Networking at Church

A good article this morning in The Wall Street Journal about networking for a job at your house of worship. It makes sense that people who are regular worshipers would talk about their job search with others at their church (or synagogue, or mosque) because, if you're a regular attendee, you get to know people there pretty well. Does such a connection go with you into the interview?

While many job seekers may rely on prayer for support and success, career experts warn against discussing faith when meeting with hiring managers or executive recruiters. "You don't want to turn it into a religious conversation," says Kevin Zwetsch, a partner with the law firm Fowler White Boggs Banker in Tampa, Fla. "You're veering off the path of what you're there for."

An exception might be if your involvement in religion can promote your candidacy, adds Mr. Zwetsch. For example, if you mention that you are a deacon at a church during a job interview, "that demonstrates leadership and community involvement," he says.

But he warns that "if you go any further, employers will get skittish," because recruiters are prohibited by law from asking candidates questions about their religious beliefs unless they pertain to the job at hand. "[Religion] is one of those taboo topics," he says.

How Faith-Based Networking Can Aid Job Searches [WSJ - $]