2023.3.8
What questions should I ask the interviewer 【逆質問】? Questions to ask and questions not to ask
I was able to answer almost all the questions I was asked in the interview!
I made a good impression, had a lively conversation with the interviewer, and may even get a job offer!
This is the last question.
何か最後に質問はありますか？
Do you have Any questions for us?
Which of the following is the answer to this question?
①特にありません。/ No, I don’t.
②御社の○○について教えてください。 / Yes, please tell me about your company’s __.
Before the interview, you can research the company on the Internet so that you have some understanding of the company.
In addition, during the interview, you were able to ask about the company, so you would answer “(1) No, I don’t.
But it is not a good idea to answer “No” to the interviewer’s question,
【最後に何か質問はありますか？ / “Do you have any last questions?】
It is not an overstatement to say that these questions are critical questions that can make or break an interview.
In this article, we will discuss in detail the questions asked by the interviewer, commonly referred to as “逆質問,” and how to attack them.
What is 逆質問？
逆質問 is an opportunity to ask questions of the interviewer who works at the company and to make a final appeal to the interviewer.
It is also the most important question to ask to determine if the applicant has good communication skills during the dialogue with the employer.
You can ask detailed questions about the position you can expect to fill if you are hired and Who are the clients?
Ask questions that you have researched on the Internet but could not find out, or questions that only those who actually work at the company can answer.
For example, ask some question like these.
Q）マネジメントについて / About Management
将来は、マネジメントにも挑戦したいのですが、マネジャーになるにはどのようなスキルが求められますか？
I would like to try my hand at management in the future so what skills are required to become a manager?
Q）部署異動について / About departmental transfers
入社後は日本で経験を積み、海外へ赴任したいと考えておりますが、赴任の条件を教えてください。
I would like to gain experience in Japan after joining the company and then be posted overseas. What are the conditions for overseas assignment?
This type of questioning will make the interviewer feel that you are very “enthusiastic” about the job.
If you can communicate that you are highly motivated, the interviewer will be convinced that you will continue to work for the company and contribute to the company’s success, and you will be one step closer to being hired.
However, there is a caveat.
Be careful not to ask simple and easy questions that can be answered by doing some research, or to ask questions that are rude or insulting, as this will damage your image.
It is better not to ask too many questions about these matters, so please keep them in mind.
お給料について / About Salary Rates
ボーナスは何カ月分ですか？
How many months of bonuses are paid?
勤務時間、残業について / Working Hours Hours and Overtime
残業は毎日どのくらいありますか？
How much overtime do I do every day?
There is no need to forcefully ask a question in 逆質問.
If you do not have any questions that you really want to ask, or if you were not able to present yourself well during the interview, you should make a final statement at the end of the interview instead of asking questions.
If you can completely change your image here, you may be hired.
If you want to make an appeal, it is best to communicate as follows
本日色々とお話させていただいた中で質問は全てクリアになりましたので、特にありません。もし内定をいただけたら、これまで５年間の経験を活かして御社でも○○に貢献したいと考えております。どうぞよろしくお願いいたします。
I have no particular questions, as all of my questions were answered in the various discussion we had today. If I receive a job offer, I would like to use my experience of the past five years to contribute to XX at your company. Thank you very much for your cooperation.
Before you say anything about your enthusiasm, you should clearly state that you have no questions because you have answered all the questions you wanted to ask during the discussion with the interviewer.
How to prepare for 逆質問
Now, let’s make a 逆質問.
逆質問 should not be asked on the spot, but should be prepared in advance.
To create them, these two are utilized.
①Company website
②Company Review Site
In addition, keep these three points in mind.
◆Questions to show that I am interested in the company
◆Show that you have the necessary skills for the company.
◆Questions that give the impression that once you join a company, you will work there for longer than 5 years.
By asking these questions, you can make a subtle appeal.
The following is a detailed explanation of how to make each of these products.
①Review the company’s website and think about the questions you want to ask.
It is only natural to visit the company’s website prior to an interview.
The key point to look for is to check whether your past experience matches the business activities of the company you have applied for.
For example, suppose you are a mechanical design of turbines.
The company designs not only turbines, but also automotive parts and industrial robots.
In such cases, the following questions can be used to demonstrate motivation.
私は４年以上のタービン設計の経験がありますが、将来的には自動車部品の設計に携わりたいと考えております。御社はタービン設計だけでなく、自動車部品の設計をされているということですが、メーカーはどちらでしょうか？またどこの部品を作っているのでしょうか？
I have more than 4 years of experience in turbine design, and I would like to be involved in the design of automotive components in the future. Your company does not only design turbines, but also designs automotive parts and components. Which parts does your compamy make?
②See the company review sites and make some questions.
In addition to the website, you can also look at word-of-mouth sites, which will give you a lot of information that you would never know unless you work for the company, such as problems with the current company and complaints of employees who work for the company.
The key point to look for is how you can use your own skills to solve the problems that the company you are applying to has.
For example, let’s say you are a system development engineer.
The company’s problem is that its business operations are inefficient, resulting in a large amount of overtime work for employees and an increasing number of retirees.
In such cases, the following questions can be used to demonstrate that you can play an active and effective role as an immediate asset.
私はこれまで業務効率向上のためのシステムを開発してきました。もし差し支えなければ、御社ではどの業務で残業が発生し、どう改善したいのかをお聞かせいただけますでしょうか？
I have been developing systems to improve business efficiency. If you do not mind my asking, which of your company’s business operations causes overtime work and how you would like to improve it?
By asking this question, you can subtly appeal, “When I join the company, I will create a system to improve business efficiency!
As an ironclad rule for not asking rude or insulting questions.
This question is designed to get you to talk about the company’s weaknesses, and some interviewers may feel somewhat rude depending on how they hear it, so preface the question with “if you don’t mind”.
By doing so, the sentences will become softer and softer.
Example of 逆質問
I can’t make up my own 逆質問…
We have prepared them for such people, so please use it as it is and arrange it in your own way.
【外国人に特化した質問 】Questions specific to foreigners
①御社には外国人の方はいますか？
Are there any foreign residents in your company?
②御社で働く外国人の方はどの国の方が多いですか？
Which country are most of the foreigners working at your company?
③外国人で成果を出している人の共通点を教えてください。
Please tell me the common points of those who have achieved success in foreign countries.
④将来マネジャーとして働きたいのですが、外国人マネジャーはいままでいらっしゃいましたか？
I would like to work as a manager in the future, but have you ever had a foreign manager before?
【入社前・入社後に関する質問】Questions about pre- and post-employment
⑤入社前に何か勉強していくことはありますか？
Is there anything I should study before joining the company?
⑥入社させていただけましたらどのような業務を担当させていただけますでしょうか？
What kind of work will I be responsible for once I join the company?
⑦仕事の１日のスケジュールを教えてください。
Could you please tell me about company’s work day schedule?
⑧私は○○だけでなく、☆☆にも挑戦したいと考えておりますが、入社後はどのようなキャリアパスがありますか？
I would like to challenge not only ○○ but also ☆☆☆. What kind of career path is available to me after joining the company?
【戦略に関する質問】Questions about strategy
➈御社のグローバル戦略について詳しく教えていただけますか？
Can you tell me more about your company’s global strategy?
⑩他社と差別化を図るために、どのようなことをされていらっしゃいますか？
⑩What are you doing to differentiate yourself from other companies?
Next, we will provide BAD examples.
Please be careful not to ask these questions.
①残業は１日どのくらいありますか？
How much overtime are there per day?
②昇給は年に何回ありますか？
How many times a year are raises given?
③有給は取りやすいですか？
Is it easy to get paid vacation?
④私を採用したらプラスになりますが、採用していただけますか？
If you hire me, it will be a better, will you hire me?
⑤定時は６時ですか？
Does the work finish at exact 6:00 p,m?
⑥いつからマネジャーになれますか？
When can I become a manager?
⑦日本語レベルはどのくらい必要ですか？
What level of Japanese is required?
⑧福利厚生を教えてください。
Please tell me about the benefits.
⑨手当はありますか？
Are there any allowances?
Summary
Never answer “nothing in particular” for the 逆質問 or ask any of the other NG questions just mentioned.
A previously favorable impression of the company may suddenly become unfavorable and lead to rejection of the applicant.
If you would like us to work with you to create a 逆質問, or if you would like to practice interview questions, please contact us for more information.
