Comments on: Hiring: Part 3

By: Top Swerve Posts of 2007 at LifeChurch.tv : swerve

Top Swerve Posts of 2007 at LifeChurch.tv : swerve — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 16:11:07 +0000

[...] Hiring: Part 3 [...]

By: Greg Pinkston

Greg Pinkston — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 18:54:59 +0000

Along with Travis, I’ve been through the Lifechurch.tv interview/testing process before and did not get the job (although I’m still not yet on the bus). Instead of being upset because I didn’t get the job, however, I could only trust that the right person got the job. The process may not be perfect, but it is thorough. And that fact makes it easy to believe that the right person ends up in the right position at the right time.

By: Todd Roy

Todd Roy — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 02:51:12 +0000

Another thing to remember when hiring is that there are no “unimportant” hires. A mistake that is often made is short circuiting the process for hires that are deemed not so spiritual in nature i.e. facilities guy, tech guy, or some admin roles. All of these positions will add chemistry to your team and contribute to the overall culture of your organization. Get lazy for one interview and it can spell disruption for the whole team.

By: Victor

Victor — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 01:02:12 +0000

I’ve never had an interviwer ask me to tell a joke. That’s brilliant!

Reminds of the movie - Pursuit of Happyness

By: Ken

Ken — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 19:18:49 +0000

This is great stuff. Just looking at the list makes me think that I would need a vacation after the interview process. But I have also experienced the reality of people being placed on my team by HR processes who were not a good fit. They were really awesome people that I loved but they were not a fit. A better process can save everyone involved time and frustration. Thanks for sharing.

By: Travis

Travis — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 18:42:20 +0000

Another LC staffer here who has been through the interview process (3 times). You are probably thinking: “3 Times?” Yeah, and that’s my point.

I felt called to ministry with no religious training or professional experience. I was very active as a volunteer at LC and knew that I was being called to ministry but had absolutely no idea how God could use me based on my professional experiences in the secular world. I sent my resume to my campus pastor, Sam at the time, and explained that I felt called to ministry but not to any particular position. Sam got me started on the interview and testing process. The testing and interview process was brutal. Ultimately I was turned down and told to be patient, that something might come up in the future, but I wasn’t a good fit for the positions open at that time.

About a year later a position came open that I was encouraged to apply for. I did, and the result was the same. “We can see you on the team, this just isn’t your seat on the bus. Be patient.” Then a few weeks later a position opened up that combined so many of my gifts and past experiences. It was my seat on the bus! I’ve been on staff for almost exactly one year and feel so blessed that LC was faithful to their testing and interview processes. I would not have been as content and satisfied as I am now had I been offered and accepted one of the first two positions that I interviewed for.

So my point is that the process works for the good of both the interviewer and interviewee. Thanks to the LC leadership. It’s been a wonderful year.

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 17:31:29 +0000

How about the “tell me about yourself” question?

From what I’ve seen and experienced, this ends up being one of the most difficult questions to answer, either because people take too long to tell their life story, or because people simply don’t know where to start/what to tell.

By: So two nuns walked into a bar ... « Live. Work. Play.

So two nuns walked into a bar ... « Live. Work. Play. — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 17:10:32 +0000

[...] So two nuns walked into a bar … 11 04 2007 I don’t know what I’d do in a job interview if someone said, “Now, tell me a joke …“ [...]

By: Brian - Central

Brian - Central — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 16:13:04 +0000

I have been through a lot of interview processes in the secular world, and the LC process was my first experience into ministry. I only wish that all of the interviewing/selection processes had been as thorough and educational as the one I went through 6 months ago at LC. There was no doubt that day, nor 6 months later into my role here, that my gifts, personality, work style, etc. were all a good fit for this ministry. Without that in-depth, probing process, it would be easy for me to ponder if I am in the right place at the right time. Instead, I feel very comfortable and confident that I am where God wants me to be at this time in my life.

Leaving these kinds of critical decisions up to chance or “gut” feelings can be a disservice both to the applicant and to the organization. Thoroughness is great in my opinion!

By: Craig

Craig — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 15:50:05 +0000

Andrew,

Thanks for your perspective. You’re a gift to our team!

By: Andrew HNV

Andrew HNV — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 15:33:23 +0000

As someone who went through the hiring process at LifeChurch.tv, I just wanted to throw out there that it was as beneficial for me and my family as it was for LC. Amy and I felt like we knew what we were about to get into because of the thoroughness of the method and interaction with the LC staff. It may seem tough from the outside and difficult to determine if LC’s hiring process is healthy, but it benefits everyone when all the pieces fit together.

By: Carole

Carole — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 14:22:51 +0000

WOW! If I was trying to get this job I would feel like I had been to Therapy after my session with those question.

Just a guess but men give short answers to them and women long anwsers?

By: Craig

Craig — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 13:27:24 +0000

Jordan,

These questions are just examples. We may or may not use them. If we did use them, they would be adjusted for age and life experience.

Michael,

Good thoughts about mistakes…

By: Michael McLemore

Michael McLemore — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 12:52:59 +0000

Good thoughts…I like Meyers Briggs as it lets you know one’s pressure points and potential points of failure…I’m ISTP myself.

One thing I reinforce to my team and ask in interviews is how misatkes are addressed. Specifically, do they move forward and try to resolve or do they follow another protocol.

…paasively loaded question but what I am looking for is whether they share bad news fast, and what qualifies on their matrix as bad news. Resolving is important but sharing bad news fast is critical.

By: Jordan Terrell

Jordan Terrell — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 12:45:59 +0000

Craig, I am 25 years old. After reading these questions, the thought that continually came to mind is….”uhhh, I dont think that situation has happened in my life yet” So instead of a business or ministry situation, i thought of a situation in college when i was working on a group project or when I was a college athlete and was in similiar situation. I guess my question is. Would you ask these same questions to a 25 year old, considering that most 25 year olds have only 2-3 years of work experience. Obviously this only applies to a few of the questions, but do you take that into consideration?