She was a creative soul and tried her hands at teaching, running a baby carriage accessory store, and creating a clothing line. But when Esti Steinberg went through her books and realized her business was bringing in just 2,000 NIS a month, she knew it was time to move on.
She went to a graphologist, who listed her wide range of skills. “But I didn’t know what to do with all those abilities,” Esti admits. “My husband is an avreich, and the bills were piling up. I felt lost.”
Then she stumbled across an ad for a course from Temech. She forgot about it until a week later when she mentioned it to her husband. He suggested she check it out.
The Open House was the very next day. She attended and learned about Salesforce, a customer relationship management (CRM) program. “It was a technical program and so different than what I’d done until then, but I was intrigued.”
The course was demanding — seven-hour days three times a week for several months, necessitating her leaving her Bnei Brak home at 6 a.m. — but Esti and her husband decided to spring for it.
“It was intense, they packed so much in, but I enjoyed the challenge. Mr. Zomer taught us how to use the program, and Mrs. Zomer showed us how to understand a company’s needs so we could use the program optimally.”
She also enjoyed the social aspect. “I made true friends,” she says. “Temech was like a greenhouse, a place where we were sheltered and able to grow.
“Our graduation party was a few weeks after Succos, and it was exhilarating. Twelve hours later, I welcomed our daughter into the world.”
A few months later, Esti began job hunting. A friend from Temech mentioned an opening, and she sent her resume. A few weeks later, she was called for an interview at a company that services a government agency.
“They asked how I knew about the job opening because they hadn’t advertised. Only after I got the job did I admit I’d never sent my resume. We eventually realized that my friend had passed it on. It was a kiss from Hashem.”
She did market research and found out the going rate for a full-time entry-level position. She was desperate for experience and would have taken less. But they offered her more and let her work seven hours a day, four days from home.
In her new role, Esti uses both her creativity and technical skills. “There’s always something new to learn,” she shares. “My boss gives me a lot of latitude, and I can initiate and create.”
Eager to further develop her skills, Esti sought additional training from the Zomers’ son, which her employer generously pays for.
“I can’t say it’s always easy to work long hours, but since I know what it feels like to be out of work, I’m grateful,” she reflects.
“Temech gave me so much more than a parnassah. They gave me a happy home, serenity, and a sense of fulfillment.”
