Avi — Regional manager of a store chain

How it started

Avi was discharged from the IDF at 21 without full matriculation. 6 months of unemployment, then Place-IL connected him to Shufersal in Kiryat Malakhi as a cashier.

First job

3 years at the register — unexciting but stable. Learned a ton about customer service, basic shift management, and performance under pressure. The branch's top cashier in every survey.

TA Employment Academy — shift management course

Enrolled in an evening course alongside work. 8 weeks, fully subsidized for Tel Aviv residents — Avi temporarily moved to his sister's apartment to qualify. The certificate landed him a shift-manager role at Mega Bool.

Where he is today

After 4 more years (shift-manager → assistant-manager → store-manager → regional-manager) — manages 8 branches of a fashion chain in southern Israel. Salary ₪28K + performance-based bonus. House in Kiryat Malakhi, company car.

Recommendation

> "If you don't have matriculation — don't skip the shift management courses. They're the first step. And you don't need to wait 5 years at the register. 2-3 years, then management academy."

Programs used

• Place-IL
• TA Employment Academy