Success Story - Eliad Barzi, Protocols Researcher, Allot Communications / Hadas Shimoni

while studying for a bachelor's degree in software engineering, at the end of his junior year eliad barzi, 27, began looking for a job in order to acquire experience as a student and enrich his practical knowledge of software development. deciding not to compromise, eliad searched for positions that would advance him toward a programming career. though he was studying in be'er sheva, eliad focused his search on the central region, which offers more opportunities for students lacking experience.
after less than a month eliad found a job as a protocols researcher at allot communications, through the jobnet site.

eliad recalls:
i began studying software engineering three and a half years ago at ben gurion university. throughout my period in school i worked on the university's computer support staff in order to acquire general knowledge and fit in better at the university. at the end of my junior year i decided to start building a career in programming, looking for part-time student jobs related to the field.

how did you conduct your job search?
i sent out my resume by e-mail to a large number of companies and distributed copies through my friends, focusing on development jobs in the central region. all my life i've lived in the negev region. i grew up in arad and then moved to be'er sheva to go to college, but once i graduate i plan to move to the central region and develop myself there professionally, because the high-tech industry is very extensive in this area. i was contacted by a number of companies, most of which were in the field of quality assurance, but i decided not to compromise, instead sticking with my profession, programming.

eliad barzi at the allot communications offices

how did you wind up at allot communications?
the first call i got was from a jobnet representative who advised me about a potential job. eventually i decided to send my resume to the company even though the job requirements were for a student of communications engineering. i told her about my background in the computer field through my job in support at the university, as well as the course in computer communications i took as part of my degree studies, convincing her i might be right for the job. a short time later a human resources coordinator from allot contacted me and invited me in for an hr interview and a professional interview with the team coordinator, a developer and the team leader himself. the recruitment process consisted of two short days of interviews, and one month later i started to work.

what kind of impression of the company did you form during the interviews?
the interviews went very smoothly, without pressure or stiff formalities. i clicked right away with the interviewers, who were very nice and high-caliber people. i immediately decided this was my next place of work. they also offered me a flexible program suitable for students, that allowed me to combine work and academic studies. the people on the staff were very nice and answered my questions amiably. and computer communications seemed fascinating to me.

orly zaltzman, a human resources coordinator at the company:
allot was founded 11 years ago and today is a leading provider of smart solutions for optimization of ip networks designed for infrastructures providers, service providers and company networks. allot's solutions make use of deep packet inspection (dpi), creating visibility and control of network traffic, which are vital for the management of applications, services and subscribers. the company has 240 employees, with 180 in israel and 60 in places around the world – the us, europe, asia and australia.

what kind of company is allot communications in terms of atmosphere and the people there?
eliad: allot is a young company that has a whole lot of humor and a pleasant atmosphere. every day we listen to music while we work, and each lunch together. there's always somebody to turn to. everyone makes themselves available and the staff is very warm. i've only been working at the company for three months, including one month of reserve duty, and i already feel right at home. the company also encourages internal mobility and opportunities for workers to advance and develop. i can say that despite the long commute from be'er sheva to hod hasharon, i get up in the morning and head off to work with a smile.

would you describe your story as a success?
i definitely see getting hired at allot as a success story. besides giving me an opportunity to gain experience at a company with an international reputation before finishing my degree, computer communications is constantly growing around the world. the work is very dynamic and i'm exposed to new things all the time, including new software and a range of problems. i'm developing professionally and am learning how to work as part of a programming team, which is considered an important cog in the machine that has influence within the company.

do you have suggestions for jobseekers?
the most important thing is to go into a field you really like, because during the job interviews they can tell how the job candidate feels about a given field of work and discern whether he really is interested in taking the job. also, it's not a good idea to compromise on the job in terms of pay or working at a certain company, because your work will suffer and you won't last long at the company. i recommend sending out your resume to various websites. contacting companies through the internet goes very quickly and easily compared with placement companies.

orly, on the company's collaboration with jobnet:
we've been working with jobnet for over six months and we've been very happy. every day we receive a lot of quality, focused resumes based on our requirements. jobnet is really the only website we work with, along with placement companies. the site representative who works with us, leilach, listens carefully to our needs and does her job in an outstanding manner.

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