Post 2 of 2 today...
I'm writing a short humor piece about looking for a job in Israel. Is the process different from in the States or other countries? Job descriptions, interviews, customs, etiquette? Send me any observations or funny stories and we'll see what happens.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Do People Lie on Their Resumes Here Too?
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9 comments:
Is this because I sent you my resume to review?
Was I supposed to review that? I picked up a dead jook with it.
OH THOSE CRAZY JUKIM!!!
Rumor has it that you have to know someone at the place you're applying to here for 90% of jobs... as opposed to the fact that out of all the jobs I've had in the States, only one did I know anyone at the place before I applied. Here, I've had Israelis look at me funny when I mention job applications, they ask me who I know at the place, I look at them curiously and say no one, and they just can't imagine that I would be able to get the job. It might be changing a little, but applying to a company full of strangers? Normal thing in the US. In Israel? Good luck.
I don't have a work visa though, so I can't talk from experience. Just what I've heard from others.
When resumes came in to the place I worked in Israel, my boss (the owner) and I would break out the coffee and cake and settle down for some laughs. It's proper form to include your marital status and number of kids on your resume. HELLO DISCRIMINATION SUIT! Also, the typical Israeli has, like, zero sense of decorum, and they generally include their hobbies, leisure activities, and other miscellany. Now, I've been stateside for like 8 years, so maybe they've gotten better, but I doubt it. I would NEVER let my Israeli husband write his own resume. EVER. Seriously, ask some genuine Israelis to show you their resumes, and be sure not to be drinking while you read.
Since I've never applied for a job in Israel, I can't really help you out, but I must say that knowing someone at the company is VERY helpful in securing a good job in the US too - that's how one finds out about job openings before they are posted to the public at large, not to mention vitamin P, which is not purely an Israeli phenomenon...
Knowing someone definitely helps. Knowing someone can also be defined as the son of the brother of the girl who used to date your uncle's cousin.
It's called חבר מביא לבר - a friend brings a friend. It's big here because if you are a person that does a good job at work and they trust, they assume you will only bring recommend someone good.
I meant to say חבר מביא חבר.
Clearly no one hired any of MY friends.
I agree with everyone about the whole 'combinot' thing. Israeli's love to say 'oh, I have a friend who...'
Also, Israeli's have no problems with asking personal info. As a non-Jewish lady living here in Israel, people see no reason why not to ask if I'm jewish (or at least in the round-a-about way of 'so what brings you to Israel..?').
One time, after admitting to being a goya and being in Israel because of my Israeli boyfriend the interviewer asked me if my boufriend was an ashkanazi or sephardi. Like, why is that relevant?
And interviewers don't care to ask about what my parents do for a living, and where did I grow up.
When I had a short "how to interview in the US" workshop last year (was given to Israelis by an American lawyer), he put out a list of questions on the list, and asked which ones are illegal or just non-polite to ask:
1. Where were you born?
2. How old are you?
3. What languages do you speak?
4. Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend/are you married.
And some others.
Needless to say the entire list was inappropriate.
Needless to say as well, this is the exact list you use in an interview in Israel.
And yes, people like on CVs here as well. They are just not aware you always (and I mean always) know someone who knows them directly, and you will call him/her to ask.
- Ron
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