Advice for creating a CV/Resume
Important Tips for Job Seekers in Israel
Shalom new Olim! Now that you have made aliyah, it’s time to begin the process of looking for your first job in Israel. Unfortunately, for many Olim, job searching can be a tough and sometimes painful experience. A lack of Hebrew language skills and business contacts limits the available career options. Furthermore, for many older Olim, your previous experience sadly may not be as highly valued here. So, we encourage you to enter your job search with an open mind. Think about all the amazing skills you possess and brainstorm career possibilities that would allow you to use those skills.
Follow our tips and resumé advice below to help you in your search for a job in Israel.
1. You must have some type of social media presence either on Linkedin or another platform where employees can see your work. Post a nice, friendly, warm picture in your profile that shows people who you are. There are tons of job postings on Facebook as well- scroll, look, and apply!
2. Think before you post! Many companies will look at your social media. If you have extreme political posts, posts cursing at people, picking fights, or any sort of inappropriate content, that is not a good look and it will not make a good impression.
3. Network with people. Schmooze, and you never know; especially in this small country where somehow we are all connected.
How to Build a Strong Resumé
In Israel, resumés should be short and to the point while showing yourself in the best light possible. This is your time to brag! However, do not lie about any of your skills or past experiences. The average resume is looked at for 3-5 seconds, so make yourself stand out!
Sample Resumé:
Resumé Tips
- Your resumé should proceed in the following order from top to bottom: Name and contact information, work history, awards, certifications, education, languages, and skills
- Show results; add statistics when possible to show tangibly what you did to improve the company that you worked for
- Begin with action words like organized, created, utilized, produced, executed, oversaw, planned, etc.
- Make sure your resume is only one page in length
- List your experiences in chronological order with more recent jobs at the top of the page. Do not go back more than ten years for any experience
- Do not include any images, including of yourself, on your resumé
- If applicable, add when you moved to Israel, if you took Ulpan, and your experience in the IDF
- Make sure there are no holes in your resume between dates
Once you have completed all these steps, we are happy to help review your resumé. You can send a copy to liamilawrence@yahoo.com