Nefesh BNefesh

See Also: Interview with a PR consultant

Coming to Israel with a strong background in English-language business writing has definite advantages for American and Canadian Olim, since as a writer you can continue to work professionally in your native tongue. Though Hebrew skills expand your opportunities by allowing you to interact with clients and participate in staff meetings, as a professional writer you will primarily be viewed as an English-language expert.

There is a lot of flexibility in the public relations and marketing writing job market. Opportunities can be found in the business sector as well as the non-profit sector. Writers can work full time in salaried positions, or can work with a variety of clients in a freelance capacity.

For a comprehensive overview of the field of marketing communications, please see the article Challenges of the Marcom Profession on the Job Search in Israel blog.

Employment Locations
While professional opportunities for writers can be found all over the country, most of the English-language opportunities are found in the central regions of the country. Non-profit jobs (and writing projects) are primarily located in Jerusalem, while business sector opportunities are primarily located in the hi-tech hubs of the greater Tel Aviv and HaSharon regions.

For those of you headed for communities farther from the center, businesses all over Israel need writers for English-language marketing collateral, Web sites, and other promotional materials. In addition, you might want to consider working on a freelance basis from home -- an arrangement which is convenient from any location.

Online Resources for Job Seekers

There are several professional email lists that may be helpful in your job hunt:

• CIWI is an email list for English speaking writers in Israel. To subscribe, email ciwi-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
• Techshoret is an email list for technical writers that also mentions, on occasion, projects and positions suitable for other types of writers. You can subscribe to the list or check out their archives by going to: http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/techshoret/
• Digital Eve is an email list run for and by business women. Job opportunities are frequently advertised, and the jobs are open equally to men as well as to women. To subscribe to Digital Eve send an email to:
  digitaleveisrael-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
• IsraEmploy is the largest email list for daily postings about job opportunities in Israel, specifically, for jobs not requiring Hebrew. To subscribe from this group, see www.israemploy.net.
• Marketing and Sales Jobs in Israel: http://www.iyazam.com/marketing-sales-jobs-israel.html

Additional Resources

• Employment agencies may also have information about positions that are not publicly advertised. For a partial listing of recommended agencies, see Headhunters.
• In the nonprofit sector, you can find a full listing of non-profit organizations in Israel online at www.givingwisely.org.il, the Internet directory of Israeli nonprofit and philanthropic organizations.
   
• The best, and most common, way to find a job in Israel is by word of mouth. Develop networking contacts with other writers and PR professionals who can give you information about freelance opportunities and open positions. If you need assistance in establishing a network of professional contacts, be in touch with the employment department at employment@nbn.org.il.

• Since writing is a profession that lends itself to telecommuting, check if your former employer or other professional contacts abroad, are interested in outsourcing projects and sending them to you in Israel.

Internet Marketing

Internet marketing is a growing and lucrative niche in the Israeli business world. A good Internet marketer with an English-speaking background has strong potential in the job market. Companies with a wide spectrum of products need English-speaking writers who have the ability to understand how the consumer thinks. Individuals who are able to listen and interpret consumer use of the Internet, for business marketing purposes, is valuable.

After successfully integrating themselves into the field, Internet marketers frequently start their own businesses. Some build careers using SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and PPC (Pay-Per-Click) technologies. SEO entails tailoring the marketing needs of a product and ensuring its visibility online. PPC refers to contracts made between manufactures and distributors, which outline financial partnerships based on the number of consumer views of a site.

Another career direction is affiliating marketing, a business practice involving "rewards" for bringing in business. An Internet marketer might also create and maintain product blogs for companies, on a freelance basis.

If you’re looking for a job in Internet marketing, an online search yields the names of local companies. In Hebrew, search for the terms: שיווק מקוון, שיווק אינטרנטי, שיווק באינטרנט

Resources for Internet Marketing

• http://www.agent.co.il/pub/שיווק-במנועי-חיפוש/445001/אתרים-מומלצים-בנושאי-קידום-אתרים,-שיווק-באינטרנט,-פרסום-במנועי-חיפוש   (Hebrew)
• Weebly.com
• http://marketing.about.com/od/internetmarketingstrategy/Internet_Marketing_Strategy.htm
• http://www.internet-marketing.co.il/ (Hebrew)
• http://www.israelnewsagency.com/internetmarketing.html (English)
• http://www.inter-dev.co.il/en/ (English)
• www.seoisrael.co.il/שיווק _באינטרנט (Hebrew)
• http://tens.co.il/
• http://www.clicktale.com/jobs.aspx
• http://mediaboost.com/careers.aspx
• Leadel.net (Jewish student professional social networking group)
• http://www.commtouch.com/contact-us
• http://www.fusionmedia.com/
• http://21ventures.net/pages/contact.asp
• www.webuildit.co.il
• http://www.rankabove.com/
• http://5blocks.com/ 
• http://illuminea.com

Other Related Fields

Several related fields offer opportunities for professional writers that you might want to consider:

• Grant writing: Courses are regularly offered in the Jerusalem area that will sharpen your skills in this area. For more information about grant writing see Nonprofits.

• Translation: If you have strong Hebrew skills, you may enjoy translating materials from Hebrew into English. For more information about the Israeli translators’ community see www.ITA.org.il. For information about translation projects, subscribe to the Israeli translators’ email list:

• Technical writing: Technical writing courses teach you the writing style of technical communications and train you how to use various software packages. The courses are reasonably costly and time consuming, and competition for entry-level technical writing positions is steep, therefore it is recommended that you only consider a course that offers to help place you in a position after completing training. For information about the Israeli technical writers’ community see Technical Communication.
• Journalism: Unless you are comfortable writing in Hebrew for local newspapers and magazines, the best opportunities in journalism involve writing for publications abroad. Limited English-language opportunities do exist in Israel, but these opportunities are few and fiercely competitive. Experienced journalists might seek work as a foreign correspondent for an American paper, or freelance for American and British publications. However, it is difficult to support yourself solely on journalism; and especially if you are a new oleh, you should plan to seek some other form of income to supplement your writing until you create a niche for yourself in media work. If you are interested in breaking into the field of freelance journalism, see www.mediabistro.com for advice, coursework and job opportunities.

Interview with Glenn Jasper, PR Consultant

A special thank you to Glenn Jasper, Managing Director of Ruder Finn’s Israel Office, for participating in this interview. If you have further questions, please be in touch with Glenn at glenn@ruderfinn.co.il.

Please provide a description of your field.
Public Relations can be defined as the practice of managing the flow of information between an organization and its publics.

Ruder Finn is a global public relations and marketing firm.  The Israel office is focused on helping Israel-based companies and organizations communicate about themselves to the world.

What is your current position?
As the Managing Director, I am responsible for running Ruder Finn's Israel office.

How did you find your job?
Nefesh B'Nefesh connected me with Charley Levine, who was running Ruder Finn at the time (2004).  He offered me a job on my NBN flight (Dec. '04)!

What degree should someone making Aliyah come with, in order to break into your field?
Several degrees lend themselves well to this field, including business, marketing, communications, journalism and psychology.

Does it make any difference whether you studied in Israel or abroad?
No.

What experience do you need in order to get into your field?
In general, you just need to have a good attitude, a willingness to work hard and a desire to learn every day.  At the higher levels, journalism and/or practical business experience are beneficial.

Do you need Hebrew to work in your field in Israel?
At the entry level it is not crucial, but it will certainly be to the applicant's benefit to know Hebrew.  One who is truly fluent in both English and Hebrew will be a hot commodity.

What are the benefits of working in your field in Israel?
For one, Israeli companies and organizations are not generally savvy about marketing and PR, so the industry is certainly in need.  In the context of the larger economy, the pay is solid, especially as one climbs the ladder.  The subject matter is diverse, as all entities need help with communications.  One day you are focusing on solar energy and the next, you are helping a company that makes cell phones; the following day, you could be doing PR for a food manufacturer, and so on.

What is the salary range in your field in Israel?
The salaries range widely.  Entry level is NIS 5,000 – NIS 7,000 per month.  Potential earnings can be as high as NIS 40,000-50,000 per month.

Who are the major employers in your field?
There are many Israel-based PR firms (literally dozens).  Also, many Israeli companies have in-house communications teams.

Are there any upcoming areas of specialty in your field that you recommend?
Social media marketing and Internet PR, in general, are important today.

Is there a professional organization in your field?
The most well-known professional organization in the PR world is the US-based PRSA.  The organization's website is: www.prsa.org

What recommendations can you offer the oleh looking to work in this field?
Walk in the first day with a willingness to do anything to help your client and a lack of shyness about calling a reporter with a story idea, and you will excel.

Do you have any advice for students interested in this field?
Take journalism courses.  There is no skill more important in this industry than journalistic writing.

How do you feel about working and living here in Israel?
Working in Israel is sometimes frustrating because Israelis really are not yet sophisticated about PR, but at the same time, I feel like I am making a difference. From a personal perspective, Israel is the best place in the world for a Jewish person to live!

Interview with Mayer Reich, NBN Oleh and Internet Marketing Consultant

The following interview offers insight into job opportunities in the field of Internet marketing. A special thank you to Internet marketing consultant Mayer Reich for participating in this interview.

Please provide us with a brief description of your work.
I have a company called Rank Above. We focus on search engine optimization. We are based in Israel, but most of our clients are from the US and UK.
 
How did you find your job?
When I first made Aliyah, I worked as a sales manager in a US-based company from Israel. The job taught me a lot about Internet marketing. I decided to partner with another Oleh and start a new Internet marketing company. At a certain point, I sold my shares in this original company and started a second company (Rank Above). The company has grown and we now employ many Olim.

What experience do you need to get into your field?
It depends on the type of position you want. For an entry-level position, you need very little experience; you need to be Internet proficient and have some experience with marketing. However, the more experience that you have working in the field, the better, and if you have experience working for big name companies abroad, it will make you more marketable in the Israeli job market.

Do you need Hebrew to work in your field in Israel?
You need basic Hebrew in order to start and run any successful business in Israel. However, it is not necessary to be fluent.
 
What degree should someone making Aliyah come with, in order to break into your field?
There is no minimum degree. Schools now offer Internet marketing majors, which are helpful; but in this field, experience is the most important factor. Companies in Israel are looking for employees who have prior experience from an internship or a previous job. It is also good to come with writing skills, a technical background, or marketing experience (if you want to work in marketing).

Does it make any difference whether you studied in Israel or abroad?
Both are good. One advantage to studying in Israel is that you will be able to create a network here, which helps you later on.

What are the benefits of working in Internet marketing?
There are always job opportunities in this field, and the pay is usually decent.

What is the salary range?
There is a huge range that depends on your position and who you’re working for; salaries can range from 6,000-50,000 NIS per month. If you work for an American company from Israel, you are likely to earn a few thousand dollars per month.

Is there a professional organization in your field?
We are bringing the Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization (SEMPO) to Israel (www.sempo.org). The organization is a network that provides courses, updates on the industry, and research reports.

What recommendations can you offer Olim interested in working in this field?
For prospective Oim, it is best to get a job in the field before you come. If you come with experience, you will be much more marketable. In addition, networking is key.

Any advice for students interested in going into your field?
Intern in the field, to see if it’s a good fit for you.

 How do you feel about working and living here in Israel?
 I love it! I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

Other advice?
Internet marketing is great because it’s a completely virtual field. This allows you to telecommmute -- to work for companies that are based abroad, while you are physically sitting in Israel.

Also, there are a lot of networking events for the industry, both here and abroad. It is crucial to attend them to make yourself known. Israeli companies see new Olim as a chance to bring in more business. If you are interested in sales and business development, being an Oleh can work in your favor.

If you have any further questions, you can reach Mayer at mayer@rankabove.com.

Interview with David Waldman, Internet Marketing Consultant

Thank you to Internet marketing consultant David Waldman for participating in this interview.

Please provide us with a brief description of your work.
I am an Internet marketing consultant at WebSearchMaven.com. I help companies market their products over the Internet by improving their Websites’ presence through social media and helping them with search engine optimization.
 
How did you find your job?
I was always interested in the Internet. I started a company to repair damaged photos over the Internet. Since then, I have done a lot of Internet marketing work for a number of companies all over the world.

What experience do you need to get into your field?
Experience is key in this field. If you are in America, you can get hands on training through an internship. Israel does not have the internship structure that America has, but there are other ways to gain experience. You could work for a company at an entry-level position for little pay to gain some experience for your resume. There are also companies that hire English-speaking employees with minor Internet skills and teach them the ropes. If you know enough, you can start your own business over the Internet.

Do you need Hebrew to work in your field in Israel?
It helps to know Hebrew when you’re working with Israelis, but it is not a crucial factor unless you’re working on an Israeli website.
Someone who knows a little Hebrew, a lot of English and a lot of Internet will do just fine.

What degree should someone making Aliyah come with, in order to break into your field?
Coming with a college degree is a good idea, but companies are really looking at what you know and what you can do. Experience and knowledge are the determining factors for hiring.

Does it make any difference whether you studied in Israel or abroad?
From a business point of view, an American degree is better.

What are the benefits of working in this field?

1. When you run your own business, you can work from home and make your own hours.
2. It can be a lucrative field -- if you do it right.
3. Theoretically, you can be your own boss.
4. It is also easy to work for American companies while physically sitting in Israel.

What is the salary range?
It depends on your employer. On the lower end, people earn around 6,000 NIS per month. In the top tiers, salaries generally range from 13-15,000 NIS per month. If you work for an American company, you can earn more.
 
What are the upcoming areas of specialty you would recommend?
Social media is the future of the Internet. In general, it is always good to keep yourself apprised of what is going on in the field. Things are constantly changing. There is always more to learn.

What recommendations can you offer Olim looking to work in this field?
It is important to pick the right company to work for, a company that’s on the “up and up.” There are a lot of slimy companies in this field - it’s best to stay away from them!

Any advice for students interested in this field?
Learn programming languages, as this will make things easier when you are trying to build a Website. It is good to have technical knowledge as well as marketing skills.  Essentially, you should either know marketing (as a field) or technology (as a field), and then build your skills in Internet Marketing. And it always helps to have contacts who are willing to invest in your company.

Other advice?
Don’t be afraid to start in an entry-level position with a low salary. You can work your way up. 

Contact me if you have any questions, or simply want help advancing your Website. You can email david@websearchmaven.com or phone 054-736-7378.