Interviews

[Ewok85]

I'm almost ready to head off into the unknown. I've got my visa, resume, getting some written references (in English and Japanese), guarantors and accommodation has been researched and shortlisted.

All I have left is to get a job when I get to Japan. I've been in contact with some job agencies with positions that suit my skills and experience, exchanged some emails and they are waiting for me to name a date to have an interview. I've held a few jobs and had dozens of interviews (both group and individual), normally with alot of success.

Is there anything different about Japan? I'll have to take my resume and a copy of my references, I've noticed they have a thing for photos so I'll attach one to my resume, should I make up some small business cards with my temporary address and contact details? (Not a huge deal, got some nice card and a color laser printer next to me).

Should I stick to my current interview attitudes; go in confident, bright, friendly, is it ok to ask questions? Etiquette, dress and bearing are highly rated so I'll be on my best performance there... Anything else? I want this to be as smooth as possible

[Drkns]

*bump*

As I'll be dealing with this within the next year or two, is there any chance that somebody could respond to Ewok85's original post?

If you've now been through a few interviews yourself, Ewok85, would you mind sharing some of your experiences with those of us who have yet to do so?

[Ewok85]

Well I got the job offered with the first interview, so my experience in that area was kinda cut short

I think the following are common sense, but you never know with some people. Make sure you come well dressed, a suit is a must, preferebly freshly dry cleaned, shave and make sure the hair is neat etc. Also come prepared - have several copies of your resume on hand, in Japan its preferred to have a photo attached so try and have a passport sized/style photo either printed on or glued on.

Individual interviews seem to be the norm here, but then again I was apply for individual positions (rather than group positions). Try to keep answers short (about a minute to 2 minutes) and plan ahead to what you are going to answer for tricky questions, like what are your strong and weak points? Also ALWAYS think of a question to ask the interviewer, asking makes you appear more interested in finding out more about the position and interviewers usually enjoy explaining things

Otherwise as far as interviews go it was pretty normal - both were conducted in English (with some questions in Japanese too). You tend to have about 3 or 4 interviews before "getting" the position, once you have a second interview you are pretty much set.

[Drkns]

Wow! First time, eh? Congrats.
Thanks for the information. While it might be common sense, some people - myself included - tend to lose sight of what would normally seem the obvious thing to do when stressed.

Thanks again,
JK

[monkeyjuice5051]

When you are asked in Japanese, and didn't understand the question. Since you're not proficient with japanese. Would they likely not hire you?

BTW. What position was this for, and is Japanese a must?

[Ewok85]

I was asked in Japanese and replied in Japanese, I've studied Japanese for a fair while now and was confident that I had enough to see me through an interview (despite having perfect English every meeting after that has been in Japanese! Gah, missed my chance!).

The position was in IT, Network Support and associated headaches that come with it ;) For my particular position, yes, Japanese is essential. I work with Japanese people in a Japanese company using computer and materials that are Japanese. Its pretty overwhelming but I'm getting used to it. I think. Could be one big conspiracy...

[monkeyjuice5051]

Well the thingy is. I'm over here in America. 2 years into College and just sick and tier of this place and want to do something different.

I want to go and live in Japan for 3 years? Get some kind of office job there and enjoy the Japs life.

Thingy is I'm Vietnamese, born in the US so I speak both language pretty good except japanese is new to me.

Question is.. how did you do it? How did you started and where to look?

[Ewok85]

I've got experience working in IT, experience in Japanese (and JLPT), and have been to Japan before, so it was fairly easy for me. The most important part is being able to secure a working visa, for which you will need to have completed University/College, so you would need to do that first. If you don't speak Japanese you need something else to offer, which usually means having 3-5 years work experience in some field.

[yukio_michael]

Ewok85, do you have your bachelors degree? Did the company that you went to work for sponsor your visa... and... how do these two things relate? I mean, was it a requirement of the company which hired you that you have completed your bachelors? Since you're age is 20, if you have it, when did you get the time get it?

Lot's of questions, sorry!

[Ewok85]

I don't have a Bachelors and received the job based on my experience.

The company I interviewed at and subsequent interviews, they had no issue about me not having completed University in regards to the work. When it came to the Visa, there was some concerns, as having a bachelors in anything is your "golden ticket" to getting a visa. I'm currently on a working holiday and will convert my visa to a more normal one during the year.

I may be 20 but I graduated High School when I was 16, so I could have scraped a BA in before now ;) Instead I've spent quite a few years working and training to improve my postion, and for my age I'm doing that pretty well IMO.

Ask away, I do it often enough ;) (I started this thread with a question!)

[monkeyjuice5051]

EWok85, what nationality are you?

[Ewok85]

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
<------ Australian.

[monkeyjuice5051]

so you over in japan right now surfing forums while working? haha just like the americans.

[yukio_michael]

Originally Posted by Ewok85

I don't have a Bachelors and received the job based on my experience.

I may be 20 but I graduated High School when I was 16, so I could have scraped a BA in before now ;) Instead I've spent quite a few years working and training to improve my postion, and for my age I'm doing that pretty well IMO.

Congratulations on doing so much in such a short time. Me, I'm probably going to go in the same direction if I try to get serious work in Japan other than teaching, I've been a developer for more than 12 years, but... I still would like to get my bachelors degree.

[Ewok85]

Originally Posted by monkeyjuice5051

so you over in japan right now surfing forums while working? haha just like the americans.

Thats right ;) Week before Golden week and its absolutly dead - when your job is to coordinate work that other people do, and everyone is going on holiday for a week, you tend to have alot of free time ;)

That and I don't have the internet at home yet. But thats all going to change next week....

Originally Posted by yukio_michael

Congratulations on doing so much in such a short time. Me, I'm probably going to go in the same direction if I try to get serious work in Japan other than teaching, I've been a developer for more than 12 years, but... I still would like to get my bachelors degree.

Thanks! I always dreamed of being a pilot in the Army, and computing took a back seat as more of a hobby. Thanks to poor eyesight im not going to be able to fly (in the military anyway), and it was more luck that I pursued Japan more.

Right now theres alot of demand for people who have experience with things like SQL (especially in conjunction with LAMP), general network experience, and alot of management positions. I really want to get into a mid-level network admin position, and maybe can move up to a more managerial position later on. The big crux will be my age - Japanese tend to be picky about that - but hopefully I can leverage that with my experience. By time I'm 24 I'll have a 7 year headstart on people just coming out of University

[monkeyjuice5051]

Originally Posted by Ewok85

Thats right ;) Week before Golden week and its absolutly dead - when your job is to coordinate work that other people do, and everyone is going on holiday for a week, you tend to have alot of free time ;)
That and I don't have the internet at home yet. But thats all going to change next week....
Thanks! I always dreamed of being a pilot in the Army, and computing took a back seat as more of a hobby. Thanks to poor eyesight im not going to be able to fly (in the military anyway), and it was more luck that I pursued Japan more.
Right now theres alot of demand for people who have experience with things like SQL (especially in conjunction with LAMP), general network experience, and alot of management positions. I really want to get into a mid-level network admin position, and maybe can move up to a more managerial position later on. The big crux will be my age - Japanese tend to be picky about that - but hopefully I can leverage that with my experience. By time I'm 24 I'll have a 7 year headstart on people just coming out of University

Ask your manager if he/she hiring any position right now. I take anything at your firm. just to live in japan right now.

[Ewok85]

http://www.fujitsu.com/global/about/employment/japan/

Go nuts

[NETKOJI]

Originally Posted by Ewok85

Right now theres alot of demand for people who have experience with things like SQL (especially in conjunction with LAMP), general network experience, and alot of management positions. I really want to get into a mid-level network admin position, and maybe can move up to a more managerial position later on. The big crux will be my age - Japanese tend to be picky about that - but hopefully I can leverage that with my experience. By time I'm 24 I'll have a 7 year headstart on people just coming out of University

That's excellent news, if this demand keeps up for the next few years I (as well as all of us IT's here) may yet stand a great chance of finding a job over there in my field. I'm currently working for a hosting company as a PHP programmer, so I have quite a lot in common with SQL. Also, the major of my studies is electronics and telecommunications (with an emphasis on computer networks and networking systems) so it makes the situation even better... not to mention, that I'm planning to get a master degree on 2 universities at the same time ;) Hopefully I'll be quite fluent with Japanese by the time I'm ready to go to work there... ;)