Quick recap: With quite a bit of luck I had found a Japanese games developer who was willing to hire a foreigner with a limited ability in Japanese. I was offered a job a few hours after my second interview, and decided to accept. Just a few days before I had that second interview, I had however received another invitation for a first interview. Of course, I didn't cancel the upcoming interview and decided to have a look.
This interview was at one of the big companies, to which I had applied at the beginning of October. Shortly thereafter I received an e-mail saying that it would indeed take about 6 weeks before I'd hear from them again. After a few weeks, I got a call on my mobile from them. It was with quite some difficulty that I was able to understand that the positions I had applied to weren't available, and I was asked if I was interested in another position. Of course I said yes to that, and a few weeks later I was called again to agree a date for an interview. This was far easier for me to understand and communicate about.
So like I said, this interview took place after I already had an offer, so there was little reason for me to be nervous. As usual I arrived early. The reception area was truly impressive, displaying boxed games, merchandise and a few games running on monitors. The two receptionists wore matching yet stylish uniforms.
The interview itself went pretty well. I was interviewed by one Japanese developer and one foreigner to handle the translation - a relatively low headcount! The position we talked about was at a department that's not even listed on their website, and a rather interesting one at that. The questions were numerous and deep, and I think I answered them well, albeit mostly in English. The interview also lasted longer than the usual 30 minutes, although I don't recall the exact length.
A few days after this interview, my portfolio was returned with a rather glossy rejection letter. It didn't take me by surprise, but the interview had given me a fair amount of hope. I certainly didn't regret going to the interview, as it has pointed out to me a possible way of how I might try to profile/market myself in my upcoming job, which starts -- tomorrow!
2 comments:
so - how exactly might you try to profile/market yourself in your new job?
Good luck at your new job! :) Sounds like the interviews are pretty challenging but not impossible (when you're not *that* good at japanese) - correct me if I'm wrong.
Keep us updated!
(greetings from a fellow dutch games developer, although I'm a coder - not an artist)
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