While thinking that, my shoulder was tapped repeatedly in irritation.
“This is kinda annoying, isn’t it…?” said Isshiki in dissatisfaction and continued tapping my shoulder with her fingertips. Alright, let’s stop tapping my shoulder now, okay?
But well, Isshiki’s feelings were understandable. Somehow, I was getting fed up with this person’s writing.
It’s a mystery as to why he was acting so high and mighty, but his content sounded like something you’d hear from an overly-aware university student. Just the thought of university having a lot of these people made me not want to go…
That being said, this kenken person or whatever was considerably pretty out there from the start. My motivation was just going to disappear If his entries after this one were going to be just as enthusiastic. KinKi Kids12 or Yoshida Terumi13 were the only ones I could think of that had this much energy.
“Fumu… I see, I see. I understand it now, more or less. Hachiman, proceed to the next!”
It’s doubtful that Zaimokuza actually really understood anything, but I nodded back and clicked to the next page.
2. Written Exams
Many publishers test on general knowledge, but there are some who give out SPI tests. They sell workbooks for both types of tests, so it would be wise to prepare with them beforehand. For ordinary companies, SPI is required. In addition, you may have to take the SPI test if you are changing occupations. There is no harm in preparing for it as well. As for the written portion of the exam, based on my personal experiences, Company S and Company K asked good extensive questions while Bookstore K asked bad questions that were focused on failing you. So for those who are trying Bookstore K, beware!
While he appeared calm, he slipped in some words of resentment towards Bookstore K… Judging by this, this kenken or whatever likely failed at Bookstore K.
“Hachiman, what is SPI? A spy?”
When Zaimokuza’s voice came down from above, Yuigahama reacted. “Isn’t that some kind of magazine? Since it’s a publisher, I guess you have to read that, huh?”
“What you’re talking about is the ‘SPA!’ magazine…”
A “SPA!” test? What the heck is that? Are they going to tell me to “answer with the top thirty gyoza stores @Shinbashi” or something? The frightening thing was that the publishers could easily ask you questions you’d get on Quiz Champions14.
But I wasn’t very knowledgeable on the subject of SPI exams myself, so when I was in a bind with answering, Yukinoshita quietly reached out to the laptop. She opened another tab and began searching for SPI tests.
When she finally stumbled upon a relevant page, she slowly moved her hand to her chin and nodded. “To put it simply, SPI is a type of aptitude test. It seems like… they measure a set of skills such as your logical reasoning, calculative thinking, and communication ability as well as your character through a personality assessment.”
Yukinoshita consolidated the important points and explained while pushing up her glasses with her middle finger. But for Yuigahama, it didn’t seem to make much sense since her mouth was agape.
“Ohhhh… so you’re saying it’s like a psychological test or something? I totally get that!” said Yuigahama brightly, and she turned towards Yukinoshita.
Yukinoshita then looked away in the opposite direction as if she had given up on something. “…Well, I suppose that understanding is good enough.”
“No, that’s definitely wrong.”
“Yukinoshita-senpai, please don’t give up on explaining…” said Isshiki.
As if having second thoughts, Yukinoshita closed her eyes and started to think.
“I-I suppose. I’m sure even Yuigahama-san can understand if I give more thought to my explanation. In a way that Yuigahama-san can understand… In a way that Yuigahama-san can understand…” Yukinoshita muttered in whispers while earnestly contemplating.
Seeing that, Yuigahama’s shoulders dropped. “Yukinon’s kindness kinda hurts…”
Well, trying to explain or understand a test you had never taken before might be difficult. In this case, you had to take these tests for yourself to actually understand them. Whether we like it or not, we all had to take these tests someday eventually. Ughh, I really don’t want to look for a job…
However, it’s reassuring that you could prepare for these written exams beforehand.
If there’s something difficult in the process, it’d be the “interviews” that were in the upcoming entries.
Now, just how was kenken going to get past this obstacle? I proceeded to the next entry to see what he had in store for us.
3. The First Interview
There are occasions where you’ll be interviewed in a group.
There was this guy at Big K that kept butting in and trying to provoke me. He was seriously annoying. I’ll resent that guy forever.
That was all that was written. You’re suddenly neglecting your explanations now, aren’t you, kenken? But you’re still making sure to put down your resentment though, aren’t you, kenken?
Zaimokuza made second looks at the meager content.
“Ooohn? Hachiman, is there nothing more written?”
“Looks like it. Let’s look at the next one.”
With so little written, there wasn’t much information we could gain from it.
After checking with Yukinoshita and the others, I moved the mouse and clicked to the next page.
4. The Second Interview
When I gave my reason for applying, this guy from Company F was trying to piss me off by telling me, “Okay, good job on being able to say that! ^^”. He was probably some kind of chief editor or something, though. I definitely won’t forgive that guy.
The entry at this point just threw all explanations out the window and was littered with nothing but resentment
In following kenken’s job hunting experiences that gradually worsened, a dry laugh started to well inside of me.
I could hear my neighbor Yukinoshita sigh. “There’s less and less detailed information every entry.”
“If anything, he’s getting more specific about things that don’t really matter…” Isshiki made a wry smile in wonder.
Just as these two said, kenken was providing less and less information and seemed to have been breaking down at the same time. Even I was on the verge of keeling over while reading this. Looking for a job sure sounds hard…
But this was just the second interview. There was still more left to his journal of successful experiences.
I made a large stretch, readied myself, and proceeded to the next entry.