5 Questions You Must Ask at Every Job Interview

A prepared question list can change your life after joining

"Why didn't I ask anything back then?"

Lisa (24) from Manila lay in bed one night during her 4th month of work, thinking that over and over. She couldn't stop crying.

The interview was in January 2024. A food factory in Kanagawa. A friend had referred her, saying the conditions were good. The recruiter was warm and welcoming from the start. "We're looking for global talent." "We have a lot of international staff, so language support is solid." A gentle smile. A clean office. A prepared chair and tea.

Lisa wanted to ask questions — but she couldn't.

The moment she was about to say "I'd like to check the salary breakdown," he said, "Oh, we'll explain all that properly after you join." She had wanted to ask about deemed overtime, but the conversation moved too quickly and she couldn't find an opening.

An interview is a place where the candidate is one-sidedly nervous. The other side is a professional; you are not. If you're not used to negotiating in Japanese, you know how hard it is to say "I'd like to confirm something" — if you've ever interviewed in Japan.

In the end, Lisa gave the OK sign that day. "Monthly salary ¥220,000 / light overtime / visa support available." Those words from the listing were in her head.

When her first payslip arrived, reality hit. Base salary: ¥172,000. The remaining ¥48,000 was labeled "deemed overtime (40 hours included)." Her actual overtime was 50–60 hours a month, but those 40 hours were "already paid" — no additional payment was made. When she asked HR about "visa support," they said, "Let's look into it together when the time comes."

The following year during visa renewal, she was told there might be a mismatch between her job duties and her residence status. She had to apply for a visa status change — at her own expense.

In four months, everything had changed.

If she had asked five questions at the interview — that's what Lisa says now. Write your question list on paper before the interview, bring it with you, and preface each question with "May I confirm this?" That one preparation can change what comes after.