Job in Japan 2 - Interview

Hi there! I’m Aki, a Japanese former HR head from the global finance industry. I’ve conducted countless interviews with foreign candidates in Japan—solo, alongside hiring managers, and poring over feedback sheets. Based on that experience, here are my Do’s and Don’ts for landing a job in Japan. Let’s get you ready to shine!

Do

1. Be Punctual

2. Make a Good First Impression

3. Listen Carefully

4. Answer Only What’s Asked

5. Prepare Real Stories and Smart Questions

Here’s the Breakdown:

1. Punctuality – This is non-negotiable. Arrive at least 15 minutes early. You might wait a bit, but use that time to observe the office vibe, see how staff treat you (is HR ready to welcome you?), and mentally prep. It shows professionalism and respect—table stakes for Japanese hiring managers. If you’re running late, email or call with a reason ASAP.

2. First Impression – Nothing groundbreaking here; it’s universal. No need for pricey suits—just wear clean, neat clothes. Interviewers are human, and a polished look builds trust instantly. Together with punctuality, this signals you’re reliable—a must in Japan.

3. Listen – I’ve seen foreigners talk too much (enthusiasm appreciated but hold back!). Focus on listening. A nod or quick note shows you’re engaged. If a question’s unclear, rephrase it politely—“Do you mean X?”—to confirm.

4. Answer Only What’s Asked – Don’t ramble. You might be eager to share everything, but too much info can overwhelm or annoy. Stick to the point—less is often more in Japan.

5. Prepare Real Stories – We hire to know who you are and what you can do. Vague answers like “I always try my best” won’t cut it. For instance: “As marketing lead for a new product launch, I faced pushback—sales team was too busy with clients, and the product team felt ignored. I couldn’t even schedule a kickoff. So, I brought the sales and product heads together, heard their pain points, and we crafted a killer plan ahead of schedule.” Specific beats generic every time.
   Also, prepare questions about the company, role, or culture—it shows interest. But skip “How many vacation days?” or “Can we negotiate salary?” early on. Those scream “me-first” instead of “team-first.” Save benefit chats for HR later.

Don’t

1. Oversell Yourself

2. Lie—Ever

Why Not?

• Overselling – I’ve interviewed candidates claiming “in-depth knowledge” of, say, Japanese labor laws, only to falter on basic questions. If you’re hired and can’t deliver, you’ll face a performance improvement plan—or worse, a resignation nudge—within probation. It’s messy, and catching up under pressure is brutal. Be honest about your level; companies might train you.

• Lying – One candidate swore they’d never had subpoenas; a background check said otherwise. Lies get caught—Japan’s strict about integrity, and it’s baked into employment rules. Trust me, don’t risk it. In Japan, background check is not yet common for Japanese companies. Yet, in another case, we found an engineer didn’t have CISCO certificate, while the person claimed he had. CISCO has a database to show the certificated person and ID. We found it. The company didn’t conduct background check, however, HR conduct the check. When we told him what we found, he said, “I am quitting” and left the company immediately. Lucky him that the company didn’t sue him for forgery.

A Few Final Thoughts

Interviewers in Japan are often stretched thin, so they might improvise questions based on your intro. Be honest about your experience—it’s not like U.S. interviews, where I once faced a grilling from Pat Hurley (toughest ever!). Here, it’s less intense, but challenges like language or local regulations (for lateral hires) can trip you up. Share your honest skill level and what you’re doing to improve—e.g., “I’m studying JLPT N3 to boost my Japanese.” It shows initiative, and they might have training to help.

Preparation beats nerves. You’ve got this!