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Job Searching as a Senior

Olim of retirement age often face special challenges when arriving in Israel and beginning their job search. Although the job market is open to everyone, many employers are reluctant to hire older candidates, even those who arrive with the relevant qualifications. As a result, a working senior can find it challenging to integrate into the Israeli job market.

If you are between the ages of 62 and your full retirement age (65, 66, etc., depending on the year that you were born), and you are receiving social security payments while living in Israel, you are not entitled to work more than 45 hours a month. If you do work, social security (generally) will stop paying your benefits, until you either stop working or reach full retirement age. For more information about this law, as well as other relevant information for expatriates, please see: Your Payments While You Are Outside of the United States

Ageism in the Workplace
Much of the following information is taken from Israemploy.

Job-searching seniors will need to be flexible and realistic about their employment opportunities; in addition to language barriers and obstacles encountered by job searchers of all ages, seniors are facing a job market where ageism really does exist. Israemploy reports that regardless of labor laws, many Israeli employers are reluctant to take on a senior-aged new hire due to existing stereotypes of the abilities of senior-aged workers. If employers don't seem willing to hire you, it may be more fruitful to use your experience to your advantage by becoming your own employer and doing freelance work.

The law that protects seniors against ageism in Israel is the Equality of Opportunity in Employment Law, which bans employment discrimination on any basis whatsoever. In other words, refusal to hire an older person because of age is not only unfair -- it's illegal. You can read more about the Equality of Opportunity in Employment Law in an online publication published by The Ministry of Trade and Labor, the body responsible for enforcing the law.
http://www.moital.gov.il/NR/rdonlyres/2654DA40-7F3A-44DE-AC90-813996BD7570/0/25.pdf

Employment Opportunities for Seniors
As with job-searchers of all ages, a strong command of Hebrew is an asset that serves to widen your employment opportunities and appeal. Hebrew speaking seniors can often successfully find a job, for example, in secretarial or administrative positions, especially if they have prior experience. Seniors who don't speak Hebrew could be better suited to a job in consulting or customer service, where language does not constitute as much of an obstacle, but the options are more limited.

If your prior experience lends itself to freelancing, you may want to consider this option seriously, since it seems to sidestep the challenge of ageism. Israeli employers who resist hiring senior-age employees frequently feel comfortable hiring these same individuals as outsourced contractors. In addition, freelancing allows you to carry over your pre-Aliyah professional experience while defining your own work environment with a setting, schedule and language that makes you comfortable. Many senior-aged Olim have found success, for example, in freelance tutoring or writing. Despite all of its advantages, however, be aware that freelancing does have certain downsides. It can be less stable than salaried employment. In some fields, the rate of pay can sometimes be lower, and it does not come with paid benefits.

Another option for employment is to become a telecommuter and work remotely for a former employer abroad. If you have a strong professional background, contact former employers to see if there is a possibility that you could work for them in some capacity. (For more information, see Telecommuting.)

Tips for the Job-Searching Senior

  • Emphasize your experience and skills, not your age: Because you have more experience than your competitors, use your experience to your advantage. Instead of listing the years you've worked in a certain field or job, emphasize your accomplishments instead – you likely have more achievements than others applying for the same position.
  • Keep current: Make sure your computer skills are up-to-date, especially if you're applying for jobs where this is a requirement. You should also establish yourself on social networking sites, where you can reconnect with people who may be able to offer you job leads, ideas, and advice. Some municipalities, such as Jerusalem, offer free computer classes to help you update your computer knowledge. (See the Jerusalem Municipality website here.)
  • Be flexible: Apply for a variety of job openings and be flexible in the type of position you’d consider.
  • Update your resume: Make sure your resume is updated with current industry terminology and adheres to the current expectations for resumes. To make it more relevant, you may want to include only those positions you've held in the last 20 years or so.

Interview: Uri Hirsch
Uri Hirsch made Aliyah in 2007 prior to turning 70. He now lives in the North and has three part-time jobs teaching English privately and working in online marketing.

What was your professional background before you made Aliyah?
I have a Masters of Education and, when I started out, a career in teaching. Prior to my Aliyah, I was involved in business.  
How important was Hebrew in your job search and in your eventual success?
My knowledge of Hebrew was fairly important in my job search. Although I was looking for a job teaching English, knowing Hebrew fluently was of great help and was indispensable.

How did you find the job you have now?  
My job search after I arrived in Israel lasted around a year. After I moved to the North, I finally found a part-time job teaching privately. Then, an ad in the Jerusalem Post connected me to another part-time job teaching privately. Finally, a friend gave me another part-time Internet marketing job from home. In short, I found my current jobs through personal connections and newspaper ads.

What have you learned about the employment market for senior Olim since you've been here?
Israeli companies generally don't hire seniors. When I tried to find work at public schools as an English teacher, I was repeatedly rejected because of my age. However, if you're persistent – like me -- you can find "private" work. I now work as a private English teacher – this allows me to use my experience and avoid employers' stereotypes.

Do you have any other advice to senior Olim Chadashim who are looking for jobs?
Bring all relevant documents and recommendations with you, but be prepared to face frustrations. If you can manage to stay with your previous position remotely, that may be your best option. It can be challenging to start a business in Israel and I wouldn’t recommend it for everyone. If all else fails, enjoy your retirement in Israel. There's lots to see and do - including volunteering. Living in Israel is satisfying in itself -- the rest is gravy.

Interview: Peninah Zilberman

In the senior job search here in Israel, age comes along with many preconceived notions. It's a big issue – as soon as a potential employer sees your age, he or she will think of you differently. Many employers think that just because you are older, you don't have the necessary skills to fill a position in today's marketplace.

Even though I am a mature employment candidate and an Olah, I actually have great computer and Hebrew skills. It is important to emphasize to potential employers that not all seniors fit into the "old folks stereotype" and that on the contrary, older employees have met many challenges in life, which can make us great troubleshooters who come up with amazing solutions.

On your resume and in interviews, make sure to note that you're not just in your "Golden Age" – emphasize that you're computer savvy and give examples of your skills. Make sure to let your potential employers know that you have no problems working with people much younger than you – even though your boss might be younger than your children!  Remind employers that seniors are loyal, flexible, and experienced applicants.

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