Job Discussion Forums

Conor_Ire · Joined: 22 Nov 2008 Posts: 34 Location: Tokyo

I will be in japan on a working holidy visa. If i'm asked in an interview , 'why did i want to come to japan?', or something along those lines, is it a bad thing to say 'i've come to be with my girlfriend and that's my main reason.', or should i avoid talking about my personal life? What i mean is that i'm not going to japan just for the sake of a working holiday or just to make money, i'm going there to be with my girlfriend and to secure a job as an english teacher of any kind would be the best possible outcome for the both of us. Should i mention it or is that not important to an employer?

Any interview advice at all would be much appreciated!! Thanks.

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

Give more than one reason. You can mention your girlfriend, but also mention your interest in Japanese culture, history, your desire to travel around Japan and learn new things. Even if none of it is true, that is what the visa is supposed to be for, so tell them what they want to hear. Study up on a couple of places that you might be interested in visiting so you can throw those placenames in.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Potential job hunt first. Think about it...working holiday visa.
Visiting friends second. Working holiday visa.
Visiting romantic relations way down the list.

AgentMulderUK · Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 1:21 pm Post subject:

As Apsara said, tell them what you think they want to hear.

Because they are going to tell you what they think YOU want to hear.

Play the game.

Don't take anything offered at face value. Assume all "maybes" are no's except in the negative sense "maybe you will have to work Wednesday at midnight" is a "You will have to"

Smile a lot, look smart. Smile more.