Computer Jobs in Israel - FAQ
Computer Jobs in Israel - Frequently Asked Questions
How To Find a Computer Job in Israel
Document Name: CJIFAQ.HTM - Hypertext Version
Revision: September 2000
Original Creation: June 1993
By: Jacob Richman
CJI Editor/Publisher
Ma'Aleh Adumim, Israel
This document is located on the CJI web site at:
www.cji.co.il
Please include this web address if forwarding or
publishing part or all of this document.
copyright 2000 by Jacob Richman - jrichman@jr.co.il
CJI FAQ Contents - Introduction + 37 Questions
(click on a question or just use the "down arrow" key)
0. Introduction
1. Do you need to know Hebrew to work in computers in Israel?
2. I am still living outside of Israel.
Should I send out my resume to companies in Israel?
3. Should my resume be in Hebrew?
4. Should I post my resume on the web?
5. How should I email my resume?
6. I sent a resume to company "X", now what ?
7. How are the job agencies in Israel ?
8. Someone said if I pay him a certain amount of money,
he will find me a job. Should I pay him?
9. Where do I begin to look for a job in Israel?
10. Are there any Israeli job resources on the Internet?
11. Are there Israeli job databases on the Internet?
12. Besides online job databases, are there other ways to
find companies online?
13. How do I follow the Israeli "computer industry"?
14. Are there computer specific magazines / newspapers in Israel?
15. Are any of the big international computer companies
stationed in Israel?
16. Wow! Does this mean I should get a job at one of these
companies in my country and then ask to be transferred to
Israel when I make aliyah?
17. Many jobs advertised are for professionals who know C, C++,
Windows, Unix, Oracle, SQL, Lans, Wans, TCP/IP, etc....
For the past 6 weeks I have not seen any ads dealing with
my skills. Does this mean I will never find a job ?
18. Where else do I look for jobs ?
19. Where do I find out about job fairs and computer shows /
conferences in Israel?
20. I have been reading about the Russian aliyah and that
unemployment is around 8%. Is this true?
How does this affect my job search?
21. Is there discrimination in the computer job field in Israel?
22. Can you get a computer related job without a degree in
computers science or computer engineering?
23. I just finished my studies and I do not have experience.
The companies with whom I had interviews want experience.
What can I do?
24. Regarding re-training courses, do I recommend any for
those who want to switch into the computer profession?
25. I finally got my first interview. It is scheduled for 10:00 am.
What do I do?
26. Can I speak in English during the interview?
27. Are job interviews different in Israel then other countries?
28. Besides the interview what other Israeli secret weapons
are used to see if you fit the job?
29. What else should I bring to the interview ?
30. What kind of salary can I expect to get working in Israel ?
31. What other compensation benefits are there besides
base salary ?
32. Besides vacation time, what else is there?
33. What happens when you go off to reserve duty for 30 days?
Do you get paid?
34. Why not work for the army in computers? I heard that many
of the hi-tech startups in Israel are run by former officers in the IDF.
35. I live in Jerusalem but I go to work every day in Tel-Aviv.
Is this normal?
36. What other hi-tech parks are located in Israel?
Should I visit them and go door to door with my resumes?
37. I have been job hunting for 6 months and I feel like
leaving the country.
Introduction
The computer job market in Israel is very good. If you open
the weekend job sections of the large Israeli newspapers,
you will find hundreds of jobs in the computer field. In fact
computer jobs make up the majority of all job advertisements
today. When this document was first published in 1993, the
Internet was not available in Israel to the general public.
Today Internet is widespread and there are many resources,
in Hebrew and English, for the job seeker.
This FAQ document and the
weekly CJI job report
will give
you a good overview of what is happening in the computer
job market in Israel. This is not a comprehensive list but
it will help the reader get a head start in his/her job hunt.
Do not get mislead by all the information available. It is
hard work to find your first job in Israel. However if you
are persistent and flexible you will find it. Remember that
finding a job in Israel is like everything else connected
with your Aliyah (move to Israel). If you had trouble
describing your work in interviews overseas you will probably
have the same trouble here unless you work at it. Israel is
the land of miracles but do not rely on them exclusively to
find your job.
For the old timers and native Israelis this document may
assist you in your own job hunt or it may help you, assist
others in finding their first job. The information is geared
to the new oleh/olah, however, there is a lot of useful
information for everyone.
Do not take everything written here as the law of the land.
I may be wrong in some cases or I may be looking at the
situation subjectively. Talk to as many people in the field
and draw your own conclusions.
This FAQ is composed of 37 questions and answers that cover
most of the questions people may ask about job searching
in Israel.
Feedback is welcome!
Back to Top
Q1. Do you need to know Hebrew to work in computers in Israel?
The good news is that over the last few years many
American companys have setup research subsidiaries in
Israel and usually they require knowledge of English and
not Hebrew. Development for the worldwide Internet audience
is in English. Most technical manuals are in English.
However, (you knew this was coming) most Israeli users are
Hebrew speaking and your fellow workers and manager may want
to use Hebrew. Any job that requires interaction with local
users will require some basic Hebrew. Most olim spend the
first 4-5 months in Israel in an Ulpan program where they
learn Hebrew.
When people ask me what is the most useful thing to do
before aliyah, I answer very simply: learn and practice
your Hebrew. If you would like to learn a few of the
computer terms in Hebrew, there is an online English-Hebrew
dictionary that contains 400 computer terms. The address:
www.dictionary.co.il
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Q2. I am still living outside of Israel.
Should I send out my Resume to companies in Israel?
In my opinion, 95% of the job offers will only be made when
you are living in Israel. Do not expect a return phone call
or email if your current address is outside of Israel. When
you get to Israel make sure that your resume includes a
phone number where you can get messages (by person or
answering machine). "I wanted to interview him/her but I
could not get them the message".
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Q3. Should my resume be in Hebrew?
In my opinion, your resume for the computer field can be in
English. If you are sending your resume to the human
resources department, I would strongly recommend attaching
a short cover letter in Hebrew, 8-10 lines, saying who you
are, what you are looking for and how you can help the
company. If the human resource department (which may be
overworked) can not figure out what position you are
applying for, they may forward your resume to the wrong
person or department.
If you decide to translate your resume to Hebrew, you may
want to attach the English one just in case your translator
was drinking during the act of translation (note: bad joke
because Israel does not really have a drinking problem).
Make sure an Israeli that knows about computers looks it
over. I have seen very funny / sad works of technical
translations. If you do not believe me, go to a local
movie theater, see a funny English or American movie and
read the translations on the bottom of the screen.
I assume that most people reading this document know how
to write and re-write a resume. If you do not, then go
get help. Length of resume and what should or should not
be included, and the format, is debatable all over the
world. Americans tend to start from the current job
backwards and then list education and courses. Israelis
tend to do the exact opposite and also list places of work
from oldest to the current. Sixteen years in Israel and I
tend to cling to the American way. Do not flame me, I know
that this may be a North Eastern USA resume.
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Q4. Should I post my resume on the web?
No! The human resource department does not have time to stop
what they are doing and go to the web. Also, many companies
may not give HR access to the web and your site may not be
available just when they may be looking. They also may have
trouble printing out your colorful website for their files.
If you are a web designer or graphic artist you should
definitely mention the URL's of your work in your resume.
However, the resume itself should be mailed, faxed or
emailed.
Back to Top
Q5. How should I email my resume?
All English resumes can be sent as a plain text message. If
you would like, you can send a fancier version attached as
an RTF (rich text format) or Word file (version 6 or 7).
The human resource department may not have other word
processors or the newest versions of Word.
Always check your file for virus before sending. I have
seen people send out a virus infected resume and then
they may wonder why they were not called for any interviews.
If you are sending a Hebrew resume, always send it as a Word
or RTF attachment. Note in the regular email message, in
English, what type of file you are attaching. Many companies
do not have Hebrew support in their email packages and the
Hebrew text message you type will come out on their screens
as junk. Due to the number of resumes they get, they probably
will not take the time to send you a message to resend it.
I also strongly recommend not to send your resume to 100
companies at a time (at least not with an open distribution
list). It will get the same amount of attention as the
amount of time it took you to mass mail it out.
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Q6. I sent a resume to company "X", now what ?
Wait 10 days then call up the personnel department and ask
one simple question in HEBREW. You may translate and
practice this by dialling and talking to the Bezek phone
clock (155):
"I sent you my resume last week, did you get it ?"
Simple question should give you a simple answer, right?
When you call back tomorrow they will hopefully have found
it and will tell you who and when to call back. Do not get
discouraged. Call back until you get the Yes or No for an
interview. Keep track who you spoke to and when you called
each company. Remember it takes work to find work. It is
sometimes very hard to get a hold of the human resources
personnel. Do not give up. If you sent out over 50 resumes
and you only have 10 answers, you may not know if the other
resumes ever made it to the right person. The follow-up phone
call is very important. If you do not have the phone number,
look it up in the phone book or on the company website.
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Q7. How are the job agencies in Israel ?
Just like other places they get paid by the employer.
However, do not rely on them to find your first job
(especially if you have no experience). If you decide to
use an agent, ask if you can see the list of clients they
are sending your resume to.
Try to make sure they do not re-write your resume and send
it out to a hundred clients blind. Israel is not that big
and you, your agent, your other agent might be sending one
potential employer three different versions of your resume.
Will the real resume please step forward!
I believe that you should first try contacting companies
yourself and if that does not work, use an agency.
Some agencies may have positions that are not advertised
in the papers. Senior management positions fall into this
category. Also, positions where a manager still does not
know he/she is being replaced, are not advertised in the
newspapers.
If you decide to use an agency, get recommendations from
other people in the computer field. There is a list of
agencies in Israel that have websites at:
www.jr.co.il/aliyah/jobs-ag.htm
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Q8. Someone said if I pay him a certain amount of money he will
find me a job.
Should I pay him?
Absolutely NO! Like all countries, there are a few bozos out there.
I have never encountered any, but take the advice anyway.
Back to Top
Q9. Where do I begin to look for a job in Israel?
The two largest newspapers in Israel (Yediot and Ma'ariv)
have several job sections in the Friday papers. Ha'aretz
and the local city newspapers (like Kol Hair in Jerusalem)
also have special hi-tech job sections. On any given
Friday there are hundreds of ads for computer positions.
Many companies do not advertise in all the papers at once.
You also do not have to buy all the papers. Ask your
neighbor or friends to save you the job sections. Getting
these ads 1-2 days later will not make any difference and
it will save you money if you do not read the papers
themselves. Many public libraries in Israel also get the
weekend newspapers. If you have trouble reading the ads ask
your ulpan teacher to sit with you 15 minutes a week
reviewing the ads. I am sure he/she would not mind and it
will also benefit the other students.
Back to Top
Q10. Are there any Israeli job resources on the Internet?
There are many resources for job hunting on the Internet.
Most of the resources are in Hebrew but there are many in
English. Also, most hi-tech companies in Israel have
websites and some even have a "careers" or "join us"
section which lists open positions in Israel. Always
check the date of the positions or when they have been
posted.
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Q11. Are there Israeli job databases on the Internet?
There are about 15-20 Israeli job databases online.
3-4 are actually worth reviewing on a weekly basis.
Many are Hebrew only but some are Hebrew and English.
When using the online databases follow these rules:
A. Always check the date of the posted position.
If the date is over 60 days old then the position
may / may not be open. If all positions show today's
date, do not rely on the date.
B. Always send your resume to the company posting the
position. If their contact information is not there,
look it up on their website. If you do not know the
website of company X, try X.com or X.co.il
Do not send your resume to a single jobsite address
that will forward it to the companies. Why?
First of all, you will never know if it actually got
there or not. Some of the online systems will try and
sell the resume to the company for a large fee.
Others may have problems that "lose" your resume in
a technical black hole.
If you want someone to "sell your resume" use an agency
that will give your resume and you personnel attention.
C. You have a better chance of following through by
directly emailing your resume then relying on a system.
There is a list of Israeli on-line databases located at:
http://www.jr.co.il/aliyah/jobs-db.htm
Back to Top
Q12. Besides online job databases, are there other ways to
find companies online?
Back to Top
Q13. How do I follow the Israeli "computer industry"?
There are several online newspapers devoted to economic
developments in Israel. Many are updated on a daily basis.
Product announcements, new financial developments,
takeovers, new companies, IPO's, are just several types
of news items that may lead to more job hiring. It is
interesting to note that many of the full page wanted ads
in Friday's papers usually precede or follow closely a major
company announcement.
There is a large list (English section and Hebrew section)
of the daily and weekly newspapers at:
www.jr.co.il/hotsites/i-news.htm
I also post interesting industry news on the CJI news page:
www.cji.co.il/news.htm
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Q14. Are there computer specific magazines / newspapers in Israel?
"Anashim Vemechashvim" (People and Computers) publishes the
weekly Israeli version of Information week. It is a valuable
source to find out which companies are working on what
projects and what new products are being developed and by
whom. Phone Number: 03-638-5858
Their website is:
www.enet.co.il
"Reshet Tiekshoret" is also a very popular bi-weekly
newspaper published by "Merav-Koren".
Phone number: 03-900-7920
Their website is:
www.merav.co.il
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Q15. Are any of the big international computer companies
stationed in Israel?
Almost all the popular hardware and software vendors
have offices in Israel. In fact, many foreign companies
have design centers or manufacturing facilities in Israel.
This includes: Intel, Microsoft, IBM, Motorola, Sun,
National Semiconductor, Texas Instruments, Cisco, 3Com,
to name just a few.
Back to Top
Q16. Wow! Does this mean I should get a job at one of these
companies in my country and then ask to be transferred to
Israel when I make aliyah?
This would be a great way to make aliyah. You probably could
convince the company to pay for your re-location expenses.
I have seen this happen. A great idea but do not count on it.
It is the exception to the rule. If you are basing your
aliyah on this dream situation then you probably will not be
making aliyah for a long, long time. Most people make aliyah
first, get settled in, then find a job. That's the way it is.
Back to Top
Q17. Many jobs advertised are for professionals who know C, C++,
Windows, Unix, Oracle, SQL, Lans, Wans, TCP/IP, etc....
For the past 6 weeks I have not seen any ads dealing with
my skills. Does this mean I will never find a job ?
Perish the thought. Companies have many ways to look
for employees. Do not rely on ads as your sole avenue to
find jobs.
Back to Top
Q18. Where else do I look for jobs ?
There are many directions you can pursue to find your
job. A big one is networking. Speak to as many people as
possible who are in the field. Remember that most jobs
are publicized internally by the company before the ads
are placed. Find a contact in a company in which you are
interested and ask them to find out information for you.
The word "protekzia" is an Israeli buzzword. This is not
the same as the mafia protection but the notion of extended
family exists. Back in the old days, knowing the sister of
the cousin of the friend of the brother-in-law who is a
programmer in company X would advance you toward getting
the job. Today things are different and this approach
will not get you the job. However, it may get you an
interview.
Here is a totally different angle to look for a job in
your niche. If you do not see ads for your software
package or hardware, try finding out who imports or
supports the package in Israel. Call them. Speak to
support or marketing and find out when the next
conference or seminar is. You are trying to find out who
the users (companies) are. Sales and marketing may not
give you the customer list, but support may tell you the
big company names and who may have openings. Always make
sure to thank the support people. They get yelled at all
day and being nice to them goes a long way!
If a company is at a show or exhibition try to speak to
the personnel when things are quiet (early morning is your
best bet). When it is busy or they are tired after a long
day, your chances of making a good connection are not too
good.
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Q19. Where do I find out about job fairs and computer shows /
conferences in Israel?
Job fairs are a very good place to meet companies. They
are there to meet you. You can meet dozens at one time and
they can not tell you to call back till they find your
resume. If a job fair is from 10:00am to 8:00pm do not
show up at 7:55pm. Give yourself four to five hours for
waiting on lines and being interviewed. Remember that
toward the evening most interviewers may be tired.
There are 2-3 large job fairs during the year at the
Israel fair grounds in Tel-Aviv. Around May-June there
are job fairs at the universities which are usually open
to everyone. Depending on the number of companies at the
fair, bring at least 40-50 copies of your resume and dress
appropriately. Ties are not needed in Israel for job
interviews. Torn jeans are not suitable either.
Some of the popular Israeli computer exhibits / shows in
are: Infotech, Comdex, Internet World, FIS, ILA Conferences,
Internet Annual Conference, Decus (Compaq), Telecomm, etc..
I try to keep an updated list of job fairs and computer
shows/conferences in Israel at:
www.cji.co.il/events.htm
Back to Top
Q20. I have been reading about the Russian aliyah and that
unemployment is around 8%. Is this true? How does this
affect my job search?
Unemployment may be at 8% but in my opinion the statistics
(which I do not know exactly) would probably show that the
computer field is nowhere near that. Yes, there are Russian
programmers looking for work but their experience may not
be what a given employer is looking for. From my experience
it is much easier for a "Westerner" that knows how to
write a resume, interview and explain the projects he/she
worked on, to find work. The "Western" oleh/olah usually
does not have to learn how to "sell themselves". Also many
Israeli firms know the companies that you worked at and can
easily check your references. The equipment and operating
systems you worked on are the same in Israel. This is not
always the case with "Eastern" countries. Even though your
Hebrew may be rusty, your English is very good. I am not
trying to put down the programmers or computer professionals
from the "East". I have met many that know their work very
well and can explain themselves very well and are very good
programmers. In fact, the Russians that I have met that were
job hunting are now working and are doing very well. I am
just saying that in general it is harder for them to find
their first job in Israel.
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Q21. Is there discrimination in the computer job field in Israel?
Does age and sex make a difference?
(that is not what I meant....we are talking jobs here)
Officially, by law, there should not be; in practice
there is. In my opinion, if you are over 35 years old,
in the computer field in Israel, it becomes a little
harder to find a new job. I do not think Israeli
companies value people with over 10+ years of experience
like they do in the USA. The exception is when you have
a technical skill that is hard to find. Also, people in
sales or marketing who have collected sales connections/
clients may bring unique information that may be valued.
In technical positions, many companies will hire someone
with 2-3 years experience then hire someone with 10 years
experience. Go figure! It could be the money but that
is not always the case. Even management tends to be
under 35. Senior management may be older. As more American
companies setup shop here, I hope the situation will change.
Again, I am not saying if you are over 35 you will not
find work. I am just saying it gets harder if your skills
are not in demand.
The second problem in Israel is pay discrimination against
women. Many Israeli companies do not give women equal pay
for the same work that men do. This is not fair.
The trend is changing but it will take time. There are
three articles about women and the work force on my CJI
news page:
"Reaching for the Silicon Ceiling"
www.cji.co.il/cji-n117.txt
"Average Salaries"
www.cji.co.il/cji-n099.txt
"Career Women Confront the Silicon Ceiling"
www.cji.co.il/cji-n087.txt
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Q22. Can you get a computer related job without a degree in
computers science or computer engineering?
Many computer related jobs require the full degree. Some
even require a second degree. However, there are many jobs
that will take someone with 1 year experience if their
skills are very good and in demand. There are also companies
that have started to hire students who are in their 3rd
or 4th year of the degree.
There are other positions in the computer field that value
experience as much as (even instead of) the degree.
Web designer, graphic artist, computer support, computer
technician, communications specialist, technical writer,
system administrator are just a few of the positions that
may not require a degree and the work is very professional.
Back to Top
Q23. I just finished my studies and I do not have experience.
The companies with whom I had interviews want experience.
What can I do?
There are many companies that have in their advertisements:
"Outstanding graduates without experience are welcome to
apply". This is great if you are an outstanding student.
For the rest of us, there are several paths to try if the
front door is locked. First try the back door. The back
door in many companies may be "software tester" or
"support personnel". These are professional jobs (the last
thing I want is flame emails from the profession). The good
thing is that many companies may relax the requirements for
these positions if they need more people. Once you get into
the company, you may be able to work your way into the
programming group. Many large companies encourage you
to study and take courses on the company's expense.
I strongly recommend that beginners, straight out of the
university or re-training courses, spend 1-2 years in
a large company. I worked in the USA for 4 years after
I graduated with a degree in computer science. My first
job in Israel was for 7 years at Intel Electronics.
I gave my resume to the security officer at the gate and
asked him to pass it to HR. A system manager position,
which was not advertised yet, happened to open up. Did I
mention that a little praying and timing never hurts a
job search :-)
I worked hard at Intel but I learned a lot. The experience
was definitely worthwhile. If you are new to the country,
working for a USA subsidiary will be a good experience.
The language barrier is usually lower.
If the position is for a web designer, technical writer
or graphic artist, it is important that you show some sort
of portfolio even if you do not have experience. Use your
final project from the school. Working for a non-profit
for peanuts or less may be worthwhile for your soul and
for several experience lines on your resume.
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Q24. Regarding re-training courses, do I recommend any for
those who want to switch into the computer profession?
Today there are many private schools that offer re-training
classes in computers. Many are 6-9 months long and are very
intensive and expensive. Every so often the Technion and
companies offer intensive 9-12 month re-training courses
where the companies will pay the entire fee if you do well
and they hire you. Some companies have their own training
programs but you need to commit to work for them for two or
three years. These type of offers show up every few months
in the Hebrew newspapers.
Regarding private schools, the local academic unemployment
office or the government labor office may pay for your
re-training. Check to see if you are eligible. In all cases,
I would make sure to follow this simple advice before
registering for a course:
A. Ask the school for a list of companies that have hired
graduates in the course you are thinking about. Talk to at
least three of them about the chances of getting hired.
B. Ask the school for three students who graduated and are
working in the field you want to study. You may also want
to hang around the school after hours and speak to a few
random students about the course and teachers.
C. Ask what specific help the school will give in assisting
you in your job search.
D. Ask people in the profession what they think of the
school and its instructors.
There is a partial list of schools on the bottom of the
following web page. This is not a recommendation list:
www.jr.co.il/hotsites/i-edu.htm#technical
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Q25. I finally got my first interview. It is scheduled for 10:00 am.
What do I do?
Show up at 09:40 am. There is an excellent chance that you
will be given a form to fill out about your life and
work history. The form will probably be in Hebrew and
English but you should try and fill it out in Hebrew.
Make a note to show up 9:15 next time :-)
No sweat. Most of these forms ask the same questions.
At the next job fair, make sure to take home with you
3-4 different job application forms. At home, take out
a piece of paper and answer all the questions in Hebrew.
On your next interview, when you are filling out the form,
pull out your Hebrew answer sheet and you will breeze
through. Why climb the wall when you can go around it!
(this is what happens when you grow up in Brooklyn)
Meanwhile, at this interview do the best you can.
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Q26. Can I speak in English during the interview?
If you are lucky, the interviewer may ask you in which
language you prefer to be interviewed. If your Hebrew
is good then go for it. If you have to stop on every
other word then apologize and stick with English.
Remember what you wrote down on the application form:
Converse in Hebrew:....Excellent...Good...Fair...Poor...N/A
Reading Hebrew:........Excellent...Good...Fair...Poor...N/A
Writing Hebrew:........Excellent...Good...Fair...Poor...N/A
Now is a good time to remind you that it does not pay to lie
on the forms or your resume. It will catch up with you. Some
companies will call your previous bosses even if they are
5000 miles away. If you are having trouble explaining what
you did in English, you will have a really great time trying
to do this in Hebrew. Practice your interview with a friend.
Write down on an index card the words you always forget.
The interviewer will probably not mind if you pull it out
in an emergency. Practice, practice, practice. Do not worry.
Almost every one blows their first or second interview.
Do not get depressed. Learn from your mistakes.
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Q27. Are job interviews different in Israel then other countries?
On your first or second interview in Israel you may be very
surprised about the personal questions the interviewer may ask.
Many people may find this rude but one should go to the
interview prepared to answer some strange or semi-personal
questions. Try to avoid politics and religion. Unless you
know for sure that the viewpoints may be the same, avoid
these in a friendly manner. Making the interviewer mad
may not help your chances (you may feel better but it is
sometimes better to roll with the punches).
How old are you? Why aren't you married? Why did you make
aliyah? Where did you go to eat lunch? What did your
parents do for a living? As I said, do not be surprised.
Back to Top
Q28. Besides the interview what other Israeli secret weapons
are used to see if you fit the job?
Some companies use handwriting analysis firms to study
your writing. I sent in my resume and cover letter from
a Laserjet III (16 years ago). They must have thought that
I was a Yekeh (German connotation for perfectionist).
I guess they studied the form I filled out. I personally
think this is hogwash.
Many companies that have determined from the first
interview that you may qualify, send you to take a
psychometric test (if you took the test before and by the
same testing firm, the company can get the results).
This test costs the prospective employer money so it
shows you impressed someone at your interview. I was
told (way back then) to show up in the morning to take
the test in Tel-Aviv. I thought it would be a half hour
or an hour tops. Ha, Ha, Ha! Five hours.
Everything from drawing pictures, to a classroom discussion,
to match the numbers questions. Do not panic because it
is not the kind of test you can study for and there is
nothing you can do but show up. I think you can get the
written parts in English. I also think, for a fee, you
can get an interview with the testing company to determine
what the test showed you are good for. Do not rush out to
get a return ticket back to the old country. They could be
totally wrong.
Just like everywhere else, some companies may give you a
written problem or questions if you are interviewing for
a technical or programming job. If you wrote in your
resume that you "know" 32 computer languages, I hope you
checked what language this job requires before you show up
to the interview.
Some companies may interview you 3-4 times by different
people or groups of people. I went through this at my first
job (Intel) and the job I had after that (Kivun). Keep cool
and remember why you made aliyah.
Back to Top
Q29. What else should I bring to the interview ?
Bring copies of all your degrees, certificates, courses
you took, baby pictures (on second thought skip the
baby pictures). They may want you to give them a copy
for their files. Many companies determine part of your
salary based on degrees and related computer courses.
Make sure you keep at least 10 copies of each at home.
Put all your originals in a safe place. If you lose an
original and you have no copies, it is a real pain to
replace them while you are thousands of miles (kilometers)
away from the source.
Back to Top
Q30. What kind of salary can I expect to get working in Israel ?
I know what everyone is thinking: Why did he put this
all the way down at question 30 ??? It should have been
number 1.....right??
Money is not everything. Ok...money is important.
This is the loaded question everyone asks but no one has
the right answer. It depends what your job is, who you are
working for and how good you are in negotiations. The
general rule of thumb is that government pays the lowest
salaries but there may be some fringe benefits that make
up for this. Universities and hospitals are next in line,
then semi-government companies, then private industry.
If you work for the government through a project house or
a consulting firm you will be paid more then regular
government workers but you will not get the government
"fringes".
Do not take an Israeli computer position salary and convert
them to dollars. You will get depressed. You must compare
them to other Israeli salaries and the cost of living here.
Still depressed? Go visit some homes of the average Israeli
computer professional. There is a very good chance that
you will find the color tv, video tape machine, washing
machine, dryer - spoiled ones like me :-) and other standard
comforts of home. In general (and yes there are always
exceptions where you hear the worst things), you can live
a very nice life in Israel working in our profession.
Take note that none of the computer ads have salaries listed.
Do not mention salary first during an interview. When it
comes up, state that you are flexible and are not familiar
with Israeli salaries. If offered a job, take a day or two to
check out the salary with friends in the field. Be aware
that base salary is not the only part of the compensation
package. Over the past few years, there have been many
hi-tech startups launched in Israel. In my salary survey
last year, 36% of the people that answered wrote that they
had stock options. Yes, everyone has the dream of working
for a company that will bring in the gold (ie: IPO). Just
remember that for every success you hear about there are
also failures. If you want to work hard and take a chance
then go for it. Just remember to put some money in the
bank for the possible rough times (eg: money runs out for
salaries). If you make it big, remember the little people
who helped you find that job (cash please, no stocks).
There are different ways that your salary may be linked:
Dollar, Inflation, Part inflation, general wage linkage.
Try to negotiate dollar or full inflation link. This is
very important to establish when you first start. Getting
it later is very hard. Most large companies have a set
policy for the whole company. Small companies do not.
16 years ago when inflation was very high, the linkage
was very important. Today the dollar or inflation rate
linkage is common.
For the past five years I have been conducting a yearly
salary survey among the CJI subscribers. Last year
594 people answered the survey.
The CJI February 2000 salary survey is located at:
www.cji.co.il/docs.htm
Remember that the survey was in February and I would say
that the salaries today are higher.
After 3-4 interviews, you will get an idea of what you
can get in the market.
Back to Top
Q31. What other compensation benefits are there besides base
salary ?
"Bituach Menahalim" - Managers Insurance (5% employee,
5% employer, 8.3% severance pay / Life insurance Pension)
Severance pay (pitzuiim) is mandatory for employees who
work a minimum of 12 months and who are fired including
due to a business going bankrupt, get drafted to the
military, joining the police or other security services,
get married to someone who lives more than 40 kilometers
(about 25 miles) away and moves away as a result or within
one year of having a baby.
The advantages of having severance pay in bituach
minahalim is that it is protected against creditors
of the employer. It is in the name of the employee and
may not be attached by creditors of the employer if the
employer goes bankrupt.
It is also common practice for employers to release
bituach minahalim with all its parts including severance
pay to employees if the employee should leave of his/her
own volition (except in extreme cases such as embezzlement).
"Keren Hishtalmut" - Tax free (after 6 years) savings plan
(2.5% employee, 7.5% employer).
13th Salary (a few government offices still give this)
Subsidized Lunches - Most large companies
Free transportation from home to work and back - many
companies have this especially if you work in a different
city. The larger companies hire their own van service with
specific hours to pick you up and take you home - door to
door.
Histadrut Companies and government have extras like:
clothing allowance, car allowance, etc..... I hope you all
took Israeli Paycheck 1.0 in college.
Hours at government offices are usually better then private
companies. You should be thrilled to know that most companies
in Israel work a five day week. No work on Fridays.
Isn't that great :-).
Now for the bad news: Getting up Sunday morning :-(
No more xmas parties, Purim parties instead. No more wasted
vacation time to take off for Jewish holidays. Vacation time
is among the things to negotiate although large companies
have a set policy based on tenure. By law companies are
required to give you 14 days for each of your first 4 years,
16 days for the 5th year, 18 days for the 6th year, 21 for
7th, then one additional day for 8th year and up to a total
of 28 days per year. Employers may grant more than the
minimum days.
Back to Top
Q32. Besides vacation time, what else is there?
Employees are entitled to one and a half days of sick
leave per month which accumulates from the beginning to
the end of each work year (18 days) without loss of salary.
Also, if you are sick for more then 3 days you must bring
a note from your doctor. All companies give off the Jewish
holidays and the day before (erev hag) is usually half a
day (work until 13:00). Some companies (and government)
give off Hol Hamoed (Succot and Passover).
The law also requires days off for the following:
Marriage: 5 days
Birth of child: 2 days boy, 1 day girl
Death of close relative: 5 days
Death of distant relative: 1 day
Personal days: 3 days (5 in some companies)
Back to Top
Q33. What happens when you go off to reserve duty for 30 days?
Do you get paid?
Bituach Leumi (national insurance) pays your company for
the time you are in the army. You collect your full salary.
Depending where you are stationed and your family situation,
this can be a nice vacation or pure national duty. It all
depends on your situation. Based on the age and marital
status when you moved to Israel, you may not have to do
a lot of miluim. Some olim may be exempt if they are over
a certain age. Check with your local aliyah office or
Israeli consulate.
Back to Top
Q34. Why not work for the army in computers? I heard that many
of the hi-tech startups in Israel are run by former officers
in the IDF.
If you are a teenager who turned 18 you will be drafted.
If you are in your late 20's or 30's the army may not want
you unless they really need you for a specific job.
Normally you need to sign up for 5 years to get into the
computer branches of the army. There are exceptions.
Security clearance is sometimes also an issue.
Back to Top
Q35. I live in Jerusalem but I go to work every day in Tel-Aviv.
Is this normal?
Yes, but lately Jerusalem is attracting more private
industry. Two hi-tech parks in Jerusalem (Malcha and
Har Hotzvim) have dozens of the leading hi-tech startup
companies in Israel.
Back to Top
Q36. What other hi-tech parks are located in Israel?
Should I visit them and go door to door with my resumes?
Yes on the door to door if you know how to approach the
companies. Sometimes, if you are lucky, you may even get
an interview on the spot. However, take into account that
people are busy and many will just ask you to leave your
resume. I did this 16 years ago with Intel and it worked.
Some of the hi-tech parks or areas with a large number of
hi-tech companies in Israel are:
North part of Israel - Tefen, Haifa - Matam,
Herzlia Industrial Zone, Tel-Aviv - Atidim,
Or Yehuda, Lod.
You can find other parks listed at:
www.incubators.org.il
Back to Top
Q37. I have been job hunting for 6 months and I feel like
leaving the country. This place is not for me. I will
never learn Hebrew. Israelis talk too fast. The taxi
cab driver almost killed me on the way to my last
interview. The weather person on the news said it was
going to be a nice day and I am very hot. The bag of
milk from the grocery store had a leak and I smell
like spoiled milk. Did I make a mistake leaving my
great job in California? I miss my parents, my brothers/
sisters, cousins and friends. I miss Late Night with
David Letterman.
I want to go home!!!!
Hey, slow down. Let's put some things in perspective.
You say that you have been here for six months and you
have not found a job yet. How long have you been REALLY
looking. It took you 3-4 weeks to find a place to live,
get all your aliyah paperwork done including running
around to dozens of places and offices. You probably
took a Hebrew ulpan during the first four months.
How many hours a day were you really job hunting
between classes and homework. What about that 2-3 weeks
you toured the country? You were a financial programmer
for a bank in California; did you send your resume to
all the banks and insurance companies in Israel?
What about all the service companies that do payroll and
accounting for firms?
Did you visit the professional job placement center?
Your unemployment rights ran out so you stopped going?
You think they would really object or turn away someone
who wanted to review the job lists they post on their
bulletin boards? Did you open the yellow pages to see
how many firms do financial consulting? Do you know that
almost all large firms in Israel have some sort of
financial department and many of them have computers?
Are you getting the picture???
A little dramatic but you get the point. It is very easy
to suddenly wake up one morning and have regrets for
moving to Israel. It could be trouble finding a job or
finding a place to rent; buying your first new appliances
or trying to understand the nightly news announcer.
It could be that homesick feeling that EVERY oleh/olah
feels every once in a while whether things are going
great or slow. It is natural. Remember that most Israelis
were olim but they forget what it was like very quickly.
Sit back, relax and examine what is going on. You have
been adjusting to a new life in a different culture and
with a foreign language. If you were job hunting back in
the "old" country you may have run into the same problems
finding your first job. Even with experience, finding your
first job IN ISRAEL can be tough. The problem is that you
are also adjusting to a new life style. Give it a chance.
When you call or write overseas, the people on the other
side have no idea what you are going through. Many Israelis
will help you. Some Israelis (including the clerk who
drove you crazy) do not remember what it was like to be
an oleh/olah. If they do, some will say how easy life is
for you. "Back Then" making aliyah was hard and dangerous.
Easy for THEM to say when THEY did not have to deal with
the fact that every office you tried to get to today had
different hours than the normal 9-5 you are used to.
Sounds crazy? When you are looking for a job and things
are not going exactly the way you planned, every little
thing can be blown out of proportion.
You will find that job. You will get that first Israeli
paycheck and go out and celebrate. You will figure out
how to say "C++" in Hebrew ("C++" - see that was easy).
Just wait. A year or two from now you will be able to
sit down with a newly arrived oleh/olah and tell some
great stories. You, yourself, will be amazed what you
went through and that you made it. You will be able to
help them find a good job and help them make a successful
aliyah.
May your job hunt be a smooth and successful one!
Jacob Richman
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York
Aliyah: August 30, 1984
Home: Israel
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This document is located on the CJI web site at:
www.cji.co.il
Please include this web address if forwarding or
publishing part or all of this document.
copyright 2000 by Jacob Richman - jrichman@jr.co.il
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Question and Comments
e-mail: jrichman@jr.co.il
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