Japanese Job Interview: 15 Common Questions with Model Answers
Japanese job interviews (就職活動 / しゅうしょくかつどう) follow a structured format with predictable questions. The challenge is not what you say but how you say it. Keigo mistakes, poor self-PR structure, and casual language instantly disqualify candidates. This guide covers 15 real interview questions with model answers in proper interview keigo.
Interview Keigo: Essential Verb Conversions
Before the questions, master these verb swaps. Using the left column in an interview is a common mistake:
| Casual / Polite | Interview Keigo | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 言います | 申します | もうします | say (humble) |
| います | おります | おります | exist / be (humble) |
| します | いたします | いたします | do (humble) |
| もらいます | いただきます | いただきます | receive (humble) |
| 行きます | 参ります | まいります | go (humble) |
| 知っています | 存じております | ぞんじております | know (humble) |
| 会社 | 御社 (their) / 弊社 (yours) | おんしゃ / へいしゃ | company (respectful / humble) |
The 15 Most Common Japanese Interview Questions
1. 自己紹介をお願いします (じこしょうかいをおねがいします)
Please introduce yourself.
○○大学○○学部の田中太郎と申します。大学では○○を専攻し、特に○○に力を入れて参りました。本日は貴重なお時間をいただき、誠にありがとうございます。よろしくお願いいたします。
My name is Tanaka Taro from [University] [Department]. At university, I majored in [subject] and focused particularly on [topic]. Thank you for this valuable time today. I look forward to speaking with you.
2. 自己PRをお願いします (じこピーアールをおねがいします)
Please give your self-PR.
私の強みは粘り強さです。大学時代に○○サークルの代表を務め、部員が半分に減った際も諦めずに募集活動を続け、結果的に部員数を回復させました。この粘り強さを御社でも活かしたいと考えております。
My strength is persistence. During university, I served as leader of [circle name], and when membership dropped by half, I continued recruitment efforts without giving up and ultimately recovered the membership numbers. I would like to apply this persistence at your company.
3. 志望動機をお聞かせください (しぼうどうきをおきかせください)
Please tell us your motivation for applying.
御社の○○事業に強く惹かれ、志望いたしました。私は大学で○○を学び、その経験を御社の○○に活かせると考えております。
I was strongly attracted to your company's [business area] and decided to apply. I studied [subject] at university and believe I can apply that experience to your [department/field].
4. 学生時代に力を入れたことは何ですか？ (がくせいじだいにちからをいれたことはなんですか)
What did you focus on during your student years?
アルバイトで接客業務に力を入れました。お客様一人ひとりに合わせた提案を心がけた結果、売上が前年比15%向上しました。
I focused on customer service at my part-time job. By tailoring my recommendations to each customer, I helped improve sales by 15% year over year.
5. 強みと弱みを教えてください (つよみとよわみをおしえてください)
Tell us your strengths and weaknesses.
強みは計画性です。弱みは慎重になりすぎることですが、最近は「まず行動する」ことを意識しております。
My strength is being organized. My weakness is being overly cautious, but recently I've been consciously prioritizing taking action first.
6. 将来のビジョンをお聞かせください (しょうらいのビジョンをおきかせください)
Tell us about your future vision.
7. 入社後にやりたいことは？ (にゅうしゃごにやりたいことは)
What would you like to do after joining?
8. 他社の選考状況を教えてください (たしゃのせんこうじょうきょうをおしえてください)
Tell us about your application status at other companies.
同業界の○○社と○○社にも応募しておりますが、御社が第一志望です。
I have also applied to [Company A] and [Company B] in the same industry, but your company is my first choice.
9. 最後に何か質問はありますか？ (さいごになにかしつもんはありますか)
Do you have any questions for us?
入社後の研修制度についてお聞かせいただけますでしょうか。
Could you tell me about the training program after joining?
10. 尊敬する人はいますか？ (そんけいするひとはいますか)
Is there someone you admire?
11. 趣味は何ですか？ (しゅみはなんですか)
What are your hobbies?
12. チームで働くときに大切にしていることは？ (ちーむではたらくときにたいせつにしていることは)
What do you value when working in a team?
13. 失敗した経験を教えてください (しっぱいしたけいけんをおしえてください)
Tell us about a time you failed.
14. いつから働けますか？ (いつからはたらけますか)
When can you start working?
15. 転勤は可能ですか？ (てんきんはかのうですか)
Are you open to relocation?
はい、転勤は可能です。どちらの勤務地でも全力で取り組ませていただきます。
Yes, relocation is possible. I will give my full effort regardless of the work location.
The 3 Fatal Interview Mistakes
- ✗ Using 僕 (ぼく) or casual forms — Always use 私 (わたくし) and です/ます or keigo. 僕 is too casual for any interview.
- ✗ Saying 御社 out loud — 御社 (おんしゃ) is for writing. In spoken interviews, say 御社 (おんしゃ) — actually this is acceptable in speech too, but never say 貴社 (きしゃ) out loud. 貴社 is letter/email only.
- ✗ No concrete numbers or examples in self-PR — "I worked hard" means nothing. "I increased member count from 10 to 25" is convincing. Always include specific results.
Interview Flow Reference Table
| Stage | Japanese | Reading | What happens |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Entering | 入室 | にゅうしつ | Knock 3 times, say 「失礼いたします」, bow 30° |
| 2. Greeting | 挨拶 | あいさつ | Stand by chair, state name, bow, sit when told |
| 3. Self-intro | 自己紹介 | じこしょうかい | 1-2 minutes, name + background |
| 4. Self-PR | 自己PR | じこピーアール | 1-2 minutes, strength + evidence + application |
| 5. Q&A | 質疑応答 | しつぎおうとう | Interviewer questions |
| 6. Your questions | 逆質問 | ぎゃくしつもん | Always prepare 2-3 questions |
| 7. Leaving | 退室 | たいしつ | Stand, say 「本日はありがとうございました」, bow, exit |
Preparing your interview answers in Japanese? Use ZISTICA MOJIIQ's free grammar checker to verify your keigo is correct and your sentences sound natural before practicing out loud.
For more on Japanese honorific language, see our complete keigo guide and 50 essential business phrases.
Frequently asked questions
What is 自己PR (jiko PR) in a Japanese job interview?
自己PR (jiko PR, literally "self-PR") is a uniquely Japanese interview format where you present your strongest qualities, skills, and achievements in about 1–2 minutes. Unlike Western interviews where the interviewer asks about strengths, in Japan you are explicitly told "自己PRをお願いします." Your answer should follow a structure: state your strength, give a concrete example, and explain how it applies to the job. Keep it under 2 minutes.
What level of keigo should I use in a Japanese interview?
Use 謙譲語 (kenjougo / humble language) for your own actions and 尊敬語 (sonkeigo / respectful language) for the interviewer’s actions. At minimum, use consistent です/ます forms throughout. Common patterns: 申します (not 言います), おります (not います), いただく (not もらう). Mixing casual speech into keigo is one of the most noticed mistakes.
How do you say "I want to work at your company" in interview Japanese?
御社で働かせていただきたいと思っております (onsha de hatarakasete itadakitai to omotte orimasu) is the correct humble form. Never say 働きたいです — it is too direct and lacks the required humility. The phrase uses the causative-passive (働かせていただく) which literally means "I would like to receive the favor of being allowed to work."
What should I wear to a Japanese job interview?
For 新卒 (shinsostu / new graduate) interviews: a black or navy リクルートスーツ (recruit suit), white shirt, conservative tie, and black shoes. For mid-career (中途採用): a dark business suit is standard. Avoid accessories, strong perfume, and flashy colors. Hair should be neat — for women, long hair tied back is preferred. The standard is conservative and uniform.