Personal Information – פרטים אישיים

• What to include: Full name, phone (+972), email, city of residence, LinkedIn address.
  Tip: Employers in Israel often prefer a mobile phone number they can reach easily.
• Do not include: Age, Marital status, Date of birth, Number of children, Photo (unless industry-specific), Full home address
• Some smaller or more traditional workplaces in Israel still ask for age or photo; it is acceptable to say you prefer not to include this unless required by the employer
• If you are applying for a Tech or Cyber position, a link to your GitHub or similar profile is essential
• If you are applying for a design-based position, a portfolio link should always be included
• If you made Aliyah recently, you may want to add at the top: “Made Aliyah to Israel - September 2025” - this helps avoid confusion about work gaps
• If you are job-hunting while learning Hebrew: Consider adding: “Currently enrolled in Ulpan (Level Bet)” or similar, to signal active language improvement.

Length & Structure – מבנה ואורך

• Suggested length: 1 page preferred (2 pages maximum for senior/academic positions) as many European CVs are 2–3 pages and remove non-relevant early career roles
• Use a single column, top-to-bottom flow (without tables or multi-column layouts)
• Use bullet points for clarity instead of long paragraphs, with clear headings in reverse chronological order (most recent job first)
• Bullet points: max 4–6 per role; keep each line to one achievement
• It is recommended to insert Hebrew titles/headings as well if you are creating it in English
• CVs can be in English or Hebrew, depending on the role:
  • International company/startup – English
  • Public sector/local firms – Hebrew preferred
• It is recommended to save the file as a PDF, as Word docs etc. can lose formatting depending on the operating system used to open it

Formatting style

• Clear section headers
• Bold role titles
• Clean font (Arial / Calibri / David for Hebrew)
• No graphic-heavy Canva designs unless in marketing/design fields
• No multiple columns or overly decorative templates

Professional Experience – ניסיון מקצועי

Optional: Even though personal statements are not common, a one-line professional summary at the top can help contextualize your expertise (e.g., “Project manager with 8 years’ experience in SaaS operations”)

When listing your experience:

• Focus on achievements (results + responsibilities):
  • Bad phrasing: “Responsible for managing sales accounts.”
  • Good phrasing: “Managed 35 corporate accounts generating €950K annually”; “Increased revenue by 28% in 12 months”; “Improved system performance by 20%”
• Make sure that your CV includes all relevant experience(s) that are mentioned in the job description
• Local relevance: If you have international experience, explain its relevance to the job and Israel

Tailoring for each job (high-impact micro-step):

• Mirror key words from the specific job description (role title, core skills, tools, technologies)
• Move the most relevant bullets to the top of each role so they are seen first in a 20–40 second scan
• Remove or shorten bullets that are not relevant to that specific posting

Israeli CVs are usually plain, text-based, and easily parsed by ATS (HR software). Make sure to include sector-specific information, as Israeli HR departments and recruiters often scan for sector-relevant keywords, for example:

• Tech/Cyber/FinTech: Skills + tools (programming, platforms, certifications)
• Education: Degrees + teaching experience prioritized
• Trades/Construction: Certifications + licenses at the top
• Public Sector: Policy/regulatory experience highlighted

For roles where Hebrew is required, it can help to include at least some role titles and skills in Hebrew (even in an English CV), so automated systems and local HR searches can pick them up.

Skills, Certifications & Languages – כישורים, הסמכות ושפות

• Tech sectors: Emphasize tools, languages, and certifications (e.g., Cisco, AWS).
• Non-tech: Highlight relevant licenses (teacher’s certificate, electrician license, etc.)
• Hebrew level is very important – state your proficiency level clearly and honestly:
  i.e. Basic, Conversational, Professional working proficiency, Fluent, Native
• English is often required; add any other relevant languages and your proficiency level in each
• Make sure to identify which language is your mother tongue.
• Make sure that your CV includes all your relevant skills that are mentioned in the job description, and consider moving the most job-relevant skills to the top of the list

Education – השכלה

• Include the degree earned and the institution name. If the school is internationally recognized, you can bold the name to emphasize it (Oxford, Cambridge, etc.)
• List latest degrees first, including any academic honors (high GPA, Cum Laude, etc., if relevant)
• For foreign degrees, mention recognition or evaluation if done by Misrad HaChinuch - Education Ministry or Misrad HaBriut - Health Ministry

References – ממליצים

Optional: “Available upon request” unless you are asked to provide them explicitly.

Here’s a list of free online tools, services and tips that can help you write, format or adapt a resume/CV — some tailored for the Israeli job market (including tools that help Olim present their experience in a way local recruiters expect).

Free & Israel-Focused Resume Help

KeepOlim – Free CV Review Service
A specific service for Olim that reviews and helps rewrite your resume to match the Israeli job market. Many Olim receive guidance on formatting, structure and tailoring to local expectations.

Free Online Resume Builders (Useful for Israeli Market)

These tools let you build or format a resume for free — often with templates and tips. While not all are Israel-specific, you can use them to create a professional CV and then tailor it using local tips (e.g., keep it concise, one page, in Hebrew where needed).

General Builders

• Resumaker (ריזומייקר) – Israeli online resume creator with Hebrew UI and templates for the local market
• AllJobs CV Wizard – Tool to generate a resume quickly and for free, tailored to Israeli employers
• ORS CV Generator – Step-by-step online generator to build a free professional resume

Generic International Builders (Free with Export Options)

• Resume.org – Fully free resume builder with templates and export features
• Jobseeker CV Creator – Easy customizable builder with professional layouts
• CVWizard – Simple tool to build and download resumes quickly

Important points to remember for the Israeli Market

Most Israeli recruiters expect certain features in a CV, even if it’s created with a generic tool:

• Keep the CV concise and clear, usually 1 page for mid-career roles
• Emphasize relevant experience and clear dates (DD/MM/YYYY)
• For many roles, a Hebrew version is expected - translate key parts

That means you can use the free builders above, then manually adjust the structure/content according to Israeli standards afterward.

Bonus Tips

• LinkedIn alignment: Many recruiters in Israel screen LinkedIn profiles and cross-check them against your CV. Make sure dates, titles, and locations match
• Local workshops: Some Israeli job-seeker groups (e.g., Olim meetups, career centres) run free CV workshops and LinkedIn clinics; these can be a good complement to the tools above

Here are two professional CV templates that meet current Israeli job market standards. Both are ready to share with Olim and can be filled in with their own information.

English CV Template (Israeli Market Standard)

Hebrew CV Template (Israeli Market Standard)

Instructions for Olim Using These Templates

Before filling in:

• Choose the right template:
  • English: for international companies, startups, multinationals
  • Hebrew: for local Israeli firms, public sector, most non-tech roles
  • Best practice: prepare both versions
• Save as PDF before sending (preserves formatting across all systems)
• Keep it to 1 page unless you are very senior (10+ years management/executive)
• Customize for each job:
  • Mirror keywords from the job description
  • Move most relevant bullets to the top
  • Remove irrelevant experience
• Be specific with numbers: Instead of "Responsible for sales" write: "Managed 40 corporate accounts generating €850K annually"
• Hebrew level is critical – be honest; recruiters will test this in interviews
• LinkedIn must match – Israeli recruiters cross-check everything
• Download tip: Copy each template into a Word document or Google Doc, fill it in, then export as PDF with filename format: i.e. - FirstName_LastName_CV_2026.pdf
• Avoid tools that force you to create a very graphic or multi-column CV, as these can break in ATS systems and are less common in Israel outside design/marketing

How Israeli Recruiters Think

Hiring managers in Israel typically look for:

• Fast scanning ability (they skim in 20–40 seconds)
• Numbers & impact
• Relevance to the specific job
• Hebrew level clearly stated
• Military service (if relevant)
• Current location in Israel

They usually care less about:

• Lengthy profile summaries
• Fancy design templates
• Volunteer experience (unless relevant)
• References listed on the CV (not required)

Step 1: Shorten It

• Many European CVs are 2–3 pages.
• Cut to 1 page (unless senior executive).
• Remove non-relevant early career roles.

Step 2: Remove Cultural Differences

• No photo
• No marital status
• No date of birth
• No full home address

Step 3: Add Hebrew Level Clearly

Hebrew ability strongly impacts hiring chances so state it honestly, for example:

• Basic
• Conversational
• Professional working proficiency
• Fluent
• Native

Step 4: Translate Job Titles if Needed

Example: Instead of “Area Sales Director DACH Region” write “Regional Sales Manager (Germany, Austria, Switzerland)” as Israeli recruiters may not understand foreign corporate terminology.

Step 5: Quantify Everything

Change this: “Managed client accounts” into this: “Managed 45 corporate accounts worth €800K annually” as Israelis respond well to measurable impact.

Step 6: Adjust Formatting

• Clear section headers
• Bullet points (max 4–6 per role)
• Bold role titles
• Use a clean font (Arial, Calibri or David for Hebrew)
• No tables/multi-columns/graphic-heavy templates

Step 7: Create Two Versions (recommended)

English version (for international companies) and a Hebrew version (for local Israeli firms)

Special Note for Olim