The job market is incredibly wearisome right now, but Christians have an advantage.

While God promises to provide for us (Mt. 6:31-33), we are also held responsible by God if we "do not provide" (1 Tim. 5:8). While God promises provision, we still must skillfully and diligently pursue it–with the expectation the God will be faithful to that promise. How do we do that when applying for jobs?

This all comes down to using the current best practices and exercising your faith.

Current Best Practices

Best practices for applying for jobs vary depending on your field and industry. However, here are a few universal best practices to ensure you are wisely using your time.

Plod, and do not spam

You could easily apply to 20 jobs in a single day.

And you might feel a sense of accomplishment by doing so. However, these 20 applications will rarely result in a single job interview.

Chances are, you'll only get responses from companies that are desperate and don't have much to offer.

A better method is to create a list of the companies that you'd like to work at and spend more time and effort on these applications.

"The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance,
but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty."
Prv. 21:5.

Tailor each application

Make your resume specific to each job.

Match the vocabulary and requirements from the job posting to your resume where you can.

Write a cover letter if it seems appropriate. This is usually if someone referred you, are applying for a more mission-driven org, or have something specific to share.

The all-important follow-up

This is possibly the most important, but most neglected step of applying for jobs.

After sending in your application, your job is not done. Following up with the hiring manager after submitting an application will make you stand out and drastically increase your chance of getting an interview.

Decide on when to follow up based on how long the job has been posted. If it has been up for less than two weeks, give it another week before following up. If it has been more than two weeks, follow up as early as the next day.

Who do you reach out to? Sometimes the application will have the person who posted it, otherwise, find someone in that company with a management job title in the department you are applying to.

What do you say? Ask how far along they are in the interview process, express your interest in the job, and ask for an interview.

A brief email, call, or LinkedIn message will do. Try all three until you get a response.

Exercising Your Faith

All of this must be done with faith and prayer.

Since we know that God has promised to provide for us (Mt. 6:31-33), we can pray according to that will with full confidence.

"And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us."
1 Jn. 5:14

This is our Christian advantage.

Pray to the One Who can turn hearts wherever He wishes

"The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD;
he turns it wherever he will."
Prv. 21:1

If God holds the hearts of kings in His hand, surely He holds the hearts of interviewers or hiring managers. Nothing is too hard for God. He controls all the outcomes.

Pray to God as the One who can direct the heart of the hiring manager in any way He wishes.

When It's Taking Longer Than You Expect

Being without work for an extended period is a real trial. Especially if there's a significant strain on your financial resources.

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
Jas. 1:2–4.