Japanese Job Interviews: Common Interview Questions and Answers
Changing jobs in Japan or moving to Japan for a job? Do you wish to know about a job interview in Japan?
Applying for a job is easy!
And getting an interview invitation is exciting!
However, preparing for the job interview and attending it is stressful.
Reason?
A job interview is not just about our knowledge and presentation skills. Unlike a normal meeting, we know someone is trying to evaluate us for whatever we say during the job interview. A job interview is a strange combination of the following contradictory facts:
- The candidate should not care that someone is trying to evaluate him or her.
- The candidate should remember that someone is evaluating him or her.
The first statement is to keep oneself and avoid stress to be confident. The second contradictory statement is equally important because while answers should not be far from the truth, at times, we need to align them with expectations.
All the above becomes a bigger challenge while interviewing for a job in a country like Japan, with a very different culture and expectations.
Let’s do a deep dive to prepare for a job interview in Japan to see what questions you should expect in a Japanese job interview and how to answer those.
Job Interview in Japan
So, you’ve successfully completed the grueling application process and been invited to interview in your Japan job search! You are now one step closer to your dream job.
Congratulations! The first step to your dream job is complete, but there is a long way to go.
Getting the invitation for the interview is the first successful milestone. However, many prospective candidates can fail by being ill-prepared in the initial interview stage.
This guide will help you to prepare for common job interview questions in Japan so you can answer confidently and leave a lasting impression.
An interview is a chance to build rapport, highlight your key strengths, and learn more about the company you want to work for.
By the end of your first interview, you should be able to determine whether you are a good fit for the job and if you will enjoy working there.
Apart from the interview questions, we will also discuss basic Japanese interview etiquette to make an excellent first impression.
Are Japanese Job Interviews Different?
You’ve likely had plenty of job interviews in your home country or other countries apart from Japan. However, while you have probably passed your fair share of interviews and continued to have amazing opportunities, interviewing at a Japanese company can be a different experience.
Of course, having the right combination of skills, experiences, and soft skills is essential to qualifying for a job. However, for employers, a prospective candidate’s cultural fit is equally important.
An employer will always want to gauge cultural fit and a candidate’s ability to adapt and integrate into the workplace culture. Workplace culture is always a combination of the overall work culture of the country and the company-specific expectations.
While the ability to integrate with your peers, the management, and the overall workplace environment is vital in every country, the collective nature of Japanese work culture makes it a must for any employee to be an excellent team player.
If your Japanese job interview is with a more traditional Japanese company, expect some questions that may be designed to gauge your understanding of general cultural aspects.
Please note that Japanese interview questions and answers are sometimes relatively indirect. In more modern tech companies, the questions during the interviews will skew towards understanding your fit with their organizational values.
Like many customs in Japan, particular ways of dressing, interacting, and addressing the interviewer can make or break your ability to get a job offer.
Acing an interview in Japan takes much more than a genki (enthusiastic) attitude and excellent Japanese language skills. Successful candidates are the ones who manage to leave a solid and lasting impression on their interviewers during this stage.
Japanese Interview Etiquette and Tips
Below are some of the interview etiquette and things you should focus on.
Making a Good First Impression
Making a good first impression, known as 第一印象 daiichi insho is particularly important during your job interview in Japan.
While people are expected to make minor mistakes, you do not want to appear ill-prepared. While we all know how to dress for an interview or what to say, paying attention to finer details in Japan is crucial. Job interviews here are no exception in this regard.
Follow Instructions
Reading the interview invitation email carefully is crucial. Although it might not be more than a few lines of information, it may have some important information or instructions.
For example, some places might have specific instructions on entering the building or a warning on what not to do during the interview. Missing out on instructions you might have already received will create a wrong impression.
Be Familiar with Japanese Etiquette
Japan is a highly contextual culture with many unspoken rules and customs.
Japanese people will not expect foreigners to know all the ins and outs of Japanese interview etiquette. However, trying to understand them shows your willingness to integrate with Japanese work culture and society.
When entering the interview room, saying ‘shitsurei shimasu‘ is important if interviewers are Japanese natives, especially of the senior age group. ‘shitsurei shimasu‘, in this case, roughly means “excuse me for the intrusion.”
Similarly, offering your business card with both hands face up while bowing will help leave a great first impression.
Be Punctual
Japanese people are very punctual. Meetings start on time, and people are expected to arrive 10 minutes early for everything.
Being even 1 minute late for an interview definitely won’t leave a good first impression on the hiring managers, even if you’re the most experienced candidate.
It’s always recommended to arrive 15 minutes early for a job interview in Japan. If it is your first time visiting the office, plan to arrive 30 minutes early to be on the safe side. If you arrive early, you can enjoy some time at a nearby café and relax.
Please also note that while not being late is crucial, you should also avoid announcing your arrival too early. It is best to announce your arrival 5 to 7 minutes before the scheduled interview time.
However, if the office is multistoried and the reception is on the first floor, you may need to account for the elevator time to reach the desired floor.
Be Honest
Whether it is about your Japanese language skills or skills required for the job, be honest. Period.
If you are learning or have learned Japanese to some extent, be honest about your practical level. Never inflate, never boast. Never say that your Japanese is of native level. It cannot be if you did not grow up in Japan.
Similarly, if you have passed some Japanese language certifications, such as JLPT or J.Test, etc., while you mention your level, e.g., JLPT2, also mention your practical communication level. Even different people with the same JLPT levels would have different practical communication levels.
Be honest about your practical Japanese communication skills and openness to learning more continuously. Your willingness and openness to put in extra hard work to learn more will create a more positive impression than boasting and then failing to show that level practically.
The same goes for your other skills. Remember that the Japanese value honesty very highly.
What to Wear for an Interview in Japan?
Traditionally, Japanese work culture is very formal. Hence, if you do not know the dress codes of the company you are interviewing with, it’s always better to be overdressed than underdressed.
The dress code depends on the company and the job role. For example, startups in Japan and many other modern Japanese tech companies are more casual in dress codes.
However, even in companies with comparatively casual work environments, casual clothing like jeans and t-shirts should be avoided for interviews in Japan.
It is also advisable to wear formal suits for customer-facing roles like sales and account management, irrespective of the type of company. Wearing formal clothes for such positions is essential because even if your prospective employer does not have very formal dress codes, their clients may not.
Proper Interview Attire for Men in Japan
For tech roles in startups and very modern tech companies with multicultural teams, you can either wear a suit or a formal pair of dark-colored pants and light-colored shirts with black shoes. If you are wearing a suit, please stick to neutral colors like black, dark grey, and navy blue.
For such a combination of companies and roles, wearing a tie can be optional if you opt for a suit. However, as mentioned earlier, please wear a formal suit and tie for any client-facing position.
For all other types of companies, you should wear a suit with the abovementioned colors and a tie.
Bright-colored ties are generally avoided in Japan except for parties. Considering this, wear a tie with a simple design, like stripes in blue, tan, brown, or earthy colors.
Do not go for power ties (red) or any other very bright colors.
For shoes, you should opt only for black colored formal shoes with laces.
Proper Interview Attire for Women in Japan
A skirt or pantsuit is suitable for a job interview in Japan for women. However, avoid bright-colored clothes even for workplaces with casual dress codes.
In the case of skirts, avoid miniskirts. A skirt touching the top of the knees is your safest bet for a Japanese interview.
Unlike many other countries, wearing skin-colored stockings is a norm in Japan for formal settings. Hence, you must wear stockings if you are attending the interview wearing a skirt. Irrespective of the weather, women should avoid open-toe shoes or sandals. Instead, wearing formal black shoes in the interview is best.
Other Tips for Interview Attire
Irrespective of gender, wearing a watch and avoiding perfumes during a face-to-face job interview would make you look more professional.
Stores like Aoki, Suit Select, and Aoyama offer suits at affordable prices in different styles and sizes all over Japan. If you must wear a black suit, avoid pairing it with a black tie, as this custom is strictly reserved for funerals.
Non-traditional offices might encourage applicants not to wear suits. In this case, a smart semi-formal look with neutral colors and close-toed dress shoes is the most appropriate.
Remember to clean and press your clothes as well. Wrinkles and stains look sloppy and will make you seem incompetent.
Common Job Interview Questions in Japan
Some interview questions are common worldwide. However, in a country with a very different culture, an interviewer would also like to test your ability to adapt to and integrate into a different workplace environment.
Japanese businesses focus on the stability of long-term working relationships. This philosophy is quite different from the cultures of many Western countries. Language comes as another barrier. Considering all these factors, you should expect some additional questions during a job interview in Japan.
The common interview questions in Japan would like to judge you for the following:
- Team working to maintain harmony
- Longer-term stability
- Flexibility and integrity
- To know you as a person—so personal question
We have compiled the following list of interview questions that you should expect during a Japanese job interview. Please note that some questions are the common questions that you would invariably face in any country, including Japan, while the other questions are Japan-specific. We have also included tips to answer those questions.
Simple open-ended questions
Simple questions such as “Tell me about yourself” and “What do you want to achieve in your career in the next 5 years?” are routinely asked in job interviews, and you should never fall at this early hurdle.
These questions are designed to gauge your personality.
Moreover, your response will also show whether you are the right fit for the company. So, consider your responses before you go to the interview.
Would you please introduce yourself?
The most common warming-up question in Japan and everywhere is about self-introduction. This question gives you a good opening to show your presentation skills and personality.
If the interview is in Japanese, then you will be asked Jikoshoukai o onegaishimasu (ご自己紹介をお願いします。)
It is best to prepare a strategic introduction about yourself of about 1 to 3 minutes.
Your answer should cover the following:
- Your qualification
- Hometown
- Relevant professional certifications,
- Recent work experiences related to the job you have applied for
- Interest in the company
Avoid going into too much detail about your old experiences, and limit yourself to your recent relevant experiences.
You must focus on the personality traits, skills, and experiences requested in the job description and the company’s value systems from its mission and vision statements. You can briefly mention your professional achievements in quantifiable ways.
Please note that this simple question gives you a very good opportunity to strategically place yourself as the right candidate for the job by presenting the details establishing your relevance for the role.
What do you want to achieve in your career in the next 5 years?
When asking this question, the interviewer is not exactly interested in your career roadmap for the next five years. Instead, the interviewer would like to see your seriousness about your career and whether you are practical about it.
Be honest and realistic with your answer here. For example, you could say that you hope to lead a team of your peers in 5 years or less or improve your Japanese language proficiency and professional skills to a point where you would be considered for more senior roles in your company.
It is advisable to be practical about your goals and not mention something too ambitious to achieve. Prior research into the company will also help. For example, you could check some of the LinkedIn profiles of the company’s existing employees to analyze their roles and responsibilities compared to the similar experience that you will have after 5 years.
Moreover, some modern tech companies prefer a lean organizational structure with a comparatively flatter organization. In such a case, your response should not contradict the company’s value system.
Why did you decide to work in Japan?
The hidden objective of this question is to see if, as a foreigner, you are really serious about a career in Japan or if it is simply a gig to experience Japan for a short term.
You must show genuine interest in making a career in Japan.
You can say:
“I wanted to experience living in Japan because I admire Japanese culture, history, and lifestyle. And I wanted to explore its authentic aspects. I also admire the quality consciousness of Japanese companies, and working in such an environment will be a great learning opportunity. So this job seemed like the perfect opportunity for me to use my professional skills while I experience living in Japan.“
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
This question translates in Japanese as “あなたの長所長所/短所を教えてください (Anata no chōsho / tansho wo oshiete kudasai).”
This question aims to see the depth of your self-awareness and truthfulness.
This is another one that you need to prepare carefully for. Be sure to frame your answer by relating it to the job you were interviewing for. For example, if you are applying for an IT job, you could say that your analytical skills and the ability to work in a team are your stronger characteristics.
As for weaknesses, you should think from two angles:
- Some weaknesses can also be strengths if we look from another angle. For example, too much perfectionism.
- You can also mention some weaknesses truthfully and explain how you are working to overcome those.
Questions related to the role you are applying for
Can you please let us know about your current role and achievements?
Describe what you are currently doing professionally or were doing in your most recent job, and list any work targets you may have been part of achieving.
For example, it is good to emphasize a team role if you were part of one and demonstrate that you understand that collaboration is an important factor in Japanese work culture.
Why did you apply for this position?
In Japanese, this question translates as Ōbo dōki o oshietekudasai? (応募動機を教えてください?)
Prepare a short monologue response so hiring managers can gauge how well you did your research before the interview. Even if the position you’re applying for isn’t your dream job, be sure you understand the commitments required for the position and a bit about the company.
How do your experiences match the position?
In Japanese this question translates as “Mae no keikankara donna koto wo heishe de ikaseru to omoimasuka? (前の経験からどんなことを弊社で生かせると思いますか?)”
The interviewer wants to see if you understand the job requirements properly. You must read and research the company’s ethos, career progression opportunities, and core businesses. Going into a job interview without conducting research is like going into a boxing ring without gloves.
Explain how you can draw on previous experiences for your new job. Even if you don’t have professional experience, mentioning volunteer experiences, hobbies, or relevant courses you took will suffice for an answer.
Be sure to highlight any relevant skills you have that would make doing your job easier, including a comprehensive understanding of the company’s core business.
Why do you want to quit your current job?
If the interview is in Japanese, then you will be asked, “Genzai no shigoto wo kaetai riyuu ha nanndesuka? (現在の仕事を変えたい理由はなんですか?)”
It is okay to admit you didn’t match well with your previous company, but don’t take this as an opportunity to criticize. Instead, keep your answer light and professional.
For example: “I wanted to see where else my skills could be a better fit so that I can advance further in my career.” Placing blame or talking negatively about your previous employers is a common mistake to avoid in Japanese job interviews. It could give an impression that you are a gossip or irresponsible.
Questions on how you would handle tough situational decisions
Example: Tell us about a time when a team member was not pulling their weight and how you dealt with it.
Your answer should be honest and demonstrate an understanding of your strengths and weaknesses.
This is a key part of building trust and developing a conversation. These questions will focus on leadership, dealing with adversity, and finding solutions to problems. They can be best answered using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
Personal Questions
Yes, you heard that right!!
Unlike Western companies, asking personal questions is quite normal in Japanese job interviews.
You should not take it negatively because, traditionally, in Japan, people used to work for a company for life. In fact, this practice still exists in most Japanese mega-corporations. These lifetime employment practices make the workplace an extended home for its employees.
In many modern companies, especially tech ones, these old practices may no longer be the case. However, it is still part of Japanese interview etiquette to ask personal questions during the interview. A Japanese interviewer needs to know you as a person.
How old are you?
Asking about age and blood group are two very common questions in Japanese society. Please do not consider these types of questions as an intrusion into your privacy. Simply state your age.
Are you married and have kids?
A yes/no question. If yes, you can say how long you have been married and how many kids you have.
What do you like to do during your free time?
Please note that this question is different from a question about your hobbies, and you can take strategic advantage of it by answering it with some constructive activities.
For example, you could say that you like to listen to TED talks on various subjects to learn from industry leaders. Or you like to read about new technological developments and take online courses to learn new skills.
However, please be truthful about these so that you do not fall into the trap of any possible cross-questioning.
Another tip is to avoid sounding too serious about creating an impression that you are making it up. Add normal pastime activities like reading fictional novels or playing sports to do that. Sports are always taken in a positive light because they show an energetic personality and health consciousness.
However, when mentioning a hobby like reading novels or watching movies, it’s always better to quantify it to not create the impression that you might be addicted to it.
What are your hobbies?
Again, be prepared with an answer. If you have no real hobbies, you can say, “I like to spend my free time away from work relaxing and watching TV.”
If you have previously said you were applying for this job because you wanted to explore Japanese culture, etc., you can say, “I plan to spend my free time away from work exploring more about Japanese culture, history, etc.” Do mention any extra-curricular activities that show your strengths and are relevant to the role.
Avoid mentioning hobbies that may create an impression of being an otaku, like anime, manga, etc.
Please note that though it is completely fair to follow passions that do not hinder our professional seriousness, there are always some who weigh hobbies and passions on their own scales. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
How long do you plan to stay in Japan?
This question translates into Japanese as ” Itsumade nihon ni sumutsumori desuka?(いつまで日本に住むつもりですか?)”
This question can be challenging to answer because even though you are planning to stay in Japan for only 2-3 years, Japanese companies prefer hiring for the long term.
Japanese companies invest much time in training new hires to familiarize them with their position and the company culture. Be clear about your intentions in Japan, and if you intend to stay long-term, mention any connections that keep you here.
Curveball questions
Please note that normally, you will not face curveball questions if the interviewer is Japanese. However, in modern tech companies in Japan, you may face a foreign interviewer, and such questions may pop up. Considering this, practicing such questions and possible responses is always safe.
These types of questions aim to test your creativity and discover how you think. There is no wrong answer to these questions. It is how you get to the answer and think that matters.
These job interview questions can include brain teasers such as “How many square feet of pizza do people in the U.S.A. eat annually?” and “Which animal are you most similar to.”
The first question is designed to test your reasoning skills, and you should demonstrate how you would go about estimating it.
The second question is a chance for you to sell yourself and your attributes (such as an ability to work smart and an aptitude for quick learning). To prepare for this type of interview questions, candidates should be aware of their main “selling points” and clearly explain the argument behind any answers.
Questions about Expectations
Do you mind working overtime?
Overtime hours in Japan can vary between job roles, so you need to be open-minded about working overtime if you apply for a job in Japan.
However, please carefully consider whether you are willing to work overtime. You can say something non-committal that reflects your seriousness about work and flexibility.
For example: “While I focus on efficiency and continuous productivity improvement to meet the deadlines, I also understand that sometimes the deadlines are too ambitious for business reasons. In any such situation, I don’t consider overtime as overtime but a necessity.”
Remember, it is also part of Japanese culture to socialize with your colleagues after work, and if you are not into that kind of thing, you might not fit in with the company’s work culture.
What are your salary expectations?
Generally, the hiring manager will not discuss salary details during the initial interview. Instead, salary discussions are left to the HR round of the interview chain.
However, you can also research the salaries for similar roles beforehand and state a figure you are comfortable with.
Sometimes, it is also better to politely sidestep this question at this initial stage. For example, you could say that you are still researching the market rates for such roles in Japan and would be willing to discuss it once the company is convinced about the suitability of your candidature for the role.
REMEMBER! When you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail
If you fail to prepare for a Japanese job interview, you can make yourself appear flustered and illogical and ultimately sell yourself short. This can lead to a slip of the tongue or a regrettable comment that will overshadow the interview. An example of such slips is as follows:
Interviewer: “What do you think might frustrate you most about the customer service role?”
Candidate: “Dealing with people.”
Interviewer: “What do you believe is the key to success?”
Candidate: “Try not to set your targets too high. If you set your targets low, you will rarely be disappointed”.
Preparing Your Responses
Even the most seasoned professionals can still fail the interview stage by not preparing responses ahead of time.
Sometimes, you might experience anxiety or be asked an unexpected question during the interview. Either way, preparing to ensure your interview goes smoothly is very important.
Consider your past experiences and how they will benefit the company and the position you’re applying for, and make a list to help you remember them.
You should also prepare your response about your reasons for working in Japan compared to another country. Your response to why you want to live and work in Japan should sound genuine.
If you mentioned having a JLPT N3 certification or above, you must also demonstrate your Japanese language proficiency in interviews.
Even JLPT N1 holders can have difficulty passing an interview in Japanese. So, review key vocabulary terms related to your position and common phrases to use during an interview. Ask a Japanese-speaking friend to help you practice and critique your responses if possible.
In short, one of our best tips for successful Japanese job interviews is that Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance. Therefore, candidates should be aware of the following interview question types and confident about how to approach them.
Questions to Ask During an Interview
As much as we all hope to land our dream jobs, a job interview is about making sure the company is the right fit for both you and the company.
If you are new to Japan, your knowledge about the company may be limited to what you can find about them online. Moreover, even if you know the company reasonably well, you may not know much about the working culture and expectations.
Considering the above, it is always better to ask questions that do not look shallow and show your interest in knowing more about them.
What is a typical day in the workplace?
For an interview in Japanese, you can ask, “Shokuba de no tsuitachi no nagare o oshietekudasai? (職場での一日の流れを教えてください？)”
Even after looking at the requirements for a position, it is good to hear from the hiring manager what your average day will be like. Will you be expected to make phone calls all day? Maybe you’ll have some unexpected translation work from time to time.
If you’re not excited about what’s required of you, you may not be happy working there for eight hours a day.
What are the long-term goals for my position?
In Japanese you can say “Kono pojishon no choukitekina mokuhyou ha nandesuka? (このポジションの長期的な目標はなんですか？)”
Will you be able to grow in this position? Are there defined goals in place, or is the company still unsure about the longer-term prospects? If the company can list concrete plans for the position, it shows they’re seriously looking for someone to take up the task.
Can you tell me more about the projects you’re working on?
The Japanese translation of this question is Torikunde iru purojekutoni ha dono youna mono ga arimasuka? (取り組んでいるプロジェクトにはどのようなものがありますか？)“
If you have researched the company, hopefully, you’ll already know what projects they’re working on, but ask the interviewer to be specific about what problems they’re trying to solve. If you can offer a quick solution to their problems, you will likely be a good team player.
Could you please let me know some of the best points about your company?
In Japanese you can ask this question as ” Onsha no ichiban sukina tokoro wa nandesuka?(あなたの会社の一番好きなところはなんですか？)”
This simple question can reveal the realities of work-life balance at the company. However, if the interviewer takes too long to answer or gives a generic answer, it might show that the company is more inflexible in its approach to employee satisfaction.
Questions to Avoid Asking During the Interview
While you’re encouraged to ask questions during the job interview in Japan, be careful about asking questions like the ones below. Many such questions can be considered standard in many countries, but there are always cultural differences.
Questions regarding salary, benefits, and holidays
The salary and benefits will likely have been listed in the application process, but bringing them up during the interview gives the impression that you’re only interested in money.
Therefore, it’s best to avoid asking during the interview unless the employer brings up the topic by asking you what your salary expectations are.
Questions regarding promotions or raises
It’s good to seek self-improvement and professional advancement. However, if you haven’t received an offer, there’s no reason to ask about raises or promotions.
Last Thoughts: Building Rapport
It is important to remember that an interview is not a one-way street but also a way to learn more about the team you’ll work with and the company’s aims.
Of course, the employer will want to learn more about what you’ve written in your resume, but they also want to know about your personality and whether they would enjoy spending time with you. In essence, it’s like a date.
There is no point in listing out your resume line by line; the interviewer will have already read it, and if you do this, you are bound to bore them.
Instead, highlight key points and spend the rest of the time learning more about the role and the team culture.
Demonstrating your interest in the job and asking relevant questions will prove your competence. Reading every line from your CV and every course you took at university will make the interviewer question if you understand what the role entails.
Finally, on the interview day itself, remember to be courteous and to be well prepared enough that you can look forward to it. Remember, the hiring person wants to work with someone they get along with and hire the best candidate—so that person might as well be you!
A long-term ex-pat in Japan, Himanshu comes with an IT background in SAP consulting, IT Business Development, and then running the country operations of an IT consulting multinational. Himanshu is the co-founder and Managing Director of ReachExt K.K. and EJable.com. He is also an Advisory Board Member of a Silicon Valley AI/IoT startup.