What Hello Work is for
Hello Work is the everyday name for the public employment security office. Its main services are job listings, job-search consultation, referrals to employers and procedures connected to employment insurance.
Listings can be browsed on terminals in the office or online, but the counter is where the language work happens: explaining what you are looking for, asking about conditions and getting a referral.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ハローワーク | harōwāku | Hello Work, the public employment office |
| 公共職業安定所 | kōkyō shokugyō anteisho | The official name of the office |
| 外国人雇用サービスコーナー | gaikokujin koyō sābisu kōnā | Service corner for foreign residents, at some offices |
| 求人 | kyūjin | Job openings |
| 求職 | kyūshoku | Job seeking |
Registering as a job seeker
Your first visit usually starts with registration. You fill in a form about your work history and the kind of job you want, and staff can help if parts of it are unclear.
Say that it is your first visit. It routes you to the right counter and tells staff to expect questions.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 初めて来ました。 | Hajimete kimashita. | This is my first time here. |
| 仕事を探しています。 | Shigoto o sagashite imasu. | I am looking for work. |
| 求職の申し込みをしたいです。 | Kyūshoku no mōshikomi o shitai desu. | I would like to register as a job seeker. |
| 在留カードを持ってきました。 | Zairyū kādo o motte kimashita. | I have brought my residence card. |
| この欄の書き方を教えてください。 | Kono ran no kakikata o oshiete kudasai. | Please tell me how to fill in this field. |
Reading a job listing
Job listings follow a standard layout, so a small set of words covers most of what you need to check. Read these fields first, then look at the details.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 求人票 | kyūjinhyō | Job listing sheet |
| 時給 | jikyū | Hourly wage |
| 月給 | gekkyū | Monthly salary |
| 勤務時間 | kinmu jikan | Working hours |
| 休日 | kyūjitsu | Days off |
| 未経験可 | mikeiken ka | No experience needed |
| Field | What to check |
|---|---|
| Job title and duties | What you would actually do each day |
| Wage | Hourly or monthly, and whether it is before tax |
| Working hours | Shift times, breaks and overtime |
| Days off | Weekly days off and holiday arrangements |
| Insurance | Which social and employment insurance applies |
| Requirements | Experience, licences and the Japanese level expected |
Questions for the job-search counsellor
A consultation, shokugyō sōdan, is where you can ask what you would hesitate to ask an employer: whether your Japanese is enough, what a listing really means, or whether a job fits your situation.
Keep each question to one point. It gets you a clearer answer and gives the counsellor room to explain.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| この仕事に応募したいです。 | Kono shigoto ni ōbo shitai desu. | I would like to apply for this job. |
| 日本語はどのくらい必要ですか。 | Nihongo wa dono kurai hitsuyō desu ka. | How much Japanese is needed? |
| 経験がなくても大丈夫ですか。 | Keiken ga nakute mo daijōbu desu ka. | Is it all right if I have no experience? |
| 通勤にどのくらいかかりますか。 | Tsūkin ni dono kurai kakarimasu ka. | How long is the commute? |
| 紹介状をお願いします。 | Shōkaijō o onegai shimasu. | A referral letter, please. |
From referral to interview
When you choose a listing, the counsellor may call the employer to check that the position is still open and arrange an interview. You may be asked about your availability while they are on the phone, so have your free days ready.
Bring the referral letter and your résumé to the interview, and follow any instructions about what to wear or bring.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 面接の日程 | mensetsu no nittei | Interview schedule |
| 来週の火曜日なら大丈夫です。 | Raishū no kayōbi nara daijōbu desu. | Next Tuesday would be fine. |
| 履歴書を持っていきます。 | Rirekisho o motte ikimasu. | I will bring my résumé. |
| 面接の場所を教えてください。 | Mensetsu no basho o oshiete kudasai. | Please tell me where the interview is. |
| 結果はいつ分かりますか。 | Kekka wa itsu wakarimasu ka. | When will I know the result? |
Unemployment benefit words
If you lose your job, Hello Work also handles procedures connected to employment insurance. Eligibility depends on your insurance history and circumstances, so the office decides what applies to you.
Knowing the vocabulary in advance helps you understand the explanation, which is usually detailed and fast.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 雇用保険 | koyō hoken | Employment insurance |
| 失業給付 | shitsugyō kyūfu | Unemployment benefit |
| 離職票 | rishokuhyō | Separation notice from your former employer |
| 受給資格 | jukyū shikaku | Eligibility to receive benefits |
| 次に来る日はいつですか。 | Tsugi ni kuru hi wa itsu desu ka. | When should I come next? |
Getting more from each visit
Counsellors can help most when you arrive with a clear idea of what you want and what you cannot do, such as shift work or long commutes. Write that down in two or three Japanese sentences before you go.
The interview that follows is where many people get stuck. Unihongo's Japanese Job Interview roleplay mission lets you rehearse the questions with an AI Sensei, and the session report lists corrections and useful vocabulary you can take into the real interview.
- Write down the kind of work you want and your limits.
- Bring your residence card, résumé and any certificates.
- Note the listing numbers of jobs you are interested in.
- Ask for anything unclear to be written down.