Job Discussion Forums

timmyjames1976 · Joined: 26 Jan 2005 Posts: 148

I am sure that it differs greatly from employer to employer, but I was curious to know what peoples experiences were. How long do you remember it taking for sent resumes to be replied to? All this waiting is killing me!

japan_01 · Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 89 Location: Gifu Ken

From my general experience, employers in Japan dont really feel the need to contact you unless they REALLY REALLY want you. They don't do the courtesy call thing "Thanks for applying, but you are not suitable for this position."

Jon Taylor · Joined: 09 Mar 2005 Posts: 238 Location: Tokyo

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

Despite Jon Taylor's terrifically short turnaround time for shortlisted candidates, my experience has been that employers don't contact people for at least a week or two, and sometimes for a whole month. Depends on their hiring process. If they want to wait until after a deadline (usually posted in the ad), you may have to wait that long.

Squire22 · Joined: 06 Jul 2005 Posts: 68 Location: Shizuoka, Japan

I receieved replies from most within a couple of weeks, sometimes a week, sometimes 10 days etc. However I also had both extremes, the day after I applied - I didn't take the job, I took into account the speed of the reply, thought it might have suggested something - and also a couple of months after I applied, and I had in fact forgotten that I'd applied to them - I now work for them though.

This is one of those piece of string questions.....

Jon Taylor · Joined: 09 Mar 2005 Posts: 238 Location: Tokyo

timmyjames1976 · Joined: 26 Jan 2005 Posts: 148

Thanks for the updates and experiences. I have quite a few applications out there, so I hope something good is headed my way.

johanne · Joined: 18 Apr 2003 Posts: 189

Once, I faxed my resume and was called back within the hour, had the interview the next day and was working the following evening. This was just for a part-time, twice a week class and I was already living in Japan. Another time Iapplied to an ad in a Vancouver newspaper and 5 months later was called by the school and told to book a flight for November (They called in October. I'd applied in April) if I was still interested in working for them. I did and had a fantastic time. I only worked 15 hours a week and meet lots of people. I do think 5 months, though, is very extreme. I would say generally if you haven't heard within 2 weeks, you're probably not being considered for the job.

Quibby84 · Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 643 Location: Japan

Two companies I got responses the next day asking for an interview, the 10 others, havent heard anything...