5 Job Interview Survival Tips for Israelis

5 Job Interview Survival Tips for Israelis 30 Here are my top Israeli job search tips based on personal experience. Hope they help you or at least make you laugh! This a guest post by Israel Weisser. If you’d also like to guest post here on JobMob, follow these guest post guidelines. Israel is unique in so many ways. It has been a fulfilling, and at times challenging, experience to deal with many of the unique aspects of Israeli culture. Job search has been one of those “unique aspects” and it is fascinating to stop and observe the cultural differences between the interview experience Western immigrants are used to, and how job interviews are conducted in Israel.eval I have found that instead of channeling those differences through frustration, it helps a lot to have a sense of humor. Tip #1 â€" Dress appropriately Tie and Jacket: Leave that tie and jacket at home! Don't even bring it to Israel unless you are planning on getting married (and even then, it's often optional). Israeli dress code is very relaxed; however do plan to be a little bit more dressed up than the interviewer. A pair of slacks and a nice shirt should do that.eval Jeans: It is an interesting phenomenon I still need to understand, but wearing jeans in Israel is considered “business casual” and sometimes even “elegant.” Perhaps that's due to the cost of clothing here? My recommendation is to go with your Western definition of “business casual.” Brand Awareness: Make sure you are not wearing a “crocodile logo” shirt if you are meeting with the “horseback sport logo” company. This applies to other products as well. For example, don't ask for an “X-Cola” if you are interviewing at the “Y-Cola” company. (Exception: If interviewing at a wine or alcoholic beverage company, the question “Would you like something to drink?” does not mean “Would you like an alcoholic beverage?”) Tip #2 â€" Country size DOES matter To many Israelis, traveling from one city to another is usually a 30 -minute drive. Keep in mind that the “30-minute commute” concept holds true even when they are traveling to the U.S. Expect a call saying, “We are visiting the U.S. next week. Can you get to San Antonio from Pittsburgh easily?” Once, I did fly 6+ hours for a 45-minute meeting. Now that's what I call commitment. Tip #3 â€" Interview etiquette redefined Be there on time… so that you can wait. What do you expect about “Jewish time” in the Jewish state? I recently read about Rav Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld (1849 â€" 1932) who joked: “If a person decides to meet at a certain specific time and he arrives at that exact time, I am afraid that he might have transgressed the prohibition against following in the ways of the non-believers.” Well, don't worry about any transgression, you ALWAYS have to be there on time, although expect delays from the other party. I'm actually writing this on my notepad as my wait for an interview approaches 45 minutes… Turn your cellphone off… so that you don't interfere with the interviewer's cellphone calls: I would say each interview I've had has been interrupted by an average of 4 cellphone calls (not kidding), although there are always exceptions. Expect some email action as well. Leave the kids at home: This was shocking but true. During two different occasions I had the interviewer's children interacting with us. During one of those interviews, I even provided my notepad and pen to entertain his kid at the coffee shop. I guess that answered the question regarding my problem-solving skills! It's Mincha (prayer) time: I loved this one. My interview was halted so that we could head down to the building's basement to daven Mincha (pray the afternoon prayer). Was it a second round interview with “The Boss?” Was it part of the interview? I don't think so; however it definitely had a positive effect on my views of that company. I love this country! It's not personal: There is no such thing as “personal questions.” It's all open here â€" How old are you? How many kids? Where are you from? Why did you make aliyah? Expect your handwriting to get analyzed by a graphologist. For a 3rd round interview, I was going to go through a polygraph (lie detector)! Too bad I didn't get to experience that one. True story: As I entered the office of the interviewer, he looked at me with my kippah (skullcap) on my head. Before even shaking hands, he wrote on a paper and murmured loudly, “Israel W… Shomer Mitzvot (keeper of commandments i.e. religious)”… That was actually a compliment, although a potential lawsuit if it happened in the U.S. I definitely love this country! Tip #4 â€" The Blind Interview Blind date: I do not have any experience on blind dates; however I think I can be an advisor now. For research purposes of writing this blog post I read about blind dates and amazingly, they are the same as blind interviews. Who to look for? Make use of Google and social networking sites to know what the interviewer looks like if possible. That can avoid many embarrassing moments, or it could lead you to getting a completely different job if you meet with a different (read: wrong) person. Trying to make eye contact with each lonely person at the coffee shop to check if he/she is your interviewer can send the wrong signal about what you are doing at the coffee shop in the first place. Where to meet? The meeting place can be anywhere. The natural choice is their office or a coffee place. Some unusual places I interviewed at include: car dealership, a gas station convenience store, convention center, and a cousin's living room, with the entire family around to offer advice and opinions after the meeting. Listen closely: On phone interviews make sure you pay close attention. That first sentence can often be crucial, and will probably be in Hebrew. So be prepared, especially if Hebrew is not your mother tongue. True story Translated from Hebrew to English for your enjoyment: Phone rings… Me: “Allo?” Phone: “Mr. Israel?” Me: “Yes?” Phone: “We are calling from AT regarding the email you sent to us. Sorry it took us so long to get back to you.” (Note: It was never made clear exactly where they were calling from.) Me: “Oh yes, of course. Don't worry about it. I'm sorry but I am about to sign a job offer with another company. If I had a little bit more time I would have loved to meet with you; however, I'm afraid at this moment I'm close to signing with this other company.” Phone: “I'm sorry, but I don't understand what you mean. We are calling regarding the email you sent to us a couple of weeks ago for…” Me: “Yes, I know but I'm trying to explain to you that…” Phone: “Would you like us to get someone who speaks English?” Me: “No! I can understand most of what you are saying…” Conversation goes back and forth until… Phone: “Are you still having problems with your TV connection to Cable? We are calling from AT.” (Note: HOT is an Israeli cable provider and it sounds like “At” when pronounced with an Israeli accent) Silence… Me: “Oh, mhhh, eeeh, yes, now I understand… No, no problems anymore with my TV.” Phone: “Good luck with your new job.” End of call. Tip #5 â€" Know Your Holidays Beware of the time before, during and after “the holidays.” This is the time between Rosh Hashanah until after Sukkot, usually around September-October time. Become familiar with the term “Achrei Hachagim (after the holidays).” Everything for about 3-4 weeks is halted until “Achrei Hachagim”, and then when “Achrei Hashagim” actually arrive, I guess it's time for everyone in the country to get all those things done, so you now need to wait another 3-4 weeks until it gets to a status of “Achrei Ha-Achrei Hachagim” (after the “after the holidays”). I want to thank all the potential employers, headhunters and industry experts for their time during our many meetings and for providing material to choose from for this blog post. The post is not intended to harm anyone; it is intended to offer a humorous way of looking at our cultural differences. About the Author Israel Weisser, originally from Mexico, made aliyah from the U.S. in 2008 to fulfill his dreams with his wife and kids. He is an experienced marketer from well-known leading multinational companies and is currently looking for a job. He is also starting his first freelance job leveraging his marketing and multinational background, as well as his international network, to connect Israeli companies with the U.S and Latin-American markets. With only one year as a blogger, he has maintained family and friends up-to-date and entertained with his experiences in Israel at his blog, The Weissers' Journey to Israel. This article is part of the 3rd Annual JobMob Guest Blogging Contest. If you want Israel Weisser to win, share this article with your friends.

New design for Brazen Careerist

New design for Brazen Careerist Ta-da! Its my new blog design. This is a big moment for me because when I started blogging, I never dreamed that it would matter so much to me that I would actually pay to have a custom blog design. There is an important lesson here about starting something new. Many people who have successful businesses say that if they had known how much work it was going to be they never would have started. I found this was true with the companies Ive started. And at Get Rich Slowly, a personal finance blog that has grown astronomically in the last year, JD has a nice description of this process of growing in unexpected but exciting ways. Meeting our goals might depend on being ignorant of how much work it will really take. If I had thought I was going to post six days a week I would have procrastinated every day forever because the amount of work would have seemed unbearable. But in fact, once you fall in love with what youre doing, like any small business, the long hours dont feel so long. In some cases, though, you cannot help but know that you are about to start something that will be a lot of work. Thats how I feel about adding photos to the blog. I never expected to have photos, but my designer, (Rob Brown, who I really liked working with), showed me that the photos add a lot. The only way I could get myself to agree to make the photo leap is to live in denial a tactic I used for starting many clearly difficult projects. This means that we are launching a new design, but I have still not learned the ins and outs of photos. So this photo of workers at a desk is what Rob picked as a demo. But it looks good, doesnt it?

Whale Songs and Social Media - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Whale Songs and Social Media - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career I heard a story about The Loneliest Whale in the World today. The story is about a baleen whale that communicates at a frequency that it seems no other whale can hear. He communicates at a frequency of 52 Hertz. Most  species of baleen whale, which include  blue whales and humpbacks, communicate in  the 15-25 Hertz range. Because of this difference in communication no other whale can hear him. This got me thinking about Social Media and  Frequency. Both relate to the bigger question… Are we really being heard? Frequency and frequency You don’t need to be a scientist to understand the details and implications of what the word frequency means. To me there are two ways of thinking about  frequency: In the sense related to The Loneliest Whale in the World it is the actual vibrations of the medium (in his case water) The other sense is the form of volume or quantity. How much “stuff” is being put out there for consumption. In Social Media the second definition is the most commonly considered. Where four factors are in play Time, Content, Place and Frequency. Depending upon your preferred Social Media channels the frequency (or volume) of your posts may vary and will impact whether you are really being heard. Posting at the right time can improve your chances of being heard. So, what is the right time? The expert in this space is Dan Zarella. He has done years of research on the best times to Tweet, send emails, post to Facebook, Blog and more. You can review his research here and here. Another example of Putting Frequency to Work is Guy Kawasaki. He has espoused a philosophy of posting content three times, 8 hours apart. His Frequency  seems to work pretty well for him and his Alltop site. Sure, he was already famous for his work at Apple and Garage Technology Ventures which likely didn’t hurt. The medium is the message  ~Marshall McLuhan Are you really being heard? Unlike  The Loneliest Whale in the World we humans have alternate forms of communication to consider employing.  Humans can adapt and use alternate forms of communication. Of course, humans aren’t the ones to use tools, but humans have been able to create sign language, develop numerous means of written communications, and to adapt our other senses. The Loneliest Whale in the World doesn’t have this many options. For you… you have options. What if your Frequency is not working? If its not working Shift things up. Why? Because you can. What have you got to lose? Change your Frequency. Perhaps in both volume and for the other three factors. Also, consider evaluating the first definition of frequency and how it may be impacting your Social Media interactions. Are people really hearing you? If not, it may be more than just the volume of your communications. They really may not be able to hear you. Whale Check: Baleen whales can live for upwards of 85 years. I hope the whale in this story finds another  whale that has the ability to hear his songs. One that  he can find happiness with  and cruise the high seas. If you want to learn more about  The Loneliest Whale in the World  you can read more  here.

The Evolution of the Recruiter Throughout History

The Evolution of the Recruiter Throughout History With the introduction of new technology, changes in the economy and adjusting employer needs; the role of the recruiter has changed significantly throughout the years. Until the 1900s all jobs were advertised in newspapers and the closest thing to a candidate database was a Rolodex and growing pile of business cards.  Fast forward a few decades and everything has been digitalised, making the process quicker and more efficient than ever before. So just how much have things changed in the world of recruitment? LinkedIn have investigated the evolution of the modern recruiter and how the role has changed since World War II. Channeling private detectives (1940s 1970s): With limited resources available, recruiters had quite a job on their hands to track down the best person for the job and pretty much had to behave like a private detective in order to hunt them down. These were the days before computers and the internet, so recruiters relied on personal connections, hefty phone books and relying on their newspaper ads reaching the right people! The only tools available to a recruiter were rolodexes, typewriters, name generators, newspaper and trade journals Sounds like a lot of paperwork and filing! In order to fill roles their responsibilities involved posting job ads, collecting paper resumes, hoarding business cards and cold calling in order to get names of people who could be suitable. Dawn of the internet  (1980s 1990s): Hoorah the computer was born! Luckily tools were slightly more advanced by this stage, with the introduction of not only the desktop computers, but also.the internet! No more endless stacks of resumes and business cards covering every inch of the office. Technology advancements meant that online job boards, resume databases and applicant tracking systems made the recruitment process much more efficient and broadened the candidate pool significantly. The role of the recruiter was now to pursue active candidates and fill job vacancies. The digital  generation (2000s Present): Paper resumes and phonebooks are a thing of the past! Everything is done online now,  from the initial sourcing of candidates, to even the interview on some occasions! New technology means that the whole recruitment process has been digitalised,  with large focus on social media, company career sites, mobile apps and online job boards. Employee referrals are also greatly  valued and passive candidates are highly sought after. Recruiters responsibilities now involve sourcing passive candidates, [Image Credit: Shutterstock]

Some Tips on Writing the Best Resume

Some Tips on Writing the Best ResumeWriting the best resume is definitely not as easy as it sounds. However, it can still be achieved, provided you know the right techniques and tips on writing the best resume. There are some simple tips you can use to make sure that your resume is exactly what you are looking for.One of the best tips on writing the best resume would be to make it easy for the target job seekers to read it. This can easily be done if you do not have a lot of white space on your resume. You may use bulleted lists and bullet points where you can. Even though this method can save you some time, it may not look so impressive.Another great tip on writing the best resume would be to make sure that you will be comfortable enough to go over it repeatedly before you send it out. Always keep in mind that your resume will serve as your first contact to the employer and when they see that you are not that keen on talking to them, then your chances of getting the job or interview are decreased. Even if you did not get a callback from the employer, you will not have the opportunity to put a great deal of effort into creating your resume and putting in all the effort that you can into this job application form. This will only make your resume look like a 'churn'.Another tip on writing the best resume would be to always use a bold font for your heading. A bold font is a good way to draw attention to your resume since most people will be able to see it easily and immediately. You should also add a little bit of color to it, because the color of your resume will reflect a lot on the candidate who is reading it.Another great tip on writing the best resume would be to always include at least one professional reference. Make sure that it is a professional reference that has been verified by the company in which you are applying. The person should be directly related to the company, in other words the same career path, or maybe he is one of their clients that the co mpany is supporting. This will prove that you are worthy of getting the job you want and the employer will be more likely to get back to you if you do not contact them initially.References that will be linked to the job that you are applying for should be listed at the very end of your resume. It is quite common for the applicant to leave out this part of the resume, so always include this point in your resume.One last tip on writing the best resume would be to give your cover letter and your resume to the exact same formatting. The same things should be written in your resume and in your cover letter. You should also give equal importance to both of these types of applications and once again, it does not matter whether you apply for a job you have just lost or for a job you have just landed.You can easily get these simple tips on writing the best resume if you take the time to learn them from someone who has done it before. This will help you achieve the best results possible.

Make It Your Business to Start Your Career Strong - CareerAlley

Make It Your Business to Start Your Career Strong - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Youre fresh out of college and chomping at the bit to get started on your career. Youre aware that the job market these days is highly competitive, but you feel confident that your education, personality, and determination will land you a job sure to make your mom and dad sit up and take notice. While a positive attitude such as this is sure to serve first-time job seekers well, its going to take more than positivity to snag the job of your dreams. For starters, you should craft a resume that is sufficiently compelling to capture the interest of prospective employers. Resumes Can Open Doors For job seekers of all ages, its difficult to overstate the importance of a winning resume coupled with a targeted cover letter in opening the door to job interviews and, hopefully, job offers. For those new to the job market, the resume takes on even greater importance. Employers have only so many minutes in the day and only a fraction of that time to devote to interviewing job candidates. With scores of job seekers to choose from, companies will opt for those whose resumes and cover letters strike just the right chord. How, then, do you write a resume likely to capture a prospective employers attention and sufficiently impress him to call you in for an interview? No Real On-the-Job History Assuming that youve just graduated from college, you probably have little in the way of practical on-the-job experience, apart from what you may have gained in summer jobs or internships. This necessarily rules out a resume that focuses primarily on past job experience. Basically what you have to offer is your knowledge of the subject matter and skills that are central to the companys line of business, whatever that might be. And perhaps even more important is your determination to make a positive contribution on the job wherever you might be hired. Whats Your Objective? Near the top of almost every traditional resume is a brief but vitally important section that is variously called Job objective, Career Goal, Target, or words to that effect. Because it is near the top of the resume, it is one of the first things a hiring manager will see. It is also an opportunity for you to engage a prospective employers interest and set yourself apart from all the other job seekers the employer is considering. If you give this all-important section of your resume short shrift, it will probably guarantee that hiring managers will accord your application similar treatment. Try to imbue your career or job objective with the passion you feel for the field of work involved and your determination to make a positive contribution to that field. If the job for which you are applying inspires no passion in you, its likely that this is not a field in which you should be working. Emphasize Knowledge, Skills Because your on-the-job experience is limited, your resume should focus on a summary of the knowledge and skills you can bring to the workplace. Be sure to list advanced courses on subject matter relevant to your job objective, as well as skills or experience you may have developed as a hobbyist in computers, social media, or other pursuits that are related to the job youre seeking. Unless youre still living in a cave somewhere, your basic resume, once drafted, probably resides in computer memory. For each and every job youre applying for, take the time to individualize not just your cover letter but the resume itself. If you highlight the experience, studies, internships, or other background that is most pertinent to each job opening, hiring managers are more likely to be favorably impressed and to call you in for an interview. About the Author: Jay Fremont is a freelance author who has written extensively about personal finance, corporate strategy, business education, and business career degree opportunities. This is a Guest post. If you would like to submit a guest post to CareerAlley, please follow these guest post guidelines. Good luck in your search. Joey Trebif

Top Jobs That Carry the Risk of Hearing Loss - CareerAlley

Top Jobs That Carry the Risk of Hearing Loss - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Ever worried about noise at work? The CDC reports that hearing loss is one of most common occupational health problem in the US, and some jobs are far worse than others. Regular exposure to loud noises above 85 decibels can increase your risk of hearing loss. Permanent loss can occur with 15 minutes or more of continuous exposure to noise above 100 decibels. Here is a guide to the top-risk jobs for hearing loss, along with advice and information to counteract the hazards. Farming and Manufacturing Far from the rosy ideal of tending cows and picking fruit far away from the din of the city, farming can be noisy business. Environmental factors are real: a pigs squeal reaches around 130 decibels! Abattoirs can be especially noisy when slaughtering large numbers of animals. Proper maintenance of machinery is essential to keep them at their regular noise level. Tractors and certain agricultural equipment can produce over 100 decibels. Manufacturing likewise involves large and noisy machinery reaching above 100 decibels, the risk of which is increased by tighter factory spaces and longer hours. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports hearing loss as being the most common work-related ailment in manufacturing. Construction and Trades Construction workers also face loud machines such as drills. Trades like carpentry can also, perhaps surprisingly to some people, involve equipment such as the power saw which reach above 110 dBs. If/when you cannot avoid the source of the noise altogether, wearing hearing protection, increasing your distance from the sound source and taking periodic breaks are helpful. Dont stay near noise when you dont have to and dont, tempting though it may be, attempt to drown out the noise with other noises as this will only increase the noise pollution. If you find work ear protection to be inadequate, consider your options by browsing online retailers like RS Components. Transportation Work We all know traffic can be a pain, and traffic workers have an especially hard time with it. Ambulance drivers and paramedics drive in vehicles with sirens which can reach up to 130 decibels. Ear plugs can be difficult for them to use, however, as they disrupt vital communication. Flight staff are exposed to up to 150 decibels during take-off which can rupture the eardrum without ear plugs. RPGs, Rallies and Rock n Roll Noise pollution is one of the many dangers of the military, as most firearms go up to 140 Db of noise, not to mention bombs and tanks. These can cause immediate and permanent damage and hearing loss is the most common injury for veterans. Certain sports also come with risks. Race car driving exposes participants to between 120-140 decibels from the car alone. Then theres the additional noise of the crowd and the danger of head injury. Live musical concerts are another high risk area for musicians and music journalists, exposing them to volumes above 110 decibels, especially for poorly regulated venues. If youre considering entering any of the above professions or are close to someone who is, be prepared and consider taking a hearing test. Zara Lambert works for a compensation company dealing with health problems caused from working environments. She writes about this growing problem in her articles. We are always eager to hear from our readers. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or suggestions regarding CareerAlley content. Good luck in your search,Joey Google+