Dear Chuck,
For so many of us looking for work, the first step always seems to be to get a resume together. Do you have any tips for me on what makes a good resume and on any advice from the Bible for putting my best foot forward?
Writing a Resume … Again
Dear Writing,
With fewer good jobs available right now, a good resume can be the perfect advertisement for the amazing miracle of creation that is you. It’s easy to be discouraged and think that you are just one more resume in a pile. In Psalm 77, the discouraged writer ultimately remembers that he cries out to a God who can lead us with miracles and in new and mysterious ways … even on “a path through the sea.”
Start writing your resume with hope in the God who can lead you to the next great job for you, his dearly loved child, even if the journey leads you places you never expected to go.
There are many resume templates out there to choose from, so pick one that highlights what is wonderful about you. Forget the rules. Think about your unique skills.
Proverbs 22:29 observed: “Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.”
Employers are looking for proven workers who can get a job done. Most of the time, skills are better as a focus than the timeline of employment or the job titles, which can be overly emphasized on many resumes. You are selling your abilities, so discuss what you can do for a company. If you are an amazing accountant and want to continue working with money, highlight that skill set woven through all your employment. If the most interesting thing about your work is how well you manage a team, highlight the projects you’ve led, maybe even at your church or school as a volunteer. Think through what you want to do in your day and how your work would benefit the company with the openings. Crown has some additional advice here on things you can consider adding.
Proverbs 27:2 observes, “Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips.”
Choose your references carefully. This is not a throwaway in your resume. If you’ve targeted a company for employment, can you get a reference from someone connected to that business? Consider the people who are impressive in your life and able to sing your praises. As Christians, we are taught to avoid praising ourselves, so let others talk about you. If you’re having trouble selling yourself to an employer, include a letter from one of your references and let them do that for you.
1 Peter 4:10 observes,“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace”
The purpose of our lives is not to enrich us alone. As Christians, we should be about the business of helping others, and with so much competition for jobs, including service on your resume shows prospective employers that you are a team player, able to show concern for the needs of others. In Matthew 25, Jesus talked about the kind of hands-on care he wants people to show to others: “For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me drink; I was a stranger, and you invited me in; naked, and you clothed me; I was sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to me.” Today’s employers also like to see that their prospects are community minded. Make others part of your story.
Proverbs 22:1 observes, “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.”
In today’s interconnected world, employers (like everyone else) will be checking you out on social media. Consider carefully the picture of yourself shown to the world. Read through your posts, blogs and twitter accounts – and any other social media – to be sure that you want your future boss to see exactly what went on in some party in college. It’s probably time for a social media diet. And after editing your social media, join other online communities that are good for you. Take your resume and accomplishments and look at websites like LinkedIn or professional sites in the field you’ve chosen. Be deliberate in getting the word out about your skills and about limiting what others see. It’s a digital world, so leave a careful and deliberate social footprint.
Leviticus 19:11 commands, “Thou Shalt Not Lie.”
Don’t give in to the fear that you won’t get a good job and pad your resume with lies and half-truths. Once you are found out, the truth of whom you are will get lost in the lies you told to get the job. You do have talents, and if there are skills you need to get to the next level, then take a class or talk with your prospective employer about what can be done to get you there. Put your hope in God and highlight your skills, plans, and dreams.
Now that the resume is ready to go, put it in the hands of your friends and key members of your network and personally ask them to launch into their circle of contacts. Word of mouth referrals remains the best way to land an interview.
Remember, God has a plan for your life. Proverbs 16:9 is a calming reminder: “We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.”
Originally posted on the Christian Post June 10, 2016.
Originally posted at Christian Post May 27, 2016.
Dear Chuck,
With kids in college, I’m very worried about whether they can get a job after graduation and about the debt they’re going to need to manage because my wife and I can’t afford to pay for their educations free and clear. But it’s hard to get a good job without a college education. Do you have advice for us on making the most of a college degree?
Worried Parents
Dear Parents,
With four sons, my wife and I can relate to your concerns as we have worked with our boys to get a college education without debt. I’m especially concerned for today’s graduates because I believe that they are on the verge of suffering through another economic bubble poised to burst – a college debt bubble – just like the housing bubble that burst, leaving people stuck with homes worth less than the mortgage debt. Similarly, many graduates will owe more than they can afford to pay back because of low-paying or unavailable jobs. According to the Wall Street Journal, 2016 college graduates broke the debt record set in 2015, leaving college today with an average debt of $37,172. With so many young people burdened as they start their adult lives, it’s important to make a plan that ensures their investment pays off.
Because the costs are so high, I believe parents and students need to seek lots of counsel before going into debt for a college education. Proverbs 15:22 notes, “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”
Know Yourself. We are all “fearfully and wonderfully made” by a loving God who intended us to accomplish His purposes on this earth. The question is, what is God’s purpose for our lives? Crown has developed Career Direct as an assessment tool to understand a person’s unique gifts and talents, because those are the skills best developed into a career. It’s important information to have as so many young adults get into additional debt because they’ve chosen the wrong majors for themselves, leading to higher costs and delays to discovering the right path.
Dr. Richard Neuman notes: “The sad truth is that most college students do not graduate on time. Only one out of three students (33%) graduates from a four-year bachelor’s degree program in four years. In fact, after six years, only a little more than 60% of college students will have completed their college degree.” And every year of additional college adds costs to your bottom line.
The cost of investing in the wrong career can be even higher, as time is lost and extra education is sometimes needed to get back on track. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York found that only 27 percent of college grads are working in jobs related to their majors. Even more tragic is that they also found (in 2010) that more than 6 in 10 graduates were in jobs that did not require a college degree at all.
Getting wise career counseling before college and during will make a significant difference in costs and the long-term return on your investment.
Get Counsel from Working Professionals. Having identified a career you’re interested in and chosen a field of study, additional knowledge and experience can make all the difference. Networking with people in your chosen field, leading to a mentor relationship can help you avoid common mistakes as well as make important connections. Internships within a company where you would like to work are a great way to interview for a job from the inside, showcasing your skills and proving before being hired that you would fit into the team.
Even knowing what you want to do, you still need advice on how to do it well. Consider that the disciples were called by Jesus himself into ministry, yet they spent three years being trained by their Master.. A career takes time, experience and a lot of good advice to develop even when you are on the right track.
Get Counsel from Those Who Care for You. Take the time to ask people who actually know you, love you and are truly committed to you about the choices you are contemplating. They may have some insight into whether you really will prosper in a career you are considering. You may not like what those closest to you say, but when someone is truly on your side, their words – good or bad – are often insightful. While students may not welcome the advice, parents are a great resource on decisions like this as most truly desire their children’s best.
Get Counsel from He who Made You. Remember to spend time in prayer, as He who made you is the greatest resource for the path you should take. Remember Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans that I have for you, says the Lord, plans for peace and not for evil, to give you hope and a future.”
Originally posted at Christian Post April 29, 2016.
Dear Chuck,
I’m a little afraid of selling things on the Internet. This month a man was sentenced to life in prison for helping his stepsister beat to death a man she met on Craigslist that she intended to rob. She’s in prison now too. So many people I know have made a lot money by selling things on the website or buying things at what seems to me to be an international garage sale, but I am a little afraid to use it because of all the stories you read like this one. I know Crown advises people to simplify and to sell things to downsize and earn money when possible, but do you think it is safe to use it?
Scared of the Worldwide Web
Dear Scared,
It’s very appropriate to be concerned about any exchange on the Internet, whether it’s money or just information on Craigslist or any other site. Just because we are Christians, and hope for the best, that doesn’t mean we don’t want to be wise about how we conduct business. In Matthew 10:16, Jesus said, “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”
Here are a few tips that I recommend when using such a service.
Hopefully, you can continue to use online services without fear of harm, loss or scam artists. In today’s world, unfortunately that requires vigilance.
Dear Chuck,
Procrastinators Unite! This weekend, my husband and I will be crashing on our tax returns, due Monday, April 18th, and we’re hoping to receive a return. What do you suggest we do with the money?
Procrastinator
Dear Procrastinator,
It is never best to wait until the last minute to do your income tax return but it is better than not filing or filing late!
Since the majority of filers will receive a refund, this is a great question; especially when the average tax return in 2015 was $3,120. Usually, I wouldn’t turn to a poll to offer advice, but I’m going to make an exception today after reading about a new one out from Bankrate.com. Despite assertions that the economy is doing well and unemployment is down, most people are experiencing stagnant wages with little job growth.
Bankrate found our present economy is impacting how people intend to use their money with “84 percent of Americans receiving refunds intend to pay down debt, save or invest their windfall or use it for everyday necessities.” In fact, only 7 percent said they intended to spend the money or take a vacation with the cash.
I thoroughly applaud the more than 8 out of 10 Americans intending to hold on to that cash. At Crown, we advise that a good budget begins with $1,000 in an emergency fund followed by a plan to get debt free and stick with a plan. According to the Pew Charitable Trust, 80 percent of Americans are in debt, though that does include people with a mortgage. Still, about 4 in 10 people have expensive consumer debt like credit card debt, student loans or car loans.
Debt is an anchor that destroys the freedom of being available to do whatever God calls us to do.. When we owe money, we are obligated to meet the terms of the one who holds our finances hostage. Proverbs 22:7 puts it like this, “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.”
If you are getting a refund, already have an emergency fund AND are debt free, consider investing in a Roth IRA, which allows you to prepare for retirement. Because you would have paid tax on the money invested, you don’t have to pay taxes on the withdrawals during retirement. This kind of investment makes sense and will help save on future taxes, especially for people in the lower and middle-income range.
And while I will always encourage people to save for their later years, consider changing your deductions to eliminate most of your withholding if you are getting a large tax refund. In essence, you’ve made an interest-free loan to the government. On the average tax return of about $3,000, a change in withholding could mean about $250 more a month in your pocket to put in savings now and earn some interest on your money.
Of course, the most important caveat of that withholding change is that you do save the money!
