I had an unpleasant e-mail exchange with a remote employer recently. Unprovoked, she told me all about the woes she had gone through trying to fill some phone sales from home positions. Here are some of he complaints she had. I’m listing these here in an attempt to educate future applicants for any position with proper (and improper) etiquette.
- Not following directions
She complained that the job listing said no attachments & call in the morning, and of course, attachments and afternoon calls galore. There’s always a chance for miscommunication, but if you want the work, you better pay close attention to detail. - Premature demands
She said that people were negotiating the terms before even getting a call-back, such as pay rate. I’m not 100% with the employer here, because a worker wants to know if it’s worth their while to get involved. Nevertheless, it’s still good practice to get your foot in the door first, and then negotiate. - Backing out
Two people got the job offer, and were sent paperwork to fill out. Those two people backed out of the job, claiming not being equipped for that kind of work, mentally and physically. Don’t be too indiscriminate about applying for work, and if you must withdraw, do it professionally and courteously.
The bottom line here is a loss for Israel – she got so frustrated she isn’t going to hire people in Israel any more. She volunteered this information to me, and chances are she’ll tell her friends not to hire anyone in Israel any more. Negative referrals for the system.
There may be more behind this, either something specific to this employer, or in general to the current state of employment worldwide. But the simplest answer might be cultural differences.
Both sides need to be aware of the attitudes on the other side, and that knowledge will help them overcome the perceived unpleasantness. Even an Oleh may not retain his old cultural ways after being in Israel for a while.
Many Chutznikim have a stereotypical image of the Israeli business person, and are turned off. Visiting Israel can be emotionally trying, and doing business with such people is just too much. With this negative image, it’s no wonder why so many people refuse to make Aliya.
Westerners, if not for the money, might be mocked by people in Israel, for their formal and affected friendly natures. It’s just not how people in Israel interact, and it can appear phony and silly.
If uniting people for the sake of harmony and good will doesn’t work, then maybe the international language of money might inspire people enough to educate themselves about other cultures, be a little bit more patient, and do good business.