Nefesh BNefesh

A special thanks to Chuck Katz for participating in this interview.

Please provide us with a brief description of your field.
I am a technician in appliance repair. My job entails fixing all major household appliances, such as refrigerators and ovens. I specialize in American equipment, but I can also repair Israeli and European appliances.

What is your current position?
I am self-employed, and run a one-man appliance repair service in the Gush Etzion area. I work mostly with American customers.

How did you decide to start your own appliance repair service?
When I made Aliyah, I knew I had to find a field where I wasn't going to be limited by not knowing Hebrew because I'm terrible with languages. I also wanted to find something that didn't have a huge start-up cost, and something that I could learn quickly. I worked at first in a company to learn the basics and then started my own service so that I could work on my own terms.

What is employment like in your field?
I would say that probably about half of the people in my field are self-employed. Another option is to work in bigger companies like Crystal, Kaidar or Amcor, which hire their own technicians. You could also work in an independent shop that hires a fleet of technicians. They mostly work with Israeli products.

What experience do you need to get into your field?
You should have as much experience in appliance and refrigeration as possible in order to be successful, and it's also helpful to have an electrical background. You need Hebrew if you're going to work for a company. Even though you may have experience in America, you also need to get some experience in Israel before you begin working on your own, so you can become aware of the different areas in the field and learn how things are done. There are differences between working in Israel and working in America, but any experience gained in America will still be beneficial in Israel.  

What degree should someone making Aliyah come with, in order to break into your field?
Any certification you can get before you make Aliyah is helpful. There are some technical vocational schools here but they're all in Hebrew, and there aren't any in the Jerusalem area. It's also a great asset to have an American background, because Anglos here feel more comfortable working with someone with an American background and training. I've found that customers really appreciate my American-style, high level of service.

Is there any kind of license or certification you need, to work in appliance repair in Israel?
If you're going to work in gas or the electrical field, you need to be certified here.

How important is Hebrew in your field?
I don't speak Hebrew well, but, since I work mainly with English-speaking customers, I haven't found my lack of Hebrew to be a problem. However, speaking Hebrew definitely opens up more opportunities.

What are the benefits of your job?
I love working for myself and having the freedom of being self-employed. Some people have the personality for it, and some people prefer working for a company, having set hours, and getting a guaranteed pay. Personally, I like having my own hours, and I can organize my own lifestyle.

What is the salary range?
The salary can really vary depending on where you work and how much experience you have. I would advise Olim to not worry about how much their first job pays, because it will only get higher. The salary may start out relatively low but it will increase with time. Generally speaking, those who are self-employed will earn a higher salary than those who work for a company.

What are the upcoming areas of specialty you would recommend?
There are a lot of new products that are coming out now and gaining experience with those will give you a “leg up” over competitors.

Do you have any other advice for Olim?
I think that being an Oleh and having American training really gives you an advantage over Israelis in the same field, and I would recommend that new Olim consider focusing on Anglo customers.

How do you feel about working and living here in Israel?
I love it!