Career Search Ideas for Japanese Students

In today's job marker, F1 students or non-US native speakers can feel that they have an uphill struggle trying to land a position.  Many of these students have performed at very high levels academically, have strong work ethics, and would be an asset to any accounting firm.  Having all the necessary qualifications to excel in an accounting or tax position, but receiving no job interviews can be frustrating!  Therefore, it is always refreshing to hear about avenues that can be of assistance in such situations.

One such avenue is the Career Forum (http://www.careerforum.net/).  This company organizes what are essentially career fairs (or forums) for Japanese bilingual speakers.  The forums take place in New York, Boston, Los Angeles, London, and Tokyo each year.  The Boston forum is taking place next - from October 22-24, 2010.

The forums build on the growing need for multi national companies to hire qualified candidates who can function professionally, culturally, and linguistically in today's global marketplace.  Although the focus is on hiring Japanese - English bilinguals, some companies are looking for other language proficiencies such as German.  Over 400 companies participate in the forums annually.  Companies are looking to hire not just for full time positions but also internship opportunities.

Although you need to arrange for your own travel to these events, the forum itself is free of charge.  To attend, you just need to become a member of careerforum.net and register on-line for the event.

Lisa Slater

How to Succeed in an Interview (cont.)

Welcome back, as stated in the previous blog, I would like to discuss some tips to help you succeed in an interview.  First of all some basics:

• Make sure to show up early for the interview.  I'm talking about arriving 15-30 minutes early.  We know what commuting is like in the Bay Area, you don't want to risk running late when you could have been early.  Worse is not showing up at all.
• Accept the interview time the employer gives you.  Barring death or illness, you should not try to reschedule to make it convenient for you.  For one interview slot there are dozens if not hundreds of applicants vying for the position.  You want the job, then you do what they want.
• When you are seated at the reception area do not slouch, this is part of the interview.  Make sure to sit up straight, stay alert and be ready for the interview to start.  Do not fidget or remove any clothing such as jackets or ties.  Look eager for the job from the moment you set foot in the office and have a positive and sincere attitude.
• Dress appropriately from start to finish.  What I mean is the second you are anywhere near the building, you want to dress the part.  Just because your interview is at 1:30 pm, there is no reason for you to be caught by the employer wearing short shorts in the hallway at 1:00 pm.
• Know the company - make it a priority to have thoroughly researched the company by reviewing their website and Googling the company for any new information regarding any recent changes.  
• Know your resume - review your resume prior to the interview.  You don't want to go into the interview, have the interviewer ask you a question about your resume, to have you ask, "What are you talking about?"
• Be confident, project your voice, look the interviewer in the eye and maintain good posture.  Do not confuse confident with cocky - no one wants to hire someone who comes across as arrogant.
• Think about the types of questions that you may be asked but make sure to sound natural when answering the questions.  The last thing you want to do is to sound like you have rehearsed your responses.
• Remember that even if you're meeting in a restaurant, you are still being interviewed and you should keep your conversation professional and courteous.  Remember table manners and when it comes to ordering for yourself, keep your order within reason.
• Ask everyone you meet for business cards and email thank you's individually to each person shortly after your interview concludes.  Try to make each thank you unique - for example refer to something that came up during your conversation with that person.
• Even if you don't get the job offer, remain courteous and professional - you never know when you might cross paths again or when the door might unexpectedly reopen.  Keep your bridges with everyone you meet intact!

There are many things to keep in mind when interviewing and these tips should help with the process.  Best wishes to all of you and do not hesitate to reach out to me personally if you need any one on one coaching.

Lisa Slater