Ofer Sharone

Ofer’s research focuses on career transitions, work and and unemployment. His studies are primarily cross-national comparisons and utilize in-depth interviews and participant observations.

In his book entitled Flawed System/Flawed Self: Job Searching and Unemployment Experiences (University of Chicago Press) he compares the job searching and unemployment experiences of white-collar workers in Israel and the United States. This book won the Zelizer Award in Economic Sociology and the Weber Award in Organizations, Occupation, Work (OOW). His current research with the Institute for Career Transitions focuses on strategies for supporting long term unemployed job seekers. This research has received wide attention from national media and led to an invitation from the White House and the Department of Labor to participate in policy discussions on addressing long-term unemployment. Ofer’s teaching interests include the sociology of aspirations, American society, negotiations, and social theory.

Education

Ofer holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Illinois; a J.D. from Harvard Law School; and a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of California, Berkeley.

Research areas

Sociology of aspirations, sociology of work; American Society; Social Theory; Qualitative methodology