If you plan to work for a Japanese company in Japan, this blog and video are very useful for you. I introduced what kind of questions will be asked and how to reply.
Japanese Job Interviews
What questions will come up and how should we answer them? Wouldn’t it be nice if you could practice in advance?
This “Japanese Job Interview” video explains the interview questions that are expected of foreigners in Japan and how to respond to them.
The following are examples of questions you may encounter at a job interview in Japan.
1. 来日の理由に関する質問 Questions about reasons for coming to Japan
– どうして日本に来たのですか？ Dōshite nihon ni kita no desu ka? / Why did you come to Japan?
– なぜ日本で働きたいのですか？ Naze Nihon de hatarakitai no desu ka? /
– どうして日本に留学したのですか？ Dōshite nihon ni ryūgaku shita no desu ka? / Why did you come to Japan to study?
– 日本で何を学びたいですか？ Nihon de nani o manabitai desu ka? / What do you want to learn in Japan?
– 来日することになったきっかけを教えてください。Rainichi suru koto ni natta kikkake o oshiete kudasai. / What made you decide to come to Japan?
2. 日本の印象に関する質問 Questions about impressions of Japan
– 日本の印象について聞かせてください。 Nihon no inshō ni tsuite kikasete kudasai. / What is your impression of Japan?
– 日本の良いところはどこだと思いますか？ Nihon no yoitokoro wa doko da to omoimasu ka? / What do you think is good about Japan?
– 日本の悪いところはどこだと思いますか？ Nihon no waruitokoro wa doko da to omoimasu ka? / What do you think is wrong with Japan?
– 日本に来て困ったことはどんなことですか？ Nihon ni kite komatta koto wa donna koto desu ka? / What were some of the problems you encountered when you came to Japan?
– 気になるニュースがあれば教えてください。 Kininaru nyūsu ga areba oshiete kudasai. / Please let us know if there is any news that interests you.
– 日本社会・職場環境の改善点があれば教えてください。Nihonshakai/shokuba kankyō no kaizenten ga areba oshiete kudasai. / What, if any, improvements can be made to Japanese society and work environment?
3. 学歴・経歴・人柄に関する質問 Questions about education, background and personality
– これまでどんなことを勉強してきましたか？ Koremade donna koto o benkyō shite kimashita ka? / What have you studied so far?
– 仕事で発生した問題に対してどのように対処したかを教えてください。 Shigoto de hassē shita mondai ni taishite, donoyō ni taisho shitaka o oshiete kudasai. / Tell us how you dealt with a problem that arose at work.
– 職場の同僚や上司とはどのような関係を築いていましたか？ Shokuba no dōryo ya jōshi towa donoyō na kankē o kizuite imashita ka? / What kind of relationships did you have with your colleagues and supervisors at work?
– 日本の職場に合わせるためにどのような工夫や努力をしましたか？ Nihon no shokuba ni awaseru tame ni donoyō na kufū ya doryoku o shimashita ka? / What efforts did you make to adapt to the Japanese workplace?
– あなた（〜さん）はどのような性格ですか？ Anata (~san) wa donoyō na sēkaku desu ka? / What is your personality?
– あなた（〜さん）の 長所と短所を教えてください。Anata (~san) no chōsho to tansho o oshiete kudasai. / What are your strengths and weaknesses?
– 今までで一番嬉しかったこと・一番つらかったことは何ですか？ Imamade de ichiban ureshikatta koto, ichiban tsurakatta koto wa nan desu ka? / What has been your happiest or hardest experience?
– 日常生活で抱えている悩みはありますか？ Nichijō sēkatsu de kakaeteiru nayami wa arimasu ka? / Are there any problems you have in your daily life?
– リラックス方法を教えてください。 Rirakkusu hōhō o oshiete kudasai. / How do you relax?
– 仕事・勉強以外では何をしたいですか？ Shigoto/benkyō igai dewa nani o shitai desu ka? / What would you like to do outside of work/study?
4. 志望動機・希望職種・諸条件に関する質問 Questions regarding motivation, desired position, and other conditions
– 弊社の印象を教えてください。 Hēisha no inshō o oshiete kudasai. / What is your impression of our company?
– 弊社に応募した理由を教えてください。Hēsha ni ōboshita riyū o oshiete kudasai. / Why did you apply to our company?
– 弊社でどのような仕事をしたいですか？ Hēsha de donoyō na shigoto o shitai desu ka? / What kind of work would you like to do with us?
– 弊社があなた（〜さん）を採用するとどのようなメリットがありますか？ Hēsha ga anata (~san) o saiyō suru to donoyō na meritto ga arimasu ka? / What are the benefits of our company hiring you?
– 弊社以外にどのような会社に応募していますか？ Hēsha igai ni donoyōna kaisha ni ōbo shiteimasu ka? / What other companies are you applying to besides ours?
– 仕事で成し遂げたいこと・挑戦したいことを教えてください。 Shigoto de nashitogetai koto/ chōsen shitai koto o oshiete kudasai. / What do you want to accomplish or challenge yourself in your work?
– 希望する勤務地はありますか？ Kibō suru kinmuchi wa arimasu ka? / Do you have a preferred work location?
– 転勤は可能ですか？ Tenkin wa kanō desu ka? / Are you available for relocation?
– 希望する給与額を教えてください。Kibōsuru kyūyogaku o oshiete kudasai. / What is your desired salary?
– 残業が可能な条件を教えてください。 Zangyō ga kanō na joken o oshiete kudasai. / What are the conditions under which overtime work is available?
– 休日出勤が可能な条件を教えてください。 Kyūjitsushukkin ga kanō na jōken o oshiete kudasai. / What are the conditions under which you can work on holidays?
Important things throughout your job interviews
Above interview questions are just examples. The most important thing is to focus on the questions the interviewer asks and answer them in your own words. Try to continue the conversation by adding details or what-if stories. All important things are mentioned in the video. 🙂
Good luck on your job interviews in Japan! Wishing you the best 🤞
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