「Job-Hunting in Japan」Frequently Asked Questions in the Entry Sheet

What Companies Look For in an Entry Sheet(ES)

The interviewer checks the ES to see what kind of person you are and whether you fit the profile that the company is looking for.

By reviewing the ES, the interviewer is deciding whether or not to call the student for an interview.

It is important to find out what kind of person the company is looking for before writing the ES.

Questions that are Definitely Asked in the ES

Question①: Self-Introductin

The first question that is definitely asked in an ES is self-introduction.

Companies ask self-introduction questions in order to easily ascertain “what kind of person” you are.

In the self-introduction, you will give basic information such as university, faculty, name, hometown, etc., as well as a brief description of your experience and willingness to join the company that can be connected to your personal PR.

Question②: Self-PR

The second question that is definitely asked in ES is self-PR.

Companies check “what strengths you have” through your self-PR.

Simply highlighting your strengths and skills in your self PR will not be appreciated.

When writing your self-PR, showcase your strengths and skills that can be utilized at the company you are applying for.

Question③: What did you focus on during your university life?

The third question that is definitely asked in an ES is “What did you focus on during your university life?

Companies ask the question “What did you focus on during your university life?” to confirm “how students approach things.

When writing What did you focus on during your university life, the most important thing is “how you did your best” rather than the results of your efforts.

Question④ : “Why are you applying for the job?

The fourth question that is definitely asked in an ES is the motivation for applying.

Motivation is a question that is asked not only in interviews but also in ES.

In order to hire people who are highly motivated to join a company, companies check students’ motivation through their motive for applying.

If you write “a motivation that can be said anywhere” in the ES, you will be dropped, so you need to think about “why should it be that company?

Frequently Asked Questions in the ES

We will now present five types of questions that are frequently asked in ES.

Frequently asked ES questions ①: Questions about personality

The first question often asked in ES is about personality.

Japanese companies place more importance on personality than skills and experience when hiring new graduates.

Therefore, in order to confirm what kind of person a student is, they ask questions about the student’s personality in the ES.

When writing an ES, do not appeal to the experience itself, but rather show your personality through the experience.

Frequently Asked ES Questions② : Questions about post-employment activities

The second question that is often asked in the ES is about your success after joining the company.

Any company does not just want to hire talented people; they want to hire people who will play an active role in their company.

Therefore, by asking questions about their post-employment activities in the ES, companies are confirming whether or not they will be able to play an active role after joining the company.

Companies want to hire people who will play an active role after joining the company.

When you are asked about what you would like to do after joining a company in your ES, be specific about how you would like to play an active role after joining a company so that the interviewer can visualize your success after you join a company.

Frequently Asked ES Questions③: Experiences during School Years

The third question commonly asked in the ES is about experiences during the student years.

By asking about your experiences as a student, companies are checking the values and ideas of students.

It is important to write about experiences that convey the values and ideas that you want to appeal to companies.

Companies are checking students’ ideas rather than experiences through the ES, so write about experiences that convey your personality.

Frequently Asked ES Questions ④: Questions about the industry and company

The fourth question commonly asked in ES is about industries and companies.

By asking questions about industries and companies in the ES, companies are checking whether you have researched the industry or company and whether you are highly interested in the company.

The following is a list of frequently asked job hunting questions in the ES.

By asking questions about industries and companies in the ES, we confirm that you have thoroughly researched the industries and companies.

Before answering questions about industries and companies, be sure to conduct thorough industry and company research.

Frequently Asked Questions in ES ⑤: Other Questions

Finally, here are some other questions.

When answering the other questions, write down the points that appeal to you.

When answering the other questions, the most important thing is to write the points you want to emphasize through your answers.

Do not just write the answer to the question, but think about what you can appeal by answering the question.

Points to keep in mind when writing the ES

Point①: Do not deviate from the intent of the question.

The first point to keep in mind when writing an ES is to not deviate from the intent of the question.

When answering ES questions, it is important to confirm the intent of the question and write what the company wants to know.

If you write an answer in your ES that is not in line with the intent of the question, you will be dropped.

Therefore, when answering ES questions, check the intent of the question first.

Point②: Be aware of the type of person the company is looking for.

The third thing to keep in mind when writing an ES is to intend the type of person the company is looking for.

Through the ES, companies check to see if students are the kind of people they are looking for.

Therefore, you need to show that you are a good match for the company by answering the ES questions.

When answering ES questions, write what the company is looking for rather than what you want to write.

Point③: Do not lie when writing an ES.

The third thing to keep in mind when writing an ES is that you cannot lie.

If you write falsehoods in your ES, you will be exposed in depth during the interview.

If you write a lie in your ES, it will be discovered in the interview and you will be dropped.

Finally、to all international students, the most important factor when seeking employment in Japan is mastering the Japanese language. Smooth communication in Japan’s workplace environment and society relies on using the right words to express yourself effectively. Furthermore, having strong Japanese language skills provides advantages in various situations, from selecting job opportunities to interviews and actual job tasks. By enhancing your Japanese language proficiency, you can approach your work with confidence.

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