Chapter 23 — Part-Time Jobs and Basic Workplace Japanese

Many learners of Japanese eventually work in Japan — or interact with Japanese workplaces from the outside. The part-time job (アルバイト) is often the first contact point: convenience stores, restaurants, cafes, tutoring centers, and event staffing all hire foreign workers, and the linguistic demands are manageable with an N4 foundation plus the right vocabulary.

This chapter covers the lifecycle of part-time work: finding a job, understanding the listing, surviving the interview, following instructions on your first day, and navigating the daily language of the workplace. The register shifts are important — a part-time worker at a convenience store speaks differently from a salaryman at a corporation, but both operate within the same fundamental system of Japanese workplace politeness.

23.1 Job-Hunting Vocabulary

The Basics

アルバイト — part-time job (from German "Arbeit")

バイト — abbreviation of アルバイト (more common in speech)

パート — part-time (usually refers to part-time work by homemakers; shorter hours)

正社員（せいしゃいん） — full-time employee

契約社員（けいやくしゃいん） — contract employee

For learners at this level, アルバイト or バイト is the most relevant category.

Job Listing Vocabulary

A typical job listing (求人広告, きゅうじんこうこく) contains the following fields:

Reading a Job Listing

Here is a sample listing:

【コンビニスタッフ募集】

時給：1,100円（22時以降は1,375円）

勤務時間：6:00～22:00の間で4時間以上

シフト制（週2日以上）

交通費支給（月15,000円まで）

未経験歓迎

応募条件：日本語で日常会話ができる方

面接時、履歴書持参

お気軽にお電話ください。

Translation:

[Convenience Store Staff Wanted]

Hourly wage: 1,100 yen (1,375 yen after 10 p.m.)

Working hours: 4+ hours within the 6:00-22:00 range

Shift system (2+ days per week)

Transportation costs provided (up to 15,000 yen/month)

No experience necessary

Requirements: Ability to hold daily conversation in Japanese

Bring resume to interview

Please feel free to call.

Key parsing notes: 22時以降（にじゅうにじいこう）means "after 22:00." 以降（いこう）means "from ～ onward." The parenthetical 月15,000円まで indicates a monthly cap on transportation reimbursement. 日常会話ができる方（にちじょうかいわができるかた）means "a person who can hold everyday conversation" — 方（かた）is the respectful word for "person," commonly used in formal listings.

Applying

電話で　応募したいんですが。 "I'd like to apply by phone."

When calling about a job:

すみません、求人を　見て　お電話しているんですが。 "Excuse me, I'm calling about the job listing."

アルバイトの　募集は　まだ　やっていますか。 "Is the part-time position still open?"

募集（ぼしゅう） — recruitment; job opening

The Resume

Japanese resumes (履歴書) follow a standardized format that you buy as a blank template at convenience stores or 100-yen shops. Key fields include:

氏名（しめい） — full name

生年月日（せいねんがっぴ） — date of birth

住所（じゅうしょ） — address

学歴（がくれき） — educational history

職歴（しょくれき） — work history

資格（しかく） — qualifications; certifications

志望動機（しぼうどうき） — reason for applying

本人希望欄（ほんにんきぼうらん） — applicant's requests/preferences

23.2 Workplace Basics

Clock-In and Clock-Out

出勤（しゅっきん） — coming to work; clocking in

退勤（たいきん） — leaving work; clocking out

遅刻（ちこく） — being late

早退（そうたい） — leaving early

欠勤（けっきん） — absence (from work)

When you arrive:

おはようございます。 "Good morning." (standard workplace greeting, used regardless of actual time when arriving for your shift)

This is worth emphasizing: in workplaces, おはようございます is said when you arrive for your shift, even if it is 3 p.m. It functions as "hello, I'm starting my shift" rather than as a literal "good morning."

When you leave:

お先に　失礼します。 "Excuse me for leaving before you." (standard departure phrase)

The response from those still working:

お疲れ様でした。 "Thank you for your work." / "Good job today."

お疲れ様です。 "Thank you for your (ongoing) work." (said to those still working, or as a general greeting between colleagues)

The distinction: お疲れ様でした (past tense) is used when someone finishes. お疲れ様です (present tense) is used as a general greeting during work hours.

Breaks and Overtime

休憩（きゅうけい） — break; rest

昼休み（ひるやすみ） — lunch break

残業（ざんぎょう） — overtime

休憩に　入ります。 "I'm going on break."

休憩から　戻りました。 "I'm back from break."

今日は　残業が　ありますか。 "Is there overtime today?"

Shift-Related Phrases

来週の　シフトは　もう　出ていますか。 "Has next week's shift schedule been posted yet?"

金曜日の　シフトを　代わってもらえませんか。 "Could you cover my shift on Friday?"

来月、二日と三日に　お休みを　いただきたいんですが。 "I'd like to take the 2nd and 3rd off next month."

This last phrase uses いただく (humble receiving) — you are requesting to "receive" time off from the company, framing it humbly.

23.3 Workplace Instructions — Understanding What You Are Told

On your first day and ongoing, you will receive instructions from supervisors (店長, てんちょう — store manager; 社員, しゃいん — regular employee; 先輩, せんぱい — senior colleague). Understanding these quickly and accurately is essential.

Common Instruction Patterns

Direct requests with てください:

レジに　入ってください。 "Please get on the register."

この商品を　棚に　並べてください。 "Please line up these products on the shelf."

商品（しょうひん） — product; merchandise

棚（たな） — shelf

並べる（ならべる, 一段） — to line up; to arrange

Explaining what needs to be done with ～ことになっている:

うちの店では、お客様には　敬語を　使うことになっています。 "At our store, the rule is to use keigo with customers."

ゴミは　裏口から　出すことになっています。 "The rule is to put garbage out through the back entrance."

裏口（うらぐち） — back entrance

Explaining procedures with ～たら / ～とき:

お客様が　来たら、「いらっしゃいませ」と　言ってください。 "When a customer comes, say 'Welcome.'"

分からないことが　あったら、すぐに　聞いてください。 "If there's anything you don't understand, ask right away."

レジが　混んでいるときは、応援を　呼んでください。 "When the register is crowded, call for backup."

応援（おうえん） — backup; support; reinforcement

Explaining priorities with ～てから and 先に:

まず、掃除を　してから、品出しを　してください。 "First clean, then stock the shelves."

品出し（しなだし） — stocking shelves; putting out merchandise

先に　ゴミを　出してきてください。 "Please go take out the garbage first."

Asking for Clarification

When you do not understand an instruction, these phrases help:

すみません、もう一度　お願いします。 "Excuse me, could you say that once more?"

すみません、〇〇は　どういう意味ですか。 "Excuse me, what does ○○ mean?"

これで　合っていますか。 "Is this correct?" (asking to check your work)

合う（あう, 五段） — to match; to be correct

23.4 Reporting — Communicating Your Status

In a Japanese workplace, proactive reporting is expected. You do not wait to be asked — you inform your supervisor when tasks are done, when problems arise, and when you need help. This is part of a broader principle called 報連相（ほうれんそう）— an abbreviation of 報告（ほうこく, reporting）, 連絡（れんらく, communication）, and 相談（そうだん, consultation）.

Task Completion

〇〇が　終わりました。 "○○ is done."

レジの点検が　終わりました。次は　何を　しましょうか。 "The register check is done. What should I do next?"

品出しが　終わったんですが、他に　何か　ありますか。 "I've finished stocking the shelves — is there anything else?"

Note the pattern: report completion, then ask what to do next. This shows initiative and is valued in Japanese workplaces.

Asking Permission

〇〇を　してもいいですか。 "Is it okay if I do ○○?"

ここに　置いてもいいですか。 "Is it okay to put this here?"

休憩に　入ってもいいですか。 "Is it okay if I go on break?"

For a more polite version:

〇〇を　してもよろしいですか。 "Would it be all right if I do ○○?" (using よろしい = respectful いい)

Reporting Problems

すみません、レジが　動かなくなりました。 "Excuse me, the register stopped working."

お客様から　クレームが　ありました。 "There was a complaint from a customer."

クレーム — complaint (from English "claim," but used to mean "complaint")

商品が　足りないようです。 "It seems we're short on products."

The conjecture form ようです (Chapter 9) is useful here — you are reporting what appears to be the case without stating it with absolute certainty, which is more appropriate in a workplace context.

23.5 Workplace Register — When Keigo Is Expected

Part-time workers operate in a middle register. You are not expected to produce the full keigo that a sales representative at a major corporation uses. But you are expected to clear a minimum bar.

The Minimum: です/ます

With supervisors and colleagues, consistent です/ます speech is the absolute minimum. Plain form with a boss is inappropriate unless the boss explicitly signals casual language is acceptable (some small businesses and creative workplaces operate this way).

× 終わった。次、何する？ ○ 終わりました。次は　何を　しましょうか。

With Customers: Service Keigo

With customers (お客様), a higher register is expected. The specific phrases depend on the industry, but common patterns include:

いらっしゃいませ。 "Welcome." (greeting upon entry)

少々お待ちください。 "Please wait a moment."

お待たせしました。 / お待たせいたしました。 "Sorry for the wait."

ありがとうございます。またお越しくださいませ。 "Thank you. Please come again."

お越しになる（おこしになる） — respectful "to come" (Chapter 16 pattern: お〜になる)

かしこまりました。 "Understood." (humble alternative to 分かりました in customer service)

申し訳ございません。 "I sincerely apologize." (formal apology to customers)

These phrases are typically taught during training (研修, けんしゅう). You will be told exactly what to say. The key is to memorize these set phrases for your specific workplace and use them consistently.

With Senior Colleagues (先輩) and Managers (店長)

With 先輩 and 店長, standard polite (です/ます) plus occasional humble forms is appropriate:

教えていただけますか。 "Could you teach me?" (humble receiving)

〇〇さんに　確認してもらえますか。 "Could you check with ○○-san?" (receiving a favor)

お先に　失礼します。 "Excuse me for leaving first." (set phrase)

The general principle: when in doubt, err on the side of more polite. No one is offended by excessive politeness from a new part-time worker. People are offended by insufficient politeness.

23.6 Reading Passage — Job Listing and First Day

バイトの初日

大学の近くのカフェでアルバイトを始めることになった。求人サイトで見つけて、電話で応募した。面接は店長と十五分ぐらい話しただけで、「来週から来られますか」と言われた。

時給は千百五十円で、交通費も出る。シフトは週三日で、月曜と水曜と金曜の午後に入ることにした。

初日、少し早めに着いて、「おはようございます。今日からお世話になります、田中です」と挨拶した。店長が「ようこそ。じゃあ、まず店の中を案内するね」と言って、キッチン、ホール、レジ、倉庫を見せてくれた。

最初にエプロンとネームプレートをもらった。それから、店長が仕事の流れを説明してくれた。

「まず、お客様が来たら、『いらっしゃいませ』と言ってね。注文を聞くときは『ご注文をお伺いします』。お水は先に出す。料理ができたら、テーブルに運ぶ。お会計のときは『ありがとうございました』。基本はこれだけ。分からないことがあったら、何でも聞いて。」

先輩のスタッフが一人ついてくれて、最初の二時間はずっと横で見ていた。レジの使い方を教えてもらったり、注文の取り方を見せてもらったりした。

三時間目から一人でホールに出た。最初はメニューの名前を間違えたり、注文を聞き返したりして、少し大変だった。でも、お客様はみんな優しくて、先輩も「最初はみんなそうだよ」と言ってくれた。

帰るとき、「お先に失礼します」と言ったら、店長が「お疲れ様。また水曜日ね」と言った。疲れたけど、楽しかった。少しずつ慣れていけばいいと思った。

Translation

I ended up starting a part-time job at a cafe near my university. I found it on a job listing site and applied by phone. The interview was just a fifteen-minute conversation with the store manager, and I was asked, "Can you come starting next week?"

The hourly wage is 1,150 yen, and they cover transportation costs. The shift is three days a week, and I decided to work Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons.

On my first day, I arrived a little early and greeted them: "Good morning. I'm Tanaka, starting today. Please take care of me." The manager said, "Welcome. Well then, first let me show you around the shop," and showed me the kitchen, the floor, the register, and the storage room.

First I received an apron and a name plate. Then the manager explained the workflow.

"First, when a customer comes in, say 'Welcome.' When taking an order, say 'I'll take your order.' Bring water first. When the food is ready, carry it to the table. At checkout, say 'Thank you very much.' That's basically it. If there's anything you don't understand, just ask."

One senior staff member was assigned to me, and for the first two hours they stayed right beside me. They taught me how to use the register, showed me how to take orders, and so on.

From the third hour, I went out on the floor alone. At first I got menu item names wrong and had to ask customers to repeat their orders, so it was a little tough. But all the customers were kind, and the senior staff member said, "Everyone's like that at first."

When I was leaving, I said "Excuse me for leaving first," and the manager said, "Good work. See you Wednesday." I was tired, but it was fun. I thought that it would be fine if I got used to it little by little.

23.7 Vocabulary List