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El_Mero_Mero · Joined: 27 Jan 2009 Posts: 45

Anyone here had an interview with AEON recently (preferably in the U.S.).? I have some questions about what they ask interviewees. I am looking to speak with them in New York. Please PM me, or if you'd like, make yourself known in this thread. Thank You for your time.

El_Mero_Mero · Joined: 27 Jan 2009 Posts: 45

Sorry for the double post, but I just found another informative post on this board, and I don't know how to delete this. What I want to know is if AEON asks you about how many times you've been in Japan before, and would they find out if you lied? Thanks.

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

seklarwia · Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 11:46 pm Post subject:

I don't get it. Why should you have to lie about how many times you have been to Japan?

Are you gonna pretend you have been there before when you haven't? Or pehaps you want to make out that you have been there a few times more than in truth? Won't they notice if they question you further on when, where and why?

And even if you pull it off in the interview, they'll know you lied as soon as you fill in the CoE application.

Besides, don't companies just simply ask why you are interested in going to Japan if you haven't been before?

El_Mero_Mero · Joined: 27 Jan 2009 Posts: 45

Well, I've been to Japan 3 times previously. but I heard that these companies prefer the Fresh off the boat gaijins, so my saying the truth may put me at a loss (i.e., I'm not going to be so easy to manipulate or be dependent, because I've been in Japan thrice before). I planned on saying that I've only been once.

I am curious, how will they find out anything based of the CoE? I didn't even know they get a look at it.

What do you think?

seklarwia · Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 2:31 am Post subject:

Well they will definately get a look at mine since I had to send the application to them so they can apply for the CoE. We can't do it ourself (well I guess that is unless you are self-sponsoring your visa). They then send the cert to us so that we can get the visa issued in our own country.

Obviously I don't know about AEON, but my interviewer at Interac said that having been to Japan before and/or having spent an extended amount of time out of your home country is a plus since many new recruits will drop out because they can't deal with the culture shock of living in a country so different to what they are used to, or because they miss home, or they can't make friends, etc.

Anyway, telling an out right lie in an interview is not good. If you get caught out, you most certainly won't be accepted and could end up blacklisted and never be able to reinterview with them again. And if you get caught out by whichever government body issuing your CoE... I'm guessing that could be even worse.

El_Mero_Mero · Joined: 27 Jan 2009 Posts: 45

Well, I'm currently looking over an old CoE that I had when I was applying for a student visa. The CoE asks how many times I've been in Japan, and what was the last entry and departure dates. Now that I think about it, I've been in Japan 4 times, I once left to Hong Kong for 5 days, but I had a re-entry permit. That puts me as entering 4 times, as opposed to 3, right?

I guess it doesn't really matter if the company finds out how often I've been in Japan, as long as they don't go inquiring about a whole bunch of details (I don't have any criminal record, but one of the times I was pretty much just partying every day.).

Any way, I guess honesty, or at least minimal lying would be advisable.

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

Geez! I thought you had something to hide.

No need to lie about your history. It is not as checkered as you might think. What you "heard" about employers wanting people fresh off the boat is a myth. Some places recruit overseas for that type of person. But, with the flooded market as it is today, employers are probably just looking for someone (as usual) who will have a good chemistry with the staff and students, who doesn't rock the boat, and (more than ever) who won't succumb to culture shock.

How else would YOU distinguish among 20-30 applicants in country?

El_Mero_Mero · Joined: 27 Jan 2009 Posts: 45

Thanks for the pep talk, Glenski.

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

In Japan students are expected to party every day- no black marks there. I agree, the company will probably see your visits to Japan as a bonus- you aren't going to freak out on reaching the airport and jump on a flight straight home, as FOBs have been known to do.

Don't lie about it- if they find out at any point it's going to look very dodgy.