The Best Resume Layout for a Children's Minister
With more and more churches hiring people for positions such as Children's Minister, Children's Pastor or Director of Children's Ministries, more people will be writing resumes to apply for such positions. Churches are looking for people with experience in early childhood education and in ministries aimed at children of that age. These ministries are not just for Sunday mornings, but can include a midweek program or even a weekly preschool program.
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Page Layout Options
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The many options for resume page layout (see Resource section) are really a personal choice. Most layout styles are suited to all industries and all types of jobs. There are some things you can consider, however. A two-column layout or a layout that indents most of the body text and leaves the subheads alone on the left, surrounded by lots of white space, is a good way to stretch out your resume to fill a page. This makes a good format for those with little experience. Another thing to consider is that if you are applying to conservative churches, you should pick a more conservative resume style.
Fonts and Paper Choices
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The choice of fonts and paper are another example of personal choices that can communicate something about your personality. As with page layout, you will want to avoid more unusual fonts and colored paper if you are applying to churches that are more conservative. When purchasing paper, make sure to get matching envelopes. When choosing fonts, realize that some electronic formats will not transmit your exact font choice, so the resume should stand on its own even with a standard font. If it is important to you that the resume look exactly as you designed it, make an effort to mail a copy you have printed, even if you have to overnight it, because any electronically submitted format may not print exactly the same on the other end. The PDF format will have the best results, but some fonts may still not appear correctly.
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Resume Formats
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When churches search for minister and pastor candidates, the most important criteria is experience, and education is a close second. Therefore, a traditional chronological format is the best choice for a person applying for a children's minister position. Your job experience section should list your positions in reverse chronological order, with the most recent or your present position first. Also, list any relevant volunteer experience you have. Include a section on your education, and be specific about each degree you hold.
What to Include for a Children's Minister
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Be specific about your experience and your education. Include information about ministries you've worked in, including the ages and number of children involved, how often the program met, and your specific role. Any roles that included leadership of volunteers and recruitment of workers would be important. Don't neglect volunteer positions, especially if you were in a role of leadership.
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