Full-time work may be standard in many industries in Israel, but that doesn’t mean that everyone with a job is working 100% at their position.
Part-time work might be the best solution for:
- Students who work and study simultaneously
- Parents and people with other family obligations who want a flexible schedule
- Business owners who want to devote time to their businesses while getting a steady paycheck
- People with other income sources
- Those with disabilities which preclude full-time work
Industries that lend themselves to part-time work
While some industries seem to be hiring almost exclusively for full-time, there are industries in which part-time is much more common. If you know that you will want to work part-time for the long-term, it’s worth training in one of these fields.
Some examples of fields in which part-time work can be found:
- Education
- Nursing
- Retail
- Social work
- Office management
- Sales
The industries in which it’s harder to find part-time jobs include:
- Hi-tech
- Military
- Finance
Keep in mind that in some industries, especially those regulated by the government, full-time hours may be less than the usual 42 hours a week. The pay scale will likely be lower as well, but these jobs can be a good solution for maintaining work-life balance and often come with perks that are also worth money.
How to find part-time job listings
Job boards such as Nefesh B’Nefesh (in English) and JobMaster (in Hebrew) have a special section devoted to part-time job listings. Janglo allows you to filter by part-time work once you have chosen a category. There’s even a Facebook group dedicated specifically to part time jobs in Israel.
Unfortunately, a lot of part-time jobs are only listed among full-time jobs, so you will have to spend some time weeding through job listings to find the ones that are relevant. If searching in Hebrew, look for the words Misra Chelkit. If you’re a student, also look for Misrat Studentim.
Pitfalls of part-time work
When taking a part-time job, it’s important to check that the salary offered is commensurate with the average full-time salary for that same job. If you are working 50%, you obviously don’t want to be receiving a salary for a 30% position.
A common issue with part-time jobs is that the workload is often greater than the amount of hours you have committed to. This can leave you perpetually stressed and you might find yourself working extra hours for lower pay. This often happens without malice and requires you to set firm boundaries and stick to them. When a new task is assigned, you might have to point out what’s already on your plate and how long that will take. Let the employer choose which tasks can be moved to lower priority and set deadlines that are acceptable to both of you and respect your limited hours.
When you take a part-time job, keep in mind that this type of job will often come with limited opportunities for advancement. You are less likely to be promoted or receive a salary raise if you aren’t working full-time. Of course, that might be all right for you at this current time and you can always switch to a full-time job later on if you want to be promoted.
Creating your own part-time position
If you’re having trouble finding part-time work in your field or want to avoid the pitfalls of this type of position, consider creating your own part-time position by opening a business. When you have your own business, you can choose your hours, decide which clients to work with and name your price. Of course, there is the danger of falling into the trap of working non-stop in your business, but if work-life balance is important to you, it’s possible to structure your business such that you earn enough while enjoying a flexible schedule.
Another option is to apply for jobs that say they are full-time and ask for a reduction in hours. This will not always work and can be time-consuming with little ROI (return on investment), but you only need one employer to agree to the arrangement. It is likely easier to convince an employer to reduce your in-office hours and make up hours in the evening, from home. This is an arrangement many parents use in order to work full-time hours but still be home during the critical hours of dinner and bedtime.
Is there still a lot you don’t know about the Israeli workforce? Download Your Route to Career Success in Israel for a detailed account of everything you need to know about finding and keeping a job, opening a business and your rights and obligations as a worker.