Conducting an interview is no small task. And when you’re interviewing someone for a position on your church staff, the pressure can feel even more overwhelming. Not only are you trying to determine if this person will be a good fit for your team and a competent co-worker. You’re also trying to figure out if they will be a good and faithful shepherd of whatever area of ministry they will be working in if they join your church staff.
That being said, we wanted to give you a list of questions you can ask during your next interview that will help give you discernment and insight into whether or not your interviewee will be a good candidate to fill the open position at your church.
- Why are you looking for a new job?
- How do you cope with stress?
- How would your friends describe you?
- What are your thoughts on mentorship?
- How do you handle conflict?
- What is your preferred work environment?
- What is your philosophy on personal development?
- How would you make the effort to invest in and pour into your volunteers?
- Have you ever worked in ministry before?
- If so, where did you work and what did you do?
- If not, why are you looking to get into ministry now?
- What aspects of your previous job(s) were life-giving, and what aspects were life-draining?
- How have you incorporated work-life boundaries in past jobs?
- What are your spiritual gifts?
- What are some professional weaknesses or blind spots you have, and what is your strategy to improve in these areas?
- Why do you think you would be a good fit for this role?
- Why do you think you would be a good fit for this church staff?
- What motivates you in the context of your work and career?
- How would you describe your own personal theology?
- Would you say that your personal ministry is more seeker-focused or discipleship-focused? Why?
- Do you have any long-term ministry goals? If so, what are they?
- Have you set any ministry goals that you’ve already accomplished? If so, what were they?