagogues and other religious organizations require fundraising, bookkeeping, event planning and other services to stay afloat. Organizing religious paperwork, coordinating service schedules and designing holiday programs are all valuable skills these organizations need from potential employees
  • Do feature membership recruitment and retention strategies. Today, many religious organizations struggle with recruiting and retaining members. Applicants could stand out by showing off their successful efforts in bringing new people to a center of worship. If you have these skills in another context, say for a professional organization, mention them.
  • Don’t forget your transferable skills. Use your past experience, such as working with youth as a camp counselor, teacher or tutor, to your advantage. The transferable skills you gleaned in these roles, such as lesson planning and conflict resolution, could transfer well to a role with a religious organization.
  • Don’t hesitate to highlight your soft skills. At the heart of many religious organizations are the members. Job seekers need to show managers they are able to reach out and interact with the sect’s membership. They should show off skills like creativity, collaboration, and communication.
  • Don’t exaggerate your accomplishments. Integrity is a big part of most religious organizations’ purpose. Applicants must never put anything on their resumes that demonstrates a lack of integrity, such as exaggerated accomplishments. Always be honest and humble.

Beat the ATS with These Religion Resume Skills

Most smaller churches and houses of worship still use old-fashioned recruiting strategies. However, larger religious organizations are apt to use an applicant tracking system (ATS) in the hiring process. The ATS gives employers a quick way to evaluate applicants’ resumes by searching for keywords that are critical to the role. This allows recruiters to quickly eliminate unqualified applicants.

Our Resume Builder recommends industry-specific keywords and phrases to help your resume pass through an ATS. Here are some examples of ATS-friendly verbiage our builder might recommend for your religion resume:

  • Distinct oral preaching skills
  • Accomplished at writing meaningful sermons
  • History of successful church leadership
  • Robust devotional life
  • Experience spreading the gospel with youth
  • Knowledge of accounting practices for church offerings and donations
  • Ordained minister through the organization’s religious doctrine

Religion Resumes for Every Professional Level

Entry-Level
Scribe Blueprint Resume Example Build my Resume

Mail Carrier

For someone who wants a job in an entry-level religion role, such as a scribe, it’s vital to show off essential skills in the field even if you have limited work experience. This job seeker uses a functional resume format to accomplish this feat. The scribe position requires lots of writing, organization and administrative tasks, and the applicant puts these important skills front and center in the resume. She also points out her experience as a church secretary and her educational background in secretarial studies. Build my Resume

Mid-Career
Minister Accentuate Resume Example Build my Resume

Shipping Supervisor

The mid-career applicant, applying for a minister position, uses the combination resume format to show off his assets as an employee. This format puts his impressive industry skills on display, while also highlighting his job experience. He has competencies in spiritual leadership, instruction, relationship development and officiating. He also has plenty of work experience as a minister and church leader. He showcases his ability to grow church membership and guide individuals through service. Build my Resume

Executive-Level
Worship Director Resume Example Acclaimed Build my Resume

Receiving Department Manager

The worship director position is an executive-level role open to the most experienced applicants. This job seeker shows off her potential to excel in this position with a chronological resume format. This format allows her to feature an exceptional background in religion, starting as a youth choir director. It highlights her many years of experience and a stellar career trajectory by putting the work experience section front and center. A focused skills section helps reinforce her experience by highlighting a background in communication, music education, arranging music and volunteer recruitment. Build my Resume

More religion resume samples

Find resume examples for your desired religion career. Get access to expert writing recommendations, do’s and don’ts and everything you need to write a perfect resume.

assist apostle darryl mccoychaplainchaplain internchaplain spiritual care coordinatorchurchchurch musicianchurch organistchurch pianistchurch treasurerexecutive pastorhospice chaplainhospital chaplainimammissionarymusic ministermusic ministryprison chaplainpsychicpsychic applicationworship leaderworship pastoryouth ministeryouth ministryyouth pastoryouth pastor template

Resume Success Stories

Statistics and Facts About Religion Jobs

Gender Composition of Clergy

Female 19.7%

Male 80.3%

Average Age

Female50.1years
Male51years
0102030405060708090100

Average Salary

Female$34028
Male$49498
010K20K30K40K50K60K70K80K90K100K
Source: DataUSA

Racial Diversity for Clergy 2018

White80.67%
Black9.4%
Asian5.19%
Other1.94%
Two or More Races2.06%
Native American0.446%
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander0.24%
020406080100
Source: Data USA – U.S. Census Burea

Mean Yearly Salary for Religious Workers 2019

Clergy$55190
Director of Religious ctivities and Education$50490
Other Religious Workers$39830
06K12K18K24K30K36K42K48K54K60K
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Job Outlook for Religious Workers 2018–2028

Other Religious Workers,Director of Religious Activities and Education, Clergy

4%-6% increase
0510
Source: O*Net

Popular Job Titles in Religion

  • Clergy
  • Minister
  • Pastor
  • Rabbi
  • Rector
  • Missionary Coordinator

Source: Occupational Information Network

Educational Requirements Statistics for Religion/Clergy

Doctoral or Professional Degree14%
Master’s Degree36%
Bachelor’s Degree26%
Associate Degree4%
Some College, No Degree11%
High School Diploma or Equivalent6%
Less than High School Diploma2%
0816243240
Source: CareerOneStop

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