Illegal Job Interview Questions in Israel One Employer Discusses Both Sides of The Story

Illegal Job Interview Questions in Israel One Employer Discusses Both Sides of The Story 3 One employer explains the dilemma of illegal job interview questions and how to respond when it happens to you. This is a guest post by Paula R. Stern. If you'd also like to guest post here on JobMob, follow these guest post guidelines. A Digital Eve Israel member asked: Is it legal in Israel for prospective employers or recruiters to ask, during the interview process: What is your birth date? Where were you born? Are you married? Do you have any children? The only question that might not be illegal of your list would be “where were you born?” That doesn't change anything. People ask. One of our students, a lovely, young, religious woman was asked, “Do you have a problem working with men?” As an older, more seasoned veteran of Israel, I would probably have turned around and said something sarcastic, she simply answered in the negative. My first job was given to me by an amazing woman who understood the tremendous value of hiring working mothers. Yes, you get less hours per day from them but what glorious hours those are! True story I have to admit, as an employer, that questions have crossed my mind and I've avoided asking them on a number of occasions â€" on one, I couldn't stop myself. A young mother who had 4 children under the age of four applied for a job as office manager, and I honestly hesitated. She seemed qualified but I really wanted to know if, in our small business, I was going to be spending 3 months a year without a vital position being filled. I asked. I knew it was wrong, but I asked… and she told me she was most definitely on a break (from having kids). I hired her. The unfortunate reality It's wrong â€" it's done all the time. So, the best thing is to anticipate it (the question) and handle it easily. You have several options â€" you can say anything like: “I do/don't plan” “I'm such and such an age” “I knew you'd ask that and while I have nothing to hide, I honestly don't see how that information impacts on this job.” The one answer I really think you should avoid is the one that says, “you know, in America…” My personal feeling is that whatever answer you give, there's an argument that makes you the best (or the worst) person for the job. That young woman wasn't hired by that company â€" they thought her too young and not someone who would make a serious commitment (of course, the funny part was that this was only for a temporary position anyway, so really, who cares) but we placed her at another company a month later. She's been there closing on two years, I believe â€" and the company feels honored to have her. She's taken over from the documentation manager who left; she's made her place and yes, she had a baby and negotiated to work 2 days a week at home. About the author Paula R. Stern is CEO of WritePoint Ltd., a leading technical writing company in Israel. Her website is: www.writepoint.com and you can reach her at paula@writepoint.com. She maintains a professional blog at www.writepoint.com/blog and a personal one at www.israelisoldiersmother.blogspot.com. If you like this article, you'll also enjoy Pregnant Job Hunting: When You Should and When You Shouldn’t.

Why Im a Fussy Old Fusspot Recruiter

Why Im a Fussy Old Fusspot Recruiter Now I am not saying I am fussy about everything anyone who has ever sat inside my car before it gets a valet will know that I don’t get too fussy about mess in there (with 2 kids and a dog, it’s hard to be!) however, when it comes to recruitment matters, I do get a rather fussy head on me. About what you ask? Well Poorly Written CVs: Although I don’t interview a CV (I believe I interview a person, not a piece of paper), it is indicative of someone’s general intelligence as to whether they can spell and use grammar correctly. For goodness sake, with spell and grammar check on every PC, what’s your excuse? Punctuality for Interviews: and I mean with ME as well as my clients. And when a client keeps a candidate waiting too, that is just as rude, in my opinion. The art of politeness is promptness and I start to get heart palpitations about this subject. Really just ask my husband  â€œWhat time do you call this?” (joking!) Commitment: If I feel that either party is just “window shopping” and has no real substance to it, I generally get very nervous and actually start getting very fussy about it. I actually cancel interviews (yes I really do) if I feel that either person is not going to progress, even if the other party is the best thing since sliced bread. It can happen a lot in r2r and it’s a matter I divide opinion on in fact, it’s a subject I recently debated on LinkedIn and I got a lot of support from other moral recruiters(read on) Appearance: I am quite relaxed about whether someone wears a full suit to meet me as sometimes I just wear a dress, however it is common courtesy to ask/tell me this first and I absolutely expect a candidate to be suited accordingly for any client facing meeting, even if they are told to be casual. Business casual that is, NOT flipflops! Conclusions: Are any of these points making me look like Mr Fussy or actually, are they proving another point? That I am actually a very discerning recruiter who has high moral fibre and is relied on for this by the clients who choose to use my service (and ultimately pay for that hidden part of the service)? I believe that by being exhaustively fussy in what I do as a recruiter, I impart that fussiness (is that even a word??) onto my clients and candidates. And is that such a bad thing? I am not suggesting for one minute that I send out mini Lysha clones into the market! Far from it although the recruitment world may be a happier, sunnier place for it? But is there any harm in me being overly fussy? Would you cancel an interview on a candidate’s behalf if you felt “they were going for the sake of it”? I debated this recently as I mentioned and I spoke to another R2R, Jo Grace at Ready2Recruit in Scotland. She agreed with me that it was essential to be “fussy” on a client’s behalf as ultimately that is what the clients NEED a R2R for. Is she the rarity, like me and my colleague Jo? I think so? So is the fussy factor a universal recruitment trait that is essential in our psyche to be a good judge of character on our clients’ behalf or is it just essential to R2R specifically? I don’t know the answer to this last part for sure, but I think it’s better than being Mr Couldn’tGive2hoots or Mr SlingMudAtTheWall.

Three Personality Based Gift Ideas for Your Man

Three Personality Based Gift Ideas for Your Man Christmas is fast approaching which means it’s time to think of what gift to buy for your loved ones. Let’s cut to the chase. What are you getting your man for Christmas? Thinking of what to get for your boyfriend / fiancé / husband, or any other male figure in your life can be a headache. When you buy a gift for girls, it can be as easy as finding something sentimental or pretty, but when looking for something for men it has to be something functional and practical.    Something that they will use and find helpful. Seeking out gifts for husbands  especially can be a challenge. Thats where guides can come in especially handy. My advice: appeal to his personality.   Here are some ideas for your man that can make it easier! The Career Man High range: A custom suit. You can now order one online without getting measurements taken in person in custom suit websites. To make sure you get a good fit, sneak into you man’s closet and find one of his best fitting suits and lay them on the bed. Take the measurement across the item of clothing and multiply by two. You can make a note to the tailor that these measurements were done on items of clothing instead of the actual person. Low- Mid Range: A suit accessory. Whether it is a cuff link, tie, or pocket square, the key thing to remember is to not go too far from his current style. Browse through his current suit accessories and get him one in a color that he doesn’t have yet. Don’t buy him something just because it is trendy. When it comes to men’s accessories, men are usually set on their own ways. Buy something that can show that you support his career ambitions, and admire his drive. You can say that this is a way of sending him off with good luck on his big meetings. The Fitness Fan A lot of men look at working out as a release from their busy daily lives. Giving him something to complement this aspect of his life shows that you support his “me-time”. High Range: Get him a fitness gadget. There are so many out there in the market now that can measure everything from heart rates to body fat percentage. Many men like to kick it old school when it comes to fitness, and tend to browse through items like this but dont bother buying them.   Whether it’s a smart watch, a top of the line pair of earphones, or a blender for their meal preps, I’m sure he will love you for it. Low-Mid range: His supplement supply. If he is the type to buy it as it runs out, he probably is doing his supplement run more regularly than he thinks. Get him a gift certificate from the place he buys it from or have them send him his supplements on a regular basis. The Artist High Range: A Camera. Any kind of artist would appreciate capturing the moment or his works. Whether he takes the photos himself or you eventually take it for him, he would appreciate having a digital version of his artistry. Low â€" Mid Range: A notebook. Find a notebook where he can write down his literature, lyrics, or memoir. Write a short note on the inside leaf to let him know you are with him through his artistic and spiritual journey. These are just some ideas for your Christmas gift hunting. Do you have any other ideas you want to share with other girls out there? Comment below or tweet us @mscareergirl before the season gets here!

Six Reasons to Learn How to Sew

Six Reasons to Learn How to Sew Sewing has made a real comeback in these recent years and it may even be more popular than ever. Both women and men practice it and even kids started showing a bit of interest in it. From occasional practitioners who consider it a hobby, to full fledged professionals who make a living from it, sewing captures the hearts of many. Obviously, it hasnt become like that by accident, there are reasons why sewing became so exquisite and loved. But what are those reasons? If you wanted to start sewing right now and you needed a motive to do so, what would it be? Well lets find out with these 6 reasons to learn how to sew. Its helpful and useful. Imagine this scenario. You have a really important date in an hour or so and youre about to put on your favorite dress when suddenly, you notice a tear on it. All your other clothes are in the washing machine, soaking wet, so you cant wear something else even if you wanted to. A real predicament, isnt it? Luckily, you know how to sew your own clothes so you put the dress in front of the sewing machine and you fix it in no time, without leaving any noticeable marks on it. You avoided any potential stress and you didnt have to go to a date naked. Job well done. What wouldve you done if you didnt know how to sew? It saves you money. If you decide to create your own outfits with the help of a sewing machine, youll be saving a real nice amount of cash. The money youd spend on three pairs of jeans or trousers would allow you to sew at least double that, if you bought the materials needed for them and created them by yourself. And if were talking about some more serious sewing projects like costumes or classy dresses, you would be saving even more money if you yourself made them. Of course, you would need to invest a bit of money into buying the sewing machine itself but it would pay off really soon. It can earn you money. Starting up your own home business that focuses on sewing can turn out to be surprisingly profitable. Small quick fixes and repairs would provide you with a smaller amount of cash but it would also require less time so if you up the pace a bit, you could supply a lot of customers with fast, reliable services, thus piling up a decent income. Or, if youre creative enough, persistent enough and unique enough, you might even hit it off extremely well and become a famous fashion designer. Who knows, anything is possible. It improves your physical and mental capabilities. Hand eye coordination, hand and finger dexterity, precision and calmness are just some of the positive side effects of sewing. Not to mention the fact that it teaches you about patience, persistence and ingenuity without you even noticing it. Tasks like embroidery or applique require these traits so they steadily but surely awake them in you. Sewing allows you to demonstrate your creativity and uniqueness. Its not uncommon to see two persons on the street wearing the same kind of shirt, skirt or any other type of apparel. Manufacturers and stores create and sell them in bulk after all so it shouldnt come as a surprise that this happens. Not when you sew your own clothes though, this cant happen at all. What you invent and make, is only yours and no one can imagine the exact same thing at the same time. Which means youll be unique wherever you go, whenever you go. This guest post was authored by Helen Spencer Helen Spencer is the editor of  Hello Sewing, a blog providing honest sewing tips and sewing machine advice. She loves all things DIY- crafts, drawing, decorating, making beautiful things out of scratch with her own hands and above all â€" she simply loves sewing! You can catch up with her on Twitter, Facebook or Pinterest.

Writing Resume Statement - Some Tips

Writing Resume Statement - Some TipsWriting a resume statement should be included in your job application. But before writing the statement, there are some tips on how to write a resume statement and how to incorporate these tips to create a perfect statement for yourself.Before writing a resume statement, you need to know about the purpose of the statement. The purpose of the statement is to bring attention of the potential employer to your resume. In other words, you want to create a momentum or attraction to the potential employer to take a look at your resume and determine whether or not he will be interested in hiring you. If the potential employer looks at your resume, he will be intrigued by it and decide whether he wants to hire you.A good resume statement is not only informative but also offers enough space for the employer to read all the relevant information of your job skills. Your resume statement must be able to reflect on your life experiences and objective skills so t hat your resume statement is read and judged by the prospective employer. However, it is not wise to include too much information in your resume statement because this will overwhelm the reader. Thus, your resume statement should be short and concise.Moreover, you must understand that a well-written resume statement plays an important role in the beginning stages of your job search. The employment database of your potential employer is constantly updated and thus, new information regarding you and your professional background are always available. You can use your resume statement to make yourself attractive to the prospective employer. But if you include too much information in your resume statement, the prospective employer will find it difficult to read the content. Thus, the content of your resume statement should be written in such a way that it will catch the eye of the employer.In order to write a resume statement, it is advisable to know the dos and don'ts of writing resumes . Do not use too many words and do not make redundant use of words when you are writing a resume statement. Instead, add some keywords in your resume statement which will make it more attractive and compelling to the reader.In writing a resume statement, you must include all the necessary information of your skills and qualifications that the employer is looking for in your resume. Such information will make it easier for the employer to read your resume statement and evaluate your potential.Besides writing a resume statement, you must also apply some techniques that will help you in making your resume statement memorable. You can use clipart in designing your resume statement. And if you have no money, you can take help from your friends or relatives to print some ornaments or images that can add charm to your resume statement.It is advisable to follow the tips mentioned above before writing a resume statement. This is because the statement is the first impression the potential emp loyer has of you, therefore, it must be the best one.

Motivation Monday Move Forward

Motivation Monday Move Forward Ah yes.   The beginning of the work week.   Dread it or love it, either way, it is here!   What are the three things you are going to do this week to move yourself forward towards a more rewarding and fulfilling experience? Stop relying on the job boards Job postings are not the fastest way into a new job.   They arent a guarantee for an interview.   They may not even be real.   In other words, the company posting it may be trolling the waters to see if they get anything or they may have already identified who they want to hire and have to go through the motions of posting the job.   Lets not forget, that when you submit your resume and cover letter, so will hundreds of other people.   Nice competition. Cast a Wider Net The best time to consider relocation or commuting for a new job was yesterday.   You want to have options.   Read this post Casting a Wide Net about how to expand the scope of your search.   While were talking about options, also consider taking a temp or contract job.   Some work experience is better than none, for the short term at least. No Excuses Quite honestly, when I hear someone has been out of work and looking really hard for over a year, I think damaged goods.   I know thats horrible.   But it is what I think.   It would be so much easier for me to hear that the person has been doing contract work, picking up odd jobs, volunteering- anything other than Ive been unemployed for over a year.   So wheres the motivation in this you ask?   Instead of making excuses for why you havent been able to find work, spin this into something positive.   Turn lemons into lemonade.   Make the most of this time.   Do something.

Why a Great Job Search Goal Will Get You Hired Faster

Why a Great Job Search Goal Will Get You Hired Faster Why a Great Job Search Goal Will Get You Hired Faster Developing  a  clear  job search goal  is a key step before you  begin hunting for your next career move.  It is important to know how to  create  a great job goal,  not just a good one. Many  job seekers out there are applying to  positions  without a clear  sense  as to what they want to do next.  Others  have  what they think is a  job  goal, but  it’s  poorly defined.     I recently  met  Pamela  who sent her  résumé  to  nine different job postings and got no results.  After  working  with her, I discovered she had applied to be a  project manager, a  sales representative, and a  business operations manager.  And,  while she  may be  qualified for all, she  didnt have a focus  or  a  compelling story about  any of them. The solution  to this  situation  is that  prior to applying to any  position  in the future,  you have  to develop your  job search goal.     Ineffective Job Search Goals     Sometimes it helps to know  what a  job search  goal  is  NOT.  Here are  real responses to the question: “What  type of position are you looking for?”   A challenging position where I can leverage my skills and where theres an opportunity for growth.   Something in the fashion business. I can do anything.  I know I don’t want to do retail.     Neither  of these are acceptable goals.  Let’s  break  them  down.     Saying you are looking for a  â€œchallenging position”  is  classic.  This  response  has  no specifics.  Who would ever ask for a non-challenging position?  When indicating that you want to “leverage my skills,”  you need to understandâ€"and this may come as a shockâ€"the job search process  isn’t  about you. Its about you fitting into an  employer’s  need.  Avoid the “l-word,” “leverage” altogether.   Where it  mentions  â€œopportunity for growth,”  realize that there is opportunity  in any company. You may  want  upward mobility  but  keep  those  desires  to yourself. You dont want to come across like youre going to take this job and ask for a promotion in six months.  The  opportunity for growth  is  what you make of the  position  after you  land  it.     Indicating that you are looking for  â€œsomething in the fashion business”  is too  broad. You can state an industry, but an industry is not a job. Focus more on the function of the department versus the industry.     One of the  worst  things you can say is,  â€œI can do anything.”  First, you can’t do  everything.  Second, it  sends  a signal of  â€œI dont know,”  or  â€œIm desperate.”  It shows you  may lack  focus and  could be a  high-risk hire.  Finally, no one wants to hear what you don’t want to do.     A  Great Job  Search  Goal Statement     Ok,  so how do you go about setting a  solid  job search goal? Here are two tricks to developing a great job goal statement:     Err on the very specific side. You can always edit it later.  It is much harder to take a ‘squishy’ goal and  try to get specific.   Read  your  stated  goal to friends and family  for  input. See if they understand it the first time without any explanation.     To create a great job search goal, you need  to  window shop  your industry  and narrow down your job goals.  Window shopping  means  learning what the market is looking for, learning the current terminology  and buzzwords,  identifying the top skills, and listing out key words and phrases. Narrow down your job search goals  by  scouring the internet for  possible functions, occupations and vocations. Look through job search websites (don’t apply, just read job descriptions).  Print out 10 jobs that interest you and circle keywords they have in common.  Read job descriptions in their entirety; identify the functions, occupations or tasks you could see yourself doing…every day.     Fill in the blanks  to craft your new job search goal:   I’m seeking a function position in the industry with a size corporation in city.     Now, let’s practice:       Question:    Pamela, what type of role are you looking for?   Pamela’s new answer:    Thank you for asking! I’m seeking a digital marketing manager position in the technology industry with a large company here in Chicago.       Question:    Wow, great, and can you give me some company names you are targeting?   Pamela:    Well, yes, company, company and company.   Do you know anyone at these companies who I may contact?       See where this is going?  The clearer  and  more  prepared you are to engage with your network, recruiters  and total strangers you meet on LinkedIn, the more engagement and results you will get. If you are actively searching today without a  job search  goal, STOP and go  do the goal-setting work.  You can do this!   Join Dana Manciagli’s  Job Search Master Class ®  now  and get the most comprehensive job search system available!