The Church of Norway works strategically at staff recruitment, among others during education fairs where the prize-winning video was presented. Photo: Mimi Thian, Unsplash
“Close to Life” shows how the church and its staff are part of people’s daily lives
(LWI) – A staff recruitment film of the Church of Norway has received international recognition. The short film “Close to Life” shows how the member church of The Lutheran World Federation and its staff are present throughout people’s lives in Norway. It received a bronze medal in the 2021 International Content Marketing Award in the category “inter-company engagement”.
“We developed the film for the national education fair in Norway,” explained Siv Thompson, communications advisor at the Church of Norway. “Usually, there are several education fairs in different regions. Students from all over the country visit them.” However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the fairs took place online last year. Tens of thousands of students could see the film during the fair, and now it is available on the recruitment website of the Church of Norway.
The website also promotes universities, colleges, and other training facilities for the different careers offered in the church. They range from pastor to cantor and catechist or deacon to administrative positions.
“After several years of working strategically towards staff recruitment, we experience that more people discover the uniqueness of working in the church,” said Aleksander Garmann Gullaksen, recruitment advisor at the church. “Being a church professional means working closely with people from all walks of life and in all kinds of life situations.” The work was both joyful and challenging, he added, and often required “a clear mind and a humble soul at the same time.”
Currently, there were still a substantial number of long-term vacant positions, Gullaksen explained, “but the situation is improving.” For example, the number of young people applying for qualifying education increased, and more second-career candidates were applying for positions in the church.
For that reason, the church puts considerable effort into finding suitable candidates, increasingly becoming aware that “the right candidates may not always be the most obvious ones.”
By LWF/A. Weyermüller
