So, you have been learning Japanese as a foreign language for some time and are ready now to start as a Japanese Language Translator in the industry. You must wonder what the interview process for this role in the IT industry would be in general. Well, it does differ from that of a purely technical role interview.
Speaking in Japanese
It is a no-brainer that even the introduction part starts in Japanese. Be ready with a well-rehearsed intro in Japanese. It certainly boosts your confidence to start the interview on a high note.
To maintain this high note, I would recommend you please skim through the Job Description and make a glossary in Japanese of all the required keywords. Glancing through the company’s website in Japanese can be an additional benefit.
The interviewer mainly wants to check whether you can continue speaking in Japanese beyond the usual greetings and express yourself. Therefore, chances are high that they may ask questions on general topics such as ‘What do you think about Covid-19?’ Buckle yourself up for such off-topic discussions.
Listening in Japanese can help you become a good Japanese Language Translator?
The saying ‘A good listener is a good speaker’ fits well in this scenario. There usually is one native Japanese speaker in an interview for a Japanese Language Translator role. The purpose here is to see if you are acquainted with the Japanese accent and can understand their questions.
All the audio-visual contents in the great ocean of the internet are going to be your rescue net.
Comprehension
Since you are sitting in an interview for a Japanese Language Translator role, reading documents and email will be a part and parcel of this role. Therefore, there must be a passage you are required to understand and translate and answer some of the panel’s questions.
Again, please be mindful that often these passages in front of you will be full of technical jargon. These are not going to be the JLPT passages you are used to writing. The first suggestion of going through the JD and company’s website will apply here as well. You can also learn technical jargon used in the IT industry. I must caution you hereby that this part will test your Kanji as well. You read the Kanjis, you read the passage by default. And this is going to be a deciding factor in your interview
Writing in Japanese
Do not panic. They are not going to ask you to write an essay in Japanese. The most common scenario is that you are required to write a business email in Japanese based on a situation. Learn email writing in Japanese and your chances of cracking the interview have already doubled.
