Questions you don't ask in an interview with a Japanese company

[coolgaijin]

Let's start with the obvious

How many sick days does this position allocate?

What is your standard multiplier for overtime pay?

I read on your corporate news site that your main business practice is <insert out-dated 1980s business practice here>, has your firm considered instead <modern business practice here>?

[kurogane]

while leering at the amply built administrative assistant

Are those things real?????

Chrikey, I could sink 8" into those for a weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jarjarbinks]

I don't really care about the first two, but I can't help bringing up the third, which cost me a couple of positions. I just can't make myself follow a outdated technology or practice. If they can't handle reform, innovation I'm not their guy anyway.

A couple of questions I'ld like a tip on is, 'what is your weak point' which is one of the most critical questions I think. To this I (honestly) answer, I can be painstakingly outspoken at times. Which they usually don't like

Another question is 'what would you do if you experienced a problem with one of your co-workers' or 'what would you do if you are unhappy with your position'.
To this I answer I just go and speak with the manager and try to solve the issue. Are they expecting me to say 'I just bend over and take it' the japanese way ? Are they that gullible to take that for an answer ?

[kurogane]

Are they expecting me to say 'I just bend over and take it' the japanese way ?

Yes???????????

It's not so much The Answer itself, as the way you phrase it.

To wit, as an example:

I would first reflect on my own situation and behaviour, and after sufficient reflection, I would drug the offending miscreant and sell them to gay Nigerian pirates for cheap.

Are they that gullible to take that for an answer ?

Yes and No.

They are looking for evidence of Sunao and Hansei.

Not Full JarJar.................

[coolgaijin]

More about falling in line than about taking it up the rectum. Although there is plenty of that in certain cases. My experience working for a Japanese company for 3 months was that you must understand the rules:

1) You will always be an outsider, regardless of ability or Japanese level
2) You will never be in a senior management position, ever
3) You will always make less than a counterpart working at a gaijin company
4) You will be expected to work overtime and probably not be paid for it except in extreme circumstances
5) Sick days do not exist unless you are dead or dying
6) If you aren't 10 minutes early, you are late.
7) Don't be late
8) Don't leave early
9) Early is less than 2 hours before "quitting time"
10) Starring blankly at a computer monitor for 4 hours after "quitting time" qualifies as "頑張ってる” and will be rewarded thusly
11) It will not be rewarded

Of course there are other rules but those are the basics

Are they that gullible?

No, their English just usually sucks really bad unless they are working at a foreigner company. They cannot detect sarcasm, lies or so forth.

[kurogane]

That list seems pretty representative of your ilk, but googlfying Hansei and Sunao might not hurt your understanding.

Of course, there is a danger you might learn something.............for a change..........

[TJrandom]

Let's start with the obvious

Well - the obvious is that the interview is structured for the interviewer to ask the interviewee questions, and the interviewee to answer them. At the very end - when offered a chance to ask any questions - a smart interviewee might ask when they can start, if it is acceptable to come in early and stay late, whether they can work on weekends and national holidays, etc.

From the interviewee’s standpoint – the purpose of the interview is to obtain a job offer. You can always reject that offer if you have found from other sources that this is not the company for you.

[coolgaijin]

Does your company prefer flex-time or overtime pay as a specific way to reward employee loyalty?

Recently this one ended an interview heh

[TJrandom]

Recently this one ended an interview heh

Either you are trolling here - or you are trolling the interviewers.... why bother?

[coolgaijin]

No seriously, I find it very comical that man companies operated by native Japanese apparently expect foreigners to magically know about their cultural etiquette and to work absurdly long hours for crap benefits, short-term contracts and third world wages.

[TJrandom]

No seriously, I find it very comical that man companies operated by native Japanese apparently expect foreigners to magically know about their cultural etiquette and to work absurdly long hours for crap benefits, short-term contracts and third world wages.

Those expectations are not just from Japanese companies - but are the expectations of companies working in a global environment. If you are good at your job - you can improve your pay and work conditions over time. If not, there are plenty of people waiting for an opportunity.

[trip_hop]

More about falling in line than about taking it up the rectum. Although there is plenty of that in certain cases. My experience working for a Japanese company for 3 months was that you must understand the rules:

1) You will always be an outsider, regardless of ability or Japanese level
2) You will never be in a senior management position, ever
3) You will always make less than a counterpart working at a gaijin company
4) You will be expected to work overtime and probably not be paid for it except in extreme circumstances
5) Sick days do not exist unless you are dead or dying
6) If you aren't 10 minutes early, you are late.
7) Don't be late
8) Don't leave early
9) Early is less than 2 hours before "quitting time"
10) Starring blankly at a computer monitor for 4 hours after "quitting time" qualifies as "頑張ってる” and will be rewarded thusly
11) It will not be rewarded

Of course there are other rules but those are the basics



No, their English just usually sucks really bad unless they are working at a foreigner company. They cannot detect sarcasm, lies or so forth.

My experience working for a Japanese company for 3 months... a standard whinge...

You have obviously never worked for a good Japanese company, and they do exist.
Foreign managers AND directors, good salaries, benefits/ expense account, sick time, flex-time, limits on durations of meetings...

But they are rather choosy as to whom they employ...

[coolgaijin]

But they are rather choosy as to whom they employ...

Good then I should be a perfect fit.

[Effected After]

No seriously, I find it very comical that man companies operated by native Japanese apparently expect foreigners to magically know about their cultural etiquette and to work absurdly long hours for crap benefits, short-term contracts and third world wages.

Usually they don't. They usually just hire Japanese people. Some companies are willing to hire foreigners, but they are usually only willing to do so if the employee has an idea of Japanese cultural etiquette, and is willing to work under the same conditions that the Japanese staff do.

[madazzahatter]

....how about the ladies here? Can you tell me if the OL's are easy or not?

[TJrandom]

....how about the ladies here? Can you tell me if the OL's are easy or not?

Um, Why would the GP ladies know if Japanese company OLs are easy? But as a guy that spent 7 years in a Japanese firm - I saw no evidence of it.

[thefg]

More about falling in line than about taking it up the rectum. Although there is plenty of that in certain cases. My experience working for a Japanese company for 3 months was that you must understand the rules:

1) You will always be an outsider, regardless of ability or Japanese level TRUE
2) You will never be in a senior management position, ever NOT TRUE
3) You will always make less than a counterpart working at a gaijin company NOT TRUE
4) You will be expected to work overtime and probably not be paid for it except in extreme circumstances NOT TRUE
5) Sick days do not exist unless you are dead or dying PAID SICKDAYS NO (HAVE TO TAKE LEAVE)
6) If you aren't 10 minutes early, you are late. NOT TRUE AT ALL
7) Don't be late TRUE (SEE ABOVE THOUGH)
8) Don't leave early NOT TRUE
9) Early is less than 2 hours before "quitting time"
10) Starring blankly at a computer monitor for 4 hours after "quitting time" qualifies as "頑張ってる” and will be rewarded thusly
11) It will not be rewarded

Of course there are other rules but those are the basics



No, their English just usually sucks really bad unless they are working at a foreigner company. They cannot detect sarcasm, lies or so forth.

all of 3 months? lol


see above Although your points are generally true they are not 'always' true. it depends on persons level/position/skill set. if your just another drone then yes. - all true.

[thefg]

....how about the ladies here? Can you tell me if the OL's are easy or not?

easy to marry


thats all they wish to do.

[thefg]

Usually they don't. They usually just hire Japanese people. Some companies are willing to hire foreigners, but they are usually only willing to do so if the employee has an idea of Japanese cultural etiquette, and is willing to work under the same conditions that the Japanese staff do.

also not always true.


They dont have any such expectation of me.

I have a PA who translates for me and most of my staff speak some english. Im under zero pressure to conform

at the end of the day i am here BECAUSE i am different. Because i can do things they cant. if i was the same as them they wouldnt need me in 1st place.

so long as one isnt rude (which you dont need to be a cultural expert to avoid being) its all good

[madazzahatter]

easy to marry


thats all they wish to do.

...then may I marry ALL of them?

[thefg]

My experience working for a Japanese company for 3 months... a standard whinge...

You have obviously never worked for a good Japanese company, and they do exist.
Foreign managers AND directors, good salaries, benefits/ expense account, sick time, flex-time, limits on durations of meetings...

But they are rather choosy as to whom they employ...

exactly,

i am treated very very very well indeed. in same company there are a few gaijin but they are basically 'japanese salarymen' and are treated as such. they have to conform etc.

[madazzahatter]

So,like,is that your real hair?

Do you prefer boxers,briefs or going commando?

[tomtucker]

also not always true.


They dont have any such expectation of me.

I have a PA who translates for me and most of my staff speak some english. Im under zero pressure to conform

at the end of the day i am here BECAUSE i am different. Because i can do things they cant. if i was the same as them they wouldnt need me in 1st place.

so long as one isnt rude (which you dont need to be a cultural expert to avoid being) its all good

What are the chances your company would hire someone with your qualifications who also can speak Japanese fluently? Meeting a lot of non-Japanese speaking upper management, some get the impression that not being able to speak Japanese allows them to control a gaijin manager better.

The thing about "pressure to conform" in a Japanese company is not that they want you to be Japanese. It is the pressure to conform to any whim they have. Japanese have it easy. They KNOW what to do. We have to be Japanese sometimes (while emphasizing that we know we definately are not) and sometimes be the gaijin.

[coolgaijin]

What are the chances your company would hire someone with your qualifications who also can speak Japanese fluently? Meeting a lot of non-Japanese speaking upper management, some get the impression that not being able to speak Japanese allows them to control a gaijin manager better.

The thing about "pressure to conform" in a Japanese company is not that they want you to be Japanese. It is the pressure to conform to any whim they have. Japanese have it easy. They KNOW what to do. We have to be Japanese sometimes (while emphasizing that we know we definately are not) and sometimes be the gaijin.

Or work at a foreign company and get paid twice as much to do half the work, without unpaid mandatory overtime.

[tomtucker]

Or work at a foreign company and get paid twice as much to do half the work, without unpaid mandatory overtime.

Well its not so much that there is twice the work in Japanese companies. It is usually a case of twice the time spent in the office. For most larger companies you are still paid overtime even if you are just in the office for the sake of saving face. I know what you mean though. The ideal environment would be a foreign company where the main language used is Japanese. In that case you would get the best of both worlds.

[well_bicyclically]

Questions you don't ask in an interview with a Japanese company

you can ask any question you wish. you will not given a truthful answer when the question concerns sensitive issues like overtime, leave, promotions, raises, etc...

[tomtucker]

Not sure what the OP was going for here, but not all Japanese companies are like this. Sure there are a few exploitative places out there, but from what I have heard it's far worse to work for crappy ALT dispatch companies or for smaller eikaiwas.

This is the IT section. Where did you get the idea English teaching ever entered into the discussion?

[Tatsuo]

... working for a Japanese company....

1) You will always be an outsider, regardless of ability or Japanese level
2) You will never be in a senior management position, ever
3) You will always make less than a counterpart working at a gaijin company

You are one negative ba$tard.

[ikevinjp]

More about falling in line than about taking it up the rectum. Although there is plenty of that in certain cases. My experience working for a Japanese company for 3 months was that you must understand the rules:

1) You will always be an outsider, regardless of ability or Japanese level
2) You will never be in a senior management position, ever
3) You will always make less than a counterpart working at a gaijin company
4) You will be expected to work overtime and probably not be paid for it except in extreme circumstances
5) Sick days do not exist unless you are dead or dying
6) If you aren't 10 minutes early, you are late.
7) Don't be late
8) Don't leave early
9) Early is less than 2 hours before "quitting time"
10) Starring blankly at a computer monitor for 4 hours after "quitting time" qualifies as "頑張ってる” and will be rewarded thusly
11) It will not be rewarded

Of course there are other rules but those are the basics



No, their English just usually sucks really bad unless they are working at a foreigner company. They cannot detect sarcasm, lies or so forth.

Yeah, I like what you said. It is obvious that most companies in Japan is sick!