The One Secret That Will Get You Hired in Israel (or anywhere, honestly)

One bright Friday morning a few years ago, I sat for coffee with an old friend on the lazy, colorful chairs on the artificial grass by the fountain at Dizzengoff Square. She brought along her friend: a peppy, well-dressed New Yorker with boat shoes.

She was considering moving to Israel, and asked me about the process: logistically, socially, romantically. I tried to express in words the joy of living out the Jewish Project, the hyper-closeness of people, the unprofessionalism and embarrassing mistakes speaking Hebrew. She listened earnestly.

Then peppy New York friend interjected: “I would never move to Israel.”

“How come?”

He answered nebulously. Not the same opportunity. My family is far. No social network.

“What is it really?”

Hard to get a job. My Columbia degree doesn’t mean anything here.

Interesting. If by “not mean anything,” you mean that people aren’t familiar with Columbia and its reputation as a storied Ivy League institution, that’s right. It’s true that a Columbia degree doesn’t carry the same prestige points or brand signaling here. Most people haven’t a clue about their acceptance rate or perceived exclusivity.

In fact, brand signaling isn’t only becoming less important in Israel. It’s becoming true all around the world, as the barriers to entry to building and selling decline to zero.

More important?

Demonstrating curiosity. Passion. Interest.

I talk to a lot of Olim in their 20s and 30s who want to "make it" in Israel, but are struggling to get by. Making 12-16k/month, spending 60-70% on key needs and expenses and barely saving/investing for the future.

I usually write about how Olim can start marketing side hustles to boost their income.

This post is about something else: How to get hired.

What Most People Do Wrong: The Psychological Trap of Self-Promotion

Most people walk into coffee chats or interviews thinking “I need to impress this person with how smart and capable I am.” So what do they do? They talk, they talk, they talk. They show how smart they are. How much they know. How many cool things they’ve done.

Because let me break your bubble right now: No one gives a s&$@ about you. If you really want to be impressive: STOP talking. START asking questions.

Let me tell you a story.

When I first started my business I didn't know the first thing about sales. I would get on "discovery" calls and just tell them about myself and what I do.

• "ADJ Strategies helps founders build their personal brands!"

• "I spent two years at Aleph working with Michael Eisenberg!"

• "I've helped a lot of founders grow their LinkedIn!"

When I told my friend in sales about my approach, he was floored.

"WHAT are you doing???!!" he asked me.

"Introduce yourself, fine," he said. "20 sec tops. Then ask questions. And let them talk. Tell you their pain points. Just ask questions. Be curious."

What a paradigm shift.

So I started doing that. People love it AND I learn more. A win-win.

Carnegie magic

Reminds me of the famous Dale Carnegie story - he was at a party once and asked someone, "how was your trip?" Then she talked at him for 45 min and at the end of the conversation she looked at him and said: what a fascinating conversation Dale! He barely spoke a word.

But it's not just that people like talking about themselves. Asking questions is such a high-quality signal for intelligence, humility, and character because only when someone has worked on themselves, shed their ego, and transformed their natural self-love into empathy, can they free sufficient mental and spiritual space to immerse themselves in the lives of others.

It shows you care. It shows you're passionate. It shows you can get out of your own head to help someone else.

But many people are so full of themselves, they can't get out of their head. They aren't secure in themselves. They fear silence. They fear not being seen as smart. They fear the vulnerability of asking instead of telling.

So if you can open your mind and open your heart - you will immediately differentiate yourself with your magnetic energy.

The most impressive people ask the best questions and then shut up and listen.Yes, it takes humility. But if you want to move up in the world that's what it takes.

Because here's the truth: If you want to get hired in Israel (or anywhere probably) - no one cares how smart you are. They don’t care what degree you have. They care if you can do the job.

And doing the job requires putting yourself aside for a bigger mission. Asking questions shows you can do that.

In a way, this runs counter to so much of what we're taught growing up. We're told to speak up in class. To raise our hand. To have the answer.

But in real life, those who know when to be quiet and listen are the ones who win.

So next time you walk into an interview, resist the urge to perform.

Ask a thoughtful question.

Then sit back and really listen.

But Don't I Need to Sell Myself?

I know what you're thinking: "But Andrew, I need to sell myself in the interview! How will they know my qualifications if I don't tell them?"

Here's the counterintuitive truth: asking good questions IS selling yourself. It's just doing it indirectly—which is far more powerful.

When you ask insightful questions:

• You demonstrate intelligence more effectively than by stating "I'm smart"

• You show you understand their business without claiming "I know your industry"

• You prove you're a good listener without saying "I'm a team player"

Your resume already lists your qualifications. The interview is about demonstrating who you are beyond that paper. And nothing reveals your character and capabilities like the questions you ask.

Remember!!! The person asking questions controls the conversation. Why would a job interview be any different?

b’hatzlacha, friends:)

-Andrew