This page contains answers to frequently asked questions about careers and the Christian. Click on a question to see its answer.
 

If you have a question that does not appear below, please consider posting it on our BLOG. That way, other career-minded professionals will be able to see the answers to your question,

and you'll receive a variety of responses.

For additional Christ-centered career resources, tools and more, Check out the rest of this website!

What does the Bible have to say about a career?

How do I overcome career roadblocks?

How do I follow a bad leader?

How do I make better career decisions?

What makes a bad boss bad?

How do I balance my career and personal life?

How do I better understand the beliefs and convictions that drive my career?

How do I deal with difficult people at work?

How do I build trust with others at work?

Is it important to play office politics?

Why should I keep a career journal?

What does the Bible have to say about a career?

A career is a blessing and a gift from God, and He has given each person a job to do. Scripture outlines the following things all of us need to know about work, a job and a career:

• God has provided a variety of jobs and careers (Ecclesiastes 9:10).




• We are to do our jobs with a joyful attitude and spirit (Ecclesiastes 3:12).




• God expects us to enjoy our careers and the results of our work (Ecclesiastes 3:13).




• Our careers are blessed when we allow God to work through us to reach others (Proverbs 22:29).

A Christian's career is part of the unique work that God has called him or her to do. When our careers align with this unique work, other people are significantly impacted for eternity. (2 Tim 1:9; 1 Peter 2:9)

It seems that the prevailing view of workers these days is one of rebellion and resistance. If they don’t agree with the leader or the person in authority, they resist him or her. They don't want anyone telling them what to do, especially someone who may not be as intelligent or have as much experience.

However, Scripture is very clear about following those who are in authority (1 Peter 2:13-17), and specifically states that we are to exhibit a positive attitude of encouragement, support and respect that honors their position even when we cannot respect them as an individuals. (Ephesians 6:5-7)

• Lack of emotional control (Proverbs 20:2; 16:14). No one likes to be around or near a boss who explodes in a fit of rage each time something goes wrong or a mistake is made. This kind of bad boss is insensitive to workers and berates them in front of others to make himself/herself look good.


• Is unjust and plays favorites (Proverbs 4:5). The negative effects of boss favoritism can happen to anyone in the organization. It creates unfair and uncomfortable situations and can really hurt people in the end—even the workers who are considered the “pets” or favorites. One of the fastest ways for a boss to divide his/her followers and lose their confidence is to play favorites and show partiality.


• Lack of insight, discernment and wisdom (Proverbs 28:16). A bad boss stays involved in a worker’s job responsibilities to the point of getting in the way. He or she may also have expectations that range from unreasonable to impossible. This kind of boss typically looks for someone to blame, a scapegoat, instead of concentrating on fixing the problem.


• Poor judgment and decision-making (Proverbs 29:5). Unfortunately some bosses do not know how to be bosses. They may be skilled in the actual performance of the task, but do not know how to work with and manage other people. In today’s business world a boss must be able to do both.


• Says one thing, then does another (Proverbs 29:22). Bad bosses produce low morale, poor worker performance, and a bad-working atmosphere—especially when they are double-minded (say one thing, then do another). Because of low self-esteem they encourage workers to report all the office gossip and snoop out damaging information about co-workers and other bosses.



• Self-centeredness—It’s all about me (Proverbs 28:10). Bad bosses can be selfish, self-obsessed, inadequate, insecure and totally insensitive, treating their workers as if they were inhuman. They exaggerate their own contributions and are reluctant to acknowledge the contributions of others. These bosses expect their own needs to be met at all costs and constantly demand respect and consideration while persistently denying similar treatment to workers.



• Does not confront a worker’s poor performance (Proverbs 20:26). Bad bosses allow workers to neglect their duties, and look the other way when workers perform inadequately instead of confronting the problem and resolving the issue by helping the worker to change his/ her behavior.

Your personal priorities constantly shift as you move throughout life. As a result, you must frequently revise your career goals to keep up the pace. This requires that you think through all of the major challenges you may be facing; then develop solutions and strategies to overcome them. To make better career decisions, consider the following:

• Hold a career retrofitting session at least once each year even if you have not experienced any significant career changes. (Ecclesiastes 3:13)

• Adjust your career goals at the same time you set or modify your personal life goals. (Psalm 90:17)

• Make the time, expend the effort, and take the necessary steps to develop a plan that creates the life you really want. (Ecclesiastes 9:10)

• Consider the sacrifices you are willing to make to attain your goals. (Proverbs 31:17)

To meet the challenges of a changing world, you must be prepared to change everything about yourself except your basic beliefs and convictions. These basic attitudes consist of the things you hold dear as well as the opinions you hold with complete assurance.

Your beliefs shape the way you see the world and determine how you view a situation. Some of these beliefs empower you; others tear you down. To discover what truly matters, answer the following questions:

• What assumptions and beliefs influence your actions and relationships? (James 2:19)




• When you face difficult decisions, what principles and values do you refer to for guidance? (1 John 4:1)




• What constitutes your spiritual core? (1 John 5:13)

Conflict develops even among the finest of people. Whenever there is disagreement, a difference of opinion, a different approach, a departure from the “way we do things around here”, there is conflict.

Each of us has the responsibility of deciding how to respond to conflict and difficult people—you know, those folks of radically differing viewpoints who anger, exasperate and frustrate you, and drive you to the brink of “who knows what you will do”!  While we cannot control or change others, we can take responsibility for our own actions, attitudes, and behavior. Use the U-M-B-R-E-L-L-A to successfully manage conflict at work.

A key interpersonal skill is the building of trust. Trust is the expectancy of people that they can rely on your word. Mutual trust is a shared belief that you can depend on others and that they can depend on you to achieve a common purpose. It is built through integrity and consistency in relationships.

Here are five proven ways to build trust:

1. Understand your blind spots. Each of us has a set of beliefs, world views and opinions that are formed from facts and assumptions. Blind spots are beliefs that have been formed as a result of fear and loss.




2. Speak the other person’s language. When communicating with others, commit to using clear win/win strategies that result in defined and accountable outcomes. Demonstrating a willingness to listen and to speak frankly will build mutual respect that leads to trust. Learn how to catch the nuances and cultural implications behind what's being said, noticing how the other person uses words to convey ideas.




3. Manage your reputation. In all aspects of life, your reputation precedes you. A bad reputation can destroy trust quicker than anything else you can do.




4. Become dependent. The more dependent you are on someone, the more willing you'll be to trust him/her. When people believe they need each other to achieve their individual goals and that other options are limited, trust will increase.




5. Give others the benefit of the doubt. To give a person the benefit of the doubt is to believe something good about him/her, rather than something bad, when you have the possibility of doing either. You must make a conscious decision to trust although you may not have enough information about the person to do so.