Finding work in Israel
Israel has a strong economy, offering high standards of living as well as enticing professional opportunities, especially in the technology sphere. However, those hoping to find a job in Israel had better study Hebrew, if only cursorily: although many Israelis have a good command of English, the work life is essentially led in Hebrew.
The Israeli economy
Israel has a strong economy driven by several powerhouses.
The country's main driver of growth are science-based industries with advanced technology content (software, electronics, telecommunications systems, advanced computing, bio-tech, etc.).
The chemicals and medical equipment industries are also thriving, as the country's mining industry utilises such raw materials such as potassium nitrate to produce chemical fertilisers, detergents, drugs and other commodities.
Tourism is another key income earner, as the country's cultural and historical wealth along with its numerous entertainment resorts attract countless visitors.
As a result, there are interesting professional opportunities for candidates with relevant academic backgrounds and experience. This is more so the case if they also exhibit good language skills.
Labour market and conditions in Israel
The unemployment rate stands slightly below 5%, and the most sought-after professionals are currently engineers and scientists, financial marketing experts, mobile developers, data analysts and big data managers.
Generally speaking, the demand is always high for hi-tech specialists, medical professionals and chemists. Unskilled staff, like waiters and kitchen aids, cleaners and security guards, are also in demand.
As of late 2016, the minimum full-time monthly wage is NIS 4,825, while the average monthly wage is NIS 9,904. The standard work week runs from Sunday through to Thursday.
Important:
All foreign nationals need a work visa for Israel in order to work there.
Job-hunting in Israel
You should first of all make sure that you meet the relevant conditions to work in Israel. Check beforehand whether there are licensing requirements for your trade; if yes, procure notarised translations of all relevant documents supporting your qualifications and experience in your profession.
Networking is common practice in Israel, and you shouldn't hesitate to contact people you know who are working in your field to ask for advice and recommendations.
You should also prepare a resume and a cover letter in Hebrew as well as in English. Consider getting a free CV review at TopCV. All in all, a command of Hebrew, if only elementary, is a game changer when it comes to working is Israel. Not only will it highly facilitate your job hunting (as most Israeli recruiters do expect a working knowledge of Hebrew) but it will also make it easier to obtain a work permit from the Ministry of the Interior.
There are still a few jobs in English only, particularly in the fields of tourism or import-export.
Newspapers Maariv and Tediot publish job offers on Fridays, which is particularly useful to candidates looking for a job in the information technology sector. The website of the Jewish Agency also lists companies operating in the tech sector.
The website of the the Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce can also provide useful information about specific opportunities arising for nationals of your home country.
Useful links:
Workers rights (in Hebrew)
Jewish agency
Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce
