We provide alumni & students with practical guidance and encouragement through:
- Schedule Vocational Discernment Consultation
- Resume Development
- Interview Preparation
- Compensation Guidance Request
- Other Resources
- Ministry Opportunity Listing (Limited to alumni/students in Placement)*
Apply for Placement
- Apply for Placement with our confidential online Placement application.
- Current students should sign up for Placement 9 – 12 months before graduation. Fill out the Placement Services Application on students.dts.edu.
- MAAE, MACP, MABEL, MA (TS, OT, NT), MBTS, MACS, MABS, and CGS (formerly CBTS) graduates are generally not accepted into the MOL since these programs do not train for vocational ministry. Some consideration will be given to those with ten years ministry experience.
- For MABC and MAMW students, the Career Services Office will partner with your department to help find you a position, as we receive limited placement offerings for these programs.
- Regulations may apply for international students.
- For more details, see the Degree Services Chart.
- Current students should sign up for Placement 9 – 12 months before graduation. Fill out the Placement Services Application on students.dts.edu.
- Pay the $35 annual fee. For graduating students, the first 12 months are free.
- Once approved, use your login and password to access the Ministry Opportunities Listing (MOL), our online job database.
Resumes & Cover Letters
Your resume creates a first impression; is it a good one? Ministry resumes provide potential employers with a broad overview of who you are and what you can do. A clean, professional, and error-free resume goes a long way toward the interview.
Cover Letter
A cover letter is a one-page introduction to who you are and why you would be a good fit at the church or ministry where you are applying. Think of this as the resume’s introduction. An eye-catching cover letter has an interesting hook and outlines pertinent experience in a personal, memorable way. Cover letter should always be send as PDFs.
Resume
The purpose of your resume is to present yourself in such a way that a search committee gains a clear picture of who you are and what you have to offer. Strongly communicating all facets of who you are and what you bring to ministry can be daunting, but time and careful thought spent here are well-invested. Resumes should always be send as PDFs.
Video Resume
A video resume allows you to stand out among other candidates and directly to ministry partners. It is a way for candidates to go beyond traditional methods of applying for positions to make a better first impression. In two to three minutes, your video resume will display your communication skills, personality and passion for ministry.*
*Career Services offers to assist with filming video resumes. There is a fee of $50.00 for your video to cover filming and editing costs. View an example here. To schedule your filming session, feel free to either stop by the Career Services Office in Stearns Hall (Lower Level), email us at careerservices@dts.edu, or call us at 214-887-5106.
Interview Preparation
During any interview, the church or ministry is trying to figure out the answers to two questions:
- Do you have the skills necessary to do the job well?
- Will you fit into the church/ministry culture?
With this in mind, there are three steps you can take to ensure that everyone leaves the interview answering ‘yes’ to both questions.
- Research the church/ministry. It is difficult to prove that you are a good fit in the culture if you don’t know what that culture is. For example, showing up to interview in a young, vibrant church wearing a three-piece suit may hinder your cause. However, wearing a suit a conservative Baptist church is crucial. Understand their culture.
- Be prepared. Have your resume printed on high-quality paper to your interviewers. Answer common interview questions ahead of time so you will be ready when asked. Come prepared to show your competence through stories, not merely by insisting you are competent. For example, if you claim to be a team player, be prepared to share a story of when you worked with a team to accomplish your goal. See the interview questions below for a list of possible questions you may be asked.
- Ask questions. Remember that while the church/ministry is attempting to figure out whether you would be a good fit, you should also be evaluating them. Asking questions also shows that you are interested and engaged. See the interview questions below for a list of possible questions to ask.
Compensation Guidance
Figuring out how much you can expect to be compensated in certain positions is difficult. Pay ranges vary based on location, experience, church culture, etc. The Career Services has access to comparative salaries so you can enter a meeting about compensation confidently.
To request a compensation range for a specific ministry, submit a compensation request. To learn more about pastoral compensations, see the PDF below.
Resources
Job Search
- Candidating (PDF)
- Job & Career Transition Guide
- Other Ministry Search Websites (PDF)
- Interim Pastor Ministries, Executive Director, Tom Harris (ThM, 1983)
- Pivot Talent Group, Executive Director, Kenny Brown (ThM, 2002)
LPC Resources