Job hunting is stressful in any situation, let alone in a foreign country and in a foreign language. Our guide breaks down the preparation process into manageable steps so that you have the best chance of landing that dream job in Japan. Read on for resume tips, interview questions, etiquette advice, and more. 

In Japan, you typically need to prepare two resumes: your 職務経歴書 (shokumukeirekisho), which is similar to a Western-style resume, and your 履歴書 (rirekisho), which is more of a general resume. It is important for job hunters to prepare both types of resumes, as this is standard practice in Japan. Doing so will show your willingness to adapt to the company’s culture and demonstrate your understanding of Japanese corporate culture as a whole. 

The rirekisho is a highly standardized document that provides high-level information. This includes your name, age, contact information, educational background, past employment, qualifications, and self-introduction statement. It is also typical to include a small headshot.

The shokumukeirekisho, on the other hand, is highly variable. This is your opportunity to explain your work experience in detail, where you can write what you’ve done, accomplishments, skills, qualifications, language abilities, etc. It is also your chance to write about your selling points – why the employer should hire you, what makes you different, what makes you the right fit for the job. 

One thing to note is that unlike English resumes, Japanese resumes (both types) tend to go in chronological order, with your most recent experience at the bottom. It is a good idea to have a native Japanese speaker check your resumes for any errors and to make it sound as professional as possible. TCJ’s job hunting course under its student visa program provides this service – your teacher will go over your resumes and ensure that all of the formatting, information, and writing is correct.

When interviewing for a job, it is best to speak in keigo (the honorific form of Japanese). To best prepare for this, sign up for a Japanese class specifically tailored to your needs. TCJ offers a number of courses for those looking to improve their keigo abilities. Please have a look at their website for more information.  

As a supplement to your studies, you can also test out your speaking skills with TCJ’s Japanese Speaking Test™. It assesses comprehension and application of Japanese grammar and vocabulary, as well as fluency (including pronunciation and intonation). The results will give you a more solid understanding of where your speaking skills are and what you need to improve on. 

It is also useful to learn about industry terms related to the field that you are interested in. For example, if you are interviewing for jobs in the digital marketing industry, learning marketing-specific terms such as bounce rate (直帰率 – chokki ritsu), brand awareness (ブランド認知 – burando ninchi), new customer acquisition (新規顧客の獲得 – shinki kokyaku no kakutoku), etc would be very useful to know for the interview and thereafter. Read Japanese blogs, newspapers, and newsletters related to your field to get a firmer understanding of how people in your field communicate. 

Knowing the questions to expect and practicing how to respond to them in Japanese will not only help you do better in the interview, but will help you calm your nerves and give you more confidence. The list below is not exhaustive, but you can expect to be asked questions about yourself (background, situation in Japan, goals), about your current company/school (your role/studies, how you work, why you are leaving), and the company you are applying for (why you are interested, what you know about the job/company, what you want to do). 

Below are some common questions:

Please tell us about yourself. 

This will inevitably come up at the top of the interview. For this part, it is best to keep it under three minutes and state your name, brief relevant work experience and/or university experience, and additional information like why you are excited about the position.

Please tell me about your strong points (self-PR). 

‘Jiko PR’ (self-PR) is a common term in Japan’s job-hunting world, and is your chance to showcase your greatest strengths. However, be sure to not just state your abilities and positive traits, but share what is relevant to what the company is looking for. After presenting your strengths and talents, you should explain how you will apply them to your work. An example of a strength could be your sense of curiosity, attention to detail, or the ability to learn quickly.

Please tell us why you want to work here. 

Explain how your experiences and skillset is relevant for the job and what about the specific role or company interests you. 

Please tell us about your strengths and weaknesses. 

Be prepared with a list of three strengths and three weaknesses. Always follow up your weaknesses with how you plan to improve on them or things that you are already doing to combat them.

Please tell me about a time that you faced a problem at work. 

This is a behavioral question, so it’s best to answer it using the STAR method: situation, task, action, result. State the background of the specific situation, the goal you were working toward, the actions you took to address the situation, and the outcomes of your actions.

What do you envision yourself doing in 10 years?

The intent of this question is to learn about your career goals. The interviewer can learn how you plan to approach your work and how you hope to grow through the job in question, as they ideally would want you to work there for a long time. 

It’s important to ask yourself questions like ‘Can I achieve my career goals here?’ in order to ensure that this is actually the right job for you.

Why do you want to change jobs? 

Speak honestly, but do not speak negatively about your past/current employers. Japanese companies in particular tend to be quite sensitive about candidates who change jobs frequently, so be prepared with credible answers as to why you changed your job each time, especially if you have done so a lot. Try to focus on the positive, for example that you wanted to gain new skills, challenge yourself, have more opportunities to speak Japanese, etc.

Please tell us about your current job. 

Give specific examples of what you do day to day in your work and always relate it back to the position you are applying for. Show the interviewer why your current job is relevant to the position and what value you can bring to the company.

Finally, do you have any questions for us?

This is your chance to showcase your critical thinking and genuine curiosity in the job and company. It is highly recommended to ask at least one or two questions, as asking nothing will give the interviewer the impression that you are not interested. 

Some good questions to ask:

• 御社で活躍するためにはどのような能力を身につけるべきですか？(What skills are important in order to succeed at this company?)
• 入社までに取得しておいたほうがいい資格はありますか？(Are there any qualifications/skills that you think you should acquire before joining the company?)
• ○○さんが5年後の御社について考える際、求める社員像があれば教えていただきたいです (When you think about your company five years from now, what type of employees do you imagine working here?)

It is also a good idea to bring a pen and pad with you so that you can take notes throughout the interview. This will further demonstrate your preparedness and interest in the company. 

The aforementioned job hunting course at TCJ can help you prepare with a mock interview. Through the course, our experienced teachers will ensure that you are well-prepared and successful in your job hunt. For more information on the course and the registration process, please check here. 

There are certain rules and behaviors one must follow when going in for a job interview in Japan. One of the most important things is to not be late. Punctuality is huge in Japan, and being on time already means that you are late – get there 10, even 15 minutes early. This is especially important if the interview is taking place somewhere that you are not familiar with. Avoid any chance of being late by giving yourself ample time to get there. 

Your appearance is also very important. Men should be clean shaven and wear a dark-colored suit with dress shoes. Women can wear a blouse with dark-colored dress pants or skirt. Women should also avoid heavy make up and flashy nails or jewelry. 

If your interview is in-person, be sure to knock three times before entering the room and say 失礼いたします (shitsurei itashimasu – excuse me) as you enter. Once you are in the room, make sure to close the door quietly behind you and bow facing the interviewers. Walk up to the chair and bow once again and introduce yourself. ( ○○○と申します。本日はよろしくお願いいたします。(○○○ to moushimasu. Honjitsu wa yoroshiku onegai itashimasu – I’m xxx. Great to meet you.) Once they ask you to sit, take a seat. 

When the interview is over, say thank you while you’re still sitting.  (ありがとうございました/arigatougozaimashita) Then, stand up to bow. Bow once again as you say goodbye (失礼いたします/shitsurei itashimasu) before you close the door quietly behind you. Read more on Japanese greetings and phrases here. 

If your interview is online, it is a bit simpler but it is still important to arrive early, dress appropriately, and always greet the other party politely. You should also ensure you have a quiet space with a clean background, secure internet connection, and be prepared to share any additional information (e.g. relevant pieces of work).

TCJ is a leading Japanese language school located in Shinjuku. It offers flexible courses catered to a range of needs, including job hunting. Join our job hunting course (please note that there are specific enrollment times for this course, so please inquire for further information) or sign up for private lessons to get fully prepared for your next endeavor. The staff at TCJ are ready to help you take your career to the next level and achieve your goals. 

Please get in touch if you’d like to learn more about TCJ. Whatever your requirements, we can find the right Japanese language course for you.