Tips and Advice for Olim
Tips / and lessons learned from nearly 16 years of work-life in Israel
#1 ) Always be positive in the interview. It sounds obvious, but sometimes it is harder than one thinks. Especially if the person who wants the position does not have a good track record here in Israel — i.e. has moved jobs a lot in a short period of time.
Have a reason. Keep it quick.
#2) Be on time. This sounds like a no-brainer, but it is essential to get off on the right foot. If the location is too far/too hard to get to by buses/ trains…. probably they will not hire you, and probably you will get frustrated with the commute
#3) The door will open ; the phone will ring during your interview. Just make sure it is not your phone. Just grin and bear it. All meetings get interrupted.
#4) You will not get the position you really want, and often will be in a role that is far beneath your actual skills/ qualifications or "what you" did in the Old country. Just deal with the fact you are an immigrant, and Israelis/ Russians will have an advantage over you.
#5) You absolutely must stay positive. No one wants a negative person in their company / on their team or to be managed. Yes, you will work with some very down / negative people — do not be one of them.
#6) You must get to a "high-level" of Hebrew!!! Yes this seems obvious, but far too many Olim fall into the overnight roles, working with the USA, and live in Anglo bubbles and their Hebrew suffers. Street Hebrew is NOT professional. You must push yourself to get to understand the radio/ TV / movie level – which is about Level Dalet / or higher for Adults. 5 months of ULPAN is NOT enough — even if you just happen to be a language savant., do not get stuck in your native language bubble.
#7) If you want to stay in Israel for more than 3 years. stop thinking as much as possible about life in the country you left. Do not follow the news from your hometown/ city / State. Just … focus on Israel, getting involved, going to meet-ups and working all the time on your Hebrew.
#8) At the job…. NEVER go around your manager (day to day manager) or his or her manager. No matter what you think, you must run "it" by your day-to-day manager first. This includes — PERSONAL things — such as questions about 101 form, questions about health insurance benefits, about any of the extra benefits.
Seems like that is HR?? In Israel, your day to day manager is YOUR FIRST line ….. if you go to HR first, they will say something to your manager and you will get in trouble.
#8A ) NEVER EVER ask ANYONE "what does HR do" — this is forbidden to discuss. Just trust me.
9) Never discuss your actual position with ANYONE in any negative way (or really at all). ANY negative words will find their way to your manager. Simply put — do not trust ANYONE.
if someone says "what do you do" … just answer FRIENDLY and POSITIVE
10) Any idea you might have that can / could improve the efficiency of the company ….. Absolutely do NOT try to find out who / what team is working on that. Ask your manager
11) Before sending anything on Teams, or an email — make sure you write a draft and show it to your manager. Most likely she or he will say "why are you sending this?"
You are supposed to run EVERYTHING by your manager first. Do not mess this up
12) The Gibushiim // Yom Kefs, and "Volunteering"
The only advice I will give is — GO TO THEM. DO NOT MISS "yom keff" or the gibushiim of anything your company does —- unless you are very sick / dead
yes, they claim "you can go if you want" and they make them sound optional— these "events" ARE NOT OPTIONAL. Just go, show your face, make the rounds to say "hi" (ESPECIALLY to "HR", and your manager!
Regards
Daniel