Success Guide: Part-Time Job Interview Q&A in Japan
For those who absolutely want to succeed in a Japanese part-time job interview, this article provides information on what kinds of questions you might be asked, how to answer them, and techniques for success in the interview. By reading this article, you'll gain confidence for your interview and eliminate any feelings of anxiety.
1）Important Things in a Japanese Interview
Japanese company interviews are not only about your skills and experience but also about whether you can adapt to Japanese culture and the way of working. Below are some important points to keep in mind during the interview.
・Speak in Japanese
Speaking Japanese well in the interview is very important to convey your desire to work at the company and your ability to adapt to life in Japan. It’s necessary to use polite language and be able to use business Japanese properly.
・Business Etiquette
Japanese business etiquette includes being punctual, dressing appropriately, using polite language, and greeting others, all of which are carefully defined. It is important to be familiar with these manners and be able to perform them correctly.
Japanese Etiquette: Punctuality
・Cultural differences
Japanese companies often place great importance on cooperation, respecting seniority, and working for the same company for a long time. There may be differences compared to the culture in your country, so it is necessary to understand Japanese culture and show your willingness to adapt. Of course, Japanese companies are also making efforts to understand foreign cultures. By learning and understanding cultural differences, creates better and more enjoyable working relationships.
2）Commonly Asked Questions in Japanese Interviews and How to Answer Them
In Japanese interviews, the following types of questions are often asked. Examples of how to answer them will also be provided, so let's prepare in advance so that you can answer confidently on the day of the interview.
Q1. 日本にいつまで住む予定ですか？
(Nihon ni itsu made sumu yotei desuka?)
English: How long do you plan to live in Japan?
💬For example
「今の〇〇(あなたのビザの名前)ビザでは〇年〇月まで住むことができます。長く働きたいので、ビザの更新を考えています。」
(Ima no 〇〇biza deha 〇nenn 〇gatsu made sumu koto ga dekimasu. Nagaku hatarakitai node biza no koushinn wo kanngaete imasu.)
English: "With my current ____ (your visa type) visa, I can stay until Month, Day, Year. I would like to work here long-term, so I am planning to renew my visa."
💡Points
・State your visa type and expiration date.
・Express your desire to stay in Japan long-term.
Q2.なぜこの会社で働きたいのですか？
(Naze kono kaisya de hatarakitai nodesuka?)
English: Why do you want to work for this company?
💬For example：Restaurant
「日本の料理が大好きで、特に〇〇(応募したお店の料理の名前)という料理に興味があります。お客様に日本の料理のおいしさや文化を伝えたいと思い、応募しました。以前、私の国でレストランのアルバイトをしていたので、その時の経験を活かしたいです。」
(Nihon no ryouri ga daisuki de tokuni 〇〇 toiu ryouri ni kyoumi ga arimasu. Okyakusama ni nihon no ryouri no oisisa ya bunka wo tutaetai to omoi oubo simahsita. Izen watashi no kuni de resutoran no arubaito wo shiteita node sono toki no keiken wo ikashitai desu. )
English: "I love Japanese cuisine, and I'm particularly interested in your restaurant's ____ (Name of dish). I applied because I want to share the deliciousness and culture of Japanese food with customers. I have previous restaurant work experience in my country, and I want to utilize that experience here."
💬For example：Store
「私は人と話すことが好きで、お客様を笑顔にする仕事がしたいと思っています。〇〇(応募したお店の名前)では、様々なお客様と話す機会があり、私のコミュニケーション能力を活かせると考えたので応募しました。」
(Watasi ha hito to hanasu koto ga suki de okyakusama wo egao ni suru shigoto ga shitai to omotte imasu. 〇〇 deha samazama na okyakusama to hanasu kikai ga ari watashi no komyunike-syonn nouryoku wo ikaseru to kanngaeta node oubo shimashita.)
English: "I enjoy interacting with people, and I want to work in a job where I can make customers smile. ____ (Name of store) provides opportunities to interact with a variety of customers, and I applied because I believe I can utilize my communication skills here."
💬For example：Hotel
「日本に来て、いろいろな場所を旅行しましたが、〇〇(応募したホテルの名前)のホテルが一番印象に残っています。私も〇〇(応募したお店の名前)のメンバーとして、お客様に日本の素晴らしいサービスを体験していただきたいです。」
(Nihon ni kite iroiro na basyo wo ryokou shimashita ga 〇〇 no hoteru ga itibann innsyou ni nokotte imasu. Watashi mo 〇〇 no mennba- toshite okyakusama ni nihon no subarashii sa-bisu wo taikenn shite itadakitai desu.)
English: "After traveling to various places in Japan, ____ (Name of hotel) left the strongest impression on me. I want to help provide customers with a wonderful Japanese hospitality experience as a member of ____ (Name of hotel)'s team."
💬For example：Leisure Facility
「日本のテーマパークやレジャー施設は、世界でも有名です。私もお客様に最高のエンターテイメントを提供したいです。私の国で、テーマパークのアルバイト経験があるので、お客様を楽しませる自信があります。」
(Nihon no te-mapa-ku ya rejya-shisetsu ha sekai demo yuumei desu. Watashi mo okyakusama ni saikou no ennta-teimennto wo teikyou shitai desu. Watashi no kuni de te-mapa-ku no arubeito keiken ga aru node okyakusama wo tanoshimaseru jishin ga arimasu. )
English: "Japanese theme parks and leisure facilities are world-renowned. I want to provide the best entertainment to customers. I have theme park work experience in my country, so I'm confident in my ability to entertain customers."
💡Points
・Highlight your genuine interest in Japanese culture and the company.
・Highlight your desire to work hard for the store or company.
・Highlight the skills you've gained from previous jobs.
Q3. 1週間に何日働くことができますか？
(Issyuukan ni nannichi hataraku koto ga dekimasuka?)
English: How many days a week are you available to work?
💬For example
「1週間に〇日働くことができます。〇曜日と〇曜日は何も予定がないので働くことができます。会社のスケジュールに合わせて調整できます。」
(Issyuukan ni 〇nichi hataraku koto ga dekimasu. 〇youbi to 〇youbi ha nanimo yotei ga nai node hataraku koto ga dekimasu. Kaisya no sukejyu-ru ni awasete tyousei dekimasu.)
English: "I am available to work ○ days a week. Specifically, I am free on ____ and ____. I am also very flexible and willing to work around the company's schedule and needs."
💡Points
・Before going to the interview, check the available days and days of the week for work.
・Convey that you can accommodate the company's schedule.
Q4. 1日に何時間働くことができますか？
(Ichinishi ni nanjikan hataraku koto ga dekimasuka?)
English: How many hours can you work in a day?
💬For example
「1日〇時間働くことができます。〇時から〇時までの時間を希望しますが、仕事の内容や忙しさによって、働く時間を変えることができます。」
(Ichinishi 〇jikan hataraku koto ga dekimasu. 〇ji kara 〇ji madeno jikann wo kibou shimasuga shigoto no naiyou ya isogashisa niyotte hataraku jikann wo kaeru koto ga dekimasu.)
English: "I can work ____hours per day. My preferred hours are from ____ to ____, but I am flexible and can adjust my work hours depending on the job requirements and workload."
💡Points
・Before going to the interview, check the available work hours.
・Communicate that you are flexible with various time slots.
Q5. 日本で働いたことはありますか？
(Nihon de hataraita koto ha arimasuka?)
English: Have you ever worked in Japan?
💬For example：Yes
「はい、〇〇(お店や会社の名前)で〇〇(仕事の種類)のアルバイトを〇ヶ月していました。〇〇(仕事の内容)を通して、〇〇(スキル)を身につけました。この経験を〇〇(応募した仕事)でも活かしたいです。」
(Hai 〇〇de 〇〇 no arubaito wo 〇kagetu shite imashita. 〇〇 wo tooshite 〇〇wo minitukemashita. Kono keiken wo 〇〇 demo ikashitai desu. )
English: "Yes, I worked at ____ (name of the store or company) as a ____ (type of work) part-time for ____ months. Through ____ (job duties), I developed ____ (skills). I would like to utilize this experience in this ____ (job you are applying for) position."
💬For example：No
「日本でのアルバイト経験はありませんが、〇〇(自分の国)で〇〇(仕事の種類)の経験があります。この経験は〇〇(応募した仕事)でも活かせると思います。日本で働くのは初めてですが、早く仕事を覚えてがんばります。」
(Nihon deno arubaito keiken ha arimasenga 〇〇 de 〇〇 no keiken ga arimasu. kono keiken ha 〇〇 demo ikaseru to omoimasu. Nihonde hataraku noha hajimete desuga hayaku shigoto wo oboete ganbarimasu.)
English:"I don't have any part-time work experience in Japan, but I have experience as a ____ (type of work) in ____ (your country). I believe this experience can be applied to this ____ (job you are applying for) position. Although this is my first time working in Japan, I will learn quickly and work hard."
💡Points
・Provide detailed information such as the store or company you worked at and the type of work.
・Explain how your experience will be useful for the job you are applying for.
Q6. あなたの良いところは何ですか？
(Anata no ii tokoro ha nani desuka?)
English: What are your strengths?
💬For example：Ability to communicate effectively
「私の良いところは、人と話すのが好きなことです。今の学校では、色々な国から来た学生と勉強しています。言葉や文化がちがう人と話すことはむずかしいですが、相手の話をよく聞いて、自分の気持ちも伝えるようにしています。そのようにして、色々な国の友達ができました。この経験は、たくさんのお客様と話す仕事で役に立つと思います。」
(Watashi no ii tokoro ha hito to hanasu noga sukina koto desu. Ima no gakkou deha iroiro na kuni kara kita gakusei to bannkyou shiteimasu. kotoba ya bunka ga tigau hito to hanasu kotoha muzukashii desuga aite no hanashi wo yoku kiite jibun ni kimochi mo tutaeru youni shiteimasu. Sonoyouni shite iroiro na kuni no tomodachi ga dekimashita. Kono keiken ha takusan no okyakusama to hanasu shigoto de yakuni tatsuto omoimasu. )
English: "One of my strengths is that I enjoy talking to people. At my current school, I study with students from various countries. It can be difficult to talk with people from different languages and cultures, but I make an effort to listen carefully to others and express my own feelings. Through this, I have made friends from many different countries. I believe this experience will be helpful in a job where I will talk to many customers."
💬For example：Ability to learn quickly
「私の良いところは、いつも新しいことを学びたいと思っていることです。前のアルバイトでは、仕事を早く覚えて、もっと上手になりたいと思っていました。お客さんや一緒に働く人から、いろいろなことを教えてもらって、それを仕事に活かしていました。」
(Watashi no ii tokoro ha itumo atarashii koto wo manabitaito omotteiru koto desu. Mae no arubaito deha shigoto wo hayaku oboete motto jyouzu ni naritaito omotte imashita. Okyakusan ya issyoni hataraku hito kara iroiro na koto wo oshiete moratte sore wo shigoto ni ikashite imashita.)
English: "One of my strengths is that I always want to learn new things. In my previous part-time job, I was eager to learn quickly and improve my skills. I learned various things from customers and my coworkers, and I applied that knowledge to my work."
💬For example：Ability to work effectively within a team
「私の良いところは、みんなと協力して仕事をすることです。前のアルバイトでは、周りの人と一緒に仕事をすることで、早く仕事を終わらせることができました。困っている人がいたら、助けるようにしていました。」
(Watashi no ii tokoro wa minna to kyouryoku shite shigoto wo suru koto desu. Mae no arubaito de wa, mawari no hito to issho ni shigoto wo suru koto de, hayaku shigoto wo owaraseru koto ga dekimashita. Komatteiru hito ga itara tasukeru you ni shite imashita.)
English: "One of my strengths is working together with others. In my previous part-time job, by collaborating with those around me, I was able to finish tasks quickly. If someone was having trouble, I made sure to help them."
💡Points
・Don't just list your strengths; provide specific examples and explain how they will benefit you in this job.
・Research the company and the position to understand what qualities they value, and then highlight your strengths that align with those needs.
3）Tips for Succeeding in a Japanese Interview
Thorough preparation is essential for success in a Japanese job interview. Use these tips to get ready.
・Company Research
Gather information about the company by exploring their website, social media, and other resources.
✓Company mission and values
✓Job responsibilities and expectations
✓Desired candidate qualifications
✓Industry overview
etc.
・Self-Assessment
Gain confidence by thoroughly understanding your own strengths and experiences.
✓ Your key strengths
✓ Relevant past experiences
✓ Your skills and abilities
✓ Your career goals and aspirations
etc.
・Practice speaking Japanese
Practice Speaking Fluent and Appropriate Japanese.
✓Proper use of polite language (Keigo)
✓ Business-specific vocabulary
✓ Effective communication skills (tone, body language)
Consider taking a Japanese proficiency test to assess your language level.
・Question Preparation
Prepare thoughtful questions to ask at the end of the interview to demonstrate your genuine interest in the company and the position.
✓「この仕事で求められるスキルは何でしょうか？」
(Kono shigoto de motomerareru sukiru wa nan deshou ka?)
English: “What skills are required for this job?”
✓ 「一緒に働く方はどのような方が多いですか？」
(Issho ni hataraku kata wa donna kata ga ooi desu ka?)
English: “What kind of people do you work with most often?”
✓「入社までに勉強しておいた方が良いことはありますか？」
(Nyusha made ni benkyō shite oita hō ga ii koto wa arimasu ka?)
English: "Is there anything I should study or prepare before joining the company?"
etc.
4）Summary
This article has provided key insights into Japanese interviews, including essential points to remember, common questions you might encounter, and valuable tips for interview success.
We encourage you to use this information to thoroughly prepare for your upcoming interviews, ensuring you're ready for any questions and confident in your responses. Go into your interviews with your head held high!
We wish you the best of luck in your job search in Japan!
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