Local Ministries

• Youth ministries
• Adult ministries
• Leisure ministries
• Counseling/recovery
• Religious education
• Daycare, children and adult
• Missionary outreach
• Food bank/emergency ministries
• Family life center management
• Journalism
• Public relations
• Television, radio, and films
• Publishing
• Music

Employers

• Local churches
• Religious organizations
• Denominational boards

Information & Strategies

• Get additional training or double major in specialized areas.
• Obtain certification for specialized areas.
• Obtain Master of Divinity degree or counseling degree.
• Gain experience by volunteering in local church and campus religious organizations.
• Obtain an internship at denominational headquarters.
• Build relationships with local church and denominational leaders.
• Get experience in communications areas and develop a portfolio.
• Double major in music; take additional courses in religious music. Get performance experience through campus groups.

Social Services

• Administration
• Vocational training
• Retail
• Public relations
• Programming
• Counseling
• Advocacy
• Crisis services (pregnancy, housing, etc.)
• Financial/debt counseling
• Camp administration
• Lobbying

Employers

• Nonprofit organizations including United Way, Red Cross, Goodwill industries, Salvation Army, etc.
• Churches
• Religious hospitals and hospices
• Correctional institutions
• Shelters
• Nursing homes
• Youth organizations and camps including YMCA, YWCA, Young Life, etc.
• Adoption agencies/foster care
• Religious political organizations

Information & Strategies

• Volunteer with local organizations for experience.
• May need specialized training/certification for some areas.
• Obtain excellent interpersonal and oral and written communication skills.
• Seek summer camp experience and leadership roles, such as director or assistant director.
• Legal experience and law degree may be required.

Health and Welfare Ministries

• Administration
• Social services
• Residential living
• Religious activities programming
• Chaplaincy
• Counseling: mental health or pastoral

Employers

• Hospitals
• Mental health treatment facilities
• Nursing homes
• Retirement homes
• Assisted living homes
• Children/youth homes

Information & Strategies

• Double major or minor in business, social work, human services, or special interest area.
• Take courses related to special populations.
• Volunteer time in related organizations.
• Obtain advanced degrees and certification for counseling and chaplaincy. May need ordination for pastoral counseling.

Clergy

Employers

• Local churches
• Religious organizations
• Denominational boards and agencies
• Monasteries

Information & Strategies

• Become involved in related campus activities.
• Protestant clergy positions require denominational ordination and usually a master of divinity.
• Possess high moral and ethical standards.
• Develop leadership ability and self discipline.
• Obtain excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Chaplaincy

• Military
• Institutional

Employers

• All branches of military service
• Hospitals, hospices
• Homes for children, youth, senior citizens
• Correctional institutions
• Police and fire departments

Information & Strategies

• Obtain ordination and two years' service in local church. After acceptance into branch service, attend chaplaincy school.

Missions

• Church and community development
• Education
• Medical
• Metropolitan ministries
• Community centers
• Evangelism

Employers

• Denominational boards or agencies
• Mission boards
• Local churches
• Religious institutions
• Evangelical organizations e.g. Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

Information & Strategies

• Obtain any needed advanced degrees, certification or licensing for area of interest.
• Seek related volunteer or work experience.
• Obtain travel and cultural experience with group of interest. Foreign language skills are a plus.
• Develop fundraising skills and contacts.

Education

• Teaching
• Research
• Counseling
• Administration/staff
• Chaplaincy
• Religious life programming
• Campus ministry

Employers

• Religiously affiliated schools
• Preparatory schools
• Private, public, or religiously affiliated colleges and universities
• Schools of theology/seminaries
• Organizations such as Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Campus Crusade for Christ, Intervarsity

Information & Strategies

• May require certification/licensure to teach
• A PhD is usually required for teaching, research, and administration in colleges and universities.
• Complete Master of Divinity plus additional training for campus ministry.
• A Master of Divinity and PhD, DMin, or ThD are usually required for teaching, research, and administration in seminaries and schools of theology.
• May require multiple skills such as providing ministerial services as well as administration, teaching, coaching, etc.
• Become involved in specific campus ministry organizations. Seek leadership positions and internships or summer employment opportunities.

Business

• Administration/management
• Human resources
• Building management
• Research

Employers

• Local churches
• Religious bookstores
• Religious publishers
• Denominational boards/agencies
• Seminaries/schools of theology
• Religiously affiliated schools
• Denominational hospitals, homes, schools, boards, and agencies

Information & Strategies

• Double major or minor in business.
• Get related experience.
• A dual degree in engineering is helpful for building management.
• Develop research and writing skills.

Communications

• Writing
• Editing
• Publishing
• Television/Film
• Radio
• Advertising
• Public relations
• Sales
• Commercial art

Employers

• Denominational boards/agencies
• Interdenominational organizations
• Local churches
• Denominational publishing houses of books and magazines
• Secular publishing houses
• Secular radio, television, and film industry

Information & Strategies

• Consider freelance positions. Permanent positions are limited.
• Take courses in English, social sciences, and journalism. Develop excellent writing skills.
• Submit articles for publication for religious and nonreligious papers and journals.
• Learn desktop publishing techniques.
• Obtain specialized technical training such as a double major or minor in broadcasting.
• Develop artistic talent.
• Take courses or double major in graphic design/illustration.
• Obtain related experience through internships.

Religious Communities

Employers

• Denominational groups including Roman Catholic (nuns and monks), Episcopal, Greek Orthodox

Information & Strategies

• Apply to religious order for admittance.
• Requires self-discipline
• Desire to combine career with life/living arrangements