SOME OF THE MOST COMMON JAPANESE PART-TIME JOBS INTERVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

For many, one of the most intimidating things when it comes to applying for a job. However, there are some common questions that usually pop up.

In this article, GoEMON will introduce to you some of the most common Japanese interview questions, their corresponding answers, as well as tips on how to smoothly pass the interview. By preparing these questions beforehand, you will surely be able to impress your Japanese employers.

1. SELF-INTRODUCTION:

Before introducing yourself, make sure to say “Hajimemashite” (はじめまして)! “Hajimemashite” means “It is my pleasure to meet you.”

Here, it is of vital importance to make a good impression to the interviewer and that you stand out among the numerous other applicants. You will usually be given from roughly 30 seconds to 1 minute for this part.

Compulsory information: Name, hometown (origins), your university and major, when you first came to Japan, strong points, etc.

Optional information: Hobbies, etc.

2. WORKING HOURS:

• How many days can you work a week?
• How much time can you spare to fulfill the workload?
• From when can you start working?

Example:

どのじかんたいがごきぼうですか// きんむにきぼうは？// きぼうするきんむじかんがありますか…. (What time would you like to work?)

何曜日に働けますか (Which days can you go to work?)

いつから出勤できますか (From when can you start working?)

If you are asked the aforementioned questions, what the employer wants to know the most is how many days a week you can go to work (as well as which specific days). Therefore, make sure to double-check your class schedule to make sure that there will not be any collision with your work schedule!

Don’t forget to tell the employer the specific date when you can begin working. This will help them get a grasp of your schedule and arrange your working shift.

3. REASON FOR APPLICATION:

• Why do you want to work for our company?
• What is your preferred occupation in our company?
• Why did you choose this career?
• What can you contribute to the company?

VD: アルバイトをしたいりゆうをきかせてください (Please tell us the reason why you want to start working part-time?)

どうしてこのみせではたらきたいとおもいますか　(Why do you want to work here?)

The purpose of the question is for the employer to check how serious you are when choosing this job and whether or not you really want to work in this industry.

In order to answer this part well, you should review what you have written in your CV (if any) and prepare beforehand information about the company to reply to what they have asked in detail. Also, include your own experience in the answer.

Additionally, you can also mention how part of the reason is that you want to cover living expenses, tuition fees, and (or) have more opportunities to speak Japanese.

4. WHICH JOBS HAVE YOU WORKED IN THE PAST?

• VD: アルバイトの経験はありますか (Do you have any experience working part-time?)

This question is for the employer to see what prior experiences you have, the skills you have accumulated from previous jobs, as well as whether they will be beneficial for the position that you are applying for in the company.

Your CV should clearly state the jobs that you have worked in the past. Thus, you only have to restate the jobs as listed there.

5. WHY DID YOU QUIT YOUR PREVIOUS JOB?

You can skip this question if you have never worked before.

As this question is rather sensitive, it is best that you do not bring up reasons such as due to low salary, difficult boss, bad working system, etc.

The most reasonable answer would be that you want to better train yourself and try your best in a new working environment.

6. FUTURE PLANS:

• Why do you want to work in Japan?
• What is your goal in the next 5, or 10 years?
• For how long would you like to work in the company?

Ex: この仕事は長く続けられますか (Can you work here long-term?)

These questions are for the employers to know about your future plans.

At the moment, both your qualifications and position might meet the company’s recruitment needs. However, there is a chance that in a few years, the company may no longer match your aspirations, thus leading to you quitting the job. In that case, the company would have to train a new employee from the beginning - a long and tedious process, to replace the position that you left behind.

Hence, the employers would want to know about your future plans to see if they would align with the company’s long-term vision or not.

7. GROUP OF SITUATIONAL QUESTIONS:

This is the group of questions that gives the employers the opportunity to best see the candidates’ skills and work attitudes. The situational questions will reveal whether the candidate actually possesses the traits that they are looking for in an employee.

Some of the common situations that may come up:

• Related to work: missing deadlines, making mistakes, etc.
• Related to behaviors: relationship with customers, colleagues, boss, etc.
• Related to the candidate’s past actions: this question helps the employer better see the candidate’s experience.

8. PLEDGE:

• Can you work here long-term?
• Are you currently working another part-time job?

These questions usually come up as it helps the employer re-confirm whether you can work long-term or not, as well as whether you are currently working another part-time job. This is because some places will not hire those who have already been hired elsewhere.

9. QUESTIONS AT THE END OF THE INTERVIEW:

• Do you have any questions for us?

This is a very common question asked at the end of every interview. Japanese companies often ask their interns this question to see whether they are interested in their company or not.

Don’t answer: “I do not have any other questions,” as this can cause you to lose points in the eyes of the employer. Instead, ask simple questions related to the job or things that you are still wondering. The questions can be about the company philosophy, working environment, corporate culture, etc.

By asking questions, you are showing that you are actually trying to visualize yourself being a part of and working at the company, which can make a good impression on the employers. Of course, it depends on the content of the questions as well.

Above is the list of some of the most common Japanese part-time job interview questions. Your first time applying for a part-time job in Japan might not go well due to a plethora of reasons, such as not being able to confidently answer the questions, or your Japanese is not good enough. Therefore, make sure to prepare everything carefully beforehand, pay attention to your manners, answer all questions clearly and with an easy to hear volume, and impress your employers that you are a thorough and witty individual.

GoEMON wishes you the best of luck!