You can't go wrong with a suit. I bought one for the interview, and have also worn it a few times here for important occasions (meeting the board of education for the first time, graduation, etc). If you do buy a suit, go with a pants suit or one where the skirt is at least knee length. My skirt is 2" or 3" above the knee and I felt self-conscious about the length at graduation where all the other female teachers were wearing full black funeral suits with below the knee skirts and black tights (I was wearing nude stockings, which also didn't help).
For the "Do you have any questions?" question I asked the interviewers what their favorite thing about Japan was.
If you have a suit, wear it. Treat this like a professional interview with a major corporation--you're essentially trying to prove to the Japanese embassy, who speaks on behalf of Japan, that you belong in their country, so you want to present as professional an appearance as you can. And you definitely should invest in a suit--black or dark-colored--if you're accepted, because you'll be wearing it to seminars and ceremonies regularly, at least once every couple of months.
Dress dark, but not all-black. Throw in a brown button-up shirt or some colored pinstripes. Details are important so don't wear $10 generic shoes from Payless, try something either totally classic, or a little modern.
The advice that has served me well is "Always out-dress fellow interviewees". Doesn't matter what sort of position you're applying for, dressing one-level higher than what is expected makes you look professional and more serious than other applicants.
That being said I also advise that you go for a suit--if you get accepted having a black suit is convenient for official meetings/graduation ceremonies/what have you, and even if you don't make it in, a suit is a good thing to have in your wardrobe. I wore a black suit with white piping on the jacket and a light green camisole-type shirt underneath.
Also, as a lady, I was also told not to cross my legs at the interview. Apparantly it's considered rude in Japan, so whatever you wear, you might avoid doing that. :)
Hehe, me too--they can't do much about it now that I'm here! Next time your coworkers are sitting together, count the number of women crossing their legs!
Never even thought about it. I guess I don't care now, because I have a knee injury and crossing my legs is the only way I can sit that doesn't hurt. But if I recall correctly, I probably did cross my legs in the interview...
I have my interview in a couple weeks and I bought a navy pin stripe suit with a white blouse. I agree with what the other posters said, I really want to look professional and well-dressed. I'm serious about getting the job and I want it to look like that on the outside as well. I think that it is better to be overdressed for the interview than too casual.
So I showed up at my interview 45 minutes late... and as a result of my hurry, I showed up unshaven, un-tooth-brushed, unshowered, sweaty and panicked wearing a pair of polyester levis with a cowboy belt-buckle (the kind with a big pistol in the middle) and a hideous (and unwashed) turqouise shirt, the kind that has a 2-button collar, not an actual button-up. Yeah, I looked like something you'd drag out from under the couch...and late to boot! Don't ask WHY I showed up like this...it's a whole nother long story. But the point is...Yatta! Here I am in Japan, typing on the laptop in a teachers room...so maybe don't stress about clothing too much, but worry more about charisma. I saw MANY super well dressed interviewees who came across more like nervous bible-salesmen than eager young teachers.
Hah--piggybacking on that, I'd advise any interviewees to get into a minor car accident the morning of your interview. I did (my first fender-bender ever, my fault, suburban Atlanta bumper-to-bumper rush-hour traffic), and I ended up being TOTALLY calm and collected in the interview, because the stress of the morning had taken care of all that for me!
I for one am really interested in hearing your story, by the way. :D
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For the "Do you have any questions?" question I asked the interviewers what their favorite thing about Japan was.
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That being said I also advise that you go for a suit--if you get accepted having a black suit is convenient for official meetings/graduation ceremonies/what have you, and even if you don't make it in, a suit is a good thing to have in your wardrobe. I wore a black suit with white piping on the jacket and a light green camisole-type shirt underneath.
Also, as a lady, I was also told not to cross my legs at the interview. Apparantly it's considered rude in Japan, so whatever you wear, you might avoid doing that. :)
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I for one am really interested in hearing your story, by the way. :D
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