Japanese Style │ Japanese interview manners and tips what is the interviewer's point of view?

1. Interview in Japan: What should I wear? Wear a suit unless otherwise specified.

Wear a suit unless otherwise specified.

Interview Manners in Japan
In Japan, it is good manners to wear a suit to a job interview.
This is because a suit gives the impression of cleanliness and sincerity and does not cause discomfort in anyone's eyes.
Unique and eccentric clothing, hairstyles, strong perfumes, and heavy makeup will give different impressions for some people, and will not make a good impression at a job interview or in a Japanese workplace.
Bags should be A4 size, shoes should be leather, and the color of the bag and shoes should be dark black or brown.

Interview Manners Around the World
Some countries have clothing and hair style to be an individuality and a form of self-promotion way of thinking, other countries believe that work has nothing to do with clothing at all.

In the apparel industry and other companies that require a person's sense of style, they may be asked to "come to the interview in casual clothes," "dress freely," or "wear casual clothes.

If you do, make sure your attire matches the brand image of the company you are interviewing with.
For more information on interview attire, please refer to "Grooming enables you to change jobs and find employment".

  POINT Interviewer Perspective
・Can you dress appropriately according to TPO (time, place and occasion)?
・After joining the company, will your appearance give an unpleasant impression to colleagues and business partners?
・Do you understand Japanese business etiquette?

2. Interview in Japan: When do you take off your coat and hat? Take it before registration.

Interview Manners in Japan
It is good manners to take off your coat, backpack, and hat before arriving at the interview venue and going to the reception desk.
Please take off your coat and hang it on your arm, and remove your
backpack and hat then hold them in one hand before going to the reception desk.
This applies not only to interviews, but also to sales visits to a company.

Interview Manners Around the World
Some countries consider clothing and hair style to be an individuality and a form of self-promotion. They do not care when you take off your coat or what you wear to work.
In some countries, the timing of when to take off your coat is not a concern.

You may wear a mask when you catch a cold or as a precaution, but you should take it off for the interview.
If you have a cough and need to wear a mask, ask permission from the interviewer, "May I wear a mask because I have a cough?

(*After March 2020: Due to the prevention of the spread of new coronavirus infection, it is now good manners to "wear a mask" when meeting people in Japan. When going for an interview, always wear a mask, and also keep a spare mask in your bag in case something goes wrong.)

POINT Interviewer Perspective
・Can you dress appropriately according to TPO (time, place and occasion)?
・After joining the company, will your appearance give an unpleasant impression to colleagues and business partners?
・Do you understand Japanese business etiquette?

3. Interview in Japan: What is the best time to arrive? Arrive 30 minutes before registration, 5-10 minutes before the reception desk.

Interview Manners in Japan
At the interview, register 5-10 minutes before the interview start time (meeting time).
Leave your home to arrive at the interview venue 30 minutes before the interview time, allowing plenty of time to get there.
Check the interview venue in advance and register 5-10 minutes before the interview.

Arriving late is not acceptable, but arriving too early and registering will also make you seem like an annoying person who does not consider the other party's convenience.
Even if you arrive early, try to arrive 5-10 minutes before registration.

Interview Manners Around the World
In some countries, tardiness of 5 to 10 minutes is acceptable, while in other countries, tardiness of 2 to 3 hours is normal.

If a person is late on the day of an important job interview that determines the job will be evaluated as someone who is not well prepared, or someone who is always late even after joining the company.

On the day of the interview, be sure to leave plenty of time for the interview so that you can be on time for the interview no matter what happens, such as train delays.
If you are going to be late, even if it is only for a minute, be sure to call.

When you call to report your tardiness, give the reason for your tardiness (briefly), the time you will arrive (how many minutes you will be late), and an apology.
"I have an interview scheduled for today at 00:00. Due to a train delay, I will be about five minutes late. I apologize."

If you arrive late, again apologize when you arrive at the interview venue for your tardiness.

POINT Interviewer Perspective
・Can you keep the time that was promised? Can you plan your actions with sufficient time to spare?
・After joining the company, will you be sincere (keep your promises) to your co-workers and business partners?
・Do you understand Japanese business etiquette?

4. Interview in Japan: What do you do with the business cards you receive? Handle them carefully and put them straight on the desk.

Interview Manners in Japan
When you receive a business card, take it with both hands and place it straight down on the left side of your desk.
It is bad manners to immediately put the business card in your pocket or purse.
It is also bad manners to place the card at an angle on the desk or to place a cell phone or other object on top of the card.

Interview Manners Around the World
Some countries do not value business cards or do not utilize them in the first place.

In the Japanese business scene, business cards are very important communication tools.

In Japan, business cards are considered to be one's alter ego.
If you immediately put your business card away in your bag or play with it in front of the recipient, it sends a message of "you are not important to me".

Handle the business cards with care, and when putting them away after the interview, say "I'll take your business card", and then put it away in the "business card case".

POINT Interviewer Perspective
・Can you be respectful to your co-workers and business partners after joining the company?
・Can you make a good impression on your colleagues and clients after joining the company?
・Do you understand Japanese business etiquette?

5. Interview in Japan: How do you greet the interviewer? Smile and greet cheerfully at the beginning and end.

Interview Manners in Japan
Anyone who can look the other person in the eye and greet them with a smile and a cheerful greeting is a good impression.
Not only to the interviewer, but also to the receptionist or the person who gave you a tour of the office, look them in the eye and greet them well.

Interview Manners Around the World
Greetings are universal manners.
People who can look others in the eye, smile, and greet in a loud and clear voice are attractive.

Before the interview, please say
"My name is XXX. Thank you for taking the time to meet with me today. Nice to meet you."

When the interview finish and you leave the room, you should say
"Thank you for your valuable time today. I'll leave now. ''
Look the interviewer in the eye and greet him or her with a smile.

POINT Interviewer Perspective
・Can you properly greet people, the basis of human relations?
・Can you interact with people with a smile?

6. Interviews in Japan: What is the best posture during interviews? Sit deeply in your chair and have proper posture.

Interview Manners in Japan
Sit in a chair with a deep seat, do not lean against the back, face forward, keep your chin down and your back straight.
Be careful not to spread the legs too far apart. (For men, make a gap of one fist. For women, the legs should be lightly aligned with the knees together).
Hands should be placed on both knees and feet should be aligned so that the toes are parallel.
Please note that crossing your arms, legs, or elbows is bad manners.

Interview Manners Around the World
In some countries, "it's better to be imposing," and "chair posture has nothing to do with skill."

In Japan, whether a person is polite and sincere is also judged by his/her posture and behavior in the chair.
Note that the posture of the person sitting in the chair is one of the items that are looked at during the interview.

Check whether you are able to sit in a chair with a beautiful posture while looking in a mirror at home.
It takes muscle strength to maintain good posture for a long time, so it is good to practice beforehand.

POINT Interviewer Perspective
・Can you deal with the situation appropriately according to TPO (time, place and occasion)?
・Can you be respectful to your co-workers and business partners after joining the company?
・Do you understand Japanese business etiquette?

7. Interviews in Japan: What is the best way of asking the interviewer? Do not interrupt the interviewer, listen to the end of what he/she says.

Interview Manners in Japan
Listen to the interviewer's questions and answers until the end of the interview, and only begin speaking when the interviewer has finished.
Also, don't talk too much about yourself.
If you interrupt others or change the subject abruptly, you will be judged as someone who is difficult to communicate with.

Interview Manners Around the World
In some countries, it is regarded as proactive to promote oneself as long as there is time.
In other countries, people do not mind if you interrupt them to tell your own story.

The interviewer has several questions to ask you to get to know you and to determine whether or not to hire you.
Basically, let the interviewer take the lead in the conversation, and answer at his/her pace.
Also, Japanese grammar comes to conclusions last, so listen to the interviewer's questions and what he or she has to say until the end.

If you cannot understand the meaning of the interviewer's question, or if you did not hear it well, ask them after he/she finished speaking.
For example "I'm sorry, I didn't understand your question, so please repeat it." or "Is it correct that you meant what you just said, 〇〇〇〇?"

It is not rude to ask back or confirm the content, so do not hesitate to ask.

POINT Interviewer Perspective
・Whether there is an attitude of respect for the other people, such as listening carefully to what the others have to say.
・Will you be able to communicate well with your co-workers and business partners after joining the company?
・Do you understand Japanese business etiquette?

8. Interview in Japan: What questions to ask the interviewer? Do not ask only about employment conditions.

Interview Manners in Japan
Asking about employment conditions such as salary, holidays, and overtime work is not a problem, but if you ask only about employment conditions, you may make the interviewer uneasy to think "the employer will decide on the company based solely on employment conditions? will they quit as soon as the conditions worsen?"
In addition to employment conditions, ask questions from a wide range of perspectives, such as job content and satisfaction, company philosophy and business direction, and expectations for foreign employees.

Interview Manners Around the World
In some countries, employment terms and conditions, such as holidays, salary, and overtime hours, are detailed in thick contracts.

Change your questions depending on the position of the interviewer.
This will help you understand the company better.

What if the interviewer is from HR or the department to which I am assigned?
・Job description
・Job satisfaction
・Workplace atmosphere
・Conditions of employment
・Personnel system

What if the department head or manager is the interviewer?
・Company philosophy and mission
・Business plan for the next 3 or 5 years
・What they expect from foreign employees
・Questions to the interviewer are one way to communicate your interests and thoughts.

If you ask a question about "workplace atmosphere," it gives the impression that "you are someone who cares about the atmosphere of the workplace".

If you ask a question about "business plans for the next three or five years," it gives the impression that "you are someone who can take a medium- to long-term perspective".

It is good to ask questions while also thinking about "what impression you want to make on the interviewer".

POINT Interviewer Perspective
・Do you fully understand the company and job description?
・What kind of things are you interested in?
・Are you willing to actively communicate?

9. Interviews in Japan: What should not be said in an interview? Do not complain or speak ill of your previous employer.

Interview Manners in Japan
During an interview, people who complain or bad-mouth their previous employer are perceived negatively and will be judged "If this person has any dissatisfaction after joining the company, will likely complain about work. It's going to be a bad atmosphere at work." or "If this person is dissatisfied, likely to quit job "

Interview Manners Around the World
In the world, it is not uncommon for people to change jobs because they are dissatisfied with their previous employer, or to move to a new position with better conditions.

During the interview, you will always be asked why you left your job or why you want to change jobs.
At that time, you may be tempted to complain or bad-mouth your previous employer, but be patient.

Try to convey a positive motive for your reason for resignation.
・I became interested in the 〇〇 industry.
・I wanted to develop more expertise in 〇〇.

If your resignation is unavoidable, be honest to talk about it.
・Commuting has become difficult due to the company's relocation.
・Got sick (Tell them that you have recovered and are fine now).
・Have to return to my home country due to family reasons.

If you need to tell them about your dissatisfaction with your previous job, also tell them about the efforts you made to resolve your dissatisfaction.
・I felt that there was a problem with my 〇〇, and I suggested it to my boss many times, but it was rejected.
　I have decided to change jobs, partly due to my lack of effort, but also because I cannot seem to solve the 〇〇 problem.
・I was assigned to a department I did not want.
I tried to give it a try for a year, but I still could not give up my interest in the field, so I decided to change my job.

POINT Interviewer Perspective
・Will you be able to communicate well with your co-workers and business partners after joining the company?
・Do you understand Japanese business etiquette?
・Can you make an effort to resolve complaints and problems?

10. Interview in Japan: What should not be said in an interview? Do not say that you plan to change jobs in one or two years.

Interview Manners in Japan
Japanese companies are extremely reluctant to hire people who are likely to retire soon, because they believe that once they hire an employee, they are responsible for training him or her and maintaining employment until retirement.
There is also the concept of job rotation, a system whereby employees experience a variety of jobs in order to gain an understanding of the company as a whole and to develop them into management executives.

Therefore, if you leave a company after one or two years because you cannot do the work you like, it will be a big loss for the company because all the time you have spent training them will have been wasted.
Choose a company with an attitude of understanding Japanese corporate culture and with the intention of working there for 3 years.

Interview Manners Around the World
In the world, it is common practice to change jobs and step up in two to three years.

Recently, job changes have become common things in Japan, and some companies have come up with a new concept of "supporting employees who change jobs." However, most Japanese companies still think of employees as family members, and are responsible for keeping them employed and training them until they retire.

POINT Interviewer Perspective
・Do you understand Japanese corporate culture and manners?
・Are you likely to be a long-term player in the company?
・What do you think about your career?

Summary

How was the column about "What is the interviewer's point of view"?
This can be applied not only to interviews but also to your daily life and workplace in Japan.

・Interview in Japan: What should I wear? Wear a suit unless otherwise specified.
・ Interview in Japan: When do you take off your coat and hat? Take it before registration.
・Interview in Japan: What is the best time to arrive? Arrive 30 minutes before registration, 5-10 minutes before the reception desk
・Interview in Japan: What do you do with the business cards you receive? Handle them carefully and put them straight on the desk.
・Interview in Japan: How do you greet the interviewer? Smile and greet cheerfully at the beginning and end.
・Interviews in Japan: What is the best posture during interviews? Sit deeply in your chair and have proper posture.
・Interviews in Japan: What is the best way of asking the interviewer? Do not interrupt the interviewer, listen to the end of what he/she says.
・Interview in Japan: What questions to ask the interviewer? Do not ask only about employment conditions.
・Interviews in Japan: What should not be said in an interview? Do not complain or speak ill of your previous employer.
・Interview in Japan: What should not be said in an interview? Do not say that you plan to change jobs in one or two years.
・The interviewer's point of view is "Whether you understand Japanese culture and manners or not" "You can communicate well with your colleagues and business partners after joining the company or not" "How’s your way of thinking".

Manners are a courtesy that does not offend others and is a sign of respect for them.
If you make others uncomfortable, unfortunately, your reputation will suffer.
To avoid losing your reputation and being rejected for a job simply because you do not have good manners, be sure to have a firm grasp of Japanese manners and tips before you go to the interview.