2.0
LAND THAT JOB
with these interview tips
JUS BY JULIE’S FOUNDER on building a best-selling brand
The Fast Track to Getting Your MBA (Well, Sort Of)
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2.0 MONTH 2019
2.0
BIG QUESTIONS Nailing the Job By Sabrina Brick
WHAT ARE PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYERS REALLY LOOKING FOR?
“That’s not cheating,” Brilleman says. “That’s preparing for an interview.” In terms of researching the company
against giving answers like, “I work too hard,” or “I can’t delegate.” She said that a skilled interviewer
Brilleman cautions against asking about work-life balance, instead using that opportunity to ask smart
will not flat out ask for your greatest
questions about the role, the corporate
beforehand, Brilleman says people
weakness, but will instead ask for an
culture, and the interviewer’s own
often look up the company online and
example of a weak moment to find
career trajectory. “You can also use
memorize facts, which doesn’t show
out how you dealt with it, what you
that [time] to help sell yourself,” she
critical thought.
learned, and how you grew from that
says. For example, if the corporate
experience.
culture is entrepreneurial, you
“They want to hire somebody who wants to do this job,” she says. “That’s
“That question isn’t to see what you
what they want, so you’ve got to make
don’t do well,” she explains. “It’s to
sure you’re showing that you care
see how you persevere and to make
outside of those statistics.”
sure that you’re working on yourself.” The best approach is to give an
can share how you’ve developed entrepreneurial skills at a past job.
5) BE PREPARED FOR FEEDBACK. Regarding the junior-level employees
3) PRACTICE IMPORTANT RESPONSES.
example of a time you didn’t meet an
of today, one thing Brilleman notes is
Going into an interview, there are two
expectation or failed at a task, and
that they’re asking for more feedback
questions that Brilleman says always
then explain how you worked on the
than ever, which is great. At one time,
2) GET INTERVIEW-READY.
need advanced preparation: “Tell me
root cause of that failure. And you get
earning your paycheck was enough to
There are two primary areas for which
about yourself,” and, “Tell me about
bonus points if you have an example of
know you were doing a good job, but
preparation is vital — gathering
your weaknesses.” First impressions
a subsequent situation you faced where
today’s junior-level employees are
State, has seen a variety of “dos and don’ts” when it comes to presenting
examples from your own experiences
are key, and Brilleman stresses the
you approached the task differently and
looking to develop themselves in order
oneself in the job application and interview process, as well as how to act
to match the qualifications of the
importance of clearly articulating
succeeded, showing that you learned
to excel in their roles.
job you’re interviewing for, and
responses that accurately reflect what
from and internalized the original
researching the company and the
you stand for.
experience.
With more than 20 years of experience in human resources under her belt, Miriam Brilleman, head of human resources at Cushman & Wakefield Tri-
appropriately once an individual lands that coveted role.
B
rilleman’s experience in
1) TELL A STORY WITH YOUR RESUME.
HR spans the gamut of
It’s vital to write a resume that
industries, from Citigroup to
compiles a list of accomplishments,
Unilever and, most recently,
Brilleman says that once you have the job, be sure that you are putting
person conducting the interview.
The “tell me about yourself”
In terms of preparing your own
directive requires a practiced, yet
4) LEARN HOW TO ASK GOOD QUESTIONS.
regular one-on-one time on your manager’s calendar so that you have
examples, Brilleman says every
authentic “elevator pitch.” That’s a
There is one part of an interview that,
a structured system by which to
interviewee should come with five to
short, persuasive “sales pitch” that
time and time again, Brilleman has
receive that feedback. In addition to
Brilleman explains, not just a list
seven examples that speak to each skill
speaks to your “brand” — that is,
noticed many people not maximizing,
developing yourself that way, she
prior to Cushman & Wakefield,
of prior work experience. Specific,
the job entails. In addition to the abilities
what you stand for, in addition to your
and that’s the questions part at the
encourages young employees to take
she worked at a German chemical
actionable successes that accompany
that you do have, she said to be prepared
qualities and what you hope to achieve
end, when the interviewer turns to the
advantage of employee-development
company called BASF. Though
each position can attest to the type of
to speak about any skills listed in the job
in your career.
interviewee.
opportunities offered by the company.
she’s been employed in a number
employee you are and the traits and
description that you do not have.
of corporate environments and has
skills you brought to each job.
seen varying corporate cultures,
“When somebody asks you, ‘Tell me
“It’s really important to ask really
“It’s really important to invest
about yourself,’ you’re not going into
good questions. It’s part of the
in yourself when you’re earlier in
knowledge of a specific software and
how many brothers and sisters you
interview,” she says. “I’ve heard stories
your career,” she says. “Go to that
Brilleman has found that much of the
an interview, Brilleman stressed the
you don’t have that knowledge, but
have,” she said. “You’re talking about
where people are at their first interview,
webinar, [attend] those [events and
advice she has for others translates
importance of reviewing your resume to
you are proficient in something similar,
your brand and [giving] your elevator
especially younger people, and they’ll ask
opportunities] that your company
across the industries. Whether
be sure you can address each point. It’s
research the software they’re looking
speech, and that’s something you
something like, ‘What’s the work-life
provides, like on-site trainings. The
you’re just entering the workforce or
a turn-off when an interviewer asks
for and come in with the ability to
should practice and work on.”
balance like?’ Or, ‘What’s your vacation
skills that you’re investing in now will
are a seasoned vet looking for new
something about your resume and you
share what you do know, along with an
policy?’ What that says to the interviewer
pay off when you get down the road.
opportunities, here are her insider tips
need to look over his or her shoulder to
action plan of how you can learn what
something that can often trip up
is that you don’t care about the job, you
It’s really important to work hard, and
for candidates of all ages.
remember what you wrote.
they want.
an interviewee. Brilleman cautions
just care about your time off.”
part of that is to invest in yourself.”
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Once a potential employer calls for
For example, if a job calls for
Speaking about weaknesses is
FEBRUARY 2020
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2.0
LIVING YOUR DREAM
JULIE MALEH
Jus by Julie By Abbey Wolin
classes for promo. All I had to do was show up at the end of the class and hand the Zumba instructor the green juice.
MY DREAM JOB
Honestly, I thought it was a bit bizarre, but my niece encouraged me to take advantage of the opportunity, and so that’s what I did.
JUS BY JULIE
After the class I handed the drink to the instructor and the women in the class. They were raving about it. The next day my phone wouldn’t stop ringing. So many women wanted the green drink. I was completely taken by surprise. I called Marcy and asked her
We all have our dreams and passions. What makes one follow them
what I should do.
through all the way? How do you go from idea to full-on business? What
TBIELE: I told her, “Ma, do it like the
were the steps you took along the way? Was it a conscious decision or
milkman. Drop the juice off in the
a result of organic growth? This column will explore different avenues
morning in a jug and pick up the empty
and paths various entrepreneurs have taken to fulfill their dreams while
jugs at night.” And that’s exactly what she did. It was the craziest sight! My
following their passions and making a parnassah.
mom had bundles of cash in her front seat and carafes with juice all over her
J
us by Julie is one of those business
to the Five Towns to meet Maleh and her
I believed in, so I decided to go back to
success stories I’m obsessed with.
daughter Marcy Tbiele, head of marketing,
school to learn the benefits of healthy
Why, you ask? At the age of 50, after her
to hear how Maleh initially got started, to
living. I found an online school for
kids were grown, Julie Maleh ended her
glean advice for other business owners,
integrative nutrition and started taking
long stint as a stay-at-home mother (and
and, of course, to try her delicious signature
classes. Then, while I was in school, my
grandmother) and went back to school to
products.
husband was diagnosed with high blood
learn nutrition. After raising her kids, she felt it was time to work on a passion of her own. Her love for healthy living would soon change her life in more ways than one. Today, Maleh runs a company that sells juices, salads, and other healthy, on-the-go products, under the hechsher of the OU. Jus by Julie has five retail stores throughout
“IF I LOVE SOMETHING, I SHARE IT, SO I BEGAN GIVING OUT MY GREEN JUICE RECIPE TO EVERYONE I MET — FAMILY, FRIENDS, STRANGERS…“
car. As the juices became more popular, my mother was waking up at 3 a.m., cutting coconuts and washing kale. My father kept telling her that he should get involved to help the business grow, but
pressure. I am very much into healing
and vegetables added fiber, which also
giving out my green juice recipe to
my mother wouldn’t have it.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING TIME OUT
naturally through foods, so I was
helped control sugar cravings.
everyone I met — family, friends,
MALEH: For the first time in a long time, I
OF YOUR BUSY SCHEDULES TO SPEAK WITH
curious if what I was learning in school
ME AND OUR READERS. I’M SO EXCITED
could heal my husband.
TO FINALLY MEET WITH YOU BOTH! I’VE
I began experimenting in my kitchen,
After a month, my husband went
strangers… My husband kept telling
had something that was just for me, and
back to the doctor for a checkup, and
me I should sell the drinks, but this
I didn’t want to let that go.
the doctor was blown away. He asked
was my hobby, not a business. The
TBIELE: But it was starting to make
HEARD SO MUCH ABOUT YOUR STORES AND
developing juice blends, and since
me what we were doing, and I told him
more my drink became popular,
my mom crazy, and we could tell the
JUICES. JULIE, CAN YOU TELL ME A BIT
green juices were trending, I concocted
that all I had been doing was giving my
however, the more he insisted that I
schedule was starting to wear her
ABOUT HOW YOU GOT STARTED?
a green juice that both my husband
husband this green drink for breakfast
should think about selling it.
down. Three o’clock wake-up calls
MALEH: Well, my kids were getting bigger
and I drank every morning. It included
every day. I also noticed a huge change
Then, before Chanukah that year,
soon turned into 2 a.m. alarms. My
the tristate area, and Costco, Whole Foods,
and moving out of the house — they
kale, spinach, mango, pineapple,
in my skin and the texture of my hair.
2011, my niece mentioned that there
mom would wake up to accept fruit
and Amazon carry her products nationwide.
were starting their own lives and I was
strawberries, and rosemary, and it was
We both had renewed energy, and I
was a popular Zumba teacher in
and veggie deliveries. She was working
One of the most inspiring parts of her story
just getting back to living mine sans
delicious, nutritious, and had incredible
couldn’t deny the power of that green
our community who was offering
all day and hardly sleeping. So my
is that each one of her five children are
children. I was always interested in
health benefits — plus it contained no
drink. The thing with me is that if I
small businesses the opportunity
siblings and my father and I staged an
partners in the business today. I traveled
nutrition and I wanted to do something
additives or preservatives. The fruits
love something, I share it, so I began
for collaboration. They could use her
intervention with my mother. We sat
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LIVING YOUR DREAM
Jus By Julie
her down and told her that she can’t
to her students. If it weren’t for friends
we were who we were. No one could
keep going on like this; Daddy must get
recommending it to their friends, no
touch us, or our customers, because of
involved with the business.
one would have tried our juices and seen
the quality of our products, as well as
MALEH: I told my husband, “If you want
the benefits for themselves.
our customer service.
to get involved, then find me a set of
My kids also had a strong business
TBIELE: My mother treats every single
carafes that come sold together.” I
sense, which helped early on. They put
person who comes into the store as
wanted to sell a cleanse, and for that
the products on Groupon when it was
family. If someone is not happy or has a
we would need proper packaging,
booming, and it was a huge success
complaint, she will personally drive to
carafes, and marketing. While he was
nationally. It’s really been a team effort
their house to deliver more food. Same
working on that, I got a group of friends
with my kids and husband. My husband
at the store in the Five Towns. You’re
together and we went on a three-day
now oversees all the day-to-day
not happy with your salad? You didn’t
juice cleanse. They were my first test
operations and manages 40 employees.
like it? Take something else. Customer
subjects.
And we’ve never brought on investors.
service is key.
Now, just so you know, the juice
MALEH: It’s never been a business for
cleanse that I created had a lot of
WHAT’S ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WOULD
me. Everything we sell still feels like
fiber, so it was filling, and there was
OFFER TO WOMEN WHO ARE IN THE FOOD
it’s coming from my house. My store is
tremendous nutritional value in my
MANUFACTURING SPACE, LOOKING TO
still like my home — that original test
drinks. I wanted to see if I could last
GROW OUTSIDE THEIR MICRO-BAKERIES OR
kitchen from so long ago. My workers
KITCHENS?
laugh at me that I have such a hard
— and to see what my friends would say,
BESIDES SIYATA D’SHMAYA, WHAT WOULD
TBIELE: Competition is good — like, really
time accepting money from paying
too.
YOU SAY IS THE NUMBER ONE REASON FOR
good. The more options people have, the
customers. I just love what I do, and it’s
YOUR GROWTH OR SUCCESS?
more people will actually be attracted
still something I’m so passionate about.
own personal benefits, and I knew that I
MALEH: One hundred percent word of
to your personal brand message and
had something tangible here besides my
mouth.
story. Don’t get scared or phased when
I THINK THAT’S WHAT PEOPLE LOVE MOST
signature green juice. This would take
TBIELE: Social media.
new companies come out with similar
ABOUT YOUR FOOD AND JUICES. THEY’VE
products. Keep your eye on the prize and
BEEN MADE WITH LOVE, AND YOU USE
three days on the cleanse — I love food
The results? Amazing. We all had our
(We all laugh.)
my business to the next level.
WOW, WHAT AN INCREDIBLE STORY.
My husband is very creative. He came
don’t focus on everyone else, because
ONLY THE FRESHEST, NUTRITIONALLY
Heights — and we sell more than 200
WELL, IN TODAY’S DAY AND AGE, THEY’RE
you will get distracted and distraction is
PACKED INGREDIENTS. JUST SITTING HERE
SO, HOW DID YOU SCALE IT FROM YOUR
up with the branding and packaging,
salads a day. It’s an unbelievable thing
SYNONYMOUS, AREN’T THEY?
a waste of time and energy.
AND WATCHING YOUR INTERACTION WITH
KITCHEN TO SELLING ALL OVER?
as well as the concept of the stores. Our
to watch my mom’s vision become a
TBIELE: For me, as head of marketing,
MALEH: My grandkids tell me, “Grandma,
CUSTOMERS, I CAN SEE WHY YOU ATTRACT
TBIELE: My father hired a worker —
first juice store was the one on Avenue
reality and see her expertise help so
our collaborations with influencers are
you’re the OG — the original — and no
SO MANY PEOPLE TO YOUR STORES EVERY
who is still with us today. And once it
U in Brooklyn. That’s still my original
paramount to the growth of sales within
one does it like you.” When we opened
DAY. THEY KNOW THAT, AT THE END OF
started getting much bigger than what
space, and it’s where we introduced
each store. By connecting with a variety
our store in Brooklyn, two other stores
THE DAY, JUS WAS MADE BY JULIE — A
we could personally handle, we started
salads and sandwiches.
of influencers in each of the five cities
quickly popped up in the neighborhood,
MOTHER WHO JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE
manufacturing everything in a larger
TBIELE: It’s amazing to see where we’ve
our stores are located in, we can greatly
and our business did not suffer, because
HEALTHIER FOOD TO HER FAMILY.
facility.
come from. We used to just sell 12
MALEH: Honestly, my husband really had
salads; literally, I would make just a
the vision for growth. If it was up to me,
dozen salads at the store on Avenue
I would have kept it small, but in truth
U. Now? We sell to schools, and have
Beauty. So things are only growing. Our
MALEH: And for me, without the word
that never would have been sustainable.
five locations — another in Brooklyn
ultimate goal is to have Jus by Julie be
tinuously empowers them with her stories, posts, and 30-day business challenge. As a
of mouth, my business wouldn’t exist!
result, she’s helped more than 1,000 women grow their profits and spend more time
The opportunity was coming at me, and
on Avenue M, one in Cedarhurst, one
a strong, healthy lifestyle brand both
The Zumba teacher launched our brand
with their families. Abbey lives in Passaic, New Jersey, with her husband and children.
fast.
in Deal, and the most recent in Crown
inside the body and out.
in a big way, just by getting it out there
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2.0 JANUARY 2020
many people. We also do business via e-commerce. Five percent of our sales come from there, which includes 50,000 juices a week. We’re also expanding to beauty with a new skincare line called Jus
multiply the number of customers that come in to try our new and signature products.
Abbey Wolin is the founder of her own eponymous hand-painted glassware company. She has amassed more than 16,500 followers on Instagram and con-
JANUARY 2020
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2.0
BOOK REVIEW By Rabbi Dovid Bashevkin
I READ IT FOR YOU: THE TEN DAY MBA Everyone wants a deal these days. If it’s a hotel, we want to pay with points. If it’s a flight, we want to pay with miles. And
I needed to learn the hard way for
or, if they waited patiently, they could
living expenses. It’s a little stiff, and the
yeshivah, but with this book you won’t
have two marshmallows later. The
crinkly sound drives my wife crazy, but
have to do that for business.
children were left alone in the room with
it helps me sleep better.
The book covers the following nine
one marshmallow and the psychologists
4) Invest wisely. This is the simplest
subjects: marketing, ethics, accounting,
noted whether the children ate that
advice, and a tip we will likely return
organizational behavior, quantitative
single marshmallow in front of them or
to when we more closely examine
analysis, finance, operations,
remained disciplined, holding off for the
some of the key works on constructing
economics, and strategy. Day number
double portion.
a portfolio. However good it sounds,
ten is dedicated to what the author terms
Psychologists found that a child’s
don’t buy the stock based on the tip you
“MBA Minicourses,” which include a
ability to delay gratification correlated
heard in shul. Oh, it’s about to get FDA
bunch of shorter subjects such as public
with experiencing more success in life as
approval? You’ll need the medication
speaking, negotiating, business writing,
an adult. In many ways, learning to save
after you lose your money. Stick to
and financial planning.
money properly is life’s marshmallow
broad-based index funds. If you don’t
test. A bigger paycheck is one
know what that is, google “Vanguard
smoothly it reads — it’s remarkably
marshmallow now. A robust retirement
ETF.” Buy those, and save the FDA-
easy to convince yourself that you know
account is more marshmallows later.
pending drugs for bein hazmanim.
The danger of the book is how
something when you’re finished. Keep
2) Own your home. Ask your financial
5) Be selectively extravagant and
The Ten Day MBA has ten chapters, so
in mind, though, how quickly — and
adviser about this one before you do
pervasively frugal. This may be the best
you really can finish it in ten days.
superficially — some of the subjects
anything drastic. But, as Silbiger argues
advice in the entire book. Enjoying life
Essentially, the book is designed
are being presented. Given the dense
in the book, there are many potential
is important, but you’ll enjoy it more
to give you a basic overview of key
structure and the breadth of the book,
long-term financial benefits to owning a
— and have more money to do it — if
principles and concepts that normally
there is no central thesis or one main
home rather than renting.
extravagance is an occasion rather than
cost tens of thousands of dollars to
idea inside the text. There are, however,
learn in an MBA program. The best
several highlights worth sharing:
part, for language lovers like myself,
The Ten-Minute Financial Planner:
3) Create an emergency fund and investment portfolio. In the book, the author recommends saving enough
the norm. A healthy default is sensible frugality. The Ten Day MBA is a remarkable book.
is the jargon. As the author explains:
This really only takes ten minutes, and
money for three to six months, but
More than the content, it is a reminder
“When MBAs congregate, we tend to
there are five rules Silbiger presents.
that the exact cushion may depend on
to the reader of how much can be
it’s not just purchases that whet our appetite for deals — it’s
engage in ‘MBA babble.’ Our use of
As some may already know, it’s nearly
your relationship to risk — and how
accomplished in ten days. It’s taught me
also our time. Yeshivos frequently offer programs where
mystical abbreviations like NPV, SPC,
impossible for me to ignore a list of
easily you can fall asleep at night. I’m
to never doubt how much I can learn in
and CRM is only a ruse to justify our
five. So here it goes.
an anxious person, so I keep a pillow
a short period of time. And that’s a good
stuffed with eight months’ worth of
deal, if you ask me.
you can finish college during bein hazmanim. If that’s too burdensome — and for many it is — we’ll soon have programs
lofty salaries and quick promotions.” Seasoned yeshivah students know
1) Pay yourself first. 401(k) and 403(b) aren’t supposed to sound fun. Discipline
offering PhDs that just require you to listen to a podcast
that the real entry into the Torah
is not fun, and deferring payment
series on your drive to morning seder. So, if you’re looking
world is not so much the body of
requires discipline. But the author argues
for a great deal on mastering a large amount of material in a
knowledge as it is the movements
that the fastest way to build wealth is by
Rabbi Dovid Bashevkin, director of education for NCSY, teaches
and motions. Knowing the difference
taking advantage of deferred taxes that
Jewish Public Policy at Yeshiva University’s Sy School of Business
between “shtel tzu” and “tzu shtel” is
allow you to keep more of what you earn.
and is currently completing a dissertation in public policy at the New
short amount of time, consider reading Steven Silbiger’s The Ten Day MBA (HarperCollins, 2012). And if you’re not much of a reader, here’s an even better deal — I read it for you.
B22 |
2.0 DECEMBER 2019
half the battle. I should know. As a
There’s a famous study known as the
School, focused on crisis management. His book, Sin•a•gogue: Sin
doe-eyed boy from a modern orthodox
Stanford marshmallow experiment.
and Failure in Jewish Thought, was recently published by Aca-
school, I could have used a Ten-Day
In the test, led by Dr. Walter Mischel,
demic Studies Press. He has been rejected from several prestigious
BTL [Bachelor’s of Talmudic Law] book
researchers gave children a choice of
fellowships and awards.
when I first arrived at Ner Yisroel.
having one marshmallow immediately DECEMBER 2019
2 . 0 | B 23