Job Discussion Forums

Big_H · Joined: 21 Dec 2013 Posts: 115

So I got an interview at an eikaiwa for kids that had favorable working conditions for an entry level teacher, but what I encountered in the Skype interview was.. special to say the least.

It started with a mood so gloomy and frustrated by the interviewer, that I started to wonder if I had stolen his wife or something. But maybe I was imagining being interviewed by someone with the behavior of an emo sk8ter girl, and that his pessimistic tone and repetitive sighting throughout was just him being serious and a professional. Now I promise you that these questions have not been changed in any way by me, that's what I got and that's what I'm giving you. Here are some of them:

- When have you worked with children before?
That was the first question. A very modern and specific approach that I liked, because he had my resume in his hands and was well aware that my 2 years of teaching experience was mostly to college undergraduates. It's a great hip way to start too because it throws the old traditional introductory questions out the window like "Tell me a little about yourself and/or your teaching background", these kind of questions that would start even in the most aggressive interviews. Moving on..

- Why do you want to come to Japan?
This is where most Japanophiles start fighting back the urge to proclaim their eternal love for anime and manga. Luckily, I wasn't one of those people who watched anime, so I genuinely answered about how it was the Japanese unique culture and social sense of community that attracted me in the first place. The question itself was a usual one that I got asked often in interviews; but when you combine it with my interviewer's Dirty Harry impression, it puts things in a new perspective if you were sitting in my seat.

- Do you like your own country? What do you think about it, is it a good country?
It was death trying to silence the satirist in me for a brief awkward moment. So me starting the interview by properly introducing myself isn't relevant but you're interested to know if I'm a self-hating Egyptian from the Evil Empire? I bought myself some time by asking him to be more specific than that "in what way... do you mean, politically? culturally? economically..." to which he replied:"umm... yeah". I answered him, then came the combo punch..

- Are you proud of where you grew up, in your neighborhood, your country?
Maybe being from an evil country wasn't so bad, and I should've just fessed it up. I don't mind it, but I'll be DAMNED if he thought that I wasn't proud of my Evil Empire! I tried pointing out to him that most people would be proud of where they grew up regardless because it contributed in making them the people they are today (or something along those lines), hoping that he would get my drift that most interviewees would want to stand-out and be noticeable, but choosing this question to stand out was as logical as trying to stand out when being asked "You wouldn't be a homicidal pedophile by any chance, would you?"

- So why DO you want to come to Japan? ...apart from culture (then murmuring "or is it just that the only reason?")
(Me) http://s29.postimg.org/cfcp3le4z/image.jpg ..........

Something wasn't usual. I couldn't put my finger on it, but during our 30-minute interview, someone would pass behind my interviewer every 30 seconds and almost every single one of these coworkers -all of them in their late 20s, like me- would wave at the cam from behind him, make a goofy face, give a thumbs up or a rock-on sign. One guy stood for well over a minute, making a funny face and waving desperately at me from behind, while my interviewer was deep in his explanation on how the cultural and social differences may avert me from coming to Japan.

I looked over and waved back at the guy which caused my interviewing manager to finally break out a smile... later on, I found out that that person was his boss (and that I would be interviewed by him in case I ever made it to next stage). At that point, I didn't really care what my interviewer thought if I facepalmed myself in front of him, I just feared the risk of getting a concussion if I did it justice.

I don't always claim to be the right person for the job, but something was definitely wrong with my interviewer, or his interview questions sheet. If I do make it to the next interview stage, I promise to video record it for lol's sake and share it.

- Journey of an Egyptian TEFL teacher (still at the starting point)

What's your take on this?

Master Shake · Joined: 03 Nov 2006 Posts: 1202 Location: Colorado, USA

It's clear they're messing with you a bit, but I think you might be taking the whole thing too seriously and over-analyzing it.

That being said, there is a difference between laughing with you and at you, and if this is the first time you've met them, their interview style wouldn't fill me with confidence about the school.

Pitarou · Joined: 16 Nov 2009 Posts: 1116 Location: Narita, Japan

It sounds like the interviewer hadn't prepared properly, so he just asked you whatever came into his head.

mitsui · Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 1562 Location: Kawasaki

Sounds bad to me.
Maybe someone thinks you are Muslim and wants to give you a hard time or does not like your country. Then why give you an interview? I have found that often applicants are not screened before, so getting the interview can be a false hope.

I have had bad interviews when I was thinking that I would not get the job during the interview yet I was stuck.
It seems in interviews there could be a person who interrogates you like a police officer, trying to find a reason why NOT to give you a job.
In Japan there could 3 or 4 people doing the interview. You need to figure out who has the power to hire you. It is not always easy to figure that out.

Some questions that I have heard are dumb (do you like Japan? 13 years here with Japanese wife)
Personal questions about my marriage (in the USA people get sued for that)
Often people don't even read the resume in advance.
For example here is one: you change jobs a lot (two jobs in Japan over 13 years, just ended a limited contract so must work part-time).

Yasuke · Joined: 10 Jan 2014 Posts: 178

Stay far away from that company if you have that option. That person obviously fits into the culture of that company,so that was probably just the tip of the iceberg of what you will deal with in that company. Good luck.

Yasuke · Joined: 10 Jan 2014 Posts: 178

Stay far away from that company if you have that option. That person obviously fits into the culture of that company,so that was probably just the tip of the iceberg of what you will deal with in that company. Good luck.

Mr. Kalgukshi · Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2014 11:48 am Post subject:

Using profanity on this board gets you banned on this board. So it is that we are one member less because of his now deleted posting here.

Jagariko · Joined: 14 Oct 2013 Posts: 40

Just remember that interviews are a two-way process: it is just as important to think of the interview as your chance to assess your potential employers as much as it is about securing a job.

If they can't behave in a professional manner in an interview, goodness knows how they act in the office/classroom in general.