Mock interviews at Japanese companies and how to answer each question

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We have compiled a list of various questions that are typically asked in Japanese interviews so that you can prepare for an interview anytime, anywhere, even by yourself.

If you have an interview coming up in the near future, please use this as a reference and practice multiple times.

The first half of the article lists questions you will likely be asked in an interview.
It helps you know what questions will be asked so you can prepare answers in advance.

The second half of the article will go into more detail on each of these questions, along with advice on how to answer them.

Check that your prepared answers are correct.

If you can answer these questions correctly, your chances of getting a job offer will increase, so practice a lot.

\ Check jobs you can apply for from overseas /

These are questions that are often asked in interviews. Understanding what kind of questions you will be asked is the first step to getting a job offer.

Don’t just answer one question and move on to the next one; instead, dig deeper into that question and answer.

Be prepared with a variety of answers so you’re prepared for whatever you’re asked.

\ Tips on how to get a job in Japan can be found here /

Here’s how to answer the question.

self-introduction

Keep your self-introduction short, about one minute, and easy to understand. Also, do not talk about your work experience or promote yourself in your self-introduction.

If you tell them everything in your self-introduction, there will be too much information and it will not be conveyed well. Don’t give away everything here, but keep it simple so that they will want to talk to you more and ask you more about various things.

Questions about abilities and skills

Explain the skills and abilities you have acquired through your past experiences in an easy-to-understand manner. When it comes to abilities and skills, focus on highlighting what the company is looking for.

If you highlight skills that the company is not looking for, it will give the impression that you do not understand anything about our company, so be specific about how you acquired those skills and abilities and how you will use them after joining the company.

Questions about personality

Through these questions, the interviewer is looking to see if the applicant’s personality and character match the company. When asked about personality, make sure you demonstrate that you match the type of person the company is looking for.

To do this, you should research the company’s website in advance to find out what type of people they are looking for.

Motivation for applying and reasons for changing jobs

Be sure to clearly explain why you chose this company and not another. When asking why you changed jobs, you will be asked whether you are changing jobs for a positive reason, such as “I want to change jobs because I want to advance my career,” or whether you are “I want to change jobs because I am dissatisfied,” so try to explain your reason for changing jobs as positively as possible.

About the applicant companies

By asking in-depth questions about the company you are applying to, they will check how keen you are on the job. They will also check how much advance preparation you have done for the interview and how much you know about the company.

By doing thorough research on the company, you can show that you “absolutely want to join this company!”

Goals and career plans

We check whether the applicant has a clear vision, such as what goals they have and what kind of career they want to build.

You will also be asked how you will use your previous experience to contribute to the company after transferring jobs, so make sure you emphasize that you have clear goals and that you can contribute to the company through your own growth.

他社選考状況について

Even if you have already taken other interviews or have made it to the final interview, you should emphasize that this company is your first choice in order to make it easier to receive a job offer. By conveying to the interviewer that you would really like to work for the company if you receive a job offer, you can give yourself an advantage in the selection process.

About desired conditions

If you have any questions about the conditions, you can ask them during the interview, but as a general rule, you should research the working conditions in advance.

In order to convey your enthusiasm, it is important to have a positive attitude towards everything. First of all, tell the interviewer that you have no problem with the working conditions and put them at ease.

About reverse questions

At the end of an interview, the interviewer asks the candidate, “Do you have any questions?” This is called a “reverse question.” With a reverse question, you can ask about things that are not written in the job posting, things that you couldn’t find out even after researching, the company culture, the actual work content and working style, etc.

If you answer “Nothing in particular,” the interviewer will think, “I’m not interested in our company,” so be sure to ask a question. If there are no questions, you can also highlight your strengths and skills.

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Above are some frequently asked questions in interviews and their explanations.

By keeping in mind the points explained for each question, thinking about your answers in advance, and going into the interview, you can receive a job offer, so be sure to prepare thoroughly in advance.

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