Saddleback Valley Community Church Interview Questions
& Process

All 3 to 4 interviews are very precise and you should prepare thoroughly. There are 3 interviews including 1 to 2 phone or zoom calls , a theological interview and a one-day interview day that multiple people interview you within an hour time span.

So the interview process is about 3-4 rounds, depending on the specific role. For roles that aren't pastoral, it basically goes like this: you apply, they reach out. Usually, there's a quick phone interview first, followed by an in-person meeting with you and the hiring manager. After that, you might have another interview with a few different managers, depending on the position. As you move up, some departments might have you interview with the PMT level pastor of that department or the campus pastor if it's a regional spot. The last and longest stage is a spiritual interview. If you get to this point, it means the hiring team is keen to hire you, but you need to pass this spiritual review, which is a requirement for all staff. They'll ask you a bunch of questions based on the Bible, which aren't about your opinion but need to be answered scripturally. If everything checks out, you'll get an offer letter. If you accept, you'll then go through HR orientation in your first week.

The hiring process involves an interview with the hiring manager, which can take weeks to get to. If they want to move forward, you might hear back months later. For the final candidate, there's an HR interview and a pastoral interview assessing spiritual knowledge. Hiring can take months, so don't expect a quick process. If you're a SoCal resident, you must have joined the church, taken Class 101, and be tithing before applying, or your application will be rejected. You might have a better chance applying if you're from out of the area.

You'll meet with your future boss, their supervisor, and a pastor. Knowing someone at the church helps. The first chat is the easiest, with the person you'll report to. Just be likeable to pass. Then you'll talk to their supervisor or a supervising pastor who's actually trained in interviewing. It's a more standard interview. The last interview is with a pastor you might not work with directly, and it's a spiritual interview.