Searching for a job is a full time job. You search and you search and when you submit your resume for a job, you become one in a thousand of other resumes. I wanted to share something that I did that allowed me to stand out from the pack. I saw this job on a website that lists hundreds of jobs and initially clicked “Apply.” My resume was sent to the contact person.

A week later, I of course, heard nothing. So I got fed up. I believed my skills lined up with this job and that they needed to talk to me. So I stalked. I found out the contacts name and found the church’s website. I read his profile, looked him up on facebook, etc. I tried to find out as much as I could about the person hiring and then I wrote him an email and sent it to his work email account that I found. I broke all the rules of a cover letter and didn’t even attach my resume. Here is what I sent:

TA,

I realize that this is probably a long shot, but what the heck. I found the opening of Student Ministry Creative Director on ChurchStaffing.com and immediately was intrigued. After reading about your church and the position, I would love the opportunity to be rejected like Somer Riley did me in 8th grade.

I am 28 years old and live in Nashville, TN. (Not sure if this is open to people outside of Austin, but like I said…it’s worth a shot. The worst thing that could happen is you reply with “Mr. Howard, what you’ve just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.” – $1 to Billy Madison)

But…if you like talking to amazingly talented and passionate people then we should talk. My background is in TV production. I have made country music videos and recently worked for 3 years making personal injury lawyer commercials. Impressive huh? I can’t wait to show you some of my better “hurt, call us” commercials.

I am now pursuing my passion of using my talents and abilities sharing God’s love in full time ministry. I have been lucky enough to volunteer with Cross Point Community Church this past year in many capacities and know that this is where God can use me best.

I was going to attach my resume, but then again some email servers block that kind of stuff and I don’t want to be sentenced to the spam filter. I would love to send it to you though and appreciate you reading this long, if you are still reading. If not then you are about to miss out on another amazing movie quote.

If you were to ask me what roads I would take in my creative at XYZ Church, I would reply with “Roads? Where we’re going we don’t need roads.” And I believe it. And I start sentences with “and”.

Look forward to speaking with you,

Wes Howard

Sending a resume with a traditional cover letter = No response
Doing some research and being creative = A response 15 minutes after I clicked send.

He responded that out of the hundreds of cover letters and resumes he has gotten, mine was the only one to quote “Back to the Future.” (Which I found out was his favorite movie from his bio.) Before I pat myself on the back too much, I must let you know that in the end I did not get the job. I did make it to the final 2 candidates for the job and I never once met them in person. The candidate that got the job was local and was a personal friend.

Hope this encourages everyone out there going through the tough time of job searching. Get creative and have some fun. This was the most fun I had while job searching. Good luck!

A circus performer named Blondin stretched a long cable across Niagara Falls. During high winds and without a safety net, this man would walk, prance and dance across the wire. He then asked the crowd gathered, “Do you believe I can walk a tight rope across the Falls?” They all replied, “Yes.” They had already seen him do it.

Then he pushed a wheel barrow on a tight rope across Niagara Falls. When he completed the feat, he asked the onlookers, “Do you believe I can walk a tight rope across the Falls pushing a wheel barrow?” To that they replied unanimously, “Yes.” Because they saw him do that too.

Finally, a buddy of the tight rope walker climbs into the wheel barrow and the tight rope walker pushes him across the Falls. Wow, what a daring feat! When they finished, the tight rope walker asked the crowd, “Do you believe I can walk a tight rope across the Falls pushing a wheel barrow with a person in it?” To that they exclaimed, “Yes!” For they were now believers and had seen him do it!

Then he looked at the crowd and asked, “Ok, Who’s next?”

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Two weeks ago I took a little trip by myself to a cabin in East Tennessee. I wanted to get away and do some reading and spend some time alone with God. I spent some time in the sun and also reading and it was a great recharge, but an encounter with God in the middle of the kitchen floor is what I will always remember.

I started to get honest with God about some things. I wanted to know why my prayers weren’t being answered, why my heart was still being broken, why I have so much uncertainty about my job and why I couldn’t get a definite answer on anything. It was a real pity party and I was the party planner.

I felt the question, “Do you trust me?”. Yes, yes of course I do. “No… do you trust the plans I have for you?”. Yes…I do. I don’t know what they are, but I trust you. “Will you follow me where I lead?”. Right then and there I knew I had come to a crossroads. I decided then that I was either going to stand up from the kitchen floor and live my life for myself and leave behind all this suffering and uncertainty of my life or I was going to stand up and know without a doubt that I would follow Christ wherever he leads.

To be honest, it wasn’t an automatic decision. I wish I could be the perfect Christian and tell you that I knew immediately. No, it hurt to say “Lord, wherever you lead…I will follow. I surrender my life and career to you.”

That was on a Friday. On Monday, I lost my job.

I wish I could tell you I knew where this wheelbarrow is going, but I am not the one pushing it. I do know this though. Below me is a deep valley of doubt, depression and fear and I am safely above it in the arms of a Savior.

“Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.” – Hebrews 11:1