FAQS
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Discover some of the most common questions my clients have asked below. If you don’t manage to find the answers you’re looking for, please contact me and I’ll get back to you with more info as soon as I can.
What Level of English do I need to work at a Foreign Company?
This is a very frequently asked question and the answer varies depending on the company. Some companies require a TOEIC score of 650, others 800 and others do not use TOEIC to evaluate a person's English or communication ability.
Recently companies and the Government of Japan are adopting the CEFR assessment system established by the European Union which is scored from A1 - C3 which establishes fluency in English communication. This is a standard we also use when assessing candidate’s ability to use English.
To answer the question, you need to be able to read and write English at a basic level respond to questions in an interview context and this usually requires Intermediate level of English (CEFR B1) which for those more familiar with TOEIC is a 650 - 800 score.
Always remember at a foreign company what is important is not only your ability to speak English/Japanese but also your communication skills. The way you communicate with colleagues and your managers, your willingness to answer questions clearly and concisely at work will help you in your growth in the company.
Why Do You Want to Work at our Company?
You need to have good reasons for applying to the job and the company. If you are not prepared to answer this question, check their website, the values of the company, their corporate message from the CEO and ask yourself is this a place where I would like to work and contribute? You need to demonstrate values and experience to do the job but wanting to work at that company in particular is what will make you stand out as a candidate and to win the position and to beat the other candidates to receive an offer you need to stand out. Write down some notes before the interview as to why you want to work at this company.
HOW DO YOU MANAGE PEOPLE?
This question is asked in different ways, tell me about your management experience? What do you like about managing others? Give us an example of good management/ Bad management?
Do you like managing others? Are you confident you will be able to manage the team?
The best answers come from experience and what the question is asking for is your philosophy and management style. What type of manager are you? How do you achieve the best results from your team? How are you developing them and communicating with them? What are some of the challenges of managing others? Be careful not to complain here, this is a question that demands a positive response.
Always keep your answers positive. Think of examples where you have seen or demonstrated good management and share them in your answer to this question.