Recruitment 03: Preparing for Applications

This is the third part of our Recruiting blog series. We’ve looked at Partnering with Others and Developing our Materials. In this post, we will evaluate how ready we are for processing applications.

LDHR often plays a key role in recruitment by ensuring that the necessary infrastructure for recruitment activities flows seamlessly into the application and onboarding processes.

This part includes your Digital Presence & Ministry Visibility. These are often not areas that LDHR can develop on its own, so this is a great opportunity to partner with others who have artistic and technical skills.

Some things you might consider:

• Can someone easily find the National Ministry online? (Maybe not an LDHR activity, but a (partner) conversation to have with others if not in place.)
• Is the National Ministry website (and specific national strategy websites) attractive to those considering joining? Is it clear who we are? (What God has uniquely called us to be and do; historical highlights; key plans/needs, etc.)
• Does your social media include invitations to join, and does it present a positive view of staff life?
• Is there a step-by-step pathway for people to explore, including why they should join us and how they would go about that, with guidance and encouragement to seek God’s leading?

And how about your Application Processes?

• Are your application materials and processes relevant for today’s applicants? Have they been reviewed and updated recently?
• Are the relevant materials easily accessible for someone to apply? Are they available digitally?
• Do you have timelines and procedures (email templates) set for how and how quickly you will respond to inquiries?
• Who does the interviews and who makes final acceptance decisions?
• How can you make this process more agile and welcoming to potential staff members?

This is another great place to talk with or survey your new staff or other young people involved in your ministry. Ask them what they think about the process, listen with a willingness to learn, and make the improvements that you can.

If you have questions about any of this or suggestions to share, please let us know in the comments! Do you have a website link you could share? We’d love to learn from each other.