The KingsWord International Church Career Resources Team seeks to help every believer, called to the marketplace, to maximize their potential and stand out positively in what God has called them to do. Our outreaches and services include:• TheCareerResourcesMagazine:

A quarterly publication featuring articles, career testimonies and tips on effective job search, interviewing skills, applications to graduate school and other relevant topics.

• TheCareerResourcesWorkshops: A quarterly informative session covering various relevant topics relating to a successful career. Also includes Q & A sessions and highly impactful presentations.

• One-on-oneResumeReviews• MockInterviewsContact us today at careers@kingsword.org and let us know how we can help you enjoy your career journey.

ABOUT CAREER RESOURCES

CAREERRESOURCESSUMMER 2012

ABOUT BEN WILLIAMSBen Williams is an attorney who also has several years of experience in management consulting. He currently heads the career services unit at KingsWord International Church, Chicago.

ABOUT MAYOWA IJISESANMay Ijisesan is the lead consultant at Dyvintel, a business intelligence and enterprise reporting company. She has several years of experience in the Software Engineering/ IT industry. She pastors at KingsWord International Church, Chicago alongside her husband.

2012 CAREER RESOURCES WORKSHOP CALENDAR

Fall

Successful graduate

school application

September 2nd

Winter Workplace wisdom

December 2nd

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Run With A Vision in

2012Habakkuk 2:2 And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.

There are certain things that must be understood about a vision. Firstly, you need to have one. You need a vision for your life and every aspect of it. You need a vision for your single life or your married life. If you have children, you need a vision for your children and your family. You need a vision for your career. A vision is the image that you see with your inner eyes that propels you forward. We all have two sets of sensory organs. You have organs that sense what can be seen, felt or perceived in the natural. In addition, you have organs that sense what cannot be perceived with your physical senses. You see natural things with your natural eyes, but you see a vision with your inner eyes. A vision is an inner image that you see even if no one else can perceive it. What inner images do you have this year? What vision do you have for your career?

Now, there is a difference between a vision and an ambition though they are both conceived in the same place, the heart. The difference is in their origin. A vision is borne out of God, based on His original plan and purpose for your life. An ambition is borne out of selfish desire without consideration for God’s original plan and purpose. Even in developing an inner image for your profession, you need to keep God’s purpose in view. Our main goal in life is to seek the kingdom of God first and every other thing will follow so we shouldn’t run off with ambition. We are to remain committed to God’s Kingdom and His righteousness and develop a God-given vision within the confines of His will.

Secondly, a vision can grow dim. That is why we are admonished to write it down in the first place. As we interact with others, deal with life’s pressures and experience different situations that arise, the vision that we started with can begin to fade. It is important to have your vision written where you can revisit it and rekindle the fire. Maybe you started 2012 on fire and now you are getting weary. You feel discouraged because you have had a couple of false starts. Maybe you tried some things that didn’t quite work out the way you had expected. That is no reason to give up. Revisit your vision. Reread it (I hope you wrote it down). If you don’t have it written, you can do so now. It is better late than never.

Once you have a vision, then you need

goals to make sure that the vision someday becomes a reality. Goals divide up a vision into achievable tasks. A goal helps you check milestones off your list. Let’s say you dreamt of being an Engineer when you were little. To become an Engineer, you had to graduate from elementary, middle and then high school. Then you needed to go to college to study Engineering. Those were goals that you needed to set in order to one day become an Engineer. A vision that doesn’t have achievable goals laid out will lead to frustration. What many people call goals are however mere dreams. How do you differentiate a goal from a dream?

A goal is realistic. For example, if you

have a vision to one day become a millionaire who finances the spread of the gospel to the nations of the world, you cannot make it a goal to go from making $30,000 one year to making $500,000 the next (unless perhaps you are about to finish up your fellowship in a highly specialized field in medicine). That would be a dream, not a goal. You could maybe set a goal to double your income and then prayerfully put plans in place that will help you get there. For it to be a goal, you have to be able to believe that it can happen within a certain timeframe. A goal is a dream with a deadline. Many believers live in the field of dreams. They dream of great things and go from one year to the next dreaming without really achieving anything. There is a place for dreams and there is a place for goals. You need to

differentiate between the two.

So, what professional goals do you have for this year? If you didn’t start 2012 with any, what are your plans to develop one? Start with God. Go before Him and ask Him to show you what the next level is where your career is concerned. Should you go back to school? Should you change jobs? Should you seek greater opportunities at your current job? What is that next level? You need a vision to propel you forward so that you can achieve it. Don’t run blindly in 2012. Have a vision and blaze a trail this year!

Mayowa Ijisesan

...a vision and an ambition though they are both conceived in the same place...The difference is in their origin.

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Preparing For An INTERVIEW

by: BEN WILLIAMS

Ben Williams is an attorney who also has several years of experience in management consulting. He currently heads the career services unit at KingsWord International Church, Chicago.

Preparing for an interview is an arduous task that requires diligence and patience from any job seeker. It is a systematic process that, if carefully

conducted, can project you ahead of your unprepared peers. Below are points to consider that will aid you in your preparation process:

Conduct thorough research - understand the employer conducting your interview: Conduct thorough research on the company before considering an interview with them. Learning about the company will give you an opportunity to determine whether it is the right place for you. This knowledge makes your conversations richer during the interview and also presents the opportunity to ask more in-depth questions of your interviewer. This shows the interviewer that you are seriously considering joining the company and not just hoping to get the first job that presents itself!

Hone your interviewing skills – practice makes perfect. The more interviews you do, the less nervous you are. Take time before your interview to practice one-on-one with friends or family (or members of the career department at church) to rehearse delivering your responses. Remember, an interview is an opportunity to tell your story eloquently. If you practice responses to generally asked interview questions, your conversation will be a lot smoother – it will not sound as if you are creating your responses on the spot. While you should ensure your resume clearly demonstrates your qualifications and accomplishments related to the position, you should also thoroughly familiarize yourself with each entry on your resume. This will ensure you don’t stumble when asked about an item you included on

your resume. Next, plan for generally asked interview questions. It is helpful to practice talking about your experiences with another person ahead of time so that you

are prepared to answer questions and provide supporting facts. Finally, develop a general question list (see sample interview questions below) for each interview (as well as specific questions for each employer).

Arriving on time is too late – don’t take your super-speed for granted: Allow extra time for the unexpected - traffic, getting lost, parking or navigating the interview site. You should arrive 30 minutes before the interview to account for the unexpected. Furthermore, this time can be used to collect yourself, review your notes, mentally prepare for your interview and call a prayer partner or your pastor to pray. It is more difficult to interview after you have been rushing to find the building and struggling to compose yourself than to interview on calmed nerves.

Be a STAR – use the acronym STAR (Situation – Task - Action – Result): Listen carefully to the question the interviewer is asking and how they want you to answer it, during the interview. Do not jump ahead of the question with your response or assume you know what will be asked next. However, if you are uncertain of what the interviewer is asking, it is okay for you to ask for clarification. Furthermore, if you are getting nervous when presenting your answers, think about the STAR acronym. In responding, remember to apply specific real life Situations, the Task that was performed, the Action you took and the Results those actions yielded. Giving specific examples that demonstrate how your abilities and experiences align with the question being asked show that you are an outstanding candidate. This is where your preparation pays off!

Make a lasting first impression – dressing appropriately: Though there is no standard dress code for an interview, there are however general best practices. Think about what you will wear to the interview in advance. It is always safer to go with business formal clothing. Make sure your attire is suitable for a business environment, clean, wrinkle free and in good condition. If you feel comfortable in what you are wearing, then you will exude confidence!

GENERAL INTERVIEW TIPS:

The interview starts when you arrive. Make sure your electronic devices are turned off.

Greet your interviewer with confidence, have a firm handshake and make eye contact. Between the reception and the interview room, make small talk about the weather, sports and current events.

As you continue through the interview, be aware of your body language, your tone and always maintain eye contact.

Don’t discuss salary/compensation/benefits till either the employer brings it up or the recruitment process is in its advanced stages or you have been given an offer at which point you may begin considering whether negotiation is appropriate.

Take extra copies of your resume and take a notepad to take notes during the interview.

At the conclusion of the interview, thank the interviewer for his or her time and remember that the interview is not over until you leave the building.

Ensure that you have interviewer’s information. Send an email thanking him or her for the opportunity to talk and state that you are looking forward to hearing back from them.

SAMPLE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:

What personal qualities or characteristics are most important for success in this position?What kind of projects will I begin with?What is the company doing to ensure it remains viable and profitable in the next 5 years?What element of your business model helped you survive the financial crisis?What major issues does the company currently face? What do you foresee the firm facing within the next 3 – 5 years?What is a typical day like?What is the corporate culture like?What is your retention rate?What has your career path been?Why have you chosen to stay at the company?Are managers and supervisors generally-known to be accessible?

Last year, I faced one of the biggest challenges of my career. I was selected to be a project leader on one of the largest maintenance projects that my company executed that year (valued at over

$100 million). This was going to be the largest project I had ever worked on. I realized it was certainly going to require the wisdom and grace of God.

My work schedule was altered. For over 60 days, I worked from Monday to Saturday for 12 hours a day, on most days. I also had significant responsibilities as a husband and an associate pastor at my local church. As a result, this project created spiritual, mental and physical challenges. From the moment I was assigned to this project, I knew that it would take God to excel. Throughout that period, I meditated on scriptures such as Psalm 127:2, Romans 8:11 and 1 Corinthians 2:16 amongst many others. I proclaimed these scriptures over my life, career and ministry. I was determined to be diligent and not live in sorrow and toil. I knew by revelation that the Holy Spirit would strengthen my physical body throughout this time, and that as I worked on the project, the wisdom of God was available to me through the mind of Christ which I possessed. This wisdom enabled me to balance my assignments at home and in the Kingdom with my assignment at work. On many days, I would wake up by 3:45am, arrive at work before 6am, leave work by 6pm, and go to church or attend a ministry meeting by 7pm. On these days, I would get home by 11pm, and go to bed by 12 midnight only to wake up again by 3:45am. Yet, I was able to function effectively and enjoy exceptional results in all of my roles – at home, ministry, work and business. God truly proved Himself in this season!

It would have been easier physically to suspend my assignment at church and neglect my responsibilities at home in order to focus on being a success on this project. If I had done this, I would have placed a limit on myself despite the truth that with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26). If you rely on God, nothing is impossible. I also know that God will do what He said He will do (Numbers 23:19). God is ready to do much more that we can think or imagine through His power at

work in us. What seemed impossible in my natural mind was possible because I leaned on God. I believe it is not God’s plan for us to work 72 hours every week for the rest of our lives. The human body was not built to work like a donkey or a mule. However, there may be seasons where you are called to work extra or go above and beyond to accomplish a particular task or fulfill a specific assignment. In those seasons, you must believe God for wisdom, grace and strength in order to labor without toiling as you enjoy exceptional results.

In the middle of all this, I was promoted in the midst of a major company re-organization. And just as I was finalizing my transition into this new job, I was promoted into an even bigger role. So while inundated with a major career challenge, I emerged with exceptional results and a double promotion! It could only be God. This is consistent with what God promises to those who are faithful (Proverbs 28:20).

As you navigate your career, I implore you not to neglect your assignment in the Kingdom. If you place the Kingdom as your priority, God will take care of all the other aspects of your life. Your career should never come before your assignment in the Kingdom. Actually, your career is only one part of your Kingdom assignment. There will be times when it is tempting to take a step back from serving in other capacities in the Kingdom in order to focus on your career. I believe that you cannot fulfill your God-given purpose unless you are serving in the Kingdom, above and beyond your career. By serving in the Kingdom, you are expressing and cultivating your gifts and talents for the advancement of the Kingdom. Once you have chosen to serve God and make His Kingdom your priority, God is obligated to multiply your efforts into outstanding results and thus elevate you in your career. However, it starts with a decision to prioritize God and His Kingdom. I look forward to your great testimonies of exceptional results and career advancement as you remain faithful in the Kingdom.

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CAREER TESTIMONYby: PASTOR OROK DUKE

Orok Duke is a pastor at KingsWord International Church, Chicago. He works as a refinery operations superintendent at one of the largest oil companies in the world.

The Challenging Workplace & Walking In Love

by: SHOLA EZEOKOLI

Adeshola Ezeokoli is a medical doctor in Chicago, Illinois. She currently heads the publications department at KingsWord International Church, Chicago.

Now you have that dream job you long desired. You prayed, you fasted, you believed, you

interviewed and finally you got the position. After a few weeks, months or maybe even years, things start to take on a less than rosy appearance. Maybe management changed; maybe you found out something that you did not know when you interviewed; maybe you are under stress of increasing workloads; maybe promises made when you started were not kept. Here is what to do when the workplace becomes a battlefield.

DO NOT RUN AWAY: Do not just up and leave because the boss yelled at you when she had a bad day (yes, bosses have those). You need to think rationally to decide the next step. Even if you were to leave, you should not do so in a fit of anger.

GO BACK TO THE LAST “YES”: Go back to God in prayer. You need to figure out whether the current situation is God’s way of telling you that it is time to move on and find another job; or whether God would have you stay in the job.

STAY POSITIVE: This is not an easy thing to do in the midst of intense work situations, but it is in your best interest to maintain an attitude of joy. First, the Bible says in everything give thanks. Second, it will help you feel better. Third, it will rub off on your co-workers and change the atmosphere around you.

DO NOT SET FIRES: Resist the temptation to “get your own back” through gossip and spreading discord. Do no harm to anyone: physically, mentally or emotionally. Leave vengeance up to God.

FIGHT BACK: Surprised? Don’t be. Walking in love is not about being passive. Follow your company’s grievance protocol. File incident reports, write people up if need be; involve a lawyer if you must. The whole time, ask God for guidance every step of the way. However, do not do anything in anger. Keep a level head.

STAY PROFESSIONAL: One incident of you yelling, “I’ve had it!” and proceeding with a ranting diatribe

on how you just know that the CFO slept with the accountant and that is how she got the corner office will completely ruin your Christian testimony. Pull down any case you may have built up that may get you fired in disgrace.

PRAY: This is the last, but the most important point. Arm yourself with Bible verses that talk about the peace of God, protection, joy and God fighting for you. Pray them over yourself constantly. God will turn your situation around.

In conclusion, there are some caveats. If you are being asked to do something illegal, unbiblical or unethical, explain your position and prepare to leave your job. Do not get involved in crime.

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EVANGELISMin the Workplace - Part 1

by: PASTOR TAYO AKINYEMI

Tayo Akinyemi is currently the resident pastor of KingsWord International Church, Romeoville, IL. He is also a computer programmer and a reports developer.

In Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 16:15, Jesus commanded us as His disciples to take the gospel to the whole world. Every believer has a

role in that commission. Essentially, all believers are called into the ministry. You may not be called to be a pastor, an evangelist, or a missionary, but all believers have been called to take the gospel to a portion of the world. God in His wisdom has strategically positioned parts of the body of Christ all over the earth so that this mission can be accomplished, but many are oblivious to this divine plan. Many believers are ignorant of this call, few have acknowledged it and even fewer are responding to it.

The purpose of this article is two-fold. The first is to stir you up towards your call. The work of the ministry belongs to every member of the body not just a select few, a privileged few or a gifted few. The goal of every believer should be to colonize and dominate their work place for Jesus by winning everyone - including the nasty folks (Joshua 1:3). The good news is that we spend about 40 hours a week with kingdom prospects in the work environment. On the other hand, most preachers get less than 2 hours a week and don’t have the same platform with which to make a similar impact. It’s time for you to accept your call and be an instrument of deliverance to the multitudes in the shadow of death.

The second purpose of this article is to convince you that you have the capacity to be a soul winner (yes, you!) and to give you some practical ways in which you can maximize your

role as a soul winner. You have the capacity to do it, but it is in you as a potential. All you have to do is develop that potential. You might not have a clue how to go about it, but you must believe you have the capacity. My prayer for you is that you will believe in your God-given potential to be a soul winner and receive the grace to work out your potential (Hebrews 13:20).

There are two foundational revelations in which you must be established to become a soul winner:

PRIORITIZING THE KINGDOM OF GOD AT WORK:

If you ask most believers what their priorities are at their jobs, you will hear phrases like ‘career advancement,’ ‘good compensation,’ ‘respect of colleagues,’ etc. These are good aspirations and goals for any employee. Furthermore, all believers should desire and strive for these to have a good testimony. However, as a believer, our overwhelming priority is the Kingdom of God. Jesus said, “seek ye first the Kingdom…” (Matthew 6:33) and He meant it. The primary reason God has given us these employment opportunities is to bless the Kingdom. Therefore, a job that does not impact the Kingdom of God positively is an abuse of God’s purpose for that job. Expanding the Kingdom at our work place must be one of our major reasons for work. Believers need to see their work environment as places that they can possess for the Kingdom. And one of the priorities of the Kingdom is evangelism.

DEVELOP THE IMAGE OF A SOUL WINNER:

There is a story told of two shoe salesmen who visited a tribe of people who did not wear shoes. The first was so discouraged that nobody wore any shoes that he left the place. The second was so surprised that nobody wore shoes that he asked for his entire stock of shoes sent to him because he saw an opportunity to be a monopoly in that town and sell shoes to everyone. The difference between the two salesmen was their perspective on the challenge. Many people get discouraged about the darkness in their work place and crawl into a hole thinking they cannot make a difference. However, the massive life of God in us can consume every darkness. We need some courageous believers to start possessing their work places for the Lord. The capacity is in you, all you need is the courage to act and the visualization of an effective soul winner. God has strategically placed many of His people in various positions in the corporate world with the purpose of making a difference for the Kingdom. Get the image of a soul winner, be bold, be courageous, go and win your world for the Lord.

This Article is the first part of a 2-part series on Evangelism in the work place. The second part will be included in a future Career Resources release.

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Occupy till Christ comesIn this occupation your work receives lifeIt defines a desirable state of knowing A formal act of approving and excelling A place of celebration for a job well doneThe covenant for a blessed people brings prosperity The new testament of the covenant causes growthThe spiritual birth right for inheritance gives favor

This blessing qualifies the promise of abundanceThe concrete manifestation of our redemptive historyThe blessing is His righteousness upon our faith worksThe blessing once foretold and lived out by the patriarchsOur present and future inheritance The blessing-testament once began in AbrahamNow the blessing-assurance in His son has become our final legacy The blessed fulfillment of His promises of more graceThe inheritance descending to this faith familyThe identity and confidence for the realization of dreamsThe one inalienable right to accomplish His own vision for usThe summation of all that is good in His callingThe reinforcement of His ultimate will through usThe surety of His mercies to carve out new endeavorsThe guarantor of our supernatural wisdom

The blessing is our heritage for greatnessThe blessing through grace for climbing new heightsThe blessing defies poverty and lack The blessing bestowed upon us through faith in Christ aloneThe blessing gives joy and the abundance of all thingsThe blessing delivers His good treasure in our workThe blessing enhances all that He trusted in our handsTo us were the promises given and the blessing confirmedThat the blessing covenant might remain in us and manifest a testimony through us

EXCELLENCE NUGGETS

by Pastor Kay IJISESAN

1. Dream and dream big! You are qualified to do so.

2. Shut your eyes to things that do not inspire you where your dreams are concerned. What you pay attention to will either enhance or diminish your dreams.

3. Take off mental limits to the realization of your dreams. You have the help of the Greater One to fulfill it.

4. Don’t allow your dreams to intimidate you. There is provision for your vision.

5. Dream again if you’ve had shattered hopes in time past. Whenever a man cannot dream again, he has reached a point of hopelessness.

6. Make the most of where you are. Right decisions, impressions and impacts are achievable at any level with an excellent spirit.

7. Don’t put yourself under pressure by living beyond your means. Excellence is not living a life you cannot afford.

8. Deal with competitive tendencies. Your phase is determined by God and you are in a peculiar race that has nothing to do with what others are doing.

9. Keep finding better ways to maximize your present resources. Excellence and prudence go together.

10. Do all you can to have excellent results at every stage of your life. Excellence is not what you will become; it is who you are.

by Kemi Adegbite

Blessing The Work Of Your Hands

This is an excerpt from ‘Precepts of Excellence’ authored

by Pastor Kay Ijisesan