Domino’s Pizza has a strong presence even in Japan with its unique Japan-only menu, including the Pizza Rice Bowl which combines pizza and rice, and the Quattro series which offers 4 different flavours on one pizza. They have the largest number of outlets in the food delivery industry, and are probably a familiar company in many other countries. As an international student in Japan, aren’t you interested in working part time at a familiar place?
WeXpats, which operates a job site for foreign nationals, interviews Michael (from the Philippines) who works part time at a Domino’s Pizza in Tokyo. Michael tells us why working in Domino’s Pizza is easy based on his own personal experience.
Are you having any issues with job-hunting in Japan?
The Best On-the-Job Support! Learning on the Job is Easy even for Foreign Nationals
― First of all, please tell us how you started to work at Domino’s Pizza.
When I was in my 3rd year of high school, I came to Japan from the Philippines due to family reasons, and started working at Domino’s Pizza immediately after. I actually lived in Japan for 3 years when I was at elementary school age. A Japanese friend I made at that time invited me to work there, saying it was fun.
― Your friend worked at Domino’s first I see. How did you feel after working there?
It was easy to learn! I felt that Domino’s is a foreigner-friendly establishment in many aspects, but what I particularly appreciated was the fact that I could view the work manual on my smartphone.
Domino’s Pizza’s manuals can be viewed on the shared iPads provided at the store, but also on our personal smartphones. If there is something we are uncertain about, we can check it as many times as we want at our convenience.
The content of the manual itself is easy to understand. For example, the basics of how to make pizza alone are divided into separate detailed sections, such as “Ingredients”, “Toppings”, “Quantities”, “How to Use the Oven”, “How to Roll out the Dough”, and “How to Spread the Sauce”, all of which have video lectures available.
The order of learning is 「① Self-study with the App → ② Actual Lessons from Senior Staff」, so even if you lack perfect Japanese listening skills, you can still keep up with training by working hard at ①.
The manual is set up with a quiz-style test. Passing the test is a condition for getting an hourly wage raise. It is like a game which greatly motivates me. I think it is easy for first time part timers in Japan to work here because there are clear evaluation criteria in the form of tests.
― Sounds like they have an innovative system in place! Do part timers make pizza and also do deliveries?
The part time jobs at Domino’s Pizza are split between in-store staff and delivery staff, so you will have to choose one to focus on. I applied for the delivery staff position, so for some time I focused and worked hard on completing deliveries.
― Eh?! You started with deliveries?! Weren't you anxious about working as a delivery person in Japan, a country you weren’t familiar with?
Honestly, I didn’t think too deeply about it (laughs)
For people who do worry, I tell them “the manual is pretty solid, so it’s fine even if you don’t know the area well”. Now they’ve introduced a GPS app for deliveries, which makes it even easier.
▲ Michael with his partner - electric bicycle. Currently, Domino’s Pizza Kikugawa Store uses electric bicycles instead of motorbikes for all deliveries, being conscious of SDGs.
Ah, however, there were some difficulties I faced when working. Unlike working in-store, there are no other staff with me or nearby, so when problems with customers arise, I can’t ask for help from any seniors.
For customers, it makes no difference whether you are new or not, so I had to learn how to deal with different cases. I asked the store manager and the senior staff for advice and increased my capabilities.
― Sounds like they have an atmosphere where you can easily ask questions about things you do not understand.
That’s another reason why I would recommend Domino’s Japan to work part time.
Of course the atmosphere will vary from shop to shop, but at least I can say that everyone is friendly at the shop where I work. There is interaction between nearby stores, and I sometimes lend a hand as helper staff when other shops are busy.
Thanks to that, I have made friends who I hang out with in private as well. I attend university in my home country via online lessons, so it’s been really helpful that I can expand my social relationships at my part time job.
We will build a workplace that respects the abilities of each and every individual.
In our corporate activities, we respect human rights and do not tolerate any form of discrimination or harassment based on race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, age, religion, language or disability.
In addition, we respect diversity and are receptive to various perspectives, aiming to be a company that can demonstrate individuality and ability, and we will engage in internal education to promote a correct understanding of human rights.
(Domino’s Pizza Japan Recruitment Page)
Writer's Pick
Why is Domino’s Pizza so good? The Secret Behind the Deliciousness was Discovered while Working There
― Before working there, did you ever, as a customer, have Domino’s Pizza in Japan? What was your impression at that time?
Of course I had! I remember the variety of topping choices, and how exciting it was just thinking about ordering. 4 flavours on 1 pizza, choices of pizza dough - it feels like a game already at this point. It tasted so much better than the home-delivery pizzas we had in the Philippines.
― It’s not about which is better or worse, but about the price points and cultural differences, right?
Right. In the Philippines, home-delivery pizza has a strong image of being a cheap and convenient fast food. But in Japan, many people order it as a treat for birthdays and Christmas. Just hearing that, it sounds like a completely different type of food (laughs)
― I think that there are many Japanese people that think “Japanese Pizza = Delicious but Expensive”. But in my case, I’ve been spending more time at home since the pandemic, and have been frequenting Domino’s Pizza even on uneventful days. The “half-price for takeaways” discount that started in 2020 is really great !!!
Thank you for your service! After the pandemic started, more and more people in Japan are enjoying pizza on a daily basis. To meet such demand, Domino’s Pizza is focusing on discount promotions and increasing the number of stores.
People who have recently come to Japan, or those coming to Japan in the future, I hope you will give Domino’s Pizza Japan a try and compare the taste to that in your home country. It is much more readily available now compared to when I first came to Japan.
▲ Domino’s Pizza in the Philippines is also unique and tasty. “I never had Domino’s Pizza in the Philippines before, so I can’t tell you anything about it (laughs)” - Michael.
― Having worked there yourself, have you found out why Domino’s Pizza tastes so good?
Firstly, it’s the delivery speed. In order to deliver the pizza hot, various systems have been introduced to shorten the delivery time. For example, since I started working, we have been using a new GPS system. With this system, the driver’s job also becomes easier, so I think the company is thinking of both the customers and employees.
― I see! Speaking of which, you (Michael) said your “main job” is deliveries, but do you also make pizzas?
Yes, I do. I also have the in-house qualification of Pizza Meister (a member of staff with exceptional knowledge and precision when it comes to making pizza).
When it comes to making pizzas, stretching out the dough is when you can show your abilities. The softness of the dough changes depending on the temperature, so I had to practice hard to create the ideal texture. Even now, whenever I finish rolling out the dough, I murmur “Yosha! (Yes!)” in my mind.
― Oh, I’d really like to see you in action.
If you’d like, I can make 1 for you. Please enjoy it.
― Are you sure?!
▲ And so, Michael made his favourite pizza for us - the “Quatro Giant”. It is a gobsmacking pizza with 4 flavours in 1: “Charcoal Grilled Chiki-Teri (Chicken Teriyaki)”, Domino Deluxe, Mayo Jaga (Mayonnaise Potato), and Garlic Master.
― What are your aspirations for after graduating from university?
I actually want to become a professional FPS gamer. I reached the highest rank in a certain game with a group of friends I’ve known since childhood, and we were like “We’re pretty good, aren’t we?” As a pro-gamer, I can work both in Japan and the Philippines.
― Eh?! The highest rank in that super popular game?! I won’t mention the game title because it has nothing to do with the interview, but that’s crazy amazing.
▲ Michael puts on the pizza toppings with precise aim, a necessary skill in FPS games, that he has honed.
― I will cheer for you. When you become a pro-gamer, it would be nice if Domino’s Pizza sponsored you.
True (laughs) Thank you very much!
▲ The Quattro Giant made by Michael. It was very delicious!
Collaboration with: Domino’s Pizza Japan
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