Interview in Israel: What to Expect
Reading time: 6 minutes
Key points:
- Thorough preparation for the interview.
- Understanding cultural characteristics of Israel.
- Active participation in questions and answers.
- Post-interview communication.
- Using online resources for job search.
Interview preparation: research and documents
Cultural characteristics and interview stages
Questions you might be asked and questions you should ask
After the interview: next steps
Conclusion: your path to a new career
Cultural characteristics and interview stages
Questions you might be asked and questions you should ask
After the interview: next steps
Conclusion: your path to a new career
Interview preparation: research and documents
A successful interview begins long before meeting the recruiter. Thoroughly research the company: its history, corporate culture, latest news and products. Prepare questions that will show your interest. Gather the necessary package of documents: ID (teudat zehut), diplomas and their official translation, references from previous jobs. Don’t forget to print several copies of your resume. Current vacancies can be found in the Jobs section on our website, where all ads are available in a language you understand.
Cultural characteristics and interview stages
The Israeli job market is characterized by informal and direct communication. Be prepared for open questions, possibly of a personal nature – this is normal practice aimed at understanding your personality. The process may include several stages: phone interview, meeting with HR, technical interview with future manager and sometimes – meeting with the team. At each stage it’s important to be yourself, confidently talk about your skills and achievements, and also demonstrate motivation and willingness to learn new things.
Questions you might be asked and questions you should ask
Standard set of questions concerns your experience, strengths and weaknesses, reasons for leaving previous job and career goals. Think through clear and honest answers in advance. Your own activity is equally important. Feel free to ask about job content, expectations for the candidate in this position, opportunities for professional growth and corporate culture in the team. This demonstrates your seriousness and helps you understand if this job suits you.
After the interview: next steps
After the meeting, be sure to thank the interviewer for their time, for example by sending a brief email. You can mention key points of the conversation and reiterate your interest. Then be patient. The decision-making process can take from several days to several weeks. If you were given a response deadline and it has passed, it’s appropriate to politely remind them with one short message. While waiting for a response, continue monitoring new offers, including in the Services categories, where vacancies for freelancers and specialists are often published.
Conclusion: your path to a new career
An interview in Israel is not an exam, but a dialogue between two parties trying to understand if they suit each other. The key to success lies in thorough preparation, understanding local characteristics of business communication and confidence in your abilities. Remember that every stage you go through, even if it doesn’t end with a job offer, is invaluable experience and a step towards your goal. Use all available search tools, such as our classifieds website, where your resume or vacancy instantly becomes available to the widest audience thanks to automatic translation into Hebrew, English, Russian and Arabic. This is your chance to be heard by everyone.
Frequently asked questions
1. How to effectively prepare for an interview?
2. What are the main stages of an interview in Israel?
3. What can you ask the employer during the interview?
4. What to do after the interview?
2. What are the main stages of an interview in Israel?
3. What can you ask the employer during the interview?
4. What to do after the interview?