My Rakuten Frontend Interview Experience | 9 Million ¥ | Japan

Overview

This document details a frontend engineer's interview experience with Rakuten, a global technology leader based in Tokyo. The opportunity arose through LinkedIn, and the interview process commenced swiftly after initial contact with a recruiter. The primary reason for not proceeding to further rounds was a mismatch between the offered salary (9M Yen) and the candidate's expectations (15M+ Yen).

Interview Rounds

Screening Round

This round was conducted by an HR representative and lasted approximately 25 minutes. The focus was on assessing the candidate's suitability for the role based on their experience and expectations.

The following questions were posed:

1. An introduction of the recruiter and a summary of the job description was given.
2. The candidate was asked to describe their frontend experience.
3. The candidate was asked about their current team size.
4. The candidate was asked if they had ever architected an application from scratch.
5. The candidate was asked what excites them about the role.
6. Compensation and expectations were discussed. The initial offer was 9M Yen.

Key Takeaways

• Salary expectations are a crucial factor in international job interviews. Candidates should thoroughly research the cost of living in the target country to ensure their compensation requirements are realistic.
• Initial screening rounds often focus on verifying basic qualifications and assessing cultural fit.
• LinkedIn remains a valuable platform for connecting with recruiters and discovering international job opportunities.