Principles for Job Seekers January 11, 2013. We all have the same Father! (Mal 2:10); Through the Son (John 14:6); By the Holy Spirit (Eph 2:18) We.

Principles for Job SeekersJanuary 11, 2013

We all have the same Father! (Mal 2:10); Through the Son (John 14:6); By the Holy Spirit (Eph 2:18)

We are united by Christ’s love! (John 17:23)

We are here to serve one another! (Phil 2:3-4)

No family is perfect…- We have disagreements that we openly discuss,

speaking the truth in love (Eph 4:15)

- What is said in-house stays in-house! (1 Cor 6:7)

Welcome Back CB Family!

What did you want to be “when you grow-up” (Think back to when you were ~10 years old)?

Where would you work if Chicago Booth was tuition free (i.e. no student debt)?

What % of students do you think list “high salary” as their #1 reason for taking / wanting a certain job?

Ice-breaker Activity: Jobs, jobs, jobs!!!

Assumption: You are your career manager. No one else is going to look out for you. Either you look out for yourself or just look out! #1 is all that matters.

Approach: Know yourself and make yourself known. You make your own breaks. Put your eyes on the prize or you will pay the price

Outcome: Myopia and Pressure (e.g., Career Services, fellow classmates, friends/family, popular media such as “What Color Is Your Parachute”)

Choosing a Career

Are we really best equipped to make this decision?

Is there someone else who could manager our careers more effectively than we can?

God, of course!...- Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and

lean not unto thine own understanding.

- Psalms 32:8 - I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.

- Psalms 37:4 - Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Thank you God, but I’ll take over from here…

Choosing a Career (Cont’d)

PRINCIPLE 1: Our first priority in life must always be to develop an increasingly intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.

PRINCIPLE 2: God has created you with the aptitude for particular skills and abilities, and with the inclination toward particular interests. Your design is the most important factor to consider in making career decisions.

PRINCIPLE 3: Being a Christian does not exempt us from the responsibility to become wise decision makers. Therefore, it is your responsibility to use your God-given mind to learn how to make good career decisions.

PRINCIPLE 4: Living out God's will for your career and life will require that you take risks.

Principles for (Job) Seekers

Biblical support:- "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me

and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned" (John 15:5-6)

- Christ calls us to "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness“ (Mt. 6:33)

1. What gets in the way of seeking God first and always? Getting the “perfect” job? / Peer Pressure? Student Groups? / Grades? Money?!...

PRINCIPLE 1: Seek God First and Always

,and all these things will be given to you”

24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one

and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

Biblical support:- "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me

and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned" (John 15:5-6)

- Christ calls us to "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness“ (Mt. 6:33)

1. What are the (implied or stated) priorities at b-school?

2. Does your work require you--or seduce you--to spend so much time at work that you have little time for anything else including your friends and family, your quiet times with the Lord, church, etc.?

PRINCIPLE 1: Seek God First and Always (Cont’d)

Biblical support:- “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to

each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. (Romans 12:6-8)

- I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Ps. 139:14)

1. What God-given talents are you using? Not using? Are you ensuring they are part of your career?

2. In the context of an MBA, what could “fearfully” made mean?

3. How can you glorify God “at work”?

PRINCIPLE 2: Use Your God-Given Abilities

Biblical support:- The proverbs are given to us "for attaining wisdom and

discipline; for understanding words of insight; for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life..." (Prov. 1:1-3)

1. How do you make decisions? What was your process/reasons for selecting your last job?

2. Have you ever misinterpreted circumstances or "signs" as God's will? What was the result? What led to the misinterpretation?

PRINCIPLE 3: Use Your God-Given Intelligence

Biblical support:- I dare not boast of anything else. I have brought the Gentiles

to God by my message and by the way I lived before them. I have won them over by the miracles done through me as signs from God -- all by the power of God's Spirit. My ambition has always been to preach the Good News where the name of Christ has never been heard, rather than where a church has already been started by someone else. I have been following the plan spoken of in the Scriptures, where it says, "Those who have never been told about him will see, and those who have never heard of him will understand." (Selections, Romans 15)

1. Describe the Apostle Paul’s decision making process above.

2. What is God’s role in our decision making process? What are His desires for us?

3. Will God help us avoid pain when making difficult decisions in partnership with Him?

PRINCIPLE 3: Use Your God-Given Intelligence (Cont’d)

Biblical support:- "faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what

we do not see.“ (Hebrews 11:1)- "to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask

or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." (Eph. 3:20-21)

- Parable of the Talents (Mt. 25:14-30)

1. What do we have to lose?

2. Has fear ever prevent you from making a decision (even if you thought it was right)? What about taking/not taking a job?

3. Thinking of the way Jesus called his disciples, what does the Bible show us about how God works in our lives?

PRINCIPLE 4: Act Boldly and with Courage

14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’ 21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ 22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’ 23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ 24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ 26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. 28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

(Mt. 25:14-30)

Biblical support:- "faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what

we do not see.“ (Hebrews 11:1)- "to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask

or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." (Eph. 3:20-21)

- Parable of the Talents (Mt. 25:14-30)

1. What instructions were given to the servants regarding what to do with the talents that were entrusted to them?

2. What did the first two servants do that the third didn’t?

3. What fruits of your labor do you offer to God?

PRINCIPLE 4: Act Boldly and with Courage (Cont’d)

Have a Blessed Day!

Special thanks to: http://www.crosswalk.com/family/career/making-career-decisions-within-gods-will-for-your-life-1188613.html