What to Do if You Work for the Church and Want to Leave

Last updated on: September 26, 2018 at 7:48 pm by JoAnna Wahlund

What to Do if You Work for the Church and Want to Leave 2018-09-26T19:48:30-08:00 JoAnna Wahlund

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It is a really tough time to be an employee of the Church right now, and I don’t blame those who may want to leave their job and find another. It’s a scary position to be in if you are worried that a flood of lawsuits may put your job in jeopardy. My heart also breaks for all the laypeople who have essentially been caught in the crossfire between angry laity and panicking clergy. There have been a few good statements issued by priests and bishops, but sadly they have been few and far between.

Some of the statements even seem to be gaslighting, such as Archbishop Lori says allegations open old wounds for abuse victims. Doesn’t that come across as subtly shaming abuse victims, or at the very least, shaming the PA Grand Jury for stirring up all this controversy? I think if my employer posted something like that, I’d start searching job boards the next day.

If you are a layperson who works for the Church and you are seriously considering finding employment elsewhere due to the scandals, here are a few resources for you:

Some great advice on discernment from Peter Kreeft.

Ask A Manager is my go-to resource for any job-hunting advice, from cover letters to resume help to interview advice. Her comboxes contain valuable tips and tricks as well.

If you are a member of a professional organization, their job boards are a good resource for openings, and you’re more likely to find industry-specific jobs as opposed to searching on a more generic site like CareerBuilder, Indeed, Glassdoor, Monster, or LinkedIn.

Do not underestimate the power of networking. Confide in friends and family and let them know you are looking. Pass along your resume if they ask to see it. They may know about an opening that would suit you.

If you get to the interview stage and you’re asked, “Why do you want to leave your current job?,” say something general like, “I’m interested in advancement and that isn’t possible in my current position” (assuming that’s true) or something vague like “I’m looking for new challenges.”

Or, you could answer specific to the job you’re interviewing for; if you’re trying to get a job as a Social Media Specialist for a marketing company, you could say, “I don’t get the opportunity to use my skills with Tumblr and Pinterest in my current position, and those are areas I’d really love to develop.”

Lastly, there’s a great Novena for Work to St. Josemaria Escriva, and for working mothers, definitely try the novena to St. Gianna as well. St. Joseph the Worker and St. Cajetan are additional patron saints for the unemployed, underemployed, and job seekers.

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