Interviewing with a Japanese Company

Following established protocols is key to a successful interview with a Japanese company. Japanese business culture values peace, harmony and long term relationships. In conducting business, Japanese hve established rules for communication, decision-making, meetings and presentations. Contrasted with these formal codes of behavior are the American competitive, casual attitude and a tendency to form short-term liaisons for short-term gain.

Adhering to established Japanese business etiquette will improve your chances of a job offer. Follow these conventions from the moment you open the door until the time it is closed behind you.

Keep in mind that your Japanese interviewer will form an opinion about you based at least as much (maybe more) on what you do as on what you say.

1. Japanese appreciate when others make an effort to learn about their culture. Prepare for the interview by learning enough about Japanese culture so that you will be comfortable during your interview.
2. Choose samples of your work that represent your accomplishments related to the position for which you are interviewing. Ask your search consultant what type of graphic examples would be best.
3. Learn the names of those who will be interviewing you and how to pronounce them correctly.
4. Unless the interviewer requests otherwise, address everyone by last name with an appropriate title. If the interviewer asks you to use first names, do so until time to say goodbye. Goodbyes are more formal; don't feel you have to jump in to fill the quiet with unnecessary words.
5. Say enough to completely answer questions, but don't talk too much. Japanese use silence as a way of communication; don't feel you have to jump in to fill the quiet with unnecessary words.
6. When answering questions, speak slowly so Japanese listeners can understand, but not so slowly as to be condescending. Use short concise sentences. If you don't understand a question, it is better to politely ask the interviewer to repeat it rather than forge ahead with an answer that may not be correct.
7. Pay attention to all who are in the interview. Answer your questioner first, but from time to time, turn your face to those who are silent during the interview. In many cases, the highest appropriate manager will attend the interview. He may not be fluent in English, but it is important to acknowledge his presence and position.
8. Show a willingness and motivation to learn and apply new concepts and ideas. Exaggerating your experience or knowledge will not make a favorable impression.
9. Strengthen your position by indicatin or being in a postion to indicate that other companies are considering you. Be careful not to appear too needy by overstating your interest in working for this company.
10. If you want to be considered for the position, follow your interview immediately with a thank you email or letter to the interviewer.
    

Asking Questions During an Interview

Asking Questions During an Interview

It’s called “Ask and ye may receive…that job you want” and it’s includes some questions you should and shouldn’t ask a potential employer during a job interview.

It’s important to note that, the worst thing you can do is decline to ask questions, said Stephen Tryon, senior vice president of logistics and talent management at Overstock.com. It could show laziness or, worse, a lack of interest. Still, you want to avoid asking questions that can easily be researched on the company’s Web site, or about pay and benefits packages ” at least during the initial interview.

“Hiring is like a blind date, and nobody knows how it’s going to work out,” Tryon said. “But in that encounter, you should offer good value for their time and ask questions that will really determine whether you’re a good match or not.”

Do your homework
It’s a good idea to ask very specific questions that demonstrate your knowledge about the company and that you’ve done your research, said Doug Arms, chief talent officer for Ajilon Professional Staffing. This can be about products, competitors or the company’s strategic plan.

“It’s important how you phrase the questions and cite things you’ve already learned,” Arms said. “A good question might be about how the company has poised itself for growth in the past. You might be able to use that response to help formulate your own answers during future interviews.”

You should limit yourself to three questions, Arms said, and make sure they’re short and to the point.

Showing an interest in the company’s culture and asking about management style will also help you determine whether the job is a good fit, said career coach Jo Singel.

Learn about the job
Finding out why the position is open is great for insight about the job itself and what the employer would like done differently, according to Jennifer Warne, senior recruiting specialist for consulting firm Towers Perrin.

You’ll also want to ask for specific details about how performance is measured, and whether your interviewer sees potential gaps in your experience, she said.

“This can be a really great opportunity to assess and address problems head on,” Warne said. “Often times the interviewer will give you an honest response, and it will give you a good idea of where you stand.”

Arms and Singel give these examples of strong questions to ask about the job:

• How long have you been trying to fill this position?
• What does daily life in this job entail?
• How do you evaluate success?
• What are you expecting from me in the first 60 days I’m working here?
• What kind of orientation program do you have for new employees?
• What have others who’ve worked with you said about your leadership?
• How much confidence do you have in your team right now?
• What’s more important to you, productivity or creativity?

“At the end, don’t forget to ask for the job,” Singel said. “Tell them you want it. A lot of people forget to do that.”

Tie in your qualifications
It may be a good idea to thread five strengths into questions to use as emergency backup in case they haven’t already surfaced in the interview, said Bob Daugherty, head of recruiting for the U.S. at accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers.

“You’re going to need a game plan, but you’ll still need to customize your questions based on what’s happening during the interview,” he said. “What’s most important is that you stay on your toes and get those qualifications and strengths out on the table — no matter what.”

Avoid salary and benefits
Hiring managers agreed that the last thing they want to hear is, “What’s in it for me?”

“The function of asking questions isn’t so much about getting information about the company as it is about conveying your own talent,” Tryon said. “The purpose of the interview is to get the job, and asking about medical benefits isn’t necessarily working toward that goal.”

Susan Leonard, human resources business partner at ice cream maker Ben & Jerry’s, said there’s a tactful way to navigate the issue of salary. The interviewee shouldn’t ask about pay or benefits during a first interview, but if it comes up, ask what the hiring range is to get a sense of whether it’s in your ballpark.

“As part of the dance, the interviewer may ask you what your salary history is,” she said. “Avoid the question completely and say it’s too early to discuss salary. Gently turn it around to ask what they’re offering, so you don’t oversell or price yourself out of a job.”

Know what not to ask
Avoid questions that are aggressive and can display a “lack of emotional maturity,” said Kristen Weirick, director of talent acquisition for Whirlpool Corp. Some of the questions on her forbidden list:

• Are you going to hire me?
• When will I be promoted?
• How much does this job pay?
• Am I more qualified than the other applicants?
• Can I call you tomorrow?

The worst question Weirick has heard from a job candidate: “That’s a really good question. What do you think the answer is?”