Achieving Success
in U.S. Job Interviews

The types of questions asked in an interview can be divided into three categories: questions about you, questions about the company, and technical questions. The proportions and content of these questions vary slightly from job to job and company to company. However, the questions are basically almost the same, and they are the following ten.

1. Self-introduction
2. Reasons for applying
3. Reasons for changing jobs
4. Your strengths and weaknesses
5. Current job description
6. Past experience and skills
7. How you deal with problems
8. Knowledge of the company you are applying for
9. How you can contribute to the company
10. Future career goals

The interviewer wants to get to know you. To present yourself clearly and concisely, summarize your story based on your past and present experiences. Including your future career plans will make you appear more attractive to the interviewer.

Your motivation should be convincing to the interviewer. The flow of your answer should be conclusion, rationale, and contribution. For example, “I believe that a job in food distribution will allow me to utilize my strengths and lead to my growth.” The interviewer will expect to hear your rationale. Tell them about your specific experience, such as, “From my internship experience in sales for restaurants..” Then, reinforce your explanation by showing your strengths and ability to contribute, such as “I can help expand sales of your products.” Avoid starting with anything other than a conclusion, giving answers that are unsubstantiated (not based on experience), or that have nothing to do with you, such as “because the company is growing”. Prepare an original motivation in your own words.

Hiring in the U.S. is basically done by job title (position). Employers are interviewing you to determine if you are a good fit for the position. For example, if your answers to a question about your strengths and futures are not relevant to the job, it is not only not a good appeal, but it may also detract from the interviewer’s interest in you. To ensure that your answers are relevant, prepare them in accordance with your application.

Learn about the company you are applying to in advance, including not only its business, but also the industry, its position in the industry, its corporate culture, the president’s vision, and its future prospects. To prevent mismatches, companies want you to know about them just as much as they want to know about you. Information on the corporate website is very useful for advance preparation. For companies that we introduce to you, we will provide you with company information and interview countermeasure in advance. At the same time, it is a good idea to ask our recruiters any other questions you would like to know in advance. You will leave a very good impression on the interviewer when you are able to research the company and briefly explain your reasons for applying, including your experience and skills, based on your strong interest in the company.

In almost every interview, the interviewer’s final question is, “Do you have any questions?” It is a good idea to ask honest questions about what is on your mind, but also to prepare a question that convey your enthusiasm, such as, “Are there any skills I should study or acquire in preparation for joining the company?”

First impression is extremely important. The interview begins with the first impression, and the remainder of the interview can be said to be a confirmation of that impression. Suits are common for both men and women. A white shirt and a black, navy blue, or gray suit is appropriate. Women should wear a jacket even if they are not wearing a suit. Bottoms may be skirts or pants. The most important thing is cleanliness: hair, watch, shoes, clock, bag, tie, etc. Pay attention to your clothing and personal appearance so that people will know your sincerity.

At the beginning of the interview, be sure to smile, make eye contact with the interviewer, and greet him or her briskly. Also, give your name in a clear, crisp manner. However, Be careful not to become too tense and stiff by being too conscious of that.. Remember to take a deep breath if you feel nervous before the interview begins.

Once the interview is scheduled, make a note of the time as well as the means and location of the interview. Then, make sure you arrive for the interview with plenty of time to spare. If an interview venue is provided, confirm the location and access to the venue in advance, and try to arrive at the venue 10 minutes before the interview. If you are interviewing by phone or online, be sure to have your surroundings and equipment ready 10 minutes before the interview so that you can arrive at the interview feeling calm and relaxed. If you arrive too early than the designated time, wait in your car or at a café and try to arrive at the venue 10 minutes early.

From a slightly different perspective, your impression can be determined by the social networking services (SNS) you use. This is because recruiters may check not only your resume, but also your social networking sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn. Postings and friendships that are out of the ordinary may reflect poorly on you, so be sure to delete or otherwise improve the appearance of your profile in advance. It is also recommended that you re-set your profile photo to something as fresh as possible. A company’s brand is the aggregate of each and every employee. Create your profile in a way that enhances rather than detracts from the company’s brand.

In the U.S., where job changes frequently take place across state lines, many interviews are conducted via online tools such as Zoom Meeting, Skype, Google Meet, etc. The coronavirus pandemic has further increased the percentage of online interviews and these remote WEB interviews are becoming mainstream.

If you are not familiar with online tools, you will feel more comfortable if you are prepared for any problems that may arise during the interview. Specifically, make sure you have a stable Internet connection, that the camera and microphone (audio) can be turned on and off smoothly, and that there are no extraneous objects in the background. Also, 10 minutes before the interview, close the windows, prepare your notes, turn off your cell phone, check the battery level, and be ready and waiting in your assigned interview room 5 minutes before the interview.

Since you are interacting through a screen, it is more difficult to convey detailed facial expressions and gestures than in a face-to-face interview. If you lack experience, the best thing to do is to actually practice. If you are uncomfortable, please contact our recruiters in advance so that we can set up and give you the opportunity to practice.

During the hiring interview, the interviewer is looking to see if you are someone they would like to work with. The common trait of “someone you want to work with” is a positive attitude. For example, when answering the question “Why did you change jobs?”, rather than saying “I wanted to change jobs because I was dissatisfied with the company”, it is more positive to say “I wanted to take on a new challenge to better demonstrate my abilities and make a contribution to more people. The same is true for the answers about one’s “weaknesses”. For example, “I hate to lose.” Please answer that this trait can be a “strength” (i.e., strong ambition). Even if you feel negatively about something, there is always a positive feeling behind it. Avoid negative comments and convey positive feelings.

For example, if you are asked a question about “dealing with problems,” the interviewer is looking to see how you would handle the situation if you actually worked there. Simply telling the interviewer, “I am good at dealing with problems, so leave it to me,” does not give the interviewer that image. Try to be specific by describing actual situations and experiences you faced in your past. The same goes for other responses about your “strengths”. Briefly stating your strengths, followed by specific experiences that will help them understand them, and then telling them “So I should be able to do this in your company,” will help the interviewer visualize you in action.

If the interviewer thinks, “I want to work with you,” you are more likely to be hired, even if you lack some abilities or qualifications. For example, a question about “reasons for applying” is an excellent opportunity to convey your enthusiasm. Here, it is important to first and foremost deepen your understanding of the company beforehand. Be specific about what attracted you to the company and how you feel you can contribute your strengths. If something comes up that you do not understand in knowing the company, you can ask our recruiters beforehand (this is also a sign of your enthusiasm). There is no need for you to touch on visa or salary. Leave those concerns to the recruiter.

An interview is a conversation, and a conversation is a catchall. Even if you are positive and enthusiastic, if you cannot communicate smoothly, the interviewer will not want to work with you. Listen carefully to the end of the question, don’t rush to ask if you don’t understand something, and be sure to look the person in the eye when answering to make sure you are getting the message across and moving at an appropriate pace. Interrupting the other person or simply asserting your own ideas is not good conversation. Conversely, nodding and laughing help the interviewer ensure that his/her story is being told in a positive way. Be considerate of others and observe his/her facial expression and emotion so that you can respond appropriately.

While we have discussed how to prepare for the interview, ultimately it is important to be relaxed. Try not to push yourself too hard during the interview, and just be yourself. If you feel nervous before the interview, take a deep breath, and if you start to feel nervous during your answers, try to speak a little slower

While we often talk about the importance of first impressions in an interview, the final impression you make at the end of the interview is just as important. The final question in many interviews, “Do you have any questions?”, be sure to ask honest questions about what is on your mind, as well as questions that convey the enthusiasm with which you have prepared (e.g., “Are there any skills that I should study or acquire in preparation for joining the company?” ). Then, at the end of the interview, politely express your sincere gratitude to the interviewer for “taking the time to seriously consider you for employment”.

It is recommended that you send a Thank You Letter or Thank You Email after the interview to express your gratitude. The earlier you send a thank you letter, the more effective it will be. It is best to send the letter or email on the day of the interview. If you interviewed through us, we will be happy to send it to the company representative through our recruiter.

Include (1) your appreciation, (2) your impressions of the interview, (3) the topics that interested you, and (4) your improved enthusiasm through the interview. It should neither be too long nor too short. Adjust the amount of text to be considerate of the hiring representative.

Hiring in the U.S. is by job title (position), and it is essential for job seekers to have a proper understanding of the position. If we, HRAIT, introduce you to a job opportunity, we will assist you in understanding and preparing for the interview. Our recruiters will explain the details of the position and its requirements according to the job description provided by the employer. Our recruiters are also familiar with the company’s vision and corporate culture, so we can provide information on the type of person the company is looking for, as well as advice on interviewing.

HRAIT offers free resume writing and salary negotiation services, as well as employment support and information on the OPT visa. We also provide flexible and free support to meet the needs of job seekers, such as “setting up and practicing online tools” and “sending thank you letters on behalf of job seekers,” as already mentioned above, so please feel free to contact us. We look forward to working with you to achieve the career change and career advancement you desire.