どうしてうちの会社で働きたいと思ったの?
簡単なテストを受けてもらってもいい?
Introduction to Job Interview Japanese
Today we’re diving into two essential questions you’ll encounter in Japanese job interviews. These phrases contain multiple layers of grammar that are crucial for JLPT N3-N2 students and anyone preparing for employment in Japan. Understanding these questions will not only help you in interviews but also improve your overall grasp of polite request forms and expressing thoughts in Japanese.
First Question: どうしてうちの会社で働きたいと思ったの?
Word Breakdown
どうして – why, for what reason
うちの会社 – our company
で – particle indicating location/place of action
働きたい – want to work
と思った – thought that, came to think
の – explanatory/question particle
Literal vs Natural Translation
Literal meaning: Why did you come to think that you want to work at our company?
Natural translation: Why do you want to work at our company? / What made you want to work here?
Understanding どうして (Why)
どうして is one of several ways to ask “why” in Japanese. It’s more casual than なぜ but more formal than なんで. In interview contexts, どうして strikes a balance between being professional and conversational.
Comparison of “why” in Japanese:
なぜ – Most formal, often written (Why)
どうして – Standard polite, conversational (Why, How come)
なんで – Casual, informal (Why)
In interviews, どうして is the most common choice.
Understanding うちの会社 (Our Company)
The nuance of うち:
うち literally means “inside” or “home,” but when used to refer to one’s own company, group, or family, it creates a sense of insider identity and belonging. Using うちの会社 instead of この会社 (this company) or 当社 (our company – very formal) makes the question sound more personal and conversational while still maintaining professionalism.
Ways to say “our company”:
うちの会社 – Our company (conversational, creates intimacy)
当社 (とうしゃ) – Our company (formal, written)
弊社 (へいしゃ) – Our company (humble, in correspondence)
この会社 – This company (neutral, less personal)
Grammar Point: たい Form (Want to)
The たい form expresses desire or want. It’s created by replacing the ます ending with たい. 働きます becomes 働きたい meaning “want to work.”
たい form examples:
食べたい – Want to eat
行きたい – Want to go
見たい – Want to see
買いたい – Want to buy
話したい – Want to talk
勉強したい – Want to study
Grammar Point: と思う (To Think That)
と思う is used to express thoughts, opinions, or intentions. When combined with たい, it softens the expression of desire, making it sound less direct and more thoughtful.
Understanding と思う structure:
The particle と marks what you think or thought. The basic pattern is:
[Statement/Question] + と思う = I think that [statement/question]
働きたい (want to work) becomes 働きたいと思う (think that I want to work)
This construction is essential in Japanese for expressing opinions politely and indirectly.
と思う pattern examples:
いいと思う – I think it’s good
難しいと思う – I think it’s difficult
できると思う – I think I can do it
行きたいと思う – I think I want to go
そうだと思う – I think so
Grammar Point: Past Tense 思った
The question uses 思った (past tense of 思う) rather than 思う (present). This is asking about the moment or process when you came to that decision, not your current thinking. It’s asking “What made you think” or “When did you start thinking.”
Compare present and past:
どうして働きたいと思うの? – Why do you think you want to work (here)?
(Asking about current reasoning)
どうして働きたいと思ったの? – Why did you come to think you want to work (here)?
(Asking about what led to this decision)
Grammar Point: の Question Particle
The の at the end makes the question more casual and conversational. It seeks explanation and shows genuine interest. In very formal interviews, this might be replaced with のですか, but の is common in modern interview settings to create a more relaxed atmosphere.
Formality levels:
どうして働きたいと思ったの? – Conversational (common in interviews)
どうして働きたいと思ったのですか? – More formal
どうして働きたいと思いましたか? – Very formal (less common)
なぜ当社を志望されましたか? – Extremely formal (traditional interviews)
How to Answer This Question
Sample answers using と思いました:
御社の企業理念に共感して、ここで働きたいと思いました。
I sympathized with your company’s philosophy, so I came to want to work here.
革新的なプロジェクトに携わりたいと思ったからです。
It’s because I wanted to be involved in innovative projects.
自分のスキルを活かせると思い、応募しました。
I thought I could utilize my skills, so I applied.
社員の方々の熱意に感銘を受けて、一緒に働きたいと思いました。
I was impressed by the enthusiasm of the employees and wanted to work together.
Second Question: 簡単なテストを受けてもらってもいい?
Word Breakdown
簡単な (かんたんな) – simple, easy
テスト – test
を – object particle
受けて – receive, take (て form of 受ける)
もらって – receive (て form of もらう)
も – also, even
いい – good, okay
Literal vs Natural Translation
Literal meaning: Is it okay even receiving (you) taking a simple test?
Natural translation: Can I have you take a simple test? / Would you mind taking a simple test? / Is it okay if I ask you to take a simple test?
Grammar Point: てもらう (Having Someone Do Something)
This is one of the most important and nuanced grammar patterns in Japanese. てもらう means “to receive the favor of someone doing something” or more naturally “to have someone do something for you.”
Understanding てもらう:
The pattern is: [verb て-form] + もらう
The core meaning is that you receive a benefit from someone else’s action. In this case, the interviewer wants to receive the benefit of the candidate taking the test. It’s a polite way to make requests because it frames the action as something the speaker is receiving rather than commanding.
てもらう examples:
手伝ってもらう – To have someone help
教えてもらう – To have someone teach/tell
見てもらう – To have someone look at something
来てもらう – To have someone come
待ってもらう – To have someone wait
書いてもらう – To have someone write
The Double て Construction: 受けてもらって
This sentence combines two て-forms: 受けて (take) + もらって (receive). This creates the meaning “receive (you) taking the test.” The structure literally means receiving the favor of someone taking the test.
Breaking down 受けてもらって:
受ける – to take (a test), to receive
受けて – て-form of 受ける
受けてもらう – to have someone take (a test)
受けてもらって – て-form of 受けてもらう
The て-form at the end connects to もいい (is it okay if)
Grammar Point: てもいい (Is it okay if)
てもいい is used to ask for permission or to check if something is acceptable. The も means “even” or “also,” so literally it’s asking “Is it good even if…”
てもいい pattern examples:
食べてもいい? – Is it okay if I eat? / Can I eat?
見てもいい? – Is it okay if I look? / May I see?
座ってもいい? – Is it okay if I sit? / May I sit?
質問してもいい? – Is it okay if I ask? / Can I ask a question?
帰ってもいい? – Is it okay if I go home? / May I leave?
Combining てもらう and てもいい
When you combine these two patterns, you create a very polite way to make requests. Instead of directly asking someone to do something, you’re asking if it’s okay for you to receive the favor of them doing it.
Compare directness levels:
テストを受けて – Take the test (direct command)
テストを受けてください – Please take the test (polite request)
テストを受けてくれる? – Will you take the test? (casual)
テストを受けてもらえる? – Could you take the test? (polite)
テストを受けてもらってもいい? – Can I have you take the test? (very polite, seeking permission)
The Casual い Ending
Notice the question ends with いい? rather than いいですか? This makes it conversational while still being polite. In modern interviews, this casual-polite balance is common to create a comfortable atmosphere.
Formality variations:
受けてもらってもいい? – Conversational polite
受けてもらってもいいですか? – Standard polite
受けてもらってもよろしいですか? – More formal
受けていただけますか? – Very formal (using いただく instead of もらう)
When This Question Appears in Interviews
This question typically comes after the initial conversation when the interviewer wants to assess your practical skills. It’s a polite way to transition from talking to testing, and the softness of the phrasing shows respect for your time and effort.
Interview context:
Interviewer: 今日はありがとうございます。では、簡単なテストを受けてもらってもいい?
Thank you for today. Well then, can I have you take a simple test?
Candidate: はい、よろしくお願いします。
Yes, please go ahead.
Related Grammar Patterns
てくれる vs てもらう
Understanding the difference:
てくれる – Someone does something for you (focus on the giver)
友達が手伝ってくれた – My friend helped me
てもらう – You receive someone doing something (focus on the receiver)
友達に手伝ってもらった – I had my friend help me
In requests, てもらう is generally more polite because it acknowledges you’re receiving a favor.
Different Ways to Make Polite Requests
Politeness scale for “Please take the test”:
1. テストを受けて – Take the test (casual/direct)
2. テストを受けてください – Please take the test
3. テストを受けてくれる? – Will you take the test?
4. テストを受けてもらえる? – Could you take the test?
5. テストを受けてもらってもいい? – Can I have you take the test?
6. テストを受けていただけますか? – Would you kindly take the test?
7. テストを受けていただけませんか? – Couldn’t you take the test? (very polite)
8. テストをお受けいただけますでしょうか? – Might you take the test? (extremely formal)
Complete Interview Exchange
Full conversation using both sentences:
面接官: 本日はお越しいただきありがとうございます。では、始めましょう。どうしてうちの会社で働きたいと思ったの?
応募者: はい、御社の環境配慮への取り組みに感銘を受けました。私自身も環境問題に関心があり、ここで自分のスキルを活かせると思い、応募させていただきました。
面接官: なるほど、ありがとうございます。では、簡単なテストを受けてもらってもいい?技術的な知識を確認したいんだけど。
応募者: はい、もちろんです。よろしくお願いします。
Interviewer: Thank you for coming today. Well then, let’s begin. Why did you want to work at our company?
Applicant: Yes, I was impressed by your company’s environmental initiatives. I’m also interested in environmental issues, and I thought I could utilize my skills here, so I applied.
Interviewer: I see, thank you. Then, can I have you take a simple test? I’d like to confirm your technical knowledge.
Applicant: Yes, of course. Please go ahead.
Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Complete the sentences with と思う
1. この仕事は面白い＿＿＿＿＿。(I think this job is interesting)
2. 明日は雨が降る＿＿＿＿＿。(I think it will rain tomorrow)
3. 彼女は来ない＿＿＿＿＿。(I think she won’t come)
Exercise 2: Convert to てもらう form
1. 手伝う → ＿＿＿＿＿＿
2. 説明する → ＿＿＿＿＿＿
3. 確認する → ＿＿＿＿＿＿
Exercise 3: Make polite requests using てもらってもいい
1. Look at this document: ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿
2. Wait a moment: ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿
3. Explain again: ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1: Confusing と思う and と思っている
と思う – momentary thought, decision
と思っている – ongoing belief, continuous thinking
In the interview question, 思った (past) is correct because it asks about when you came to that decision.
Mistake 2: Using てください instead of てもらう in this context
受けてください sounds like a direct command
受けてもらってもいい? is softer and more considerate
Mistake 3: Forgetting the double て construction
Wrong: 受けもらってもいい?
Correct: 受けてもらってもいい?
Mistake 4: Wrong particle with うち
Wrong: うちが会社
Correct: うちの会社
Key Takeaways for JLPT Students
どうしてうちの会社で働きたいと思ったの? demonstrates the と思う pattern essential for N3-N2 level. Understanding how to express thoughts and reasons is crucial for both exams and real conversations.
簡単なテストを受けてもらってもいい? combines three important grammar points: てもらう, て-form connection, and てもいい. This complex construction represents advanced Japanese politeness strategies.
Both questions show how Japanese uses indirect, soft expressions even in professional contexts. Rather than commanding or demanding, the language frames requests as seeking permission or receiving favors.
Cultural Context of Japanese Interviews
Japanese Interview Culture:
Japanese job interviews often balance formality with attempts to make candidates comfortable. The questions we studied show this balance – they use polite grammar but maintain conversational elements (の, いい? endings).
The てもらってもいい? construction is particularly Japanese – it shows the interviewer respects your autonomy and time, even though they have the authority to simply ask you to take the test. This reflects broader Japanese values of mutual respect and avoiding direct impositions.
Wrap-up
Today we explored two essential questions from Japanese job interviews. The first question, どうしてうちの会社で働きたいと思ったの?, taught us how to express thoughts and motivations using the と思う pattern, while also showing the subtle difference between present and past tense in asking about decisions.
The second question, 簡単なテストを受けてもらってもいい?, demonstrated the sophisticated てもらう pattern combined with てもいい to create highly polite requests. This construction exemplifies how Japanese uses grammar to show respect and consideration.
These aren’t just interview questions – they’re windows into Japanese communication style. The indirect phrasing, the focus on receiving rather than demanding, and the careful balance of formality and warmth all reflect core Japanese cultural values.
Whether you’re preparing for JLPT exams or actual job interviews in Japan, mastering these patterns will significantly improve your Japanese. Practice them until the complex grammar feels natural, and remember that politeness in Japanese is built into the structure of the language itself.