When I look up anything about job interviews in Japan, it‘s always about office jobs, flexing your japanese skills, etc. But my case is a bit different and I don’t really know what to expect and how to prepare.
Just to give you a bit of background information:
I just recently moved to Japan (working holiday), planning to work as a cook. The restaurant where I got the interview is a rather traditional unagi place.
I speak basically no japanese and have no experience in the field. I did not make it a secret, since they would find out quickly anyway.
After contacting them (They weren’t looking for employees) and exchanging a few mails, they decided to give me the interview. Their only expectation I know off, is that I have sone job specific japanese knowledge (I do have that), but I don‘t know, what else they could want from me.
They don‘t know, that I have long hair and earrings (I‘m male), if that is bad, I can take the earrings out, but my hair stays.
Is there anything specific I should take care off (that is different from the usual job interview where you just sit there and answer questions in your suit).
Now I also habe a few concerns, in case I actually pass the interview…
Will I need to sign anything right away?
What hourly salary can/should I expect (the restaurant is rather expensive and is located in Ginza)? I really do want the job, but I also don’t want to get screwed over.
And finally, having explained my situation, can someone please gibe me some advice on how to act, what to expect and what to do?
7 comments
It sounds like you are doing everything you can to prepare for your job interview. Be sure to dress professionally and arrive on time. It is also important to be yourself and show your enthusiasm for the job.
As for your concerns, it is possible that you will need to sign something right away if you get the job. However, you should not sign anything without reading it carefully first. You should also ask about the hourly salary and benefits before you accept the job.
Finally, be sure to do your research on the restaurant and the industry before you go to the interview. This will help you to answer any questions that they may have and to make a good impression.
Hey I’m a chef in Tokyo too. My Japanese is good enough to work but we have another foreign co-worker who spoke zero at the start and is still struggling, but she is a hard worker and important part of the team. So if you can communicate a bit even, that’s enough.
Restaurants are pretty much in a staffing crisis like in most other countries so hair tattoos piercings etc. are generally OK.
I didn’t have a suit so I just showed up in a nice shirt and my hair tidy. They might ask you about how much sales and profits your old work places made per day, although we don’t generally have access to that information in other countries unless you’re sous chef and up. I just told them the average cost of dinner and average amount of customers.
Something you may need to know is the salary expectations you arr given are not based on a 40 hour work week. If you ask for say 30万円 for example and they say OK, it will be based on an average of 20 or so hours of overtime a week so salary for about 60 hours. Not sure about working holiday and if you can get a contract or have an hours limit though?
I’m on 32万円 but if the place is a bit high class in an expensive area like Ginza, I think 28万円 would be good and lucky to get. No harm in asking for more. They can say no if there are company rules, or yes if they need someone right away.
You won’t need to sign anything right away. I told every shop I had several interviews and need a week before I sign anything. All 5-6 shops were ok with that. Like I said, understaffed and they’re willing to take a maybe and wait a reasonable amount of time.
How to act: say good morning, be fast, bring a notebook, be nice but show you can be strict and tell people what to do, ask questions, whip out Google translate if you don’t understand, I guess kitchens are pretty universal in those respects.
You contact to them in english? or using translator? Because if they think you have at least some “broken japanese”(because usually translator sounds like broken language) they will think is “ok” to give you a interview. But if you can’t handle a simple casual conversation I am not sure what kind of position they will give you(or even communicate during the interview). Beside that if is a traditional うなぎrestaurant(not too casual) I see you will need to tight your hair and hide under a towel, bandana or anything they provide. Long hair inside kitchen or lab is not uncommon but depends which kind of restaurant you aim(casual, familiar chain, local, fine dining) and now somehow market here is really understaffed. Just give a try mate.
Me as pastry chef, I am more worried about the language barrier because you know how is in the kitchen or lab and communication is essential.
I dont understand if your application is for full-time or part-time, but two things I stumbled over when coming to Japan were:
Bring a printed 履歴書 (CV) (corrected cause I cannot spell).
Bring your ~~visa~~ residence card (to show you are allowed to engage in this activity)
You might also need: some kind of food safety certificate?
If it is part time, you might not sign anything (then hourly should be at least 1000-ish that is standard for baito in Tokyo),
if it is full time, it usually takes one more step between interview and signing papers (like you submitting all kinds of documents and them double checking), no clue what the pay rates would be, but you should make sure whether they or you are paying insurance/health insurance/pension/residence tax(well that one is not important right now, but if you plan to stay longer than 1 year). btw, if it is full time, I would not be too surprised that showing up in a suit might be a good idea (I wish someone else could way in, I dont know your line of work in detail, but in general formal wear at days when you want to leave a good impression)
I wish you good luck! I have worked as a waitress and I cannot see how you could work in a kitchen without basic language skills, but give it your shot.
Restaurants usually go by hourly rate, make sure you have at least the minimum wage. You can earn more if you work late shifts. Regarding hair and piercings, they will ask you to take them off during work and put long hair in a bun with a net. Depending on the place they would offer a hat or something to cover your hair that is included in the uniform.
About the interview, I wouldn’t worry about lack of experience or language. Emphasize that you want to learn the language and the job, that you want stay a long time and be genuine about it. As mentioned in another comment, service industry is understaffed.
I remember having my interview at a restaurant one month in Japan, the agent did most of the talking and all I said was ohayou gozaimasu and Arigato gozaimasu.
Good luck with the interview.
How many years of experience working as a cook do you have? This may dictate your starting salary and responsibilities.
If you’re just starting out, plan on ~1,100 per hour and doing lots of dishes
Cut your hair and lose the earrings. (If you want to keep all of that, there a lots of places that will hire you). High-end unagi in Ginza? Conservative and old-school. Wear a suit. I doubt they will just start letting you cook unagi.
As I posted to someone else in this thread, they will probably teach you how to make rice for the first 6-months. Also, don’t even ask about the hours. I knew/know someone in situation. Guy is a highly trained French cook now at a high-end Japanese place in Ginza. It was very tough going his first few years.
I also have a Japanese friend whose son worked in an unagi place. He quit. It was a fucking dojo. That said, if you are tough and can conform, it might be a great experience. Good luck,!