For those who don’t understand Japanese, making a call to someone in Japanese may be as sacring thing as if being about to talk to a ghost or something. If you live in Japan for the first time, you probably need great courage to push the phone number of someone you’re talking to.
One thing I can say for sure is that talking with someone in another language on the phone needs you to have advanced language communication skill as you might be concerned.
The problem of being hard to listen up with terrible noise and motormouth always make you hesitate to contact by phone even when you must call under an urgent situation. There are a lot of situations where you can communicate by only e-mail but once you establish your living base in Japan, you can’t make any excuses about this but you may end up facing a situation where you need to talk on the phone at least one time.
You won’t lose anything by giving it a try to learn, or rather, you must do it if you live in Japan for a long time. Phone conversation skills can be only polished by a phone conversation. Doing a large number of calls is only a shortcut to getting used to it.
However, learning effectively as you can talk in Japanese on the phone freely need a format as a first step, which Japanese people tend to use subconsciously.
Repeating what you want to say in your mind before talking on the phone is a very good thing for you to prepare but you first memorize the phone conversation formant and apply what you want to say to a part of the format by changing the fixed words depending on the situation.
Let’s learn the case that you make a call for part-time job application.
Contents
- 1 Things you to prepare before calling
- 2 The flow of conversation process
- 3 Conversation skit
- 4 Conclusion
Things you to prepare before calling
You carefully check the conditions of a job you apply for and organize what you want to question about. Especially, the following topics are basic information which you should know.
You may possibly ask proactively some of the questions down below if there is something you don’t receive explanation about from the list.
- Job description
- When to start
- Work location
- Salary
- Resume, certificate and other documents you need to prepare
- Interview date
Prepare the job advertisement in your hand
Necessary information about job application when you make an inquiry to a company is often provided on a job advertisement you referred to.
Information about who you should have an answering person put through on the phone and where to go for an interview needs to be known beforehand when you first make a call to a company.
In addition, if a recruiter gets to know what advertisement published in what kind of media you referred to prior to making an application call, it is easy for a recruiter to ask you a question smoothly based on the information you got.
Make sure the name of a person in charge of recuriting
If you already know the name of a person who you want an answering person to put through, you can smoothly contact and start talking about a job application rather than you ask ambiguously if there is a person in charge of recruiting. Just check the last name written on the ads as a contacting person.
Prepare something to write with and on
You prepare a pen and a note to be able to take it as soon as you hear it before you forget it. In many cases, an interview date is told orally. As you can check your schedule at the same time, you also prepare something that installs your schedule in your hand, then you adjust your schedule for an interview with a recruiter.
The flow of conversation process
- Identify yourself
- Ask the first aswering person to put you through a recruiter
- Make sure if a company is still offering a job
- Adjust your schedule for an interview date
- Make sure the things you need to prepare in advance before having an interivew
- Say, thank you politely.
Identify yourself
First, identify yourself and you tell the first answering person that you call with job offer information. You must tell the first answering person what your regarding is about regardless of whether or not, a person whom you talk to is a recruiter.
Ask the first answering person to put through to a recruiter
If you could find a recruiter’s name on the ads you referred to, then you ask the first answering person to put through a recruiter.
Make sure if a company is still offering a job
Depending on the situation, there is a case where a company keeps publishing job offer information on a certain media although it recruits no one, or so many job applicants come flooding in one job offer and a company deliberately close application even within application term.
After an interview date is decided, you just repeat it to confirm each other to avoid misunderstanding.
Adjust your schedule for an interview
Generally, an interview schedule is told orally on the phone. As I wrote the above, just in case a recruiter designates a date which is inconvenient for you, just prepare your mobile phone, computer or something that installs your schedule in your hand to be able to check and adjust a schedule for an interview mutually.
After an interview date is decided, you just repeat it to confirm each other to avoid misunderstanding.
Make sure the things you need to prepare in advance before having an interivew
Ask what you need to bring with you except for your resume.
Say, thank you politely
Say, Arigatougozaimasu politely and amiably before hanging up a phone.
Conversation skit
Identify yourself and ask the first answering person to put through a recruiter
Japanese version
- First asnwering person : “お電話ありがとうございます、田中でございます” (pronunciation)
- You: “お忙しいところおそれいります。ジャックと申します。インターネットの情報サイトでアルバイトの募集記事を見てお電話いたしました。ご担当の鈴木さんはいらっしゃいますでしょうか？” (pronunciation)
- First answering person: “かしこまりました。ただいま担当者に確認いたしますので少々お待ちください” (pronunciation)
- You : “よろしくお願いいたします” (pronunciation)
Romaji version
- First asnwering person : “Odenwa Arigatougozaimasu, Tanaka de gozaimasu” (pronunciation)
- You: ” Oisogasiitokoro,osoreirimasu. Jack to moushimasu. Intanetto no jouhousaito de arubaito no boshukiji wo mite odenwaitashimashita. Gotantou no suzukisan wa irasshaimasudeshouka? ” (pronunciation)
- First answering person: ” Kashikomarimashita. Tadaima tantousha ni kakunin itashimasunode shoushou omachikudasai” (pronunciation)
- You : “Yoroshiku onegai itashimasu” (pronunciation)
English version
- First asnwering person : “Thank you for calling. This is Tanaka. How may I help you? ”
- You: ” I am sorry to bother you. My name is Jack. I am calling regarding a part-time position advertised in a information site. May I speak to Mr. Suzuki? ”
- First answering person: ” Yes, certainly. Let me confirm to Suzuki. Just a moment please.”
- You : ” Thank you.”
wordlist
Make sure if a company is still offering a job
Japanese version
- Recruiter : “お電話代わりました、担当の鈴木です。” (pronunciation)
- You: “お忙しいところおそれいります。私、ジャックと申します。インターネットの情報サイトでアルバイトの募集記事を見てお電話いたしました。キッチンスタッフの募集はしていらっしゃいますか？” (pronunciation)
- Recruiter: “まだ募集しております。ご応募ありがとうございます” (pronunciation)
- You : “私は留学生ですが、大丈夫でしょうか？” (pronunciation)
- Recruiter : “はい、大丈夫です。” (pronunciation)
- You : “ありがとうございます。それでは、応募方法を教えてください” (pronunciation)
Romaji version
- Recruiter : ” Odenwa kawarimashita, tantou no Suzuki desu ” (pronunciation)
- You: ” Oisogasiitokoro osoreirimasu. Watakushi, Jack to moushimasu. Intaanetto no Jouhousaito de arubaito no boshukiji wo mite odenwaitashimashita. Kicchin sutaffu no boshu wa shite irasshaimasuka?” (pronunciation)
- Recruiter: ” Mada boshu shiteorimasu. Go-oubo arigatougozaimasu ” (pronunciation)
- You : ” Watashi wa ryuugakusei desuga, daijoubu deshouka?” (pronunciation)
- Recruiter : “Hai, daijoubu desu” (pronunciation)
- You : ” Arigartougozaimasu. Soredewa, oubohouhou wo oshietekudasai” (pronunciation)
English version
- Recruiter : ” This is Suzuki speaking.™
- You: ” I am sorry to bother you. My name is Jack. I am calling regarding a part time postion advertised in a information site. Are you still offering a part time poistion of kitchenhand?”
- Recruiter: ” Yes, we are still offering the position. Thank you for applying.”
- You : “I am an international student. Can I apply for this position?”
- Recruiter : “Yes, you can.”
- You : “Thank you very much. Coud you please tell me how to apply for it?”
wordlist
Adjust your schedule for a interview
Japanese version
- Recruiter : “近いうちに当店での面接にお越しいただきたいのですが、今月14日の月曜日から19日土曜日の間で、都合のいい日はありますか？” (pronunciation)
- You: “16日以外でしたら大丈夫です。学校が終わるのが17時なので、18時以降でしたらお伺いできます” (pronunciation)
- Recruiter: “それでは15日火曜日の18時に当店でお待ちしております” (pronunciation)
- You : “ありがとうございます。15日火曜日18分にお伺いいたします。どうぞよろしくお願いいたします” (pronunciation)
Romaji version
- Recruiter : “Chikaiuchi ni Touten deno Mensetsu ni okoshiitadakitai nodesuga, Kongetsu juuyokka no getsuyoubi kara juukunichi no doyoubi no aida de tsugou no iihi wa arimasuka?” (pronunciation)
- You: “Juurokunichi igai deshitara daijoubu desu. Gakkou ga owarunoga juushichiji nanode, juuhachiji ikoudeshitara oukagaki dekimasu.” (pronunciation)
- Recruiter: “Soredeha juugonichi kayoubi no juuhachiji ni touten de omachishiteorimasu” (pronunciation)
- You : “Arigatougozaimasu. Juugonichi kayoubi juuhachiji ni oukagaishimasu. Douzo yoroshiku onegaishimasu” (pronunciation)
English version
- Recruiter : ” I’d like you to come to our place tomorrow or some time soon. Which date is most convenient for you from 14th, Monday to 19 th, Saturday? ”
- You: ” I’m fine any day except 16th. I am done with class at 5 p.m. I will be able to come to your place at 6 p.m.”
- Recruiter: “All right. Then, I will be waiting at 6 p.m. on 15th, Tuesday at our restaurant. ”
- You : ” Thank you very much. Then, I will be coming at 6 p.m. on 15th, Tuesday.
wordlist
Make sure the things you need to prepare in advance before having an interivew
Japanese version
- You: “面接の際に必要なものは何かありますか？” (pronunciation)
- Recruiter: “写真を貼った履歴書と、身分証明書、筆記用具をご持参ください。身分証明書につきましては、パスポートと在留カードをご持参ください” (pronunciation)
- You : “履歴書とパスポート、在留カード、筆記用具ですね。当日はお店の正面から入ってもよろしいでしょうか？” (pronunciation)
Recruiter: “客様の少ない時間帯ですので、正面から入っていただいて問題ありません。店頭の者に声をかけてください” (pronunciation)
You : “承知いたしました” (pronunciation)
Japanese version
- You: “Mensetsu ni Hitsuyouna mono wa arimasuka？” (pronunciation)
- Recruiter: “Shashin wo hatta rirekisho to mibunshoumeisho, hikkiyougu wo gojisan kudasai. Mibunshoumeiusho nitsukimashitewa pasupoto, zairyukaado wo gojisankuasai.(pronunciation)
-
You : ” Rirekisho to pasupoto, zairyukaado, hikkiyougu desune. Toujitsu wa omiseno shoumen kara haittemo yoroshiideshouka?
” (pronunciation)
Recruiter: ” Okyaku-sama no sukunai jikantai desunode, shoumen kara haitteitadaite mondai arimasen. Tentou no mono ni koe wo kaketekudasai” (pronunciation)
You : “Shouchishimashita” (pronunciation)
English version
- You: ” What shoud I bring for an interview?”
- Recruiter: ” Please bring resume with ID photo and your ID and something to write with. For your ID, please bring your passport and resident card.
- You: “All right. I will bring passport, resident card, resume and pen. On the day, is it possible to come into the main entrance?
Recruiter: “No problem. You’re coming during off-peak hours. Please come into the main entrance and call a staff.
You : “Yes, I got it.”
Wordlist
Say, thank you politely
Japanese version
- You: “それでは、当日はよろしくお願いいたします。本日はお忙しい中、ありがとうございました” (pronunciation)
- Recruiter: “ありがとうございました.(pronunciation)
-
You : “失礼いたします
” (pronunciation)
Romaji version
- You: ” Soredeha, toujitsu yoroshikuonegai itashimasu. Honjitsu wa oisogashii naka, arigatougozaimashita.” (pronunciation)
- Recruiter: “Arigatougozaimashita.(pronunciation)
-
You : “Shitsureishimasu
” (pronunciation)
English version
- You: ” I am looking forward to having an talking with you soon. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule today.
- Recruiter: “Thank you.”
- You : “See you then.”
Wordlist
Conclusion
It is not very easy for anybody in another language to make an appointment of an interview by phone as you ask what you need to know. The fewer vocabularies you have, the more difficult it is to express what you really want to say flexible.
So, using a flow of words that Japanese people uniformly use as a format is a shortcut to being able to make an inquiry on the phone in Japanese. This example skit above is a very basic flow of conversation for job application. If you get used to the conversation above, you can change a part of the conversation and customize it in accordance with your situation.
But, first thing first, you just memorize this all as you can come up with all the expressions here out of your mind naturally without trying to recall.