Important points to remember during an interview and examples of what not to do: The secret to success is in your mindset

2025.12.02

table of contents

1 Three things interviewers look at
2 Common bad habits in interviews (with points for improvement)
3 What the interviewer really thinks: Make a good impression by keeping these points in mind

Hello. I'm Miyoshi, the recruiter.

The year 2025 will soon be over. How was it for you all?

It wasn't quite what I had hoped for, but I think it was an interesting experience nonetheless. Perhaps
it's better to have a little bit of something rather than being completely satisfied.

Currently, early selection interviews are underway within the company, and the main selection season will begin after the New Year.
Therefore, this time, we've compiled helpful information for those of you preparing for interviews, includingwhat interviewers truly look for, common mistakes to avoid, and their honest opinions!
Knowing this will make your interview performance much more effective.

Three things interviewers look at

Interviewers will ask many questions, but the main points they are checking can be broadly divided into these three.

① Communication skills | Can you start with a conclusion and get the message across?

When people think of communication skills, they might think of "speaking cheerfully." Of course, that's an important element!
However, what's actually being looked at in an interview is whether you can state your conclusion first and explain things logically.
Speaking in a cheerful manner appeals to your personality (superficial aspects), while explaining things logically and systematically leads to an appeal of persuasiveness (the person's abilities).

Checkpoints:
- Is the answer relevant to the question?
- Is the order of the information well-organized (Conclusion → Reason → Specific Examples)
? - Are you paying attention to the other person's reactions?

→ The key to a successful interview is correctly understanding the interviewer's intentions and being able to simply and effectively communicate the necessary information.
Those who can clearly state their conclusions and adjust their expression according to the flow of the conversation are seen as capable of smooth communication in a business setting.

Also, simply being mindful of how you structure your conversation can make a big difference in the impression you make.
If you don't understand the intent of a question, it's perfectly fine to ask for clarification by saying, "Am I correct in understanding that you mean...?" This is apolite way to answer without misunderstandingand is also one of the key points to communicating logically.

② Thinking ability and growth ability | Will the person grow after joining the company?

While having a wealth of experience is a great advantage, what companies value most when hiring is "people who can continue to grow after joining the company."

Checkpoints:
- What did you learn from successes and failures?
- Can you identify problems and take action on your own?
- How do you apply what you've learned to the future?

→People with strong growth potential have a clear "learning → improvement → action" cycle when reflecting on their experiences.
Those who can identify problems on their own and take action tend to absorb work quickly after joining a company and are more likely to be seen by companies as having "great potential for growth."

Especially in engineering roles, the ability to investigate and solve problems independently is highly valued.
What is evaluated here is the willingness to learn the necessary technologies and industry knowledge for the job, what information to pay attention to when encountering new challenges, and how to understand and act upon the information obtained through research. In other words, "willingness to learn," "awareness," and "ability to take action" are key factors in determining how much a candidate will grow after joining the company.

③ Degree of interest and fit with the company

While experience and skills are largely built up after joining the company, what is looked at in an interview is the underlying mindset and values, as well as how well you match with the company. The important thing here is not to just say, "I empathize!" and leave it at that.

It is important to communicate how your experience and thinking overlap with the company's values.

Checkpoints:
- Connect your experiences, actions, and future vision to the company's values.
- Communicate not only empathy but also how you can contribute to the company after joining.
- Clearly demonstrate how your strengths and way of thinking can contribute to the company's direction.

→When conveying your fit with a company, it's important to not only show that your values match, but also how your experience and future vision will be utilized at the company. The more specific you can envision the role you'll play after joining the company, the clearer your aspirations and potential will be conveyed to the interviewer.

In other words, what you should convey in an interview is not just "empathy for the company," but a compelling story that connects to your own experiences, actions, and future vision.
If you can do this, the interviewer will find it easier to imagine that "this person could actually succeed at the company."

Common bad habits in interviews (with points for improvement)

Now, let's look at three common interview behaviors that can negatively impact your impression. These
are surprisingly easy mistakes to make, so keep them in mind as you read.

One of the behaviors that can easily lower your impression in an interview is going into the interview with a shallow understanding of the company. Even if you say, "I'm interested in your company," if you've only briefly looked at the business content, it will be difficult to convey your enthusiasm, and the interviewer will have difficulty understanding "what you find appealing about the company." If you understand the company's strengths, characteristics, and differences from other companies, and canhow they connect to your own experience and ideas, it will be easier to convey your message.

The second casewhen someone is interested but doesn't take action. If you stop at "I'm interested in engineering," it's difficult to convey the depth of your motivation. Even small efforts are fine, such as attending a study group, trying out a simple program, or reading a technical book. Demonstrating your interest through action is perceived as a positive attitude.

The third factorthe impression you give through your attitude and manners. If your appearance is somewhat sloppy, your voice or facial expression is gloomy, or you fail to listen to what the other person is saying, it can be difficult to fully convey what you want to say. First impressions are formed in a short amount of time, so it is important to be mindful of brightness and positivity, and to listen carefully to what the other person is saying. Even if you are nervous, simply taking a deep breath and calmly greeting and responding will make a more stable impression.

What the interviewer really thinks: Make a good impression by keeping these points in mind

Now, let's look at what we've gathered from interviews with actual interviewers and their candid opinions.
Knowing this will greatly clarify the key points to focus on during your interview.

① I want you to be natural and I want to know your sincerity.

Interviewers are more interested in getting to know "your true self" than in a perfect answer.
Your own way of thinking and decision-making criteria will build more trust than answers that sound like they've been memorized from a script.

Of course, it's true that some preparation is important.
However, rather than simply "presenting" what you've prepared, Ihonestly find it easier to imagine "what it would be like to work with this person" when they rephrase it in their own words and speak authentically.

② I think it's okay to be nervous

Many people get nervous and stumble over their words.
In fact, sometimes realizing you're nervous makes you even more anxious, leading to incoherent speech. I've had similar experiences many times myself (laughs).

However, interviewers often interpret nervousness as a sign of a positive attitude, so there's no need to force
, "I'm a little nervous," rather than trying too hard to stay calmyourself to act calm. Sometimesit's more

3. Reverse questions are a time to see perspectives

Asking questions in return reveals your curiosity, values, and what you prioritize in a workplace. It
also gives the interviewer an opportunity to understand you more deeply, as it reveals "what kind of person you are" and "what perspective you have on the company."

In fact, one interviewer said, "When I see students who say they don't have any questions because there is so much information on the recruitment site, I get the feeling that they're not very interested."

Of course, it's perfectly fine to ask questions that are already written on the recruitment website!What's importantis that your perspective—what interests you and what prompted you to ask the question—comes across.
Interviews are a valuable opportunity to hear the opinions of various interviewers directly, soput a little thought into your questionsit's important to

How was it?
Knowing what interviewers really look for, common mistakes to avoid, and their honest opinions will help you organize your preparation and speaking style.

I hope this information will be of some help to you, not just to our company, but to everyone else in your job search. Interviews can be stressful, but they are also a chance to express yourself. Using the information I've introduced today as a reference, try to prepare so that with a little ingenuity you can effectively convey your individuality.

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