Job Huting...Fronting, Glunting
My Recruit Suit posted from PhotoZou
The picture above is what's called a recruit suit. Everyone wheres one similar to it while job hunting, after all, you don't want to stand out in Japan while job hunting.
Job hunting is intense in Japan. The tedious process of trying to get a job is much likely unthinkable for those of you living in the US.
First of all, you apply online by filling in personal information, educational background, as well as your “thoughts on the company,” your part time job experiences, sports, interests, etc. If you are lucky, you get a mail and the next step is taking basic tests in the field of math, Japanese, and English which is nothing basic. Most people will fail this test but if you do pass then you move onto “group work”. About 5 to 8 people will do what is called “group work” where you get about 30 minutes to review a “real-life” problem. Interviewers will walk around the room and check to see if you are participating (but not overbearing), have communication/presentation skills, speaking well, have ideas, etc. Maybe 3 to 5 of these people will pass. Then it’s onto real group (5 people max) interviews where interviewers will ask you questions about leadership, what your dream is, what you most worked on during college, what sports you played, etc. More than half will fail here. And then you can finally move onto interviews where you go alone but beware of the multiple interviewers who will pretty much ask the same questions over and over. About 3 more of those “personal” interviews, one last CEO interview and you made it!
You must start your junior year in university and you get a job after about a year. On an average people apply to around 100 to 200 jobs. And maybe get accepted to 2 or 3 (if you’re lucky). Crazy isn’t it!!