Career Change A Ministry Opportunity

by Chaplain Paul Slater

Career Change Opportunities

Changing careers has been a part of the American job scene throughout our history. When my son graduated from high school, we were told he would most likely have seven different careers over his working years. I have long believed churches could do far more than ask people to tithe a portion of their income. Why not help people earn an income to tithe from? Minister to people by helping them discover career opportunities.

Career Change And Job Creation

Back when my own ministry career took a unique turn to working for the County of San Diego as a Faith Coordinator, I noted that many of the grants available to churches and non-profit organizations had to do with job creation and career guidance.

One of my tasks in this faith oriented Government job was to make faith groups aware of grants to help people find work. But there was so much more than just helping people find work. Many government grants as well as privately funded grants provided funding for job programs that trained people in employment related skills as well as developing entrepreneurship.

In fact, some churches created career focused ministry positions in order to implement these employment training programs, helping people in the community do more than find a job but to pursue a new career path. Some programs helped people develop their entrepreneurial skills, training them to start a business.

Thinking Career Change Thoughts

Thinking about whether to change careers is more widespread than most of us realize. Contemplating a change in career direction is a very common experience many employees engage in regarding their occupational situation. Often people think about changing careers as they perform their daily work place duties, regardless of the career field.

Many seem to be asking “Should I consider a career change?” as they attempt to survive financially in this economically challenging world. In my role as a healthcare chaplain, I talk to hundreds of people every month voice their question as to whether the career choice they are in is the career choice they want to continue.

I have heard physicians voice career frustrations as well as home health aids share career choice dissatisfaction. Questioning career change is very common in every occupational field, whether in occupations perceived as a high paying career or by those in lower paying careers.

Discussing Career Change Aspirations

Progressing from thinking about career change to talking about changing careers is the next step in the process of career change. Changing careers is a common topic of discussion, perhaps by a unfulfilled worker sharing their desire for fulfillment or a disgruntled employee talking to herself or himself about job frustrations.

Avoiding Job Related Bitterness and Anger

The challenge is to stay away from bitterness and anger when thinking about career frustrations or talking about job dissatisfactions. Beginning as inner thoughts of changing career direction, next comes talking about changing careers. One’s job change aspirations might be alluded to by frustrated workers engaged in break room banter. Perhaps it is simply a statement made in an unguarded moment when the job dissatisfaction is express in a statement like “I hate this job!”

Discussing a career change might be the topic of discussion for couples dialoguing about their workday over the evening meal or as they talk about their daily work experiences as they take a daily walk.

So the progression from career change thoughts, begun as the inner thought processes of a frustrated employee, reaches the stage of voicing those feelings to someone who is significant to the career change candidate.

Whatever the cause of job dissatisfaction, note the process of the career change thoughts. First is contemplating career change, experiencing career frustrations that cause reflection on where one is to where one wants to be career wise, Next is voicing career change thoughts, finally talking about career change aspirations. I believe this is more common than many of us realize.

Being Proactive In Career Change

Of course, thinking about career change, then talking about changing career direction whether to yourself or to significant people in your life, is not the same as actually taking positive steps to change careers. Perhaps it is time to explore how to change your career with purpose.

That will be the topic of another article at a later time. But for now, the process of career change has begun. The wise church leader will see career change as a life related ministry opportunity.