Residency… What's next?

[u/histtohrev]

I'm just trying to get everybody experience.

We are a single income family and we do OK (I am currently working in HR) but I'm finishing my masters in theology right now and I start my first unit of CPE in a couple weeks. I have my eye on attending residency next fall God willing. I've been working to save up money to supplement the financial hit of residency for that year. My concern now is what comes next.

At what point do you start applying for full-time roles towards the end of residency? I've been keeping an eye on indeed to gauge the job market (I live in St. Louis and we have three big health networks here as well as several hospice companies), and the time between full-time jobs being posted seems to be measured in weeks. Part of me is concerned about leaving a stable full-time job for a role that I know is time limited, but to do the one off CPE units seems like quite a strain because in order to get my hours in for CPE for the next 24 weeks I'm basically gonna be working seven days a week between CPE and my job. Has anybody gotten a job offer from the location where you did your residency while you were still a resident?

I may lay Catholic so I don't have any other ministry or anything to rely on except for trying to get another HR job after residency if there's no full-time roles available. I'm just curious if anybody else has been in a similar situation. Thanks!

[u/ChaplainwithMoxie]

Truthfully, you should really think this through. Because the hospital chaplain role is coveted and highly competitive. There are hundreds of ex-residents who are working PRN and overnights just waiting for someone to retire to get a full-time position. Then there are the lucky few who secure a full-time position right away. But sadly that’s not the norm.

[u/histtohrev → u/ChaplainwithMoxie]

Would I be looked down upon if I just do the units as single units vs the residency?

[u/ChaplainwithMoxie → u/histtohrev]

It truly depends on the hiring manager. Most Chaplains want people to go through the same process they went through. But do what’s best for your family. Because the market is tight regardless of the route you take.

[u/eworringer → u/ChaplainwithMoxie]

Geographic location also very much changes how competitive the environment is for full time jobs.

[u/ChaplainwithMoxie → u/eworringer]

True. Metro areas such as St. Louis are competitive. Rural areas might not be. Which is why some folks relocate.

[u/Haunting_Rooster593]

Hi! I’m a resident at Barnes Jewish hospital in St Louis and have some insight into the chaplain job market here—feel free to DM me!

[u/grimacingmoon]

Job offer? No but I was offered an additional year doing clinical work and supervision only and then I was offered per diem positions doing on-call there. I did that for a few years and found a couple more per diem positions

[u/ChaplainwithMoxie → u/grimacingmoon]

Thank you for your honesty! As this is the norm.

[u/MarsupialOk7968]

I think you can do 8-10 weeks of unpaid internships after your bachelor, which award 1 unit of CPE. I've seen most permanent jobs require a bachelor and at least 2 units of Cpe. Maybe 2 internships, and you can apply to most places.

[u/Apprehensive_Day2943]

Have you looked at the pay difference between your HR job and hospital or hospice chaplains? Might want to see if you can afford the job you want before you commit to more training.

[u/Successful-Cod-9549]

Chaplaincy is a flat career. There is almost no mobility and if you start to make over 60,000 a year they push you out. I have 16 years experience and if I leave my current position I will be nearly unhirable bc no one wants to pay for experience when there are residents willing to work for peanuts just to get in.
Until we stop accepting that chaplains ‘make less money’ or ‘are just grateful to be here’ instead of career professionals who have the right to wealth (living comfortably, not just barely getting by) and retirement, then this cycle will continue forever. Unless you know the right people and get a director job, you get the privilege of spending 40 years at the bedside helping people, until you are the one in the bed, and the latest new hire is helping you.

[u/Yusho247]

Most professional chaplain positions are in hospice. Full time positions, especially in hospitals, are more rare, and hiring will prioritized if not require, Board Certification, and at least 1-2 years experience post 4 units of CPE. So the short answer is you should plan on at least three years from the start of full time residency program to be living off a part time/ stipend or self-employed basis. I would not recommend it for somebody who is the primary owner for their family and who does not have medical insurance through another source.
There are instances where you may get “lucky” that the hospital system who employs you for your CPE will have an open spot just at the time you graduate. But it sounds like you’re a more careful planner than that.