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Japanese for “A part-time job interview”

You're applying for a part-time job at a convenience store. The manager is asking about your Japanese ability, availability, work visa status, and start date.

Sample dialogue

Store manager
本日ほんじつはご来店らいてんありがとうございます。簡単かんたんに自己じこ紹介しょうかいをお願ねがいします。honjitsu wa go raiten arigatougozaimasu. kantan ni jiko shoukai o onegai shimasu.
Thank you for coming in today. Could you tell me a bit about yourself?
You (Applicant)
ありがとうございます。私わたしは大学生だいがくせいで、日本語にほんごは勉強べんきょう中ちゅうです。まだ上手じょうずではないですが、頑張がんばります。arigatougozaimasu. watashi wa daigakusei de, nihongo wa benkyouchuu desu. mada jouzude wanai desu ga, ganbarimasu.
Thank you. I'm a university student, and I'm still studying Japanese. I'm not very good yet, but I'll do my best.
Store manager
そうですか。日本語にほんごは毎日まいにち勉強べんきょうしていますか。sou desu ka. nihongo wa mainichi benkyou shiteimasu ka.
I see. Do you study Japanese every day?
You (Applicant)
はい、大学だいがくの授業じゅぎょうがありますし、毎日まいにち勉強べんきょうしています。少すこしずつ上手じょうずになっています。hai, daigaku no jugyou ga arimasu shi, mainichi benkyou shiteimasu. sukoshi zutsu jouzu ni natteimasu.
Yes, I have classes at university and I study every day. I'm getting better little by little.
Store manager
良よいですね。では、シフトについて聞ききます。週しゅうに何なん日にち働はたらけますか。yoi desu ne. deha, shifuto nitsuite kikimasu. shuu ni nannichi hatarakemasu ka.
That's great. Now, let me ask about your schedule. How many days per week can you work?
You (Applicant)
月曜日げつようびから金曜日きんようびは授業じゅぎょうがあるので、土曜日どようびと日曜日にちようびに働はたらけます。それから、金曜日きんようびの夜よるも大丈夫だいじょうぶです。getsuyoubi kara kin'youbi wa jugyou ga aru node, doyoubi to nichiyoubi ni hatarakemasu. sorekara, kin'youbi no yoru mo daijoubu desu.
I have classes Monday to Friday, so I can work on Saturdays and Sundays. And I can also work Friday nights.
Store manager
わかりました。それと、在留ざいりゅう資格しかく外がい活動かつどう許可きょかはありますか。wakarimashita. soreto, zairyuu shikakugai katsudou kyoka wa arimasu ka.
I understand. Also, do you have permission to work outside your visa status?
You (Applicant)
はい、あります。先月せんげつ申請しんせいして、もらいました。hai, arimasu. sengetsu shinsei shite, moraimashita.
Yes, I do. I applied for it last month and got it.
Store manager
その許可きょか書しょを持もっていますか。sono kyokasho o motteimasu ka.
Do you have that permission document with you?
You (Applicant)
はい、持もっています。hai, motteimasu.
Yes, I have it with me.
Store manager
では、いつから働はたらき始はじめられますか。deha, itsu kara hatarakihajimeraremasu ka.
When can you start?

Phrases you can use

日本語は勉強中ですにほんごはべんきょうちゅうですnihongo wa benkyouchuu desu

I'm in the process of studying Japanese (still learning)

Use this to show you're actively learning but not yet fluent.

英語えいごはまだ勉強べんきょう中ちゅうです。eigo wa mada benkyouchuu desu.

I'm still studying English.

シフトについてshifuto nitsuite

About the work schedule/shift

Use when talking about days and hours available for work.

シフトについて質問しつもんがあります。shifuto nitsuite shitsumon ga arimasu.

I have a question about the schedule.

在留資格外活動許可ざいりゅうしかくがいかつどうきょかzairyuu shikakugai katsudou kyoka

Permission to work outside your visa status (work permit)

The formal phrase used in official contexts for part-time work visas.

資格しかく外がい活動かつどう許可きょかをもらいました。shikakugai katsudou kyoka o moraimashita.

I got permission to work outside my visa status.

週に何日働けますかしゅうになんにちはたらけますかshuu ni nannichi hatarakemasu ka

How many days per week can you work?

A standard interview question about availability.

週しゅう

Casual vs polite

Casual日本語にほんごは勉強べんきょう中ちゅうです。nihongo wa benkyouchuu desu.

Polite日本語にほんごは勉強べんきょうさせていただいております。nihongo wa benkyou saseteitadaiteorimasu.

The casual version sounds natural and friendly; the polite version is overly formal for a job interview. Use the casual version here.

Casualシフトについて聞ききます。shifuto nitsuite kikimasu.

Politeシフトについてお尋たずねさせていただきます。shifuto nitsuite otazune saseteitadakimasu.

The casual polite (です/ます) is standard; the very formal version is unnecessary for a convenience store interview.

Casual許可きょか書しょを持もっていますか。kyokasho o motteimasu ka.

Polite許可きょか書しょをお持もちですか。kyokasho o o mochi desu ka.

The second uses the humble form of 'have' (お持ち); both work, but the second sounds more polite and formal.

Culture tip

In Japan, always bring original documents like your residence card (在留カード) and work permission (資格外活動許可) to a job interview. Managers need to verify your legal status before hiring. Being on time and polite is essential; bow slightly when you enter and leave.

Ready to say it out loud?

On Tuned you can practice this scene in 3 steps: copy the model, build it up bit by bit, then role-play with an AI partner — at your level.

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