IF YOU ARE ABROAD AND A PROSPECTIVE OLEH OR RETURNING ISRAELI...AND ARE INTERESTED IN SETTLING IN THE NORTH OR SOUTH OF THE COUNTRY… HERE IS A PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM OUR DIRECTOR.
If you are coming to Israel primarily for a job, we cannot help you. Israel is much more than a place to work. If you are positively motivated, seeking a challenge and a better way of life for yourself and your family and if obviously, you want to live in a Jewish State, you may very well make it here...a sense of humor helps! Assuming therefore that you have made a realistic decision for Aliya, we will do our best to assist you in finding suitable employment, once you are here.
NOTE THAT WE CAN ONLY BE HELPFUL TO THOSE CANDIDATES WHO HAVE OR WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR ISRAELI CITIZENSHIP.
There are certain realities to be faced in seeking a job in Israel:
- Be Flexible! Your first job may not be the ideal or ultimate one. A beginning position can be valuable in helping you adjust to a new, different work environment. In any event, employment expectations should be as close to your experience as possible - your value to a prospective employer is what you have done, not what you would like to do.
- Flexibility in geographic preferences is also important. We are a small country whose economy is subject to ongoing changes in labor demands. Once hi-tech positions were concentrated in the center of the country. Today, many of Israel's advanced firms are to be found in the periphery, which has the advantage of also offering good housing possibilities.
- Keep in mind that looking for a job is only relevant at a certain stage. There may be exceptions, but generally companies will not hire without a personal interview nor are they prepared to make a long range commitment.. If you contemplate a pre-aliya visit to explore employment opportunities, for practical reasons, this should be close to the time of your availability to start work.
- We are happy to "test the water" for you, but we cannot follow up any action which we have not initiated. Be careful not to impair prospective employment opportunities by "wholesaling" your resume. Circulate your resume selectively and in a timely manner to avoid closing any doors for the future. In any event, to avoid duplication of efforts, we will need to know what you have done and what has been done on your behalf. Remember that efforts made too far in advance of your planned aliya/return are difficult to follow up and keep alive.
- When considering a timetable for beginning work, take into account whether you will be attending an Ulpan, if available. It is true there are many positions in which you may begin with English only. Generally however, to progress on the job and also to facilitate social integration, we seriously recommend that you undertake basic Hebrew study at least for the first few months.
- Learning at an ulpan gives you a means of acquiring basic Hebrew and an opportunity to look for employment. If you are single and have not spent prior time in Israel, you might check the various programs that will give you a living and learning experience before you have made a job and location commitment. One that we highly recommend is WUJS.
- We suggest that you be flexible in regard to geographic preferences. To become a part of the Israeli community overall, you should view what the country has to offer from a different perspective. You may find that a geographic area away from the center, which didn't appeal to you prior to Aliya, may be more attractive once you are here. That's what happened to me!
We assume that for all general questions relating to Aliya per se, you will be in touch with your area Jewish Agency Representative. If you are still abroad contact Elaine Levitt. (elaine@kedumim.co.il) for general employment information.
Behatzlehah...(with success),
Elaine Levitt