Japanese Job Interview: Master 面接 Language

Key distinction: 御社 (おんしゃ, onsha) is how you refer to the interviewer’s company — it’s a respectful term. 弊社 (へいしゃ, heisha) is how you refer to your own company — it’s a humble term. Mixing these up is a serious keigo mistake.

失礼いたします。
しつれいいたします。(Shitsurei itashimasu.)
“Excuse me for the intrusion.”

Then bow at approximately 30 degrees (敬礼, keirei). Walk to the chair but do not sit down until invited.

本日はお忙しい中、面接の機会をいただきありがとうございます。
(Honjitsu wa oisogashii naka, mensetsu no kikai wo itadaki arigatou gozaimasu.)
“Thank you for giving me this interview opportunity despite your busy schedule.”

[名前]と申します。[大学名]の[学部名]を卒業いたしました。
([Namae] to moushimasu. [Daigakumei] no [Gakubumei] wo sotsugyou itashimashita.)
“My name is [Name]. I graduated from [Department] at [University].”

大学では[専攻]を専攻し、[スキル/経験]を身につけました。
(Daigaku de wa [senkou] wo senkou shi, [skill/keiken] wo mi ni tsukemashita.)
“At university, I majored in [major] and acquired [skill/experience].”

御社の[特徴]に強く惹かれ、志望いたしました。
(Onsha no [tokucho] ni tsuyoku hikarete, shibou itashimashita.)
“I was strongly attracted to [company feature] and applied.”

本日はどうぞよろしくお願いいたします。
(Honjitsu wa douzo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu.)
“Thank you for your kind consideration today.”

[名前]と申します。前職では[会社名]にて[年数]年間、[職種]として勤務しておりました。
([Namae] to moushimasu. Zenshoku de wa [kaishamei] nite [nensuu] nenkan, [shokushu] toshite kinmu shite orimashita.)
“My name is [Name]. In my previous position, I worked at [Company] for [X] years as a [Job Title].”

主に[業務内容]を担当し、[成果]を達成いたしました。
(Omoni [gyoumu naiyou] wo tantou shi, [seika] wo tassei itashimashita.)
“I mainly handled [responsibilities] and achieved [results].”

この経験を活かして、御社に貢献したいと考えております。
(Kono keiken wo ikashite, onsha ni kouken shitai to kangaete orimasu.)
“I would like to leverage this experience to contribute to your company.”

Model answer structure:
1. What attracted you to this company specifically (御社の〜に魅力を感じました)
2. How your skills/experience connect to their needs
3. What you want to achieve there

Example:
御社のグローバル展開に強い魅力を感じております。前職での海外営業の経験を活かし、御社の海外事業の拡大に貢献したいと考えております。
(Onsha no guroubaru tenkai ni tsuyoi miryoku wo kanjite orimasu. Zenshoku de no kaigai eigyou no keiken wo ikashi, onsha no kaigai jigyou no kakudai ni kouken shitai to kangaete orimasu.)
“I am strongly attracted to your company’s global expansion. I would like to leverage my overseas sales experience from my previous position to contribute to expanding your company’s international business.”

Strength example:
私の長所は、粘り強さです。困難なプロジェクトでも最後まで諦めずに取り組むことができます。
(Watashi no chousho wa, nebari-zuyosa desu. Konnan na purojekuto demo saigo made akiramezu ni torikumu koto ga dekimasu.)
“My strength is perseverance. Even with difficult projects, I can work on them without giving up until the end.”

Weakness example (with recovery):
短所は、細かいことに気を使いすぎる点です。しかし、優先順位をつけることで改善に努めております。
(Tansho wa, komakai koto ni ki wo tsukaisugiru ten desu. Shikashi, yuusen junʼi wo tsukeru koto de kaizen ni tsutomete orimasu.)
“My weakness is paying too much attention to details. However, I am working to improve by prioritizing tasks.”

Rule: Never badmouth your previous employer. Frame everything positively.

Good: より専門的なスキルを身につけたいと考え、転職を決意いたしました。
(Yori senmon-teki na sukiru wo mi ni tsuketai to kangae, tenshoku wo ketsui itashimashita.)
“I decided to change jobs in order to acquire more specialized skills.”

Bad: 前の会社は給料が安かったからです。 (The salary was low.) — Too direct and negative.

Model answer:
五年後には、チームリーダーとして御社のプロジェクトを牽引できる人材になりたいと考えております。そのために、まずは現場での経験を積み、専門知識を深めてまいります。
(Go-nen go ni wa, chiimu riidaa toshite onsha no purojekuto wo kennin dekiru jinzai ni naritai to kangaete orimasu. Sono tame ni, mazu wa genba de no keiken wo tsumi, senmon chishiki wo fukamete mairimasu.)
“In five years, I would like to become someone who can lead your company’s projects as a team leader. To that end, I will first accumulate on-site experience and deepen my expertise.”

Good questions to ask:
• 入社後の研修制度について教えていただけますか？
(Nyuusha-go no kenshuu seido ni tsuite oshiete itadakemasu ka?)
“Could you tell me about the training system after joining?”

• 御社が求める人材像について、もう少し詳しくお聞きしてもよろしいでしょうか？
(Onsha ga motomeru jinzai-zou ni tsuite, mou sukoshi kuwashiku okiki shite mo yoroshii deshou ka?)
“May I hear a bit more about the type of person your company is looking for?”

• 一日の業務の流れを教えていただけますか？
(Ichi-nichi no gyoumu no nagare wo oshiete itadakemasu ka?)
“Could you tell me about a typical day’s workflow?”

Critical mistake example:
私がおっしゃったように... (Watashi ga osshatta you ni...)
Using respectful form for yourself — this literally elevates yourself above the interviewer.

私が申し上げたように... (Watashi ga moushiageta you ni...)
Using humble form for yourself — correct and respectful.

面接官 (Interviewer): どうぞお座りください。
(Douzo osuwari kudasai.) — “Please have a seat.”

応募者 (Applicant): ありがとうございます。失礼いたします。
(Arigatou gozaimasu. Shitsurei itashimasu.) — “Thank you. Excuse me.” [sits down]

面接官: では、自己紹介をお願いします。
(De wa, jiko shoukai wo onegai shimasu.) — “Then, please introduce yourself.”

応募者: はい。山田太郎と申します。東京大学の経済学部を卒業後、ABC商事にて3年間、海外営業を担当しておりました。英語と中国語を活かした貿易業務の経験がございます。御社のアジア市場での事業拡大に大変魅力を感じ、志望いたしました。本日はどうぞよろしくお願いいたします。
(Hai. Yamada Tarou to moushimasu. Toukyou daigaku no keizai gakubu wo sotsugyou-go, ABC shouji nite san-nenkan, kaigai eigyou wo tantou shite orimashita. Eigo to chuugokugo wo ikashita boueki gyoumu no keiken ga gozaimasu. Onsha no Ajia shijou de no jigyou kakudai ni taihen miryoku wo kanji, shibou itashimashita. Honjitsu wa douzo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu.)
“Yes. My name is Taro Yamada. After graduating from the Faculty of Economics at the University of Tokyo, I handled overseas sales at ABC Trading for 3 years. I have experience in trade operations utilizing English and Chinese. I was very attracted to your company’s business expansion in the Asian market and applied. Thank you for your kind consideration today.”

面接官: ありがとうございます。志望動機をもう少し詳しく教えていただけますか？
(Arigatou gozaimasu. Shibou douki wo mou sukoshi kuwashiku oshiete itadakemasu ka?)
“Thank you. Could you tell me your motivation for applying in more detail?”

応募者: はい。御社は東南アジアへの進出に積極的で、特にベトナム市場での実績に感銘を受けました。私はこれまでベトナムとの貿易案件を複数担当しており、この経験を御社で活かせると確信しております。
(Hai. Onsha wa tounan Ajia e no shinshutsu ni sekkyoku-teki de, tokuni Betonamu shijou de no jisseki ni kanmei wo ukemashita. Watashi wa kore made Betonamu to no boueki anken wo fukusuu tantou shite ori, kono keiken wo onsha de ikaseru to kakushin shite orimasu.)
“Yes. Your company is proactive in expanding into Southeast Asia, and I was particularly impressed by your track record in the Vietnamese market. I have handled multiple trade projects with Vietnam, and I am confident I can leverage this experience at your company.”

リクルートスーツ (recruit suit): In Japan, there’s literally a specific suit style for job hunting. New graduates wear plain black suits, white shirts, and conservative ties. It’s a uniform — standing out with fashion is not the goal.

Subject: 本日の面接のお礼（[名前]）
(Honjitsu no mensetsu no orei ([Namae]))
“Thank you for today’s interview ([Your Name])”

Body:
[会社名] [部署名] [面接官名]様

本日はお忙しい中、面接の機会をいただき、誠にありがとうございました。
(Honjitsu wa oisogashii naka, mensetsu no kikai wo itadaki, makoto ni arigatou gozaimashita.)

御社の事業内容やビジョンについてお話を伺い、ますます入社への意欲が高まりました。
(Onsha no jigyou naiyou ya bijon ni tsuite ohanashi wo ukagai, masumasu nyuusha e no iyoku ga takamari mashita.)

ご多忙のところ恐れ入りますが、何卒よろしくお願い申し上げます。
(Gotabou no tokoro osoreirimasu ga, nanitozo yoroshiku onegai moushiagemasu.)

[名前]
For more on writing professional emails, see our Japanese business email guide.