When moving to Israel, you will experience some job market differences that you need to anticipate when applying for your next position! Today’s thread is dedicated to your CV.

 

This is the first piece of information that the Human Resources department will receive from you, and it is in your best interest to make sure it meets recruiters’ criteria and keeps their attention.

Israeli companies aim to filter out weaker CVs, dedicating their limited time and resources to interviewing candidates that they believe have the potential to be a great fit for the role. With this in mind, how do you set yourself up for success in the Israeli job market?

 

Here are some tips and answers to questions that you may be asking:

 

Even though Israel is a Hebrew speaking country, this does not necessarily require a CV in Hebrew. When applying for any position, the language of your CV should reflect the language you wish to work in. Though very common, as English is considered to be a second language in Israel, writing your CV in English is a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate to an employer that your writing abilities are up to par. If you would like to apply for a Hebrew-speaking job, then a CV in Hebrew will come in handy because it is assumed that the recruiter or hiring manager will be communicating in this tongue.

 

When considering how to best format your CV, it helps to remind yourself of who is reading it and why. On average, a recruiter will spend six seconds initially looking over a CV in order to determine if the candidate is worth taking a closer look into. Knowing this, your CV should be limited to one page for the majority of your career. Working with limited amount of space helps narrow your focus to precisely what you would want the recruiter to know about you.

 

- Start with your personal information – your name, date of birth, nationality, address, and contact information. You will want to keep this part simple to leave adequate space for the heart of your CV.

 

- Once you have provided this, dedicate the next few lines to concisely explaining why you are seeking the specific position and why you believe that you are qualified. This is known as an objective, or bio.

 

- As with any other CV, the most relevant section is your work experience because it offers clarity around not just what you know but rather how you applied your knowledge. Your prior

experience is the most reliable indicator of whether you meet the requirements for the position as it speaks to what you have already accomplished.

 

- It is always a great idea to read the details of the job description to gage an understanding of the type of applicants the recruiters are hoping to hire. This will give you the opportunity to tailor your CV to the job you are applying for and include key words that will catch their eye. Many companies rely on software to initially scan CVs, so using terms from the posting when describing relevant

experience in your bullet points will increase the odds of your CV making its way to the top of the pile! Remember to list your professional experience in reverse chronological order.

 

- You should also be highlighting any skills you have! This is your time to shine, so do not be afraid to share everything that makes your application stand out. This includes language skills, technical skills, and certifications you may have earned outside of any formal education that you may have completed. Companies value candidates that are diverse and can speak a variety of languages because they are an asset to any team. When discussing technical skills, it is not necessary to put that you are knowledgeable in Microsoft Office applications, as this should be a given. However, if you have a background in JavaScript, C++, Pearl, etc. then those should be listed along with your proficiency in those skills.

 

- Honesty is always the best policy with regards to a CV; always indicate your true level of proficiency to set reasonable expectations for your potential employers.

 

- Many people opt to include their army service, as they think it is necessary to mention in an Israeli CV. Though it is not mandatory, army experience is a worthy acknowledgment and

could even be applicable to the nature of the role. Even though this is a monumental part of Israeli way of life, applicants are not at a disadvantage if they did not serve in the army.

 

- Before submitting your CV to companies, you should always have it checked over by friends or family members to make sure that it sounds coherent and that there are no grammatical errors or spelling mistakes. A fresh set of eyes can never hurt! This is especially important if you are applying for a job in English and it happens to not be your mother tongue. In that case, you should always try to have a native English speaker review your CV. With regard to grammar and spelling, these kinds of mistakes often indicate to the recruiter that you did not put effort into your CV and makes them question if that will carry over into your workperformance. If you have developed a professional network, consider sending your CV to at least one of your connections in your field to ensure that what you have included aligns with what is being asked of you.

 

To receive a template to help you format your CV to the Israeli job market feel free to PM us or send us an email to jobs@urbanrecruits.co.il and we will be happy to share one with you!

Happy job hunting!

 

Written by: Sophia Corst