--- title: Your Resume Has One Purpose (and ONLY One Purpose) description: "Here are some answers to some resume questions we have gotten over the years: How long should they be? What should I include? What should I NOT include?" image: https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/hubfs/Your%20Church%20Resume%20has%20ONe%20Purpose%20(and%20one%20purpose%20only)%20(1).png --- [Skip to content](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/your-resume-has-one-purpose#main-content) [![cropped-chemistry_logo_homepage-342x95](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/cropped-chemistry_logo_homepage-342x95.webp?width=342&height=95&name=cropped-chemistry_logo_homepage-342x95.webp "cropped-chemistry_logo_homepage-342x95")](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/) - [How We Help](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/what-we-do/) - [How We Help Candidates](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/candidate/) - [How We Help Churches](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/church/) - [Our Team](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/team/) - [Our Mission & Strategy](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/what-we-do/) - [Churches](https://chemistrystaffing.com/church) - [Hire New Staff](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/2021-churches-new-staff-hiring/) - [Free 30-Minute Church Consult](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/lets-talk/) - [Chemistry Solutions – You Don’t Have to Do Ministry Alone](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/solutions/) - [Final Fit Assessment](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/final-fit-assessment/) - [Senior Pastor Succession](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/succession/) - [Job Seekers](https://chemistrystaffing.com/candidate) - [Add My Resume / Profile](https://chemistry.fyi/kwq) - [Current Openings](https://chemistrystaffing.com/jobs) - [Free Resume Assessment](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/free-resume-self-assessment/) - [Step-by-Step Job Search](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/cjb) - [How Chemistry Can Help](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/candidate/) - [Resources](http://www.chemistrystaffing.com/candidate/) - [Free Playbooks & Downloads](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/resources/) - [Chemistry Blog](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/) - [2024 Youth Pastor Compensation Survey](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/resources/2024-yp-compensation-survey/) - [Contact Us](http://www.chemistrystaffing.com/lets-talk/) - [Candidates](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/candidate-contact-page/) - [Churches](http://www.chemistrystaffing.com/lets-talk/) - [Find a Job](https://chemistrystaffing.com/jobs) - [My Church is Hiring](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/lets-talk/) [Staff Health](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/tag/staff-health) # Your Resume Has One Purpose (and ONLY One Purpose) Here are some answers to some resume questions we have gotten over the years: How long should they be? What should I include? What should I NOT include? ![Resume](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/hubfs/Your%20Church%20Resume%20has%20ONe%20Purpose%20(and%20one%20purpose%20only)%20(1).png) # Don't Make This Church Resume Mistake   Let's Talk About Resumes.   In my work at Chemistry Staffing, I get asked questions all the time about resumes… How long should they be? What should I include?  What should I NOT include?  Could you take a look at my resume and tell me what I need to change?   So I decided to give some advice on resumes in a new YouTube series.    After looking at thousands… actually, probably tens of thousands of ministry resumes over the years, I’ve definitely noticed patterns.   I’ve seen the extremes.  From a resume with no name (yes, someone actually forgot to put their name on their resume.)  To the 36 page resume that included pictures of the family pets.  But I’ve also seen really enticing resumes that clearly spell out a person’s skills, talents, and abilities as well as give a brief insight into their past job experience as well as a peek into their areas of ministry passion.  (Sidenote:  Those people got asked for an interview!).   So, today I’m starting at the beginning.  In today’s video, we’ll start with a thought that many people never even consider: the real purpose of your resume.   It’s really quite simple.  Your resume has ONE purpose and ONLY one purpose.   When you understand this purpose, it will be the starting point of creating a really great resume.   So what is that one purpose?   Let’s grab five minutes together this morning to chat about it.  Sure, it will be a one-sided conversation, but I promise, I’ll do all the talking).  :)   (Before I share the ‘secret’, can I ask you to go here and subscribe to our new YouTube Channel?  There you’ll find the new and growing series of resume videos that will help guide you through the creation or updating of your resume for your next season of ministry.)   Here’s what to do: 1. Go here:  [https://chemistry.fyi/youtube](https://chemistry.fyi/youtube) 2. Click on the SUBSCRIBE button. 3. Click on the notification bell (this will tell you when we add new videos to the channel)   [Then you can find your resume’s one purpose (and ONLY one purpose) here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGEA2BnCG1k).   Once you watch the video, I’d love to read your comments.  Please leave a comment on this video with any questions or thoughts you might have on resumes right there on the youtube page. I promise to respond to each comment.  And I may even record a new video to answer your question!  (Oh, and be sure to give the video a thumbs up if you like it!)   Have a great week in ministry!   ![Todd-Signature-2019](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Todd-Signature-2019.png?width=100&name=Todd-Signature-2019.png)   [![Are you open to a new ministry role?  Submit your free church staff profile now...](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/5045578/e4a694ca-4b53-4c40-940c-a6ab0ab1ed82.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/5045578/e4a694ca-4b53-4c40-940c-a6ab0ab1ed82) ### [![Todd Rhoades](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/883a0d42581424e9bbe7c77dccfeed6b) Todd Rhoades](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/author/todd-rhoades) Todd has invested over 30 years in serving churches, having served as a worship pastor for over 15 years, a church elder for more than a decade, and in various ministry leadership roles in both the business and non-profit sectors. As the original founder and developer of ChurchStaffing.com, Todd fundamentally changed the way thousands of churches search for pastors and staff on the internet. Todd is a graduate of Cedarville University, and lives in Bryan, OH with his wife, Dawn. [![Facebook Author](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/8768169/Elements/Theme/icons/social/facebook.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/toddrhoades3) [![Twitter Author](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/8768169/Elements/Theme/icons/social/twitter.svg)](https://twitter.com/toddrhoades) [![Linkedin Author](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/8768169/Elements/Theme/icons/social/linkedin.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddrhoades/) [![Website Author](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/8768169/Elements/Theme/icons/social/web.svg)](http://chemistrystaffing.com/todd-rhoades) ## Latest Resources Browse Articles ![What's Actually Killing Your Church? 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Discover why smaller groups create deeper disciples and stron... ![Stop Apologizing for Small Groups: Why Your ](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/883a0d42581424e9bbe7c77dccfeed6b) ###### Todd Rhoades July 06, 2026 ![Stop Screening Out Your Best Candidates: Why Competency Matters More Than Seminary Degrees](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/hubfs/blog-images/featured/featured_142.png) #### Stop Screening Out Your Best Candidates: Why Competency Matters More Than Seminary Degrees Church hiring practices may be filtering out incredible candidates. Learn why competency should trump credentials in your ministry staff se... ![Stop Screening Out Your Best Candidates: Why Competency Matters More Than Seminary Degrees](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/883a0d42581424e9bbe7c77dccfeed6b) ###### Todd Rhoades July 06, 2026 [![Elements Logo](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/8768169/Elements/Theme/logos/logo.svg "Elements Logo")](http://chemistrystaffing.com) Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consecteturor adipiscing elit. Tincidunt donec vulputate ipsum erat urna auctor. 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