As staff recruiting in ministry world continues to evolve and become more competitive and sophisticated in recent years, churches and recruiting firms have developed a keen sense of red flags during the recruiting process that relate to whether a candidate is a good fit for your church or not. Those red flags may be a bit different from church to church but there are many red flags that are fairly consistent across the board.
Now a red flag doesn’t necessarily mean that a church should stop recruiting a candidate, even though that’s very possible, but it is a cause for concern and gives reason to hit the breaks on the speed of the process and dig deeper with the candidate.
So after being on both sides of recruiting, both being recruited and recruiting a number of hires, here are some of the biggest church staff recruiting red flags.
1. Candidates Who Are Overly Concerned With the Opportunity to Teach
If teaching is really important to the candidate and you’re not hiring them to a teaching role then don’t hire them. Let them go plant or pastor their own church.
2. Candidates Who Are Indecisive
If they need to go date other churches then let them. Just don’t marry them.
3. Candidates Who Freely Speak Negatively of Their Current Church
If they talk bad about their current church they may have a difficult time taking personal ownership and as a result have a low E.Q. And by the way, if they talk bad about others, they’ll probably talk bad about you.
4. Candidates Who Don't Ask Good Questions
If they don’t ask good questions they’re not going to be a very critical thinker or strategic and will have a hard time moving the ministry forward at your church.
5. Candidates Who Treat People They Have Nothing to Gain From Poorly
If they only treat people with perceived power and influence well (those they seem to gain something from) and overlook others, or even worse treat them poorly, then they have a serious character defect that will hurt your team.
6. Candidates Who Are Too Eager
If they are too eager to jump ship and join your team then they’re probably running from something or chasing something; either way they’ll have a hard time leading in the here and now if they join your team.
7. Candidates Who Have Overbearing Spouses
I know you’re not hiring their spouse, you’re hiring them, but sharp people typically marry sharp people. If their spouse is overbearing you’re probably going to want to pass.
8. Candidates Who Change Jobs Too Often
If they have a track record of changing jobs every few years, chances are they’ll leave you soon too.
