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Finding a Job in Israel: Tips for English Speakers

The fact is that job interviews (especially for an oleh hadash) in Israel can be intimidating if there is a language barrier. The fear of misunderstanding questions might make your interview process seem like a real and serious challenge.

However, with the right approach and mindset, you can increase your chance of success. That said, letโ€™s go over some practical tips to help you handle your job interview in Israel โ€“ย  even if you donโ€™t speak Hebrew.

Firstly, Prepare Beforehand!

  • Do your research on the company โ€“ Learn about the company products, mission, values, and culture.
  • Perform your research on the interviewer โ€“ Check their LinkedIn, and learn about what they actually do for a living to become relatable.
  • Practice common interview questions โ€“ This will boost your confidence and help you express your thoughts.

Secondly, Use Simple and Clear Language During The Interview

  • Remember that interviewers are not expecting perfection in your language skills โ€“ They are more interested in your ability to convey your thoughts clearly and effectively.
  • Speak slowly and clearly โ€“ Avoid using complex vocabulary or expressions that may lead to confusion.
  • Break down complex ideas into small, modest, short sentences โ€“ This will make it easier the interviewer to understand you.

Thirdly, Demonstrate Active Listening Techniques

  • Smile and nod alot โ€“ When done appropriately will show that you are engaged and receptive.
  • If youโ€™re uncertain about something, donโ€™t hesitate to say so โ€“ Trust me, itโ€™s much (2x much) better to seek clarification than to provide an inaccurate response
  • Your non-verbal cues are just as important as your words โ€“ Maintain eye contact, and use confident (yet modest) body language.

Fourthly, Stay Positive and Optimisticโ€ฆ Please!

  • Be persistent โ€“ You might not find a job after one or two or three interviewsโ€ฆ but donโ€™t give up!
  • Confidence goes a long (2x long) way in interviews โ€“ Believe in your skills and stay positive.
  • Know that you have unique talents and abilities to offer โ€“ Your language skills do not define you as a person.

Fifthly, Practice + Practice + Practice

  • Engage in mock interviews with friends, or a professional โ€“ This will help you become comfortable and receive valuable pointers.

You see, I still remember the day I arrived in Israelโ€ฆ

I had NO JOB, NO FRIENDS, and NO MONEY.

And it took me years of living in Israel before I found a decent-paying job at a tech company.

I dont want this for you.

Anyways, I was working for this company, and was promoted to a leadership / management position when I had a powerful self-realization:

I looked back into my past and understood that I was always asked to be a leader + trainer + teacherโ€ฆ and I absolutely loved doing it!

And I understood:

The purpose of my lifeโ€ฆ is helping other people get what they want from their life.ย 

So, with my 15+ years of experience in the field of management, leadership, sales, and customer service I decided to open a consulting company.

I want to to help people get where they want to go.

I never thought that I would open my ownย businessย in Israelโ€ฆ but I did!

Then, I began to use all of my spare time before work and after work creating trainingย materials, and trying to acquire clients.

In addition, I was sending emails and cold calling companies inย Tel Aviv, Herzliya,ย Ramat Gan,ย Jerusalem, Bat Yam, and Holon.

Basically, I was reaching out across the whole country of Israel in my efforts.

Great news โ€“ I was able to find my first few clients!ย 

Something Iย immediatelyย noticed was at the conclusion of my sales training workshops, two things would happen consistently happen:ย 

Firstly, I would receive feedback that my sales training workshops were providingย massive value for the sales team.

Secondly, one or two of theย studentsย in the courses would privately approach me.

These students would speak with me about their struggles not only in sales, but also in their private lives.

Then one time, a female student offered to pay me for aย one-on-one session outside of the office.

She asked me to help her learn how toย communicateย more effectively, and to help her figure out a better career path.

Another student, approached me and offered to pay me for my time to help prepare him for aย jobย interview.

Similarly, another student from another workshop, at anotherย company, asked me to help them build their self-confidence.

And this would happen again and again and againโ€ฆ

Each of these wonderful people I began to work one-on-one with, ย had their ownย unique challenge, and asked me for help.

Each time we developed a plan, strategized, and executed.

These first clients would call me their โ€œLife Coachโ€ or โ€œCareer Counselorโ€œ, and I am proud to say that I was able to help them.

At the conclusion of our one-on-one sessions, they each had taken took massiveย steps forward towards the results they wanted!

Eventually, enough people called me their Career Counselorย orย Life Coachย that I began to call myself a โ€œCareer Counselorโ€ and โ€Life Coachโ€.

Most people set out to become a trained and certifiedย life coachย (ืงื•ืืฆโ€™ืจย ,ย ืื™ืžื•ืŸ ืื™ืฉื™) orย career counselor before ever having a clientโ€ฆ that is not my story.

This interesting and fulfilling profession came to me!

And that is the (very) short story of how I began life coachingย (ืชืœ ืื‘ื™ื‘ ืงื•ืืฆโ€™ื™ื ื’ ืœื—ื™ื™ื) andย career counseling in Tel Aviv, Israel all those years ago.

And after all these years, Iโ€™m happy to say I have helped hundreds and hundreds of people from around the world achieve their goals!

Letโ€™s schedule a time for us to speakโ€ฆ

And here is a list of articles (below) that will definitely help you if you are planning to move to Israel!

Here is a list of articles (below) about what it is actually, really like living in Israel!

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