A.Those who can attend the Boston Career Forum are as follows:
Japanese-English bilingual*with (including expected) a
Bachelor's or higher degree.
Recent graduates or students currently enrolled in a Bachelor's or higher degree program
(Master, MBA, Ph.D., etc.) outside of Japan
Recent graduates or students currently enrolled in a Bachelor's or higher degree program
(Master, MBA, Ph.D., etc.) in Japan and have study abroad experience
Have lived abroad or in a global environment regardless of study abroad experience
Professionals with study abroad or work experience outside of Japan
Those who still have a while until graduation are also welcome to participate to find internships or
conduct company research. We recommend that you bring your resume even if you are not planning to have
any interviews with companies. *A minimum of beginner level in both Japanese and English
Q.Is there a cost to attend?
A.Registering and attending the Career Forum is free.
Q.Is there a dress code?
A.There is no dress code specification at the Career Forum. Many companies conduct interviews on the
spot, so if you are going to be interviewed, we recommend that you dress appropriately for an
interview.
Q.I want to attend the Career Forum, but can I attend without prior registration?
A.It is possible to register on the day of the Career Forum; however, we recommend you register
before
the event. By registering before, you will have access to prep seminars and networking events.
Additionally, you will receive event details via email and gain the ability to apply to companies
before
the event. This allows you to save time on registration and have a smoother check-in on the day of.
Q.Can I attend/leave during the middle of the event?
A.Once you check in at registration, you are able to leave and enter freely that day. To re-enter the
venue, you will need to wear your lanyard with the ticket inside that you received at check-in.
Check-in
is required every day of the event.
Q.What do I need to participate?
A.Please register for the Career Forum first. Once you have registered, please proceed with applying
to
companies of interest. By applying to companies online, you may be able have interviews before the
event or be able to set up appointments for the day of the event and utilize your time more
efficiently at the Career Forum. You will need to check-in at registration every day of the event. You
can check-in
using the CFN app or from the My CFN page.
Monthly prep webinars are also recommended to help you understand the event. Please sign up here
Q.Are interviews held at the Career Forum? Or is it company information sessions?
A. Although it depends on the company, the characteristic of the Career Forum is that it is a place
to have interviews rather than information sessions. Some companies will have interviews after their
information sessions, but some companies only do interviews, so it is better to be in the mindset that
the interview starts as soon as you visit the company booth. For the Boston Career Forum, many
companies conduct several rounds of interviews and possibility of receiving an offer by the end of the
event. Preparation before the event is key to a successful Career Forum.
Q.I’d like cancel my registration because I can no longer attend.
A.There is no need to cancel your event registration. If you have already scheduled an interview
with a company, please let that company know.
Q.Is there a place where I can check my coat and bags?
A. There will be a coat check (free) area before you go to registration to check-in. You can check
in your coat and bags (including suitcases). Please check directly with the coat check service on the
hours of operation.
There may be a long line at the beginning and end of the event. In the past, there has been an hour
wait, so if you have dinner plans especially, we recommend that you pick up your belongings in
advance.
Q.When can I pick up the hall map with the company booth’s location?
A.Please pick up the event hall map after you check-in at registration on the day of the event.
Also, the map will be made available 2-3 days before the event on CFN. You can check the event map on
the
event page under Event Information or click on "Hall map" from the side menu. If you are
registered for the event, you will be notified by email about when the event hall map is posted and
the location.
Q.Is there a place to print resumes?
A.There is a business center inside the event hall. PCs, printers, and a copy machine are available
for you to use free of charge, so if you wish to check your email, print or edit your resume, please
use the
business center. Printer and copy machines can only print black and white, one-sided, and letter size.
Due to many participants utilizing the business center, there may be a line as well as a time limit.
We recommend printing out your resume before you get to the Career Forum.
Q.Is there free Wi-Fi?
A.There is free Wi-Fi provided by the convention center, but since there are many job seekers and
company representatives attending, it may be hard to connect to it. Although the Wi-Fi is provided by
the convention center, please be careful with security. There is a business center inside the event
hall, so you can check your emails there as well.
Q.Can I borrow stapler or glue?
A.They will be available at the Business Center for your use. Quantity may be limited.
Q.Are there any places to eat and drink inside the venue?
A.A mall is connected to the Hynes Convention Center which has restaurants and cafes. For details,
check here.
Because the area may get crowded during lunch time, we recommend bringing muffins or sandwiches
with you if you are limited on time. Also, since prices may be higher at these vendors, you may
consider bringing your own drinks/snacks.
Q.I lost something. Where should I go?
A.Please check the Information counter during the event to see if anything has been reported.
Sometimes items may be reported to the venue (Hynes Convention Center.) If your item is not at the
Information counter, please contact the venue directly.
Q.Where can I check the seminar schedule?
A. Seminars held on the day of the event can be found in the “Event Seminars” section of the Career
Forum menu. Some companies may offer online seminars in advance of the event. Please check the
“Online Company Seminars” located in the same Career Forum Menu.
Q.Should I apply to companies online prior to the event?
A.We recommend applying to companies online because it is an opportunity to show your interest in
that company. Depending on the company, some conduct phone or online interviews before the event
with applicants or contact you to set up an appointment for an interview for the event day. There is
also a tendency for companies to start the selection process before the event. For example, some
companies
will already have finished a couple rounds of interviews before the event and conduct final rounds at
the Career Forum.
There are also some companies that only interview candidates who applied online before the event or
have very limited spots for walk-in and on the day applications. Therefore, if you are interested in a
company definitely apply before the event.
Q.Can I still visit the booth if I don’t hear back from a company?
A.Yes. Even if you did not hear back from a company after applying online, that doesn’t mean you are
not qualified. There is a possibility to have interviews on the day of the event via walk-ins, so
please visit the booth. More than half of past participants visited the booth as walk-ins on event day
even if they
did not hear back from companies.
Q.Do I need a resume?
A.Even if you do not plan to have interviews, we recommend that you still have resumes prepared.
There may be times when you unexpectedly need a resume, such as visiting booths as walk-ins you were
not planning to visit or there may be many company representatives, so we recommend bringing plenty
of copies.
You can download a Japanese resume template from below:
* You are not required to use this resume template. If you already have one that
you are using, please
continue to use it.
Q.Should I use the CFN resume or the one I created myself?
A.It is possible to print out the CFN resume, but with a resume you create yourself, you will be
able to choose a format and layout that emphasizes your strengths and experiences.
For Japanese resumes, it does not matter if it’s handwritten or typed out. If attaching a picture
there is no place near the venue where you can take/print your photo, so please bring extra. Although
it is
optional to attach a picture, it may make it easier for companies to remember who you are.
Q.Can I cancel my Travel Scholarship application?
A.You cannot cancel, edit, or re-submit the Travel Scholarship application. However, if you need to
make
corrections, contact CFN with the corrections and we will forward it to the representative.
Q.If I get selected for the Travel Scholarship, what do I need to do?
A.All materials necessary for being selected are clearly stated on the travel scholarship page, so
please check the Travel
Scholarship page for details.
Q.Is there a dinner or reception with companies?
A.Some companies invite job seekers to dinner after the event. This is a great opportunity to speak
with other members of the company and learn more about the company’s corporate climate and work
environment. Unlike during the interview, you may be able to speak in a more relaxed environment.
