18 Resume Do’s and Don’ts for Your Christian Job Search

Whether you are updating your resume for a new job opportunity or writing a resume for the first time, there are a few things that all hiring professionals agree you should and should not include when applying to jobs. Here are some do’s and don’ts to keep in mind when creating your resume:

1. DON’T: Include Your Age or GPA

It’s not legal to hire based on age, so there’s no need to include it in your professional resume. Also, your grades aren’t important when you are no longer in school. If you got your diploma/degree/certification, then you’re IN!

2. DO: List Relevant Honors and Degrees/Certifications

If you graduated Summa Cum Laude – say that! If you have a degree in a specific area of study be sure to include that! Those kinds of details hiring managers care about.

3. DON’T: Include Accomplishments that Aren’t Professional

If you won a pie-eating contest, we’re happy for you! But it shouldn’t be listed as a professional accomplishment.

4. DO: Save Your “Fluff” for The Actual Interview

When you are sitting with your interviewer and they ask you to share something unique about yourself, that is a great time to share your pie story. By saving this information for in-person conversation, you save your resume from coming off as directionless.

5. DON’T: Include Your Full Ministry Philosophy

If you are seeking a ministry position, then your ministry philosophy may be several paragraphs, or even several pages and should not be part of your resume.

6. DO: Have Your Full Ministry Philosophy Prepared

Especially if you are looking to find a pastoral position, it’s important to have a ministry philosophy prepared and available for potential employers, but it should be kept in a separate document and presented after you send your resume. It’s a good idea to indicate that your ministry philosophy is available “upon request.”

7. DON’T: List Your References

Most hiring professionals won’t be calling your references until after they have talked to you. There’s no need to take up valuable space on your resume by listing out your references and their contact information.

8. DO: Indicate that Your References Are Available

While you won’t send the information for your references at first, you’ll want to have them ready to go for when a potential employer needs them. Be sure to state that your references are available “upon request”.

9. DON’T: List Irrelevant Education or Experience

Once you enter college, there’s no need to state where you went to high school. If you are a certified yoga instructor, make sure it’s pertinent before adding it to your resume.

10. DO: Keep Your Content Up to Date

As time goes on, you may acquire lots of education and experience. Things that used to be important will become less so, eventually. Be sure to edit what you have and update to add any new information before putting your resume back in circulation.

11. DON’T: List Redundant Information/Give Unnecessary Detail

If you have had several jobs that are similar to each other, then find a way to list the experience that you gained that is well summarized. There’s no need to list the same responsibility under multiple items of experience.

12. DO: Give Personal Touches in Person

It is far more beneficial to give details about what your experience means to you or how it made you feel in person. On paper, it may be difficult to convey correctly. But most importantly, your resume is simply an introduction. Keeping the information here brief and clear will help you to present yourself in a professional way, and help the hiring manager to get a sense of whether or not you’re the person they are looking for quickly.

13. DON’T: Include Outdated Skills

“Typing” and “Proficient in Microsoft Office” are not skills anymore. Save the space in the section for skills that truly set you apart, such as “Team Building/Management”, “Client Acquisition and Retention,” etc.

14. DO: Let Your Experience Speak for Itself

If you list in your experience that you have worked in accounting, then you don’t need to include “Proficient in Excel”. It’s okay to let your experience imply a skill like this.  

15. DON’T: Forget to Update Information from Other Applications

If you have put information in your resume (or cover letter) that is specific to a certain company/ministry or job opportunity, then don’t forget to change it before you apply to the next job.

16. DO: Personalize Your Cover Letter/Resume

If you are interested in several types of positions, then it is a good idea to create a few versions of your resume to highlight the appropriate skills and experience. You’ll also want to create a cover letter then addresses specific elements listed for the job that you are interested in.

17. DON’T: Forget to Check Your Grammar/Spelling

There are few things that can hurt you more when making a first impression than a glaring typo. It is helpful to double-check your resume for grammar and spelling every time you make a change.

18. DO: Take Advantage of Online Tools

Grammarly.com is a great tool to help with spelling and grammar, they even have many options available for free! There are also sites like titlecaseconverter.com that will convert titles for you, so you always know that your headings are properly capitalized.

There it is! 18 ways to take your resume to the next level! It can seem like a lot to implement, but it is well worth it. If you are ready to start your job search, but not sure that you are able to polish your resume, then have your resume professionally written and get that job!