Hello there! Currently a graduate student in Japan who is set to graduate in Spring 2024. I’ve recently started applying for jobs and I received one reply that said this:
“お住まいが[Name of current prefecture, not nearby]とのことでしたので、オンライン（ZOOM）で面接を実施したいと思いますが、もし東京にご来訪することが可能であればオフィスにて対面で実施したいと考えております。ご希望をお知らせいただけますと幸いです。”
Translation: Since you mentioned that you live in [Name of Prefecture], we would like to conduct the interview online (ZOOM), but if you are able to come to Tokyo, we would like to conduct it in person at our office.
We would appreciate it if you could let us know your preference.
Should I stay in my current prefecture and interview online, or should I purchase a plane ticket to Tokyo?
Additional background information:
•I have almost 3 years of experience in the field
•The job requires English proficiency (I’m a native speaker) but is not an English-teaching job.
•My resume was written in Japanese, but stated that I am “studying to take the JLPT N3 exam” this year. (Some companies require a minimum of N2, this company did not list a requirement.) This addition to the resume was recommended by the career center at my university. I have not earned N3 and may not pass on the first try. I am aware that this level is low and I’m doing my best to improve. I know this company read my resume. My cover letter was written entirely in English.
I presume that the interviews will be conducted in Japanese. I am going to do my best and speak as formally and respectfully as I possibly can. I am well aware it will be very challenging. The company and employees are more likely to have a working knowledge of English in a pinch though, given the nature of the job, and I have no intention of misleading them of my current Japanese abilities. If my Japanese isn’t good enough for the job, then that’s that, and I’ll go to language school until it is good enough and apply again later. I guess I’m just wondering if it is worth it to fly all the way out there to potentially make a fool of myself in the language even though they know I’m not close to proficient and didn’t have a problem with that thus far.
My first instinct was to tell the company that for the first interview, online would work best for me, but that in the future that I’d be happy to interview further at their Tokyo office. I don’t know if that’s an appropriate answer. Having read the email though, I get the feeling that the “read the air” answer should be to fly to Tokyo. Since I’m still learning to understand the cultural and linguistic nuances here, I figured it would be best to get an outside perspective. If need be, I can financially make it work. Other perspectives by people who have more experience or a greater Japanese language ability than me are much appreciated. Thanks for all your help.
11 comments
First interview probably video is good enough. And a lot of companies do video interviews these days. I have done close to 100 interviews in past 3 years – 100% video. Unless they pay for your expense to travel to Tokyo I don’t think you should come.
I was in a similar position as you when applying for my current job. While they would appreciate it if you came to their office for the interview, they would most likely also be understanding if you’d rather do the first interview online. Going in person will give you a bit of an edge, because it shows you’re eager to meet them and check out the company in person. On the other hand, if a first interview online goes well enough, they’ll probably just invite you to come over for a second interview anyway.
That said, I’ve had an interview in the past for which I went to Tokyo straight away that ended up being absolutely shit, so in that case you will have wasted good money for nothing. If you do decide to go to Tokyo for your first interview, I suggest turning it into a little vacation so you get something out of it either way.
In my own case, I already had the impression they were eager to hire me, so I just took the Shinkansen to Tokyo in order to get a clearer view of what type of people and company I was dealing with. I actually stumbled upon the notes they took during my hiring process a while back and coming in straight away definitely left a very good impression as it showed resolve and dedication (apparently).
Absolutely not. They already said online was fine.
I’ve also had a company ask me to fly to Tokyo for a first interview when I was a student. I lived abroad and this was pre Covid. The company paid for my round trip tickets in full, no questions asked. I had to provide my own accommodation and local train tickets but my flight was fully reimbursed.
I don’t know if they’d do the same for a local student, and it was a huge household name Gaishi company.
If I were you, I personally would just ask them to do it on zoom if they aren’t providing transportation costs. I think they’d understand that a student can’t drop 20k on a flight to Tokyo for a first interview. And if they don’t it’s probably not a great company to work for.
Other people who have more work experience might have a different opinion.
Would do online until you get the job unless they offer to pay like another poster sah (maybe subtly offer to fly in “assuming” that they’ll be paying).
Totally fine.
I can see your point though. Maybe you are afraid that asking for doing the interview remotely will feel a bit “impersonal”, etc, but unless there is a legitimate reason for having you in person, whether you do it from zoom or at their office will not change anything.
I would go as far as saying that I had more success doing zoom interviews, and that is because I just feel more relaxed when interviewing from home wearing my lucky pants.
Honestly, even after getting hired, I just prefer working for home (whenever possible), and if you can get your job done, it shouldn’t affect your relationship with your company at all.
Just do all video interviews first. If they want to have an offer meeting, then go to Tokyo to meet in person.
should you? no
they said zoom is fine.
For the two full time positions I had so far in my life I got the job without ever going to the office
Normally
Early stage interviews = online
Late stage interviews = face-to-face
IF this company is your 第一希望 then you should go to Tokyo. Otherwise going there for a single interview wouldn’t make much sense.
Even better:
1. Tell ‘em that you can do it online.
1. On the day, log into the zoom call.
1. Say *”Good morning gentlemen.”*
1. Then, dramatically open the meeting room door, walk in, close your laptop and put it on the table.
1. Then ask *”When do I start?”*