Most foreign companies (外資系) will have a video or phone call with the overseas team at some point during the interview process. This is usually conducted towards the end of the process and is a vital factor on whether you will be getting the job or not. Below are some tips and things to keep in mind on how to prepare for this:

■Location

Your recruiter will inform you on whether the interview will be conducted via phone or by a video call such as Skype, BlueJeans Conferencing, or Google Hangout. Some companies will offer their office as a space for you to have the interview. 

Otherwise we will invite you to our office and set up the system for you. If you feel more comfortable conducting the call in your home, you may also choose to do so. 

However in that case, you need to make sure that you are in a quiet space with no background noise and no distraction.

■Practice your English

More often than not, the person whom you will be speaking to does not speak Japanese. 

If English is not something that you are comfortable using, make sure that you practice speaking with your consultant a few days prior to the call. This will refresh your mind into using the language and will help you feel more comfortable on the day of the interview. Listen to English conversations to make yourself accustomed in hearing English.

■Keywords

There a lot of keywords in English that you need to keep in mind during the interview. Depending on the industry and what job you are applying for, there are certain words that interviewers will like to hear to see your fit. 

Many of these keywords can be found on the job description so make sure to use those. It is okay to have notes in front of you during the interview but do not read them while talking to the interview.

■Culture Fit

Many interviews with HQ are actually centered on seeing your overall fit for the company. This is called culture fit. 

Culture fit questions are focused more on your personality and mindset, and not too much on your ability to do the job. 

The reason why HQ conducts this interview is because they tend to look at their Japan office in a bigger context. Do plenty of research on what the overall culture is of the company and make sure to ask your consultant on whether the interview is for culture fit!

■Company knowledge

Following the above information, you must have a strong knowledge of the business as whole. 

Do as much research as you can using the company’s website but also utilize platforms like LinkedIn and Glassdoor.