Interview

Interviewing with an overseas company can definitely be overwhelming and nerve-wrecking!

Firstly, being relaxed it very important. There are various types of interviewers. Here are the two main types of interviewers:

• Human resources for startups and venture companies: The interviewer's atmosphere and appearance are often relatively casual. The interview process is friendly and you are unlikely to be asked standard questions. It is a good idea to answer the questions asked on the spot honestly.

• Human resources for large companies and small / medium-sized companies with long business history: Looking formal in a suit is the norm for these type of interviews. Therefore, we strongly suggest you to wear a suit to your interview. The interview process is fairly standard with questions like - ‘Please introduce yourself’, ‘Why did you choose our company?’, and ‘Tell me about your strengths and weaknesses.’ and other general procedures.

It is important to be prepared to leave an impression on any company that says, “We want to hire you!”. Therefore, be sure to manage your appearance, clearly explain why you're interested in the company, and how you can contribute with your skills, personality, etc.

Interviews in a second language can be nerve-wracking.

Let’s keep a few points in mind:

1. Keep your self-introduction concise.

2. Stay on topic with your answers.

3. If you don’t understand something, say “Stop and please repeat.

For point 1, let’s keep the initial self-introduction to 2-3 minutes. If it’s too long, the listener may lose focus. It’s also good to include a few introductory and concluding phrases.

So, here’s my self-introduction. (Beginning) I will share more details about my work history later. That concludes my introduction. (Ending)

Regarding point 2, your answers to the questions asked may differ from what the interviewer expects.

For example, if the question is, "How old are you?" and your response is, "My name is XX," this is an extreme case. However, when your answer differs from the expected response, you might notice a change in the interviewer’s expression. The reasons for this could include:

• Your understanding of the question differs from theirs.

• You may not have fully understood the Japanese being spoken.

To avoid such situations, if you're unclear about a question, don’t hesitate to ask for clarification. Additionally, confirm your understanding with the interviewer by saying something like, "I understand your question to mean XX. Is that correct?"

Lastly, regarding point 3.

An interview is a form of communication. If you do not understand what the other person is saying (due to the Japanese language), it’s important to pause the conversation at that moment and ask them to explain it again. This is the “stop and please repeat” approach.

You can say,「申し訳ございません。この点が理解できなかったので、今一度ご説明をいただくことはできますか