Job Discussion Forums

[genesis315]

Hi all,

I recently stumbled upon and set up an optional feature on my Vonage phone service called 'virtual number'. It allows you to obtain a phone number from other area codes or countries that routes to your actual number.

So while I am not actually in Japan pounding the pavement, I have a Tokyo phone number (only option available).

Anyone think this is a good idea? Additionally what would be the right format to list it on a resume? The way it was provided to me by Vonage was: 8-(134)-579-xxxx

Thanks for any input!

[Glenski]

Interesting, but just how do you plan to use it? It's deceiving to the caller, and if they try reaching you at 3am your time, you'll be unhappy to say the lease.

[genesis315]

Weirdly enough, I happen to start my day at 3AM! I guess I would be called an early riser.

Anyway, I was thinking that it might be a much cheaper phone call for employers as opposed to an international call.

Is there a way I could list it on my resume without confusing the heck out of everyone? I was thinking to list my other numbers as well.

[seklarwia]

The way you grouped the digits threw me for a minute.

You realise that 81 is international dialing code for Japan and the 3 signifies Tokyo. So shouldn't you display the number as 03-4579-xxxx?

Is this service expensive? And have you tested out the number to make sure it works?

Will it not confuse employers though to have an address outside Japan and a Tokyo number? They might believe that you have come to Japan on a job search trip and expect you to attend an interview at short notice.

As I think more, this seems like a pointless thing to have. Those willing to recruit from abroad will either have recruiting offices already in those countries or are willing to contact you via skype for interviews. And those adverts that require you to actually be in Japan is normally because they don't have recruiting offices abroad but they still want you to attend an in-person interview... I'm not sure what having a Tokyo number when you are not in Tokyo actually accomplishes.

[genesis315]

Thanks seklarwia,

Yeah the Vonage format looks weird, but from what I have found your recommendation looks like what a person in Tokyo would be expecting to see as far as formatting goes.

Each virtual number is between $4.99 - $9.99 a month, seems pretty cheap to me.

Not tested the number yet, but I have had Vonage service for years and they seem to have their act together.....so it should work hopefully.

The only real benefit that came to my mind was a cheaper phone call for employers as they would not need to make an international call. Of course I would want to put it on my resume in a way that does not infer that I am in town ready to stop in for an interview.

[genesis315]

The way I currently have Vonage set up is with a US telephone number so that my family in the US can dial a local number to reach me here in Qatar. Been using this for years with no problem.

[genesis315]

Is VOIP a widely known technology in Japan? Maybe I could list the number as 'virtual VOIP' or something. Hopefully they will recognize the phone number, but the virtual part might clue them in that I am not there in the flesh.

Keep it simple stupid, I know. Just thought a cheap local phone call might be more appealing than an international call.

[Bread]

I just bought a Japanese phone number on Skype before I had a phone for job interviews. Worked fine, even has voicemail. I did that from inside Japan, but I'm pretty sure it works fine elsewhere, too.

[genesis315]

Thanks Bread that is definitely a great idea instead of spending $9.99 every month. How much does the skype option cost?

[Bread]

[G Cthulhu]

[Glenski]

I have to agree with the others about the format. Seeing it the way you wrote is not the way a Japanese person would expect a phone number from Japan.

If you list an out of country address and a Japanese number, it will confuse the heck out of people. And it doesn't matter if you get up at 3am.

[genesis315]

Thanks G Cthulu and Glenski, exactly why I wanted to get some input. I too thought the Vonage format was all jacked up compared with what I was finding on the web.

So Japanese employers would want to see a local-to-Japan phone number with the international prefix?

With often hearing how technically inclined Japanese people are, I would of thought that something like this might show some ingenuity and initiative on my part.

Would there be absolutely no interest in saving money by dialing a local number as opposed to an international number for Japanese employers?

[Glenski]

[genesis315]

All noted. Guess I am grasping at straws here trying to land a position.