Three Things NOT to Do

1. Avoid Condescension

There you are eating lunch with some friends at work or maybe taking a break in between meetings, when someone attacks the Faith out of the blue. As Catholics we are used to these situations. But still, they can get our blood boiling. Often the attacks come from a place of ignorance and so it can be easy to respond by being condescending and belittling. But the truth is that responding like this does more harm than good and doesn’t help you defend the Faith as a Catholic professional.

Every one of us has experienced condescension. Condescension can destroy any chance of evangelization because it leaves the other person feeling dismissed, disrespected, and domineered. As Catholics, we are to be convicted that we have the truth in Jesus Christ and His Church. We are even required to respond to false attacks with the truth of the Gospel. But this doesn’t mean we get to be condescending, especially in the workplace where it can damage relationships and opportunities for further evangelization. It is helpful to keep in mind Philippians 2:3-4,

“Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but also everyone for those of others.”

Remember that when we defend the Faith it’s not about making the other person realize how wrong they are, but about showing them how true Jesus Christ is.

2. Steer Clear of Aggressiveness

In our modern world, our go to reaction to any threat tends to be anger. We are easily enraged and often respond to others with aggression. This can be understandable, especially when faced with unjust attacks on the Church in the workplace. But we need to remember that the great saints and spiritual writers of the Church often talk about the dangers of anger. It’s not that we cannot be upset, only that anger often leads to sin. Remember, “Be angry, but do not sin” (Ephesians 4:26).

But how do we know our anger is crossing into sin or not? Well, again, Ephesians can offer some guidance. Ephesians 4:15 tells us to live the truth in love. In other words, when we respond to false attacks by presenting the truth it should always be done out of love for the other and for God. If our response is not oriented toward love, then it is likely leading more toward sin.

At the end of the day, it is important that we refrain from adopting an aggressive stance that fails to love the other person. This means speaking the truth in love.

3. Don’t Neglect Professionalism

Titus 2:7-8 lays out the main point of this section perfectly. It says, “[show] yourself as a model of good deeds in every respect, with integrity in your teaching, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be criticized, so that the opponent will be put to shame without anything bad to say about us.”

Maintaining our professional conduct in the midst of attacks on the Church is one of the best means to defending the Faith as a Catholic Professional. If we remain professional, acting with integrity as regards our teaching, dignity, and speech, then we will have witnessed to the truth of Christ. This, often even more than words, can be convicting for the one who attacked the Church.

It’s important that we neither let attacks on the Faith lead us to respond in inappropriate and unprofessional ways, nor that we let it distract us from carrying out our essential duties. If we fail to do this, then we give others a chance to say something bad about us which can only further undermine the Faith and your professional position.

Three Things TO Do

1. Educate Yourself

If we want to be able to defend the Faith anywhere, then we need to “Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks for a reason for your hope…” (1 Peter 4:15). This is true for all Catholics, including Catholic professionals looking to defend the Faith.

Just like having a good game in a sport begins with practice weeks before the game, we also need to be well prepared with our Faith. It is important that we understand our Faith and know why it is we believe what we believe and hope for what we hope for. If we do not understand these things, then when we meet challenges and go to defend our faith we might be without words and left with nothing but frustration and anger. It is pivotal that we are always learning more about our Faith and why we believe what we believe so we can share it with others.

So be sure to equip yourself with a deep understanding of Catholic teachings. And cultivate the ability to articulate them clearly by discussing the Faith often with friends and loved ones. This will enable you to engage in informed discussions and address misconceptions about the Catholic Church.

2. Do not be ashamed of the Gospel

Defending the Faith as a Catholic professional can be daunting. We can get nervous because people often will respond with hostility or confusion. Following Jesus can even damage your reputation in the eyes of some of your co-workers.

It’s okay to feel nervous. But it isn’t okay to let those nerves stop us from defending the Faith as Catholic professionals. We need to say with St. Paul, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel. It is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16).

We may not always feel calm, cool, and collected, but if we courageously choose to defend the Faith in the workplace, then we are saying, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel!”

3. Lead by Example

Our Faith is not something we are meant to be ashamed of. And it is certainly nothing we should ever hide. This doesn’t just mean defending the Faith from attacks by giving intellectual arguments, but it also means living out our lives with the heart of Christ. Jesus tells us, “Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father” (Matthew 5:16).

When we live with real, authentic, personal sanctity we give the greatest defense of the Faith. Nothing spreads the Gospel like true holiness, and nothing is harder to refute than a Christ-like heart. This means that a central part of handling workplace persecution as a Catholic professional is a good prayer life.

As Catholic professionals, the best way to defend the faith is to live out your call to be like Jesus.

Conclusion

Jesus wants us to be His hands and feet in the world, and sometimes this means defending the Faith. Defending the Faith as a Catholic professional is not an easy task. There are many pitfalls to avoid and quite a few things to keep in mind. Stay away from condescension, aggressiveness, and don’t neglect professionalism. And make sure you are well educated, not ashamed of the Gospel, and lead by example. If you do this then you will defend the Faith as a Catholic professional with self-control and courage

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Do you know what every job requires, but is rarely included in a job listing? Professional skills.

These skills are often called “soft skills” – interpersonal qualities you need to succeed in the workplace. These skills help you get along well with others and can relate to people.

Workers in all kinds of job fields require personal qualities that go beyond specialized knowledge: teachers, sales reps, lawyers, freelancers, software developers, writers, doctors, administrative assistants, plumbers, and more.

Professional behavior in the workplace comes naturally to Catholics, simply because of what is asked of us as Christians. Let’s explore 7 easy Catholic professional skills that you can put into practice at your job right now.

1. Dress with dignity

Did you know that the way you dress affects what you think of yourself, and what others think of you? It may seem old-school, but dressing like a professional still matters.

What you wear to work can also depend on your job or work environment. If you work an office job that requires Business Professional attire every day, maybe put away the sweater and throw on a blazer. If the norm is casual dress, go with jeans instead of sweatpants. Even if there isn’t a dress code for your job, pick attire that is appropriate to the job you’re doing.

Regardless of whether you have to dress up or down for work, your appearance should always be neat and clean. You should always show up to work having put some effort into your outfit.

2. Say you’ll follow up and do it

Employers appreciate employees who communicate effectively and consistently. Written, verbal, and non-verbal communication are all important in creating a fruitful work environment. And if you say you’ll follow up, make sure you are true to your word and do it.

Be sure to brush up on your email communication skills. Most companies communicate primarily via email. The ability to write clear, concise emails will help you communicate effectively and stand out as an employee.

Pro Tip: Hand-written notes are especially memorable. It shows that you thought through what you wanted to say and took the time to write it out.

3. Be honest about your abilities and needs

In the workplace, do all tasks to the best of your abilities. However, don’t be afraid to be humble and ask for help when you need it. And if you feel that your job should challenge you more, offer suggestions to your boss for how to make this happen.

As a Catholic, you might have very specific needs. For example, you may have to let your boss know if you need a Holy Day of Obligation off to make it to Mass. When asking for specific exceptions, remember to be courteous and clear. Your boss is much more likely to approve your request for a morning off if you have a good attitude.

4. Watch your mouth

Applying this Catholic professional skill is pretty straightforward. Cursing and gossiping are two bad habits that have no place in a professional setting.

Avoid foul language when at work. Your co-workers might get offended, and it makes you look like immature. If you wouldn’t say it to your grandmother, don’t say it at work.

Avoid saying things that might harm a person’s character. Sharing information that isn’t yours to share can damage people’s trust in you.

How you respond to gossip can also affect your work-place environment. For this reason, it’s important to know how to handle workplace gossip.

5. Offer to help others out

People always appreciate an offer of extra help when they are facing a challenge. Even if it’s not your department, and even if they don’t ask, offering to assist a co-worker can be one of the best ways to stand out in the workplace.

Offering help in charity is one of the easiest ways to live out your Catholic faith. You lose nothing in offering assistance – the worst they can say is “no.”

6. Perfect your online presence

First impressions are very important. Nowadays, the one thing people do when they meet you is search your name on the internet.

To be sure that others have the best first impression of you possible, make sure your online presence is superb. Screen your social media accounts for anything inappropriate or unprofessional. If you have LinkedIn, make sure it is updated with a clear professional headshot, and your most recent resume.

Taking 10 minutes to clean up your online profiles really pays off. If the interview panel for a potential job searches your name, you want them to see your most authentic self, not those grainy selfies you took in high school.

7. Choose joy

Negative emotions in the workplace spread quickly. But guess what? So do positive emotions!

Joy, one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, is the mark of the Christian. That doesn’t mean you can’t speak up if something is wrong. If you see something that should be fixed, give your boss feedback along with suggestions for improvement. You can talk about problems effectively if you offer solutions. In fact, one of the best ways to live a life of joy is learning how to turn mistakes into success.

The fact is that people enjoy working with positive, humble co-workers. They will always remember you for your joy. Remember, an upbeat attitude can only affect the workplace in a good way.

A Final Word

You might wonder if anyone will even notice these professional habits. Actually, your boss, customers, and co-workers do. By practicing these easy Catholic professional skills, you will make a great impression on those around you, contribute true catholic business values to your workplace, and become more confident in your own talents and abilities.

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Those are just a few of the self-conscious questions contemporary society has faithful Catholics pondering every day.

Even though we have the First Amendment in the United States, Christians walk on eggshells when it comes to being public about their faith, especially at a place of business. Catholic professionals maybe more than most, given the not-so-faint streak of anti-Catholicism in our nation’s past and contemporary progressivism’s less-than-tolerant attitude toward Catholic moral teaching.

If that sort of thing nags at you, perhaps they even frighten you, there’s good news. You don’t have to answer those questions. And no blog is going to be able to give you one-size-fits-all advice on the subject. Only you can gauge the level of tolerance for religious discussion in a given secular workplace, and when the time is right to make a stand on a topic.

But since there is nothing in doctrine that says you have to go around citing Bible verses and Catechism of the Catholic Church references all day long, relax a little.

Besides, odds are that being accused of evangelizing to the point of losing your job is far less likely than becoming lazy about your faith in today’s hyper-busy business world. As is the case for the devout college student whose faith dissolves in the ultra-secular world of higher education, there’s a certain amount of “use it or lose it” danger that comes from bottling up one’s faith in the workplace.

1. Practicing religion without an un-secular word.

Silence can be a powerful spiritual tool for Catholic professionals in the secular workplace. And it can help with preserving your Catholic faith in the secular workplace without ever saying a word. Consider harnessing the spiritual power of silence to strengthen your faith and do good for others throughout the day. That’s right — good, old-fashioned spiritual works of mercy.

Your workplace probably isn’t interested in hearing you stand up at your desk to announce a rosary or chaplet for the intentions of all present. But you can certainly be something of a prayer warrior — or prayer ninja, to be more exact — interceding for others throughout the day, without them ever knowing it.

Prayer is strong and we all need much more of it than we realize. That’s especially true for people who are hostile to the very thought of God. Rather than letting your faith atrophy in the workplace, keep your Christian radar tuned in throughout the day and keep an eye out for reasons to intercede.

• Watching a colleague give a presentation? Offer a silent prayer for his/her success.
• Somebody in a foul-mood day? Pray for peace in his or her heart.
• Back-biting coworker? Pray for those who persecute you. (Hmmm. Where have heard THAT before?)
• Project not going well? Call on an assist from the Holy Spirit.

2. You’re not in this faith preservation thing alone.

And, dear Catholic professional, remember that you’re Catholic and the entire Church Triumphant is in your corner. There’s no problem too big or too small that someone who has gone before us marked with the sign of faith can’t help us handle.

• Big problems: Colleague letting alcohol affect his/her performance? Ask the intercession of Venerable Matt Talbot.
• Medium-sized problems: Someone struggling with writing a report? Ask St. Francis De Sales to back him/her up in prayer.
• Smaller but annoying problems: Lack of organizational skills overshadowing someone’s talent? Put St. Zita on the case. You probably never heard of her because she was misplaced, but she’s there to call on.

And not every prayer needs to be exclusively for the benefit of someone else. for instance, if you’ve got a boss who’s mean and nasty, and walking out on him/her isn’t an option, invite Blessed Mother and St. Joseph to pray that he/she will discover how to lead from a place of respect. (That may sound fruitless, but just saying such a prayer can do wonders for your own ability to cope.)

3. Preserving your faith by praying for yourself.

Preserving your Catholic faith in the secular workplace requires taking care of your own spiritual well-being. And here’s more good news: you’re never alone in the effort. The Communion of Saints surrounds you at all times. And of course, even in the most secular of secular places, the King is in the building if you call on Him.

• Questioning your career choices? “Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in You!”
• Close to losing your temper? “Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto Thine.”
• Feeling uncharitable? “Lord, give me the grace not to judge others.”

And if you don’t feel comfortable going straight to “Management” turn to his mother.

• “Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.”
• “Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death.”
• “Our Lady, Queen of Peace, pray for us!”

You may recognize those brief prayers as classic “aspirations” — a fabulous tradition in the Church and tailor-made for Catholic professionals who want to actively practice their faith in a secular workplace. And you can do it quietly, in a single, silent or near-silent breath. In fact, the word “aspiration” traces back to a Latin word — that word is aspirare, which means “to breathe upon.” In prayer, an aspiration is a brief prayer we breathe out on behalf of ourselves or others.

4. Prayer has a great pedigree.

Where Catholic aspirations started is anyone’s guess, but there are plenty of them to be found. Christians have been cranking them out for a long time…in the neighborhood of two-thousand years, give or take. Why? Because trying to find appropriate ways of expressing one’s faith in the course of a day is nothing new. In 1st Thessalonians Chapter 5 St. Paul urges us to pray without ceasing, which definitely calls for some variety in the types of praying we do.

Indeed, trying to practice the Faith under the constraint of time or place has been going on for a while. One of the many great things about being Catholic is that we have two-thousand years of people who kept the faith through all sorts of hardships to rely on. If martyrs can sing songs of praise on their way to the lions, aspirations are sure to help Catholics preserving faith in the secular workplace.

“Aspiration” and “frustration” have more of a connection than the simple fact that they rhyme.

About the Author:

Jim Moore is a copywriter and editor, who is passionate about helping clients communicate about businesses, brands, products, people, companies and causes they believe in.

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The post Preserving Your Catholic Faith in the Secular Workplace appeared first on Catholic Professionals.

When building client relationships as a Catholic freelancer, as much as your endgame may be to make profits, you have to ask yourself if you’re delivering value to your clients. Freelancing, just like any other commercial venture, requires a level of engagement that focuses on client relationships. When you are communicating with your clients you need to dig deeper and find out some of their specific needs which will aid in creating better working client relationships. These few tips will help you foster healthy client relationships as a freelancing contractor.

1. Define the Scale and Scope of the Project

Before you start working on any project it is important to discuss the finer details of the undertaking which ultimately define the level of engagement. A meeting is recommended at this point so that you can understand what is required of you as a freelancer and also your expectations of your client relationships. Understanding each other’s objectives and standpoints on a project will make it easier to achieve all the expected objectives.

At this foundational stage, you should define the timeframe of the entire project and the expected date of completion. Making this clear will help iron out any issues and keep you and your client on the same page. After defining the terms of engagement you can decide to draw up a contract or agreement that will hold you both accountable.  

This initial stage will focus on the manner and method of engagement, with the main goal being client satisfaction.

2. Communication of Progress

Many clients seeking the services of freelancers are often afraid that their deadlines will not be adhered to. Sometimes freelancers, for one reason or another, become unresponsive or fail to report on the progress of assigned projects. This is very frustrating for the client. As a freelancer, you can alleviate a client’s worries by always keeping them in the loop. A simple email detailing the work you have done and the expected time of completion will give the client confidence that the project is progressing well.

Apart from issuing regular progress reports, it is also important to let your client know when you are available to discuss any issues regarding the ongoing work. Always provide your contact information and the specific hours when you are available. This is crucial especially when you are working with international clients who are in different time zones. Communication tools such as email, video calls, and instant messaging services make it easy to keep in touch, so use them wisely.

If you ever encounter a problem when working on a client’s project, keep them informed and mention all the steps you’re taking to correct the situation. Many issue end up being simple miscommunications and are cleared up with proper communication.

3. Be Cordial and Professional

The nature of client engagement has become less formal over time. Formal business communication has evolved to friendly, less business-like communication. However, as a freelancer, you should always strive to keep all your interactions respectful and professional. You can add some pleasantries in your emails but ensure that you still maintain a respectable professional distance. Getting too personal with your client is likely to setback any gains you’ve made at maintaining a business relationship.

4. Nurture Existing Clients

The gig economy is growing fast and there seems to be an obsession with growing your network. While this is true, it’s also just as important to nurture your ongoing client relationships. Always give your best to your existing clients and they will surely notice your dedication.

In business (and this includes freelancing too) it takes more effort and resources to seek new customers than maintaining your current clientele and keeping them happy. Statistics on customer retention show that approximately 65% of business income comes from repeat customers. This ‘Bird in Hand’ concept is valuable if you are looking to cultivate long term professional client relationships. So, even as you look for new opportunities elsewhere, make sure that your current clients are happy and well cared for.
And maybe it goes without saying, that it’s almost easier to network, by letting your happy clients share about the successes you’ve had together.

5. Add a Personal Touch

I know I mentioned earlier the importance of maintaining a professional demeanor when interacting with clients, but it is sometimes okay to build an interpersonal rapport. For instance, you can wish them a happy birthday or ask how their family is doing. If, for instance, the client hits a major milestone in their life, you can go ahead and congratulate them. Some of these thoughtful gestures help in creating a healthy professional relationship that is not only about work.

You can note down important dates or events in your calendar and reach out to them when it counts. You could also set Google alerts for any relevant info that will help in your future discussions.

Please note that this does not apply to all clients. It is important to follow the lead of the client. Take cues from your interactions to find out if your client is comfortable engaging in friendly banter from time-to-time. 

6. Give Back Whenever Possible

Show gratitude for your client’s loyalty by offering some tokens of appreciation. You could give some discounts to your long-term clients or those who always pay for your services promptly. You could also offer a referral discount if your services are recommended to new clients. By doing this, you are showing your appreciation and at the same time building brand loyalty. Everyone loves a discount, don’t you think?

7. Always Ask

Whenever you’re in doubt, never hesitate to ask questions. Never assume that your clients’ expectations will always align with your viewpoint, especially if you are not clear about a particular issue. Some clients may have some reservations about certain topics so before you use your initiative to complete a task, always ask for direction or consent.

8. Clear Payment Procedures

Make it a point to specify all the payment methods from the start to avoid future disagreements. This should include issues such as up-front payments, payment deadlines, extra fees or surcharges, invoices, and how to deal with late payments. Ensure the invoicing process is consistent as well to ensure that your business processes are as reliable as possible.

Some payment gateways have invoicing features as well as automated payment requests to make funds disbursement easier.

9. Go Above and Beyond

It’s not enough to give minimal effort to your client’s work. Always strive to add value to everything you do. For instance, if you’re a freelance writer you can increase your word count, add infographics, and even search for appropriate images even if the client had not requested this. It will prove your dedication to your work and endear you to the client.  

Try as much as possible to make suggestions that will improve the client’s work and make it stand out from the rest. 

For example, if you’re a web designer, always make it a point to highlight some of the new trends and improvements that would enhance your client’s website. Remember, it doesn’t cost much to over-deliver and the returns are likely to be much greater than you can imagine. 

10. The Bottom-line

As your freelancing career grows, you’ll get better at implementing these strategies and you will execute some better than others. These concepts may take you out of your comfort zone and it’s a good thing because this is the only way to improve your craft and grow your business.

Be mindful of your client’s needs. Always keep this in mind; the more challenging the task, the greater the reward. It doesn’t matter what the business is, people will always matter most. Seek to provide value first and the benefits will always follow.

Submitted by the Editor

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The post Client Relationships – 10 Tips for Catholic Freelancers appeared first on Catholic Professionals.

Well I’m guessing you’ve already started your freelance career. You might even have a couple of Catholic freelancing clients who are keeping your business afloat. Freelancing is a fascinating job, but its alluring flexibility and freedom only exists if you manage to grow and maintain your freelancing business.

It’ll be necessary to maintain high quality if you want to build self-brand credibility and attract many Catholic freelancing clients to work with on a regular basis.

Here are some sure-fire methods that you can use to find and keep new Catholic freelancing clients.

Professional Development

If you want to grow your network, often you’ll need to start with yourself. Professional development is crucial as a freelancer, because your clients have many contractors to choose from. If you want to attract new Catholic freelancing clients and keep the ones you already have on board, you should constantly work on your skills. You want to stand out from the crowd. There are two key perspectives to keep in mind:

Self Analysis

Whether you just started out as a freelancer or you’ve been doing this for a while, there should always be time for you to take a step back, analyze what you’ve done so far, and find your strengths and weaknesses.

While reviewing your work, ask yourself: What am I best at? But also, what are the things I need to change to improve my services? Use this information to evaluate your lows and your highs, and make a list of things to improve in the future. You obviously want to provide the very best service you can.

The longer you are in this business, the more hands-on experience you’ll get, however regular self analysis will speed up your progress.

Client Feedback

As you evaluate your own work, it’ll be crucial to ask clients for feedback about what it is that they like about your work and where they think you could improve. Use their positive and negative feedback to focus your services on what you do best, and then pay close attention to mend the areas where they suggest improvement.

In the Catholic world, humility is an attractive thing. When you recognize your own weaknesses, and ask for feedback, your Catholic freelancing clients will appreciate it and surely be willing to offer kind advice.

Service Optimization

When you start doing freelance work, you usually focus on what you already know. After a while there may come a point where you’ll need to discern how to grow in order to optimize your services. There are two directions you could take.

Specialize

Specialists are those who know more and more about less and less. That is, your scope is more focused, and that allows you to be better at what you do, and usually you can also charge more for your services. Expertise comes naturally as you gain experience, however dedicating regular time to update your knowledge with the latest best practices will set you apart. Today there are many resources at your fingertips that can help you to improve regularly. Make sure your bedside stand has a good book or two on your areas of expertise, or find online courses that can keep you up to late on the latest developments in your field.

Grow Your Services

Sometimes the very fact that you are working forces you to learn about related fields. As this happens, you can increase the number of services you offer based on what you’ve learned since you started the career. If you’re a content writer, you can collaborate with book editors or graphic designers to offer a full package to clients. If you’re an e-book writer or editor, you can also work on your SEO skills and establish yourself as an SEO expert. 

Marketing

Word-of-Mouth Referrals

Referrals are a freelancer’s most powerful tool in attracting new Catholic freelancing clients. It doesn’t hurt to ask clients to talk about you, but the most powerful tool for referrals is to actually care about your clients, and to do everything possible to make sure they know that, I would almost say, that they feel it. If they are impressed, it will not be because you did what you promised, but only if you go beyond what you promise. You have to break their expectations if you want them to be surprised and to talk about you to their friends.

Testimonials

Most people don’t have the natural habit of leaving comments or providing feedback, even if they worked with an amazing freelancer. Get in the habit of asking your Catholic freelancing clients to give you a quick testimonial or review and make sure that your new clients can find these easily on your portfolio or website.

Work on Your Marketing Strategy

Once you’ve built a portfolio, you can show people what you can deliver by providing them with actual proof of your capabilities. Figure out where your target clients hang out and get your work out there. Create a LinkedIn profile, pay for ads on Facebook and Instagram, and join websites like Upwork and Freelancer to find work. 

Technology, online marketing, and social media give freelancers many opportunities to widen their reach. As a Catholic freelancer, you can look for clients on many different websites, place ads on social media, and even ask for assistance from marketing professionals.

Make Connections

Connections open doors you didn’t even know existed. Networking should be one of your top priorities if you work as a freelancer.

Set up a profile on Catholic Professionals to let people know what you can offer them. Scour platforms like LinkedIn to find people with similar interests, as well as potential clients that might want to hire you.

Don’t just reach out to people that can become your Catholic freelancing clients. Work on your connections with other freelance writers and professionals. Join groups for freelance writers and Catholic professionals, write on forums, and share your expertise and portfolio with other experts in the field. You never know where an opportunity can come from.

If you leave an impact on people simply in your interactions with them, they are much more likely to remember you and possibly reach back out in the future, or even share your work with a friend.

Final Thoughts

Building your clientele takes time, effort and a long term strategy.

If your heart is in the right place, then you will begin with yourself and strive to become better and better at what you do. You will also genuinely care about your Catholic freelancing clients and will put their success as your top priority.

These two strategies alone will bring you to stand out, and with time, people will notice your heart, and your efforts will be rewarded.

Submitted by the Editor

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The post Catholic Freelancing Clients: How to Grow Your Network appeared first on Catholic Professionals.

How to Hire A Qualified Parish Employee

It goes without saying that if you’re trying to live the Gospel well, prayer is of the essence! Consider praying for the right candidate as a parish or even during your staff meetings. Relying on the Holy Spirit is an excellent way to begin your search for a qualitied parish employee.

Tips For Hiring a Qualified Parish Employee:

• Use Job Boards. Avoid relying solely on personal connections to fill an open job at the parish. Casting a wider net could expose you to highly qualified candidates that you might not encounter otherwise. It also allows you to bring some objectivity into the hiring process. Using a Catholic Job Board can help broaden your search.
• Identify Your Goals. I once interviewed for a job, and the interviewer could not explain the job description! Unfortunately, they were merely looking for a “warm body” to serve as a catch-all. There was no vision for the job that took my human potential into account. In short, creating a vision with stated goals will empower your new hire.
• Offer a Fair Compensation. Parishes may be operating on a thin budget with many obligations. However, that doesn’t mean that you cannot find creative ways to offer a competitive salary. Research the position you are hiring for and find out what the average salary range is for similar jobs in your region. Take a closer look at areas where you might be able to re-allocate resources. If you sincerely cannot afford to pay an average salary, maybe consider other benefits. These perks could include vacation time, paid maternity leave, a complimentary pre-school slot, or even a paid retreat.
• Be Prepared to Train. Have a training plan in place before you make your hire. Write it down and do a thorough review of the plan with the person who will be training your new-hire. If training will take three months, plan ahead for re-assigning tasks as needed.

And why it matters: Qualified Employees Pay Big Dividends

Hiring the right person for the job means you have prayerfully and diligently selected the most qualified candidate. Job experience may require a higher salary, however, you could save time and money in the long run. Qualified candidates will usually require less training and finding the right person will often allow you to consolidate tasks typically spread between employees.

How to Keep A Qualified Parish Employee

Take Care of Your Employees

• Focus on keeping an employee’s work balanced: I recently spoke with two full-time parish youth ministers with similar-sized parishes and salaries. One was expected to work forty hours in the office and additionally to put on a host of other nightly and weekend events with no additional compensation. It was not uncommon for her to work 60-70 hours a week! The other youth minister had similar expectations, however, the parish offered “comp-time” for those moments when the regular forty-hour schedule went out the window. The latter youth minister had a much better experience and was more satisfied with her position. All it took was some creative planning on behalf of the parish administration.
• Give them the training they need: Ideally, you will hire the right person for the job, train them well, and then see them flourish for years to come. Be prepared to invest in your people with time and resources. If you think about it, Jesus spent years training his disciples by spending quality time with them, before giving them the responsibility of taking care of his Church!

And why it matters: Turnover is Costly!

High turnover is costly, and keeping it as low as possible is one way to be a faithful steward of parish resources. This is because overall productivity may decrease for a time when training a new-hand and the effects can usually be felt across the board. Perhaps that employee must work over-time to complete essential tasks, or another employee must temporarily abandon standing projects to assist with other important work left undone.

The time and resources spent training a new employee are financial considerations beyond salary and benefits that must be considered. If you are in the cycle of constantly training a new employee for the same job every year or two, this is a financial toll on parish resources.

Let Prayer, Planning and a Person-Centered Approach Be Your Guide

Hiring and keeping a qualified parish staff comes down to three essential elements: Praying for the right candidate, planning for success from start to finish and making sure your employees are treated with the care they need to flourish. At the end of the day, people matter most.

About the Author

Charlie Johnson is a freelance Catholic writer. Charlie lives in sunny Florida with his wife of five years and their three children. He holds a B.A. in Religion and Apologetics and also serves as the Managing Editor for the Catholic Lifestyle and Spirituality site, Taming the Wilds. His writing has been featured in places like the Catholic Stand, SpiritualDirection.com, Catholic Exchange, Catholic in Recovery and in print at Shalom Tidings. You can reach Charlie by email at: dcj.bhm@gmail.com

Search here for Catholic job postings, or Catholic Professionals you can hire.

The post How to Hire and Keep A Qualified Parish Employee (And Why It Matters!) appeared first on Catholic Professionals.

Admit it.

You’re sitting in your office cubicle daydreaming again, aren’t you? You want to build your Catholic resume or portfolio, but simply don’t know where to start.

Your job was rewarding at first. HR did a great job selling you on the company’s mission and the internal opportunities for growth. The pay is good, and the benefits are great. But lately everything’s been feeling mundane, even… meaningless.

You want to do something that really matters, something with eternal significance.

You daydream about bringing souls to Christ — working full-time for His Church and putting your skills and talents at the service of the Gospel. But you have a problem…

You’ve never worked in Catholic ministry.

Heck! You’ve never even volunteered to read at Sunday Mass.

Or maybe you’re concerned because you have no formal education in Catholic theology, catechesis, ministry, evangelization, or apologetics.

In other words, there’s nothing particularly “Catholic” on your resume or in your portfolio. You’ve been looking around at all the opportunities for ministry in your diocese, but you can’t help but wonder: “Why would anyone want to hire me for a ministry job? My current skillset doesn’t fit any of these job descriptions.”

If this sounds familiar, “Be not afraid” (sorry—John Paul II pun…)…

Here are five helpful tips you can use to build your Catholic resume or portfolio before you quit your day-job:

1. What skills are on your current resume or portfolio?

The first helpful tip you can use to build your Catholic resume or portfolio is pretty simple. Determine your skillset!

You have a definite skillset.

Whether you realize it or not, your current skillset can be put to use in the service of the Gospel. The Church needs you… and your skillset! So sit down, write out your skills, and brainstorm how you intend to use them in the service of the Gospel.

Are you good at building websites? As we’ve seen recently with the beatification of Carlo Acutis, the Church needs men and women who are capable of building attractive websites that folks want to come back to again and again.

Is digital marketing your thing? Great! The Church needs marketers and content creators who are adept at creating compelling content for evangelizing on the “digital continent.”

Do you work in sales or corporate coaching? The Church needs men and women like you; capable of creating stunning presentations, building compelling cases, and making persuasive arguments in favor of Catholicism.

The truth is, it doesn’t matter what your current skillset is. The Church needs you and your abilities. So write down what it is that you’ve been trained to do, and start thinking of ways you can use your skills in the service of the Church.

2. Figure out your talents

In his First Letter to Corinthians, Saint Paul says:

“There are many different gifts, but it is always the same Spirit … The particular manifestation of the Spirit granted to each one is to be used for the general good” (1Cor. 12:4, 7).

He then goes on to say that, as the body as a whole needs its various parts, so too does the Church need her members to use their various God-given gifts and talents for the sake of spreading the Gospel.

Ask yourself: “What talents has God given me?”

Are you musically inclined? Or maybe you have a gift for the written word. Do you “come alive” when you’re speaking in front of a large crowd? Or maybe one-on-one coaching is more your thing.

You have a talent. Most likely you have several talents. And you can use each talent to build up the Body of Christ. Find out what your talents are. And if you struggle to figure it out (*ahem* you’re not alone), ask a couple close friends or relatives what they think your talent is.

3. Volunteering can build your Catholic experience

Worried that you have no direct experience working in ministry or in a Church-related role? Not a problem!

Your parish may need RCIA sponsors who are available and knowledgeable enough to answer an RCIA candidate’s questions. Or maybe your parish priest could use some extra help ministering to the Youth Group, even if there is already a full-time Youth Minister employed by the parish.

Does your parish have a blog? Why not volunteer to write weekly or monthly articles?

Ask around. There are more than enough opportunities for you to volunteer and put your unique skills and talents to work, while at the same time building up that Catholic resume or portfolio you’ve been working on.

One great way to get involved as a volunteer is to join your local St. Paul Street Evangelization team!

4. Add Catholic education to your resume or portfolio

Who among us hasn’t been put off by the “Master’s Degree in Theology and three years of experience as a catechist or youth minister” requirement for that Director of Religious Education job you know you’d be perfect for!

You’re already working on building your experience by volunteering your time as a catechist, sponsor, street evangelist, or youth minister. Now, thanks to the internet, you have multiple ways to fulfill that education “requirement.”

If you need formal education, there are some amazing Catholic schools that offer Master’s degrees in theology, ministry, or catechetics 100% online! Franciscan University of Steubenville, Catholic Distance University, and the Augustine Institute are three of the best schools out there offering online degrees in theology.

But if you just need to brush up on your knowledge of the Faith, and want a certificate to show for it, there are some great options out there. The St. Paul Evangelization Institute and Catholic Answers School of Apologetics are two great places where you can solidify your knowledge of Catholicism, while also earning a certificate to post on your LinkedIn profile and brag about on your resume.

5. A final word to help you build your Catholic resume or portfolio

Building up your Catholic resume or portfolio is great and all. But there’s one thing you can do right now that will launch you into full-time Church-work faster than that perfect resume or portfolio ever could.

Networking!

Get out there and meet some people, especially the “key players.” Spend time getting to know your parish priest. Go to your local “Theology on Tap” events. Join or start a parish or diocesan book study program.

Get out there and meet people. After all, ministry and evangelization aren’t so much about what you know. They’re all about bringing the Gospel to people.

And if you’re already putting some of the above advice into practice, then you’re well on your way to launching your Church career.

Philip Rolfes is a freelance direct response copywriter, connecting people with the missions they’re passionate about.

Search here for Catholic job postings, or Catholic Professionals you can hire.

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