Japan Times interview questions

After sending in an application, I was invited to meet with two lower-level editors at the Japan Times' office. Before the interview begins, applicants are required to complete a short test to measure knowledge of Japan and topics related to news coverage in the region. Anyone who has worked in media or has lived in Japan for a year or more could easily answer these questions. (Some were tricky — like identifying landlocked prefectures.) The interview was of average difficulty, mostly to gauge experience and background. I was then invited to take an editing test, which required a decent amount of work but would be easy for any experienced editor. After "passing" the editing test, I was invited to a final interview with upper-level editors, conducted in a panel of four. This interview was intensely difficult, as the panel was not afraid to push or challenge answers — perhaps to see how you perform under pressure. I was also asked about salary, and received no firm feedback on the number I gave, nor was I told of a salary range for the role. At the conclusion of the interview, you're required to take a short personality test, which is standard for Japan. A few days later, I was notified my salary requirements were too high, and was asked to counter with a lower number. After countering with a much lower number that is in-line with other similar positions in Tokyo, I was told that my number was still too high and that they could not offer me the position because of it. I wasn't given a chance to ask what the target salary was, which I found highly disappointing. Instead of being offered a package, the applicant is sort of tricked into giving out numbers without having any idea of a range. It sounded like I would have been offered the job if I lowballed myself, which I could not afford to do. (Based on my given numbers, it seems the salary was likely in the ￥4.5-5 million range.)

Long: it took over 3 months, with 3 interviews, and 2 written tests. Interviews were with department heads, then with management, and the final one with the CEO. Written test involved translating an article from Japanese to English, and a basic language proficiency test. Often not hearing back for 2 to 3 weeks in between. Interview conducted in both Japanese and English.