japanese resume format in english

Job Hunting Knowledge 2020.03.18 2020.03.18 gtalentadmin

How to Write a Japanese Resume (Download Template)

If you would like to learn how to write a Japanese resume in Japanese, please click here !

In this page, you can download the Japanese Resume template for foreigners who are thinking of changing jobs to a Japanese company, we will easily explain how to create it.

• 1 Two Documents Required for Job-hunting: Japanese Resume “Rirekisho” & Japanese CV “Shokumu-keirekisho”
• 2 Download Japanese Resume Template
• 3.1 １.How to Write a Japanese Resume – Basic Personal Information
• 3.2 2.How to Write a Japanese Resume – Academic/Work History
• 3.3 3.How to Write a Japanese Resume – Licenses and Qualifications
• 3.4 4.Special Skills, Self-promotion, Commuting Time, etc.
• 3.5 5.本人希望記入欄 – Space for Personal Requests
• 4 Conclusion

Two Documents Required for Job-hunting: Japanese Resume “Rirekisho” & Japanese CV “Shokumu-keirekisho”

When applying for a job in Japan, you will generally need two documents: a Japanese Resume and a Japanese CV.

• Japanese Resume (Rirekisho): Document that conveys your background (education, work experience) and basic information (name, date of birth, contact information, etc.)
• Japanese CV (Shokumu-keirekisho): Document that appeals to the past work experience (company you worked at, job description, skills you used, etc.)

In your resume, easily share your background and basic information with the company you applied for, then, you will appeal to the companies you applied with your work experience and skills displayed in your Japanese CV.

On this page you will learn how to write a Japanese Resume.

This kind of Resume is unique to Japan, and sometimes unique Japanese expressions are used.

However, if you understand how to write it, you can easily create it.

On this page, we have created a Japanese Resume Template for Foreigners, so please feel free to download it and create a resume using this template.

※Please click on the following page to learn how to make a Japanese CV “Shokumu-keirekisho”.

How to Write“Shokumu-keirekisho” for Foreign IT Engineers

Download Japanese Resume Template

First, download the template of the Japanese Resume “Rirekisho” from the button below.

Download Template rirekisho_format.xlsx – 31 KB ※ Available in Microsoft Excel format.

When the download is complete, open the file.

From now on, we will guide you through on how to write your Japanese Resume according to the sample.

How to Write the Japanese Resume for Foreigners

• Basic Personal Information
• Academic/Work History
• Licenses or Qualifications
• Special Skills, Self-promotion, Commuting Time, etc.
• Space for Personal Requests

１.How to Write a Japanese Resume – Basic Personal Information

1.Resume Submission Date Enter the date (year / month / day) in which you will submit your resume.

* The date of creation is OK, but if the date is more than 3 months ago, please modify it to a new date.

2.氏名 – Full Name This is the space to enter your name.

Enter your name in Hiragana at the top, next to “furigana”.

Please fill in your name at the bottom in English or Katakana.

* Since the phonetic entry (furigana) is already entered here, there is no problem if you type it in English. If you are from China or Korea, please write in Kanji.

First enter your “Last Name”, then leave a space and enter your “First Name”.

*In this template “furigana” is written in Hiragana, but in case of using a different format, “furigana” may be written in Katakana. In that case, you will have to fill it in katakana.

3.国籍 – Nationality Please enter your country of origin (nationality).

4.生年月日（年齢） – Date of birth (Age) The date of birth is written in the following format “(Year) 年/ (Month) 月/(Day)日生.”

Enter the year, month and day you were born in.

* The kanji “生” at the end means “born”. The age is written in the following format “満(Age)歳”.

Enter your age in this section. * The kanji “満” at the beginning refers to the current age.

5.性別 – Gender Choose your gender. Please circle either male (男) or female (女).

6.現住所 – Current Address Enter your current address.

＜If you live in Japan＞ If you live in Japan, please enter your address in Japanese as much as possible.

In the case of a Japanese address, enter the reading (furigana) of the address in Hiragana at the top, and fill in the current address at the bottom in Japanese (Kanji or Katakana).

* “Furigana” is not required for the numbers of the address.

Please enter your current address in English. The upper part of the reading (furigana) is unnecessary.

7.電話 – Telephone number Enter a phone number that can be reached (ex. mobile phone number). If you live overseas, be sure to include the country code as well.

8.メールアドレス – E-mail Please enter an email address where you can be contacted.

9.連絡先 – Contact Basically, there is no need to input it, just enter “同上”.

Same as above refers to the same contents entered in 6 to 8.

For when the company contacts you, if there is no problem with the address, telephone, and e-mail address entered from 1 to 8, just write “同上”.

If you want to use an address, telephone, or e-mail address other than the stated above, enter the extra address, telephone, and/or e-mail address different from 6 to 8.

10.Photo Attach an image taken from the front (chest-up photo) within 3 months.

Don’t wear a hat, and choose a photo that shows your face from the front.

In Japan, CV photos are generally wearing a tie to make a good impression.

Photos for resumes can also be taken at photo studios and photo booths installed at most stations and other locations.

If you want to select one of the photos you have, be sure to look straight ahead and choose a photo with a bright tone that looks professional and presentable.

2.How to Write a Japanese Resume – Academic/Work History

When filling in educational background, please fill in the first line with “Academic Background (学歴)”, and when filling in your work history, please enter in the first line “Work history (職歴)”.

Doing so will make it easier for HR professionals at the applied company to see where your academic and work history is written when looking at your resume.

1.学歴 – Academic Background First, write “学歴” in the center of the first line.

The academic background should be written from the second line, but it is a rule to write one before the final academic background. Final education is not the last school graduated, but the highest educational institution.

For example, if a university graduate enters a Japanese language school after graduating from university, the university has a higher standard as an educational institution, so the person should write the educational background (high school, etc.) one before the university.

Be sure to write the official school name in this field. Write down the department, and major courses. Visa acquisition and joining procedures will proceed according to the information on your resume, so please fill in correctly the enrollment date and graduation date so there is no mistake.

* If you drop out of school, write “drop out (中退)”. If you are in school, write “expected graduation (卒業見込み)”.

2.職歴 – Work History Leave one line below your educational background and write “Work history (職歴)” in the center.

Fill in the following order, starting with the company you first joined.

• The year and month when you joined the company
• Company name (official name)
• Department and position title
• Year and month when you left the company and reasons for that

In the resume, the reason for leaving the company is generally written as “Left the company for personal reasons (一身上の都合により退職)”. On the other hand, if you are currently employed, enter “Current (現在に至る)”. Then, finally, write “over (以上)” to complete this section.

There is also a space for education and work history in the upper right corner of the resume format.

If the education and work history is too large to fit on the left side of the format, please add and fill in the rest.

3.How to Write a Japanese Resume – Licenses and Qualifications

Also, enter the acquisition year correctly. If you have a license or qualification that can be used in the company you want to apply for, be sure to enter it. If you do not have any licenses or qualifications, please write “None in particular (特になし)” on the first line.

4.Special Skills, Self-promotion, Commuting Time, etc.

1.特技・自己PRなど – Special skills, self-PR, etc. “Special skills, self-promotion, etc.” can be an important topic of conversation in interviews. Therefore, do not leave it blank.

The details of your skills will be highlighted in your Japanese CV, so make sure your resume is brief and specific.

Also, be careful not to write anything related to criminal activities, like gambling, to avoid giving a negative impression.

2.通勤時間 – Commuting time Enter the commute time from home to work. If commuting time takes 30 minutes, enter “about 30 minutes (約30分)”. If it is 1 hour, enter “about 1 hour (約１時間)”.

If you are currently living overseas or living in a place where you cannot commute from your current address in Japan, you do not need to fill out this section.

3.扶養家族（配偶者を除く）・配偶者・配偶者の扶養義務 – Dependents (excluding spouse), spouse, spouse’s obligation to support Dependents(扶養家族) are members of a family that are supported by one’s income. The reason for listing your dependents on your resume is that the company will need to know the number of dependents when calculating income taxes and applying for social insurance such as health insurance.

In “扶養家族（配偶者を除く）”, the Dependents (excluding spouse) field, enter the number of dependents excluding the spouse.

For example, if you have a spouse and three children, or if you maintain your child with your own income, your spouse will not be counted, so the “Dependent (excluding spouse)” number will be three.

Spouses are not counted in the “Dependents (excluding spouses)” item, even if the spouse is also being supported on one’s income.

If one of the three children is already earning a living as a member of society, there will be two dependents (excluding spouse).

In the “Spouse(配偶者)” section, if you are married and have a spouse, check “Yes (有)”. And if you are not yet married and have no spouse, please mark “No (無)”.

If you want to support your spouse with your income, check the box for “Yes (有)” in the “配偶者の扶養義務(Spouse Obligation)” section. If your spouse is working and he or she is already working for a company that has social insurance, please mark “No (無)”.

If your spouse works, but does not have social insurance at the company and you need to apply for social insurance at the company where you work for your partner, check “Yes(有)”.

5.本人希望記入欄 – Space for Personal Requests

However, please fill out any conditions that you consider essential at the time of the application.

It is advisable to fill out “I will comply with your company regulations (貴社規定に従います)”, since you will be able to communicate your desired conditions directly in the interview.

The resume used in Japan is quite unique, but it can be created very easily if you learn how to write it.

There are some companies that do not need a Japanese Resume when applying, but in most cases, you will need a resume when you start the paperwork for joining the company, so we recommend to be prepared when you start your job hunting.

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How to write a Japanese resume: The only guide you need + Free PDF template

Are you an international job hunter looking to find new career opportunities in Japan ? Take note! One of the first things you can do to make your job application stand out in Japan is to write a good Japanese resume, also known as rirekisho (履歴書).

That’s why today we will show you exactly how to write a Japanese resume that will get you your dream job.

The global economy opens up wonderful opportunities for international employment seekers. But with it also come differences from one culture’s expectations on resumes to another.

Don’t just throw together an English resume and hope for the best when applying abroad. A Japanese resume, or rirekisho, is vastly different from an English resume. You’ll need to get ahead of the competition by brushing up on what is expected here! 

In this blog post, we’ll explain the nuances between an English-style resume and Japan’s rirekisho so you can craft yours like a pro! You can also read our  guide on the steps to start working in Japan.

The Basics of a Japanese Resume and Rirekisho

First, let’s start with the basics. An English resume is a document used to present your skills, experience, and qualifications to a potential employer in English-speaking countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

It typically includes sections such as personal information, education, work experience, skills, and achievements. The goal of an English resume is to highlight your strengths and accomplishments and make a strong case for why you’re the best candidate for the job.

On the other hand, a rirekisho (履歴書) — which translates to “personal history sheet” — is a standardized form used in Japan. It includes personal information, education, work history, and a photograph.

The rirekisho is often accompanied by a shokumu keirekisho (職務経歴書), which is a separate document that more closely resembles an English resume as it provides a more detailed account of your work history and responsibilities.

Like an English resume, submitting a Japanese resume is the first step of the hiring process. If you pass the screening section, you will be contacted for an interview. For foreigners, this is where your potential employers see how can deliver an answer with confidence and proper Japanese.

Check out our guide to answer common Japanese job interview questions here!

Now that we’ve established the basics, let’s dive deeper into the specific differences between an English resume and a Japanese rirekisho.

The English Resume: A Quick Breakdown

• The Japanese Rirekisho as Compared to the English Resume
• Format and Length
• Personal Information
• Work Experience
• Skills and Qualifications
• Download Free Japanese Resume Template
• Cultural Norms
• Rirekisho vs. Shokumukeirekisho

In the English-speaking world, the standard format for a resume is a one or two-page document. Here’s a brief overview of the titled resume sections:

One of the key features of the English resume is its brevity. Employers in the English-speaking world tend to prefer resumes that are concise, focused, and easy to read.

They’re looking for candidates who can distill complex information into a few key points and demonstrate their value clearly and straightforwardly.

That being said, even if you’re in Japan, there are times when you might submit an English resume instead of a Japanese rirekisho. This is particularly true if you’re applying for English-speaking jobs in Japan that don’t require a lot of Japanese, such as English teachers or recruiters .

The Japanese Resume as Compared to the English Resume

In Japan, the standard format for a resume is known as a rirekisho. Unlike the English resume, which is typically one or two pages, the rirekisho is always a two-page document that was traditionally filled out by hand.

Now, it’s common and acceptable to type resumes (that’s such a lifesaver for those of us who struggle to write kanji freehand and neatly).

Passed the screening — and moving on to the first round of interviews? Check out 10 useful phrases for a Japanese job interview.

Format and Length of Japanese Resume

One of the most notable differences between an English resume and a Japanese rirekisho is its format. The format of an English resume is more flexible than that of a Japanese rirekisho.

Resumes can be presented in a variety of styles, including chronological, functional, and combination formats. They can also be any length, although most employers prefer resumes that are no longer than two pages.

On the other hand, the format of a rikishi is standardized and strict, and there is only one accepted format on A4-sized paper. In a rirekisho, the sections are not titled, and bullet points are not used.

Nevertheless, they are organized into clearly marked areas for personal information, education, work history, and a photograph.

1. Personal Information and Photo

Both an English resume and a Japanese rirekisho require personal information, but the level of detail and what is considered important differs between the two.

In an English resume, personal information is usually limited to your name, address, phone number, and email address. In some cases, you may also include your LinkedIn profile or other professional social media accounts.

However, it’s important to remember that you should never include personal details such as your age, marital status, or religion, as this is considered inappropriate and workplaces can be considered discriminatory for using that as criteria to assess your candidacy.

However, in a rirekisho, personal information includes:

Also, more detailed information is required such as your marital status and even your blood type may be on the rirekisho! In Japan, it is common for employers to request this information, as they believe it helps them to get a better sense of who they are as a person.

Photograph (写真・shashin)

One of the most significant differences between an English resume and a Japanese rirekisho is the inclusion of a photograph. In Japan, it is common to include a photograph with your rirekisho, whereas it is not common to do so in an English resume.

The photograph should be a professional headshot, and it is important to dress in a nice shirt and suit jacket and present yourself in a professional manner. You should opt for normal suit colors like black, navy blue or gray.

The photograph should be recent and clearly show your face. You can either crop a photo digitally to fit the required size or you can get a photo taken and printed at photo booths all across Japan (i.e. outside of supermarkets, in convenience stores and in train stations) for 500-600 yen.

2. Education and Work Experience

Education (学歴・gakureki).

Both an English resume and a Japanese rirekisho require information about your education, but there are some differences in what is expected.

In an English resume, you typically list your educational history in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent degree.

You include the name of the institution, your degree, and the date you received it. You may also include any relevant coursework, awards, or honors.

In a rirekisho, you are expected to provide more detailed information about your education, including the name of the institution, the department you studied in, your major, and the dates you attended.

You may also include any relevant coursework, awards, or honors, but it is not as common as it is in an English resume.

Work Experience (職歴・shokureki)

In an English resume, work experience, or professional experience, is typically organized in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent job.

You include the name of the company, your job title, the dates you worked there, and your key responsibilities and achievements.

It is common to use bullet points to concisely summarize key responsibilities and make them easy to read.

In a rirekisho, work experience is organized in a slightly different way. You still list your previous jobs in reverse chronological order. This includes the name of the company, your job title, and the dates you worked there.

You may also include information about the size of the company (how many employees), the size of the department or team you were assigned to and the industry it operates in.

However, Japanese resumes do not include your responsibilities and achievements in previous companies.

3. Special Skills, Certifications or Licenses: 資格・免許 (Shikaku and Menkyo)

In an English resume, you typically include a section that highlights your key skills and qualifications. This section can include both technical and soft skills, as well as any relevant certifications or licenses you hold. It is important to tailor this section to the specific job you are applying for.

In a rirekisho, there is also a special skills and licenses section. Here, you’ll input the name of the license or skill and the year you acquired it. You might also include any JLPT qualifications since that can be official proof of your Japanese proficiency.

For Japanese companies, JLPT N2 or N1 is typically desirable. You can even include your driver’s license. If you don’t have anything to include in this section, you can write “特になし”.

4. Personal PR and Appeal Points (志望の動機、特技、好きな学科、アピールポイント)

This section is basically where you can list anything else that you feel is interesting about yourself and/or relevant to the job you’re applying to.

志望の動機 (shibou no douki) is “motivation for applying”, and you want to do your best to catch the employer’s eye here.

特技 (tokugi) is “special skills”, while 好きな学科 is interests or hobbies.

アピールポイント (apiiru point) is appeal points, and these are pretty similar to special skills and hobbies. If you have more to add here, just try to tie it into how these points can benefit the company.

5. Commute Time, Family Situation and Other Details

Sections 4 and 5 in other rirekisho templates you find online may differ from the ones here.

Section 5 as pictured above asks for details such as commute time (通勤時間・tsuukin jikan) and anything else you may think is relevant. While not explicitly written, you could include your family situation. Here would be some terms to include or look out for:

Spouse (配偶者 or haiguusha) : If you have a spouse, circle “yes” (有・ari). If you aren’t married, circle “no” (無・nashi)

Spouse obligation (配偶者の扶養義務 or haiguusha no fuyou jinmu) : If your spouse is supported by your income, circle “yes” (有). If not, circle “no” (無)

Number of Dependents (not including spouse): 扶養家族 (配偶者を除く) . Input how many people you support on your income. For example, if you have two children, you would write “2” or “2人” here.

6. Personal Request: 本人希望記入欄 (honnin kibou kinyuuran)

This section of your rirekisho is dedicated specify any specific requests related to your preferred salary, job type, working hours, work location, or any other preferences that you have for your ideal job. This section allows you to clearly set your expectations and preferences for potential employers.

In most cases, you might not have any specific requests or requirements. In this case, you can just write:

貴社の規定に従います。 Kisha no kitei ni shitagaimasu. Comply with company’s regulations.

Example of a Japanese Resume

Download Your Free Japanese Resume Template (with Example)

Cultural norms of japanese resume.

The differences between an English resume and a Japanese rirekisho can mostly be attributed to cultural norms. In Japan, there is a strong emphasis on personal relationships and social hierarchy.

As a result, the rirekisho includes a photo of the applicant, which is not typically included in English resumes.

In Japan, it is also common for employers to place a high value on a candidate’s personality and character, which they feel is reflected in the content of the rirekisho.

In English-speaking countries, there is generally less emphasis placed on personal relationships and social hierarchy. Resumes are typically evaluated based on the applicant’s qualifications and accomplishments, rather than their personality or character.

As a result, English resumes tend to focus more on the applicant’s professional experience, education and skills.

Rirekisho vs Shokumukeirekisho

At the start of this post, I mentioned a rirekisho and a shokumukeirekisho. Both are related to job applications, but I wanted to briefly discuss their differences.

As you now know, a rirekisho is a standard Japanese resume that includes information such as the applicant’s name, contact information, education background, work experience, skills, and other personal information. It is required by most employers as part of the application process.

On the other hand, a shokumukeirekisho (職務経歴書) is a document that focuses specifically on an individual’s work experience and job history.

It is also used in Japan for job applications but is typically required for more specialized positions or positions that require a certain level of expertise.

A shokumukeirekisho includes details such as the applicant’s job titles, dates of employment, responsibilities and achievements, and any relevant skills or certifications.

So in summary, both rirekisho and shokumukeirekisho are used in job applications in Japan.

However, while rirekisho is a more general resume, shokumukeirekisho is a more specialized document that gets into more specific work experiences and job histories.

In conclusion, while both an English resume and a Japanese rirekisho serve the same purpose of highlighting your skills and qualifications to potential employers, they still won’t guarantee a job offer.

When applying for a job in Japan, it is important to understand the cultural expectations around a rirekisho and do well during your interview rounds.

Of course, you want to accurately showcase your experience and skills in an acceptable way to give yourself the best chance of securing the role you want! 

Hopefully, this article shed some light on how to craft a rirekisho as opposed to an English resume.

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How is Japanese resume different from English resume?

In Japan, the standard format for a resume is known as a rirekisho. Unlike the English resume, which is typically one or two pages, the rirekisho is always a two-page document that was traditionally filled out by hand but is now common and acceptable to be typed. Japanese resumes also do not include your job scope and your achievements in previous companies

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How to Write Your Japanese Resume (Rirekisho)

by Madelaine

6月 01, 2018, in basics , job search, コメントはまだありません.

Writing your first Japanese resume/CV (rirekisho, 履歴書) can be a challenge. But everyone who is hoping to find work in Japan eventually has to write one. Resumes in Japan follow their own logic, and kanji and keigo can complicate the situation, but luckily, they are incredibly uniform.

Just follow this format and remember to adapt your standard answers to really match the position and respective company.

Japanese resume template

There is no need to design your own resume, you can use a template to simply fill in. All Japanese resumes are structured into three main parts: 1) basic information 2) education and skills, and 3) motivation and personality. The whole thing is like a CV and a cover letter mixed together.

The resume template below shows what needs to be filled in where.

There are a few different resume templates in Japan. You might be using the standard resume or a company-specific version. But even if the layout is different, the contents should be almost identical. If you manage to write a Japanese CV once, all others after it will take only a fraction of the time.

You can download the standard template (Japan Industrial Standards version) for free in Word, Excel and PDF format over here (the first option on the list).

Before you get started

If furigana is written with hiragana as ふりがな in the resume form, then use hiragana, if it is written as フリガナ use katakana. Always adjust to the format.

It is standard to write dates according to the Japanese calendar as 平成3年5月29日. Use the same date format throughout the resume.

Some companies require a handwritten resume. If that happens to you, make sure you write without mistakes and in even, clean handwriting (uneven handwriting is seen as lacking attention which can lead to failing the selection).

Japanese resumes are typically written in chronological order, starting from days past and ending with your most recent activity.

Japanese resumes are generally written in keigo. So definitely use the ます-form at the end of every sentence. Use advanced keigo when possible, but rather than making a mistake, stick to more simple polite Japanese expressions.

Basic Information

Fill in the day of submission or the day before. Always write the same day as the interview, if you submit in person.

You can write your name in the order you are used to, you don’t have to adjust to the Japanese system. (They will call you by the name you write first). Leave some space between first and last names.

3. Name Stamp

When using your 印鑑 いんかん take care to stamp neatly within the box, facing in upright. Double check that the stamp is visible completely. If you do not have a name stamp, you can either put a sign here or leave the field blank (if you’re unsure, choose the latter).

Most standard rirekisho templates still contain a gender box. If this does not agree with you, leave it blank. Since December 2020, you can also buy resume templates without a gender box (according to the maker’s website, they cost 120 yen).

Write your birthday according to the Japanese calendar. In the brackets write your age on the day of submission that you wrote under #1.

Not a thing anymore in many countries, but still standard in Japan: the picture. More precisely, imagine your passport picture and add a suit.

• ✔ 2.4-3cm width, 3.6-4cm height
• ✔ taken within the last 3 months
• ✔ in color, facing the camera, clear headshot, nothing else in the picture
• ✔ business attire
• ✔ smile softly and open your eyes

You can take this one yourself in a photo booth, but remember to check your clothes, makeup and facial expression. If you want to invest for a better picture, you can book special resume photo shoots in Japan, which even come with optional hair and makeup.

READ ON　 Guide to taking resume pictures in Japan

Add your picture to the CV after you filled everything without spelling mistakes. To avoid any chance of confusion, write your name on the back of the picture.

7. Current Address

When adding your current address, write the postal code in the first line. Go from big to small, starting with the prefecture, district and working your way down to the room number.

〒 107-0052 東京都 渋谷区 道玄坂 2丁目1 日の出シェアハウス渋谷 ＃3

After the address remember to put your apartment complex’s name and room number. Remember to fill in the furigana. In you live overseas, fill it in in romaji and write it once more in Japanese script in the furigana section.

8. Phone Number

If you have a landline go ahead and fill this out, otherwise leave it blank.

9. Mobile Number

Enter your current phone number. If you don’t have a phone, consider getting one. It is likely, that HR wants to call you directly to make appointments.

Use an email address you check frequently and can access from any PC. Use a “proper” email address, not the one of your cosplay persona or the goofy one you made when you were 14.

11. Alternative Contact

Here you can put an alternative address, in case you are moving, currently still living abroad, or are out of town for an extended period of time. Just make sure the company knows where to reach you, and that you can receive any documents they may send.

Education and Work History

12. Education

If you’re applying to your first job: Start with the date you entered elementary school! (Do you still remember?) Do not abbreviate anything. For example, many Japanese people say 高校 こうこう when referring to high schools but the full, proper term is 高等学校 こうとうがっこう .

Further Secondary and Tertiary education should be written in chronological order. Don’t forget to include each twice. One line for the date you entered, and one for your graduation. If you got multiple degrees or moved schools as a kid, you might run out of space here. In that case skip your Primary Education, for the sake of your more recent education.

For university and college programs write in the following order: University name, (country if it’s abroad), faculty, department, subject. You can add your research topic or graduation thesis title if you want.

Language school or studied abroad stays do not need to be written here. You can add them when these studies lasted for more than 6 months and helped you acquire a skill that is relevant to the position you are applying to. Everything else will be considered a vacation. Also indicate it if you are enrolled in a language school or study abroad program at the time of application.

When changing jobs , it is enough to start the school history from your high school graduation. Otherwise follow the advice above.

13. Work Experience

Same as for your schools, you write everything chronologically and enter both, the date you entered and the date you left the company. Write the official company name without abbreviations and 入社 にゅうしゃ next to the date on which you entered the company. Make sure you got the company name right. Check if 株式会社 かぶしきがいしゃ comes before or after the name. If your previous company merged or otherwise changed their names write both the original name and the new one (現〇〇株式会社).

In the second line, indicate the type of company and the number of employees. Use a third line for your tasks there. If something in your work history is directly related to the hiring requirements, you can use a 4th line to emphasize those. If you changed department within a company, add that with a date in an extra line.

Next to the date you left your previous company, write the reason why in the same line. You can use the standard phrase 一身上 いっしんじょう の 都合 つごう により 退社 たいしゃ , meaning you left due to personal reasons. If you are still working there, write 現在 げんざい に 至 いた る. If you are still working but the day you leave your current company is decided, then enter it as: 平成〇〇年〇月　株式会社〇〇　退職予定

When you are done, leave some space and write 以上 right corner of a line. If you find yourself running out of space put 職務経歴書記入 しょくむけいれきしょきにゅう toward the bottom of the area, to say that you will attach the missing information.

READ ON　 Guide to the Japanese “work experience resume”

When you are done check again: are all your dates in Japanese calendar and correct?

14. Skills and Certificates

Write from the specific to the less specific: start with your licenses or permits, then onto qualifications.

Start with your driver’s license (not very common in Tokyo) if you have one.

Be sure to write all your qualifications with their official names. For example, if you mention your Japanese skills, write 日本語能力試験 and not JLPT. If you are currently studying towards a certain certificate you can also mention it here.

Make sure that everything you write here is relevant to your job. If you know Latin, for example, that’s great, just don’t write down things you have no opportunity to utilize at work.

15. Special mention

Maybe you know how to drive a car but didn’t get your Japanese license yet. Or you are studying toward the JLPT and are positive that you can pass. Here is the space to mention those skills you cannot provide any valid certificate for at the moment.

The cover letter part

The below points may not all be in your specific format, but since some of them definitely show up, I will briefly cover them here.

16. Hobbies

A short list of your hobbies without explanations is enough, whatever you do, do not leave this one blank for the sake of bringing conversation starters. Don’t write too many things so it doesn’t seem like these hobbies are your priority.

If you have hobbies that leave a good impression, even better. Do you run your own blog? Do you know Ikebana? Do you play soccer (maybe it taught you team play or leadership skills)? Write it down. If you like bungee-jumping or gambling, that might be something to skip, as it may not reflect well on your character.

17. Special Skill

Here you can show what you’re good at and bring in things you couldn’t mention in the certificates section. So you can put your Japanese or IT skills, for which you don’t have any license. Or maybe you learned something relevant to your job during your part-time work or internship.

18. Strength and Weakness

Another popular question is about your strength and weakness. When asked for both, mention one of each. Pick a strength that is relevant to the company and position you are applying to. For your weakness, write down something that doesn’t affect your work (if you are applying as an accountant, not being the most creative person on the planet will hardly be an issue).

19. Health Condition

Another odd, Japanese question. If you are healthy and don’t have any diseases write 良好 りょうこう (they are not asking for your cold). If you are really going for the robust and healthy appeal, you can also add for how long you haven’t been sick. きわめて 良好 りょうこう （ 前職 ぜんしょく では0 年間無欠勤 ねんかんむけっきん ですor0 年間病気 ねんかんびょうき をしていません.)

If you have some sort of health concern, ask yourself if it impedes your work or not. When the answer is no, do not write it down. (So you can leave out your last cold, short-term sickness, diseases that have healed, chronic diseases that you can deal with without impacting work, or occasionally occurring things like anemia, etc.)

What you have to write down are health issues that require you to see a doctor during work hours or limit what you can do at work (your rehabilitation after some broken bones does fit in here, as does having a problem lifting heavy things.) In this case, write a short explanation sentence.

20. Motivation for Application

What made you apply for this job and why do you want to work at this company? Depending on how much space your template leaves you, you don’t have to write an essay here, but your answer should be longer than one word or sentence (if your template allows for it). Keep the short text structured and easy to follow, and avoid pitfalls like writing about why you want to live in Japan.

READ ON How to write your motivation for application in Japanese

21. “Self-PR”

Here is your chance to describe what makes you the right candidate and how you can benefit the company. Length should be about the same as the motivation for application Talk about your strengths or things that you have done in the past. Don’t beat around the bush – give concrete examples and provide “proof” to make the reader really understand your strong points. Also, don’t forget to mention how you want to use your abilities during everyday work.

READ ON How to write a convincing Self-PR paragraph

22. Commute Time

How long does it take from your house to the company? Leave this one blank if you don’t live in Japan. 90min one way is considered within the normal range for commuting time. If you live more than 90min away from the company and are willing to move for the job, write 内定後速 ないていごすみ やかに 転居可能 てんきょかのう .

23. Dependents (without spouse)

If you do not have children or other dependents, write 0.

Circle 有 あり (yes) if you are married, otherwise choose 無 ない (no).

25. Spousal Support

Are you paying for the living expenses of your spouse? If you don’t have housewife or stay-at-home husband, probably you can choose 無 ない (no).

26. Requests and Wishes

Here is the place where you can put your expectations or wishes regarding your salary, position, work hours and location. Things you could write here are for instance the department you want to work at ( 勤務部署 きんむぶしょ ) or the city you want to work in ( 勤務地 きんむち ).

Pre-submission Checklist

Congratulations on your completed rirekisho! Before you hand your resume in, double check for any mistakes.

• ✔ contents revised to match position and company
• ✔ no spelling errors
• ✔ all furigana are written correctly
• ✔ every section filled in
• ✔ the picture is attached properly and straight
• ✔ no abbreviations
• ✔ all dates in the same format
• ✔ paper without any folds or stains (if you mail it, use a large enough envelope)

Good luck with your job hunt!

Need advice? Ask job-hunt experts

Today, getting a job in Japan as a foreigner is easier than ever. But if you don’t know all the ins and outs, getting the exact job you want can still be difficult.

Linguage Japanese Language school in Shinjuku specializes in a special blend of Japanese education and job hunt preparation. Their courses (both long- and short-term) teach practical Japanese that you can instantly apply in business settings. Aside from the classes themselves, you can ask teachers to look at and check your resumes and get direct advice on how to get jobs in specific industries. For more info, check our detailed article over here or directly visit the school’s homepage by clicking the button below.

Linguage Japanese Language School

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After traveling around for a while, I found my home in Tokyo. Now working in Shinjuku and discovering something new about Japan every day.

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Writing a Japanese Resume: A Comprehensive Guide

• June 3, 2022

Applying for a job means writing a resume tailored specifically for the position. Japan as a country and society has many unique aspects, and writing a Japanese resume is one of them.

Though there are two major hiring seasons , early spring and late summer, it’s never too late to start perfecting your resume.

In Japan, a resume is referred to as a ​rirekishou (履歴書). It means background information, and it’s a formal document with a strict structure that can sometimes be very different than western resumes.

Being aware of the different fundamental expectations of a ​rirekishou​ can be the difference between an unsuccessful application and an invitation to a job interview.

Rirekishou​ (Japanese resume template) can be purchased at convenience stores and stationery shops for less than 300 yen for a set of 3, including A4-sized white envelopes.

Templates can also be downloaded for free ​here ​.

There’s an unspoken rule that a ​rirekishou​ must be handwritten by hand with black or blue ink , with no use of correction tape. If any mistakes are made, the form must be re-written again. For those that cannot speak or write Japanese yet, this can be the most challenging and frustrating part of the process as many Japanese companies place importance on a handwritten resume. However, due to increased applications from foreign residents and exchange students, hiring boards have become more open to accepting ​rirekishou​ that have been typed on a computer.

Whether you handwrite your resume or type it out on a word processor, each section of the ​rirekishou has specific rules on how it should be filled out.

This comprehensive guide will take you to step by step in creating a Japanese resume that will impress future employers!

Personal Information

The first section of any ​rirekishou​ will require you to fill in details such as your name, birth date, age, gender, residential address, email added, and phone number.

It’s pretty straightforward, but there are a few things to keep in mind, such as:

• Name – In Japanese, the surname comes first, then the first name follows. Unless you have a Japanese name written in Kanji, use katakana. If you’re unsure how to write your name in katakana, you can use this English-to-Japanese name converter​ to help you out.
• Dates – All dates should be written using the Japanese ​nengo​ calendar. Simply put, the nengo calendar is the name of the era named after the current Japanese emperor of that time. You can use this ​converter​ to check what your birthdate is in Japanese. Another thing to note is that Japanese dates are written opposite Western countries – Year, Month, and Day.
• Address – Often, there are two lines for writing an address, ​現住所​ (current address) and​ ​連絡先​ ​(additional contact address). The order of how addresses are written in Japanese differs entirely from how they are written in Western countries. Whether the address is Japanese or foreign, they should all have readings written above or in the space provided in hiragana or katakana. Addresses should be written in the following order: Post Code, Prefecture, Ward/City, Town, OO Choume, OO Ban, OO Go If you’re applying with a foreign residential address, think largest to smallest when writing out your address. For example, the address to Disneyland Park in Florida would be as follows: USA, CA 92802, Anaheim, 1313 Disneyland Drive.
• Phone Number – For those applicants who don’t have a Japanese phone number, you can purchase a fixed-line number on Skype as an alternative option.

In the top right section of a Japanese resume, there is always a blank square reserved for a photo. Attaching a photo to a Japanese CV is not a common practice abroad. In fact, in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S, it’s often frowned upon as it can result in discrimination based on gender, skin color, appearance, etc. However, attaching a professional headshot is a compulsory part of a ​rirekishou​.

This will be the first time hiring managers will be seeing you before the interview, so put your best foot forward and make a positive first impression by dressing conservatively as if attending a job interview. Men typically wear a dark-colored suit and a tie with tidy hair. Women should ensure their make-up is natural-looking, and those with long hair should have it tied up. The headshot should be a passport-sized photo taken with a clear background.

There are photo booths throughout Japan that specialize in taking photos of just the right size for Japanese resumes and passports for less than 700 yen. Much like the ​purikura booths, they can remove any redness or blemishes on your skin and will print out a set of photos within a few minutes.

Academic Record ​学歴

Most ​rirekishou​ templates will have two separate sections for the academic and work history (​学 歴​ and 職歴​).

Some templates will combine the sections; in that case, start by writing​ 学歴​ in the top center line. Immediately below the header, you can begin writing your academic information in chronological order, from oldest to most recent. resume writing compared

It’s common to start with your high school graduation date, but if you have an extensive academic history (master’s, doctorate, second degree, etc.), you can omit it. Each school should have two lines dedicated to it, the first showing the date of enrollment and the second for graduation. Write down the country and school name. If applicable, you can also add the program title and level.

To list a graduation thesis, you should insert it ​between the enrollment and graduation lines. If necessary, a line can be inserted between the enrollment and graduation lines to list majors and minors. For tertiary education, make sure also to write down the faculty and department.

The format to use will look something like this: 学校名、学部、(学科)入学・卒業 (国)

Take note of how the date is written. In contrast to countries such as the USA, UK, Australia, etc., the date is recorded in reverse chronological order -Year, Month. The year can be written either using the Japanese ​nengo​ system or the Gregorian calendar. Try to stick with one system throughout your resume.

At the end of this section, on the right side of the following line, don’t forget to write ​以上 (end of entry).

Here’s an example of​ the education background 学歴​ ​section:

Employment history ​職歴.

Again if the academic record and employment history sections are combined, leave one line empty after the academic record entries and write ​職歴​ ​in the middle of the following line. Similar to the previous section, your employment history should also be written chronologically from oldest to newest positions. Do not include part-time jobs in this section.

Two lines should be dedicated per job, one for when you started the position and one for when you left the company. It would be best to write a concise description of your previous roles. You don’t need to elaborate on the duties and responsibilities of your previous jobs, as they are often discussed during the interview stage. However, it’s essential to state the reasons for leaving a previous position.

Here are three practical and commonly used expressions for explaining them:

• 一身上の都合により退職 (left for personal reasons)
• 契約期間満了につき退社 (contract ended)
• 会社都合により退社 (left for company reasons)

But if you are still currently working at that company, write​ 現在に至る​. If you have no work experience, you can write​ 無し​. Unlike most English-speaking countries abroad, having no experience can be a disadvantage, but traditional Japanese companies tend to favor those applicants without any previous experience. This makes it easier for the company to train potential employees in its ways and culture. Grad students and entry-level applicants can use this section to demonstrate any relevant internships or voluntary activities they have been involved in which may benefit the open position. There’s no need to write a reason for leaving or quitting such programs.

To end this section, write ​以上​ (end of entry) on the following line.

Here’s an example of ​the employment history 職歴​ ​section:

Be sure to use the company’s official name and not its commercial name. If you are unsure, you can check it out on the company website or Wikipedia if it’s a well-known company.

Be prepared to answer any questions regarding why you left any previous position during the interview stage. Regardless of your reasons, do not badmouth previous employers . Japanese companies will not see this in a favorable light.

Qualifications and Licenses​ 免許・資格

This section lists any qualifications, licenses, or certificates you have accumulated in your professional career. It’s recommended to mention only those that are relevant and practical to the position you’re applying for. Foreign applicants can take advantage of this section by mentioning their JLPT certification, Kanji Kanken level, or Japanese driving license .

Japanese companies will be impressed by the effort the applicant has put into their education to improve their career.

The only exception is that your university degree should not be listed here.

Reason for application ​志望動機

This is the most critical part of the ​rirekishou​ and can make or break your application. In this section, there’s more room for creativity and showing your personal interests and special skills.

To make the best impression on the hiring manager, keep these three main points in mind while writing your reasons for applying for the position.

• Be sure to add details specific to the position you are applying for, connecting them to your strengths, experiences, and accomplishments.
• Express how your career has developed over time and where you hope to take it. Recruiters are interested in applicants that will stay with the company and fully engage in company projects and goals.
• Try to talk about the characteristics of the company and how you would fit in well within the company. You can find out more about the company by looking at the job description or the company website.

When writing your reasons for applying, try to be aware of how you come off to the hiring manager. If you mention wanting to gain specific skills at the company, it can give off the impression that you’re simply using the company as a step-up for your career.

Traditional Japanese companies with long histories, in particular, do not like it when their employees use them as a stepping stone for a better position offered in another company. These companies prefer to hire employees who will stay working for them for the rest of their natural lives.

If you’re applying for a specific position, look closely at the information provided about the job opening. They will often mention what makes the ideal candidate.

You should try to include these qualities in your application to stand out amongst a sea of applicants.

Requests and Miscellaneous Information

There are various Japanese resume templates, some emphasizing skills or work history, but all will include a custom section where you can indicate any of the following:

Commuting Time ​通勤時間

In this section, you can fill in your maximum desired commuting time. Keep in mind that in urban centers like Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka, it’s common to have an hour’s commute from home to the office.

Marital Status​ 配偶者

If you’re uncomfortable offering this information, it’s acceptable to leave it blank as it’s not necessary.

Number of Dependents ​扶養者

If you have a spouse (配偶者) or a partner you need to support (配偶者の扶養義務), you can mention them here.

Expectations/Requests​ 本人希望記入欄

The final section of a ​rirekishou​ is another personalized section where you can state your expectations of the new role. Applicants can throw in a ballpark of what they hope to earn salary-wise, working hours, position, office location (if various offices are available), etc.

It’s recommended to at least write something in this section. You can at least write ​勤務条件は貴社の 規定に従います​ ​which means you are willing to negotiate or accept the conditions offered by the company during the interview stage. Leaving it blank can display a lack of interest in the position and company.

To Conclude about Japanese Resume

After filling out your ​rireskisou, ​ place it in an A4 or B5 white envelope. The form should ​not​ be folded!

Other Notes

If you’re sending in your resume by email, it’s best to convert it to a PDF file. This will ensure that the format stays clean. You can change a Word document to PDF easily. Simply select “Save As” and choose PDF for the file type below the document name.

Suppose you choose to handwrite your Japanese resume and double-check for errors. If there are any, ​do not​ use correction fluid, tape, or cross the mistake out. This will not only look sloppy but also give off the impression that you don’t care about the job and company you’re applying to!

If you’re applying to a foreign or international company with a base in Japan , sending in both a Japanese-style and a Western-style resume is recommended. ​ Sending in two styles shows your dedication and interest in the open position and understanding of the Japanese working culture. American hiring managers are known to skip over applicants that only send in a ​rirekishou.

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Job Hunting in Japan: A Guide for Foreigners

• 9 minute read

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Japanese Resume: The How-To Guide

Create a winning resume for your Japanese job application

Certified Professional Resume Writer

Breaking into the Japanese job market  can be a complex process given that many cultural differences can be found throughout the recruitment process. Naturally, the  Japanese use a very distinct approach to resume writing  compared to American  resume writing  and certain aspects of it can be confusing for a Westerner.

A  Rirekisho  (履歴書), although being widely translated as ‘resume’ in English, does not necessarily fit our generally-accepted image of what a resume is. The term  rirekisho  is the Japanese word used to describe a document, often hand-written, which is sent or given to companies and  recruiters in Japan  to serve as a candidate’s  job application .

The whole  format of a Japanese resume  varies greatly from the US style and learning  what is included in a resume for Japan  is vital if you are planning to work in the country or for a Japanese company elsewhere.

To  gain the attention of Japanese hiring managers , it is crucially important to provide a  rirekisho  document, a culturally-specific Japanese resume, which shows your dedication to the job application and to the company. Similarly to resumes in other parts of the world, a  resume in Japanese  should be adapted to the particular vacancy.

The following guide gives candidates the right knowledge and tools to  create a winning Japanese resume  that includes the relevant information in the correct format with tips and examples.

Writing a Resume in Japanese

Creating a Japanese resume  entails much more than a basic translation of your current resume. A resume in Japanese uses a pre-designed set-up that is accepted all over the country and by Japanese companies in other parts of the world.

However, with the job market expanding rapidly in the digital age of start-ups, an increasing number of Japanese companies around the world are warming to different styles of  resume formats .

Traditionally, there is only  one style of the  rirekisho  document in Japan  which includes the exact same sections for every candidate. This means that there is a widely available template from shops or that can be downloaded, which candidates either fill out by hand or occasionally complete via a word processor.

The basic  rirekisho  is generally accepted for  entry-level candidates  or  students , who do not have a long work experience, whereas,  professional candidates  may be expected to apply for a job in Japan using a  shokumukeirekisho  (職務経歴書) document. A  shokumukeirekisho  allows a more in-depth look at a job applicant’s  professional achievements and responsibilities .

Optimize your Japanese resume  by applying some of the following expert resume writing tips:

• Each resume should be  adapted to the position and company  the candidate is applying to, in order to ensure that the hiring manager sees the effort and commitment that they feel toward the role. This means that jobseekers should not photocopy their resume but instead,  create a different Japanese resume per vacancy .
• Jobseekers should always  research the Japanese company  so that they can tailor their resume to the position adequately. All candidates must ensure to be aware of any specific  recruitment regulation  in place in that company that could affect their candidacy, for example, if they accept digitalized resumes or only traditional hand-written  rirekisho .
• An  essential aspect of Japanese resumes  to consider when it comes to writing the education or job history is that all  dated experiences should be written in chronological order . This is the opposite of western resumes, which are structured in the reverse-chronological order, despite often being known as the  chronological resume  style. This means starting from the oldest and listing down to the most recent position held or diploma attained.
• When writing the dates of any information for the applicant,  most Japanese employers prefer to see the Japanese date style  ( Nengo  年号) used. This refers to the Japanese era to be used in place of the Gregorian calendar year. Take special care to make sure you indicate the right dates throughout. Foreign companies within Japan or occasionally Japanese companies abroad will accept resumes that include dates reflecting the westernized calendar years, as long as the date format is correct: year (年) month (月) and day (日) at the end.
• Finally, all  Japanese resumes should be proofread very carefully  and not submitted with any errors. It is very important to hiring managers that a candidate’s job application reflects careful diligence and attention. No matter how confident you may feel of your level of Japanese, it is always advisable to have your resume read by a native Japanese person who can correct any errors and ensure that all the characters are in the right order.

With these tips, candidates can apply, safe in the knowledge of  how to write a resume for a Japanese company . But another way to ensure a well-presented and professional  Japanese resume format  would be to use a template or  online resume builder  which offers guidance for each step.

Japanese Resume: Layout and Sections

Just as with any type of resume, there are certain  rules to understand  when it comes to  writing a Japanese resume  and what concerns the sections listed and the general format.

Given the  strict nature of employment regulations for Japanese companies , it is advisable for candidates to stick to the format of application offered by the specific company.

If you have the freedom to create a modern resume,  Japanese resume examples  may be very useful to help you understand the importance of certain details offered to hiring managers.

There are  parts of Japanese resumes  which would not normally be seen on resumes in the US that can cause alarm at first glance for westerners, but once you have the right information,  building an effective Japanese resume  will be just as easy as creating one for an American company.

What to include in a Japanese resume

The first  aspects to be considered in a Japanese resume  are the different sections that must be included. Before structuring the different elements, it is important to start the document indicating the date (日付) in which you are applying, not the date it is written!

Once the date has been stated appropriately, according to  Japanese writing rules , candidates can begin formatting the layout by incorporating the following key resume sections:

Personal and contact details

As with most  resume formats  you will be familiar with,  resumes in Japanese  also begin with the candidate’s contact details. The basic information is gathered and presented in a  table style  with the following data:

• Stamp/seal – 印
• Date of birth, age, and gender – 生年月日
• Phone Number – 電話
• Address – 現住所

The  names should be written in reverse order  with the last name (姓) first and the first name (名) last. Use Hiragana or Katakana for foreign names.

Dates should be written using the Japanese  nengo  calendar.

Finally, the address should also be written in reverse order with the following structure:

Prefecture, Ward/City, Town, XX Chome, XX Ban, XX Go

Although it is uncommon to give some of this information on a resume in the U.S., it is completely normal practice for Japanese companies and they will  expect to see a candidate’s age and gender listed  in the basic personal details.

Using a photo is not a common theme in recruiting in the U.S. In fact, it is often frowned upon because it can result in discrimination on the basis of gender, skin color, appearance, etc. However, the  professional headshot is a compulsory part of a Japanese resume .

The  Japanese resume photo  should be a passport-sized photo, taken in a professional environment with a clear background and the candidate should be conservatively dressed as if attending a job interview.

The photo should be physically attached to the resume if being delivered by hand or mail, whereas, a digital copy is preferred to no photo. It should be placed in the top right-hand corner of the resume.

The  Japanese resume education section  must be displayed in chronological order, from first to most recent, and can list several of the latest diplomas achieved.

Each entry in the  academic history  must include the  date of starting the course and the graduation date . The information displayed here should contain the name of the institution, with location and the name of the certificate awarded or course undertaken.

For  student resumes , candidates are advised to demonstrate information about projects, courses, other honors, and curricular activities that could be beneficial to the overall job application.

At the end of each academic entry, on the right-hand side of the next line, you should introduce the characters 以上 to indicate it is the end of the entry.

Work History

Often listed in the same section as education in a Japanese resume, the  work experience  part of a  rirekisho  lists the previous roles held by the candidate in  chronological order  beginning with the first relevant position to the most recent.

In traditional Japanese resumes, the jobseeker does not need to include  duties or responsibilities  when listing their previously-held jobs, however, these details are expected when  creating a professional  rirekisho  or  shokumukeirekisho  as it is sometimes known.

The information included here should  list the following for each position  mentioned:

• Official company name (not commercial name)
• Dates of entry and departure from the company
• If the candidate left of their own doing, it is acceptable to state that they left for personal reasons: 一身上の都合により退社
• If the candidate was let go, it is common to indicate that it was the business’s decision: 会社都合により退社
• If the contract was temporary with a fixed end date, the candidate should mention the contract finalized: 契約満了により退社

Entry-level  candidates can use this area to demonstrate the  internships or voluntary work  they have been involved in which benefit their career and apply to the vacancy on offer. Here there is no need to explain the reasons for leaving.

Similarly to the education section, in the work experience section of a Japanese resume, jobseekers should put the characters 以上 to demonstrate the end of each entry.

Qualifications, licenses and certificates

This section is dedicated to different  accomplishments or licenses  that a candidate has accumulated in their professional career. Traditionally on a Japanese resume, the qualifications section tends to include any and all types of certifications but nowadays, it is  recommended to list only those that are practical and pertinent to the position  on offer.

For foreign candidates, listing any  Japanese language certificates  and a driving license is perfectly acceptable.

Reasons for applying/Motivation

This  section is vital for any Japanese resume to be considered seriously  by a Japanese recruiter or company. Similar to a  resume objective for an American resume  or summary statement, this section is an open area for candidates to  describe why they are interested  in taking on the specific role they’re applying to.

This part of a  Japanese job application  can be more  creative  and allows candidates to demonstrate their  personal interests ,  skills  (特技), and to  use the keywords from a job application  to ensure they stand out in the recruitment process.

Although this part should remain  brief and concise , it is possible for jobseekers to show off a little here about what makes them a good candidate for the position by indicating their  strengths and accomplishments .

Use examples and quantifiable evidence in this area as well as exploring how your soft and hard skills would make you a good fit for the company. It is important for Japanese resumes to demonstrate how well a candidate would do in the company because recruiters want to know that the applicant is interested in sticking around and engaging in company projects.

Miscellaneous/Other

Typically, there is another  customized section in Japanese resumes  where candidates traditionally indicate any of the following:

• Commuting time (from home to office) 通勤時間
• Marital status 配偶者
• Number of dependents 扶養者

This information is not completely necessary if you are uncomfortable offering it. However, it is recommended to at least mention a commuting time if applicable.

Expectations/Requests

The  final section of a Japanese resume  is a third personalizable section where each jobseeker should state their  expectations of the new role .

Here, candidates can explain what they hope to earn in terms of  salary , any specific ideas they have for the future of the role,  working hours , or the  location  of the job if various offices are available, etc.

If you do not put anything in this section, it  can display a lack of interest  in the position, but there are ways of getting around being very specific without being rude.

The sentence 勤務条件は貴社の規定に従います signifies that you are willing to negotiate or  accept the conditions offered  by the company at the interview stage.

Japanese Resume Example

Whether you are completing the  rirekisho  traditional template  or are able to submit a modern Japanese resume for your job application, employing a  Japanese resume example  is a sure-fire way to avoid committing any mistakes that could cost you your chance at an interview.

The level of difficulty of the Japanese language is not the only obstacle that can appear when  building a Japanese resume . Candidates should also be aware that they will need to adapt their job application to  be mindful of any cultural differences  including the possibility of including information that might otherwise be omitted in a westernized resume.

Using  Japanese resume samples , jobseekers can get a better idea of what is expected to be included in terms of textual content, images, and even  furigana to guide pronunciation  for certain personal details.

If you choose to print your Japanese resume, it is advisable only to  print in black ink  because  colors are inadmissible on Japanese job applications . On other occasions, Japanese businesses can expect to receive only  hand-written resumes . In these cases, candidates should only use black ink to write their resumes and ensure not to leave any mistakes visible.

Difference between American and Japanese Resumes

The vast differences in American and Japanese culture also extend to the recruitment process as can be seen by the variations in  how to complete a Japanese resume  as compared to an American one.

One of the main differences between American and Japanese resumes that stands out most is the  traditional Japanese resume template  that is most commonly used all over Japan. This specific set up allows candidates only to include the information requested by the structure, similar to application forms. Whereas,  in the United States, candidates are openly encouraged to make their resumes unique and one-of-a-kind , with the Japanese standard resume, candidates would struggle to catch the employers attention quickly as the format is uniform for all applicants.

This, in turn, means that although the  rirekisho  template  may permit  more equality for the different levels of jobseekers , there is only one universally-accepted style, unlike the thousands of variations that can be found for an American resume design.

Another of the major  differences between American and Japanese resumes  is that the Oriental job application requires a  chronological list of work experience and academic achievements , going from the first to last position held, in comparison with the reverse-chronological order of western resumes which display the most recent experience first.

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Japan Resume Formats, Templates, and Writing Tips (Rirekisho and Shokumukeirekisho)

Applying for a job in Japan? This Japan Resume guide has the templates, tips, examples, & format requirements needed to write the perfect resume -- both rirekisho and shokumukeirekisho.

For westerners, it’s easy to think of Japan as a distant, mythical wonderland—full of rich history, but still brimming over with amazing new tech. If you’ve ever been tempted by the idea of trying your luck on the Japanese job market, we promise you’re not alone.

In fact, that’s why we’ve put together this guide—to give you an insight into the requirements of job-searching in Japan. What many people don’t realize is that Japan’s workplace culture can be deeply conservative. You’ll be expected to meet a lot of very strict requirements if you want a shot at your dream Japanese job.

You’ll need to start with the perfect Japan resume, and we’re here to help you get there! In this article, we’ll cover:

• Japan resume format
• How to write a Japanese resume

Working in Japan

This article is perfect for you if you're looking for:

• Japan resume formatting tips
• Japan resume templates
• Japan resume examples

Japan Resume Format

Believe it or not, you’ll usually need not one, but two documents to apply for a job in Japan! Those documents are:

The rirekisho, which contains basic information about you, your education, and your recent work experience The shokumukeirekisho, which gets into more detail about your experience and skills

Each document should be about one page long, and you will need to submit them together.

Both the rirekisho and the shokumukeirekisho have fixed, standardized formats, known as the JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard). You’ll need to use those formats exactly if you want to stand a chance on the Japanese job market. These documents are so regulated that you'll almost always be better off using a simple template and completing it to the best of your ability.

It might sound obvious, but it’s worth remembering that you will need to write your Japan resume—both parts of it—in Japanese. Unless you’re applying for a job teaching English through a third-party company, this is usually non-negotiable. If you don’t know Japanese, you’ll need to take some time to learn the basics of business Japanese before you even think about working in Japan.

How to Write a Japan Resume

The Japanese resume format is likely to be pretty different to most westerners. To help you out, we’ve written a section-by-section breakdown of exactly what you’ll need to include in each section. Let’s get started!

Japanese Rirekisho Resume – Personal Information

The first section of the rirekisho is for basic information about you. That means your name, nationality, date of birth, gender, current address, and contact information. It also means including a photo of yourself—while this is negotiable in western resumes, a Japan resume will require it.

Each section of the rirekisho template is labeled with what you need to include. Filling out this section should be pretty easy, as a result! But here are some things to pay attention to in this section:

You’ll need to list the date on which you intend to submit your Japan resume at the top of this document. Try to keep it as accurate as possible. If you have a name written in the English alphabet, write it in English—don’t try to transcribe it into kanji or hiragana! Your headshot photo needs to be scrupulously professional. It needs to feature your face, from the chest up, against a solid white or blue background. You should avoid wearing glasses, heavy makeup, accessories, or elaborate hairstyles—and you should aim for a neutral, closed-mouth smile. You can get your photo taken at any number of photo booths in Japan! There are three ‘contact information’ sections—one for an email address, one for a telephone number, and one for any other contact methods you have. If you don’t have any other contact methods, it’s fine just to write “同上”—meaning “same as above”—in that last section.

Japanese Rirekisho Resume – Academic and Work History

When filling in this section, you need to lead with your academic background in chronological order. This will then be followed by your work history, also in chronological order.

On the first line of this section, write “学歴” for “Academic Background.” Then, on the next line, start with your high school, including the year and month when you graduated.

You can then move on to the year and month when you enrolled in university—listing the name of the school and the course you took there—on the next line. On the line after that, list the year and month when you graduated.

You can carry on like this until you’ve covered your entire educational history!

The same principles apply for your work history. Leave a single line blank between the end of your education section and the start of your work history section! Then open by writing “職歴” on the next line.

Unlike on a western resume, you need to start with the first company you worked with. Include the month and year when you took the job, the company’s official name, the department where you worked, and the job title you held. Then, on the next line, list the month and year when you left that job, and your reasons for leaving.

In general, it’s standard to write that you “left the company for personal reasons”. When you reach your current role, you can write “current” instead of a date of departure!

Japanese Rirekisho Resume – Licenses and Qualifications

This section is a table with columns for the year and the month in which you obtained your qualification. All you have to do is list the year and the month in the right spaces, then write the official name of the license or qualification in the third column.

Japanese Rirekisho Resume – Other Information

There are a few more sections on the rirekisho that you’ll need to fill in before you can move on!

The first is the “Special Skills/Self-PR” section. This is where you can include any additional skills that are relevant to the job—as well as a short note about why you’re right for the role. You’ll have room to delve more deeply into this in the shokumukeirekisho, so keep it short and specific here if you can.

You’ll also be asked to enter the commute time from your home to your potential workplace. This might seem pretty out-there to a westerner, but many workplaces in Japan cover commuting costs for their employees. That’s why it’s important for them to know how far you’ll need to travel every day.

You’ll be asked for information about your spouse (if you have one) and any dependents you’ll be supporting on your income. If you have any kids still living at home and dependent on you, or if you’re caring for an elderly relative who can’t work, they would be considered dependents and you’d need to list them in this section. You’ll also need to indicate whether your spouse is working for a company that provides social insurance.

The very last section of the rirekisho is a space for personal requests. If you have particular conditions, like salary expectations or accessibility requirements, you can mention them here. But you can always bring those up at interview—which is why most people just write “I will comply with your company regulations” instead.

Japanese Rirekisho Resume Template

Japanese Rirekisho Resume Exmaple

Japanese Shokumukeirekisho Resume – Professional Summary

If the rirekisho is the Japanese resume, then the shokumukeirekisho is the Japanese CV. It gives you room to explore your background and skills in more depth, so employers can get a clearer picture of what you have to offer. As with the rirekisho, you’ll need to write your full name and the date of submission for your application—make sure they’re the same on both documents!

Then you’ll need to write a professional summary. A little like a western resume summary, this should describe your relevant work history in simple, concise sentences. You can and should refer to specific positions you’ve held in the past!

Japanese Shokumukeirekisho Resume – Summary of Employment History

Just like on the rirekisho, this is the place to list your employment history. But unlike the rirekisho’s section, this section should be in reverse-chronological order. Write the dates of your employment and the company name—there’s no need to get into much more detail than that.

It’s important to remember that, if you’ve taken an extended period of time out of work for any reason, you will need to list it here. Japanese HR is easily spooked by employment breaks with no explanation! So if you’ve been studying abroad, caring for a relative, or travelling overseas, make sure you note that reverse-chronologically in this section of the shokumukeirekisho.

Japanese Shokumukeirekisho Resume – Summary of Experience and Knowledge

This is where you can list your most relevant skills—along with the experience you have of using them professionally. For example, you could list that you have experience of using JavaScript. But doesn’t it look more compelling if you mention that you have seven years of experience using JavaScript as a programmer?

You should already have listed some of your relevant skills on the rirekisho. This is your opportunity to get more specific! Don’t be afraid to take it. The Shokumukeirekisho – Work Background If you thought you were done with your work experience, you were wrong! This is the place to get into a lot more depth about the specifics of your work background. Like the summary of work experience, this should be written in reverse-chronological order.

You’ll need to open each listing with detailed information about the company where you worked in the past. That means things like the size of the company, the number of employees there, and what the company actually does. You should also list your employment dates and the department where you worked.

After that, you’ll need to list the projects or assignments you worked on while at that company. Include information like the goal and scope of the project, the eventual outcome, and the role you played within it. You can also note any particular skills you used or achievements you had during the project.

If this sounds a lot more granular than anything you’ll be asked to write on a western resume, that’s because it is! But it will give hiring managers a very clear idea of what you’ve done in the past, and how your experience might be relevant in the future.

Japanese Shokumukeirekisho Resume – Technical Skills, Certifications and Licenses

If you’re in a technical line of work, like engineering or IT, you should use this space to list some of your most relevant technical skills. Think in terms of the software you can use, the tools you’ve used in the past, and the frameworks you’re familiar with. The goal is to convey the specifics of your experience, with a view to showing that you meet the requirements for the job you want.

And whether or not you have technical skills, you should make sure you list any relevant certifications or licenses. You should already have covered this ground in the rirekisho, so make sure the information is consistent across both documents!

Japanese Shokumukeirekisho Resume – Summary About Yourself

Again, you’ve already done this for the rirekisho—but it’s time to do it again! Write down how your skills, experience and background make you the right fit for the role you want. Keep it concise and professional, with a focus firmly on business-related activities.

Think about what makes you, in particular, an asset to the company, and lead with that information. And if you have a specific reason for wanting to join the company, you can include that, too.

Japanese Shokumukeirekisho Resume Example

If you want to work in Japan, you’ll need a Japanese work visa. There’s no way around it—Japanese immigration laws are pretty strict. There are three types of work visa available if you want to work in Japan:

The Japan Work Visa, issued for a limited list of professions The Japan Highly Skilled Foreign Professional Visa, which operates on a point-based system The working holiday visa, available to applicants whose countries have a working holiday arrangement with Japan

If you don’t qualify for the Highly Skilled Foreign Professional visa, which allows for more flexibility, you’ll need a Japan Work Visa for the specific type of work that you want to do. Here are some of the professions that offer a Japan Work Visa:

• Business manager
• Engineer/specialist in humanities/international services
• Entertainer
• Intra-company transferee
• Legal/accounting services
• Medical services
• Nursing care
• Religious activities
• Skilled labor
• Technical intern training

The length of your work visa will depend on the type of work you’re in the country to do. Remember, no work visa is ever valid for more than five years!

Working in Japan can be a difficult process, with a lot of hoops to jump through. But if you can make it work, you’ll have the experience of a lifetime working in a brand new country. Stick with it, and you’ll be on your way to the Land of the Rising Sun in no time!

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The Ultimate Guide to Japanese Resumes

By Norie Matsumoto | April 22, 2021

If you are wanting to live in Japan, an important step is to find a job. There are actually two prime seasons for hiring in Japan, which are at the beginning of spring and the end of summer, however, you can always get a head start on your Japanese resume. The job-hunting process in Japan can be quite a complex and challenging process, especially if Japanese is not your native language, and navigating the work environments can be pretty stressful and confusing. But in this article, you will learn all you need to find the perfect job for you by starting at the most important first step of applying for jobs, resumes. 

Japanese resumes in Japan are pretty different compared to other countries and there are different rules that you must follow.  You may not know what education history, work experience, credentials, qualifications, certificates, personality, or other information to highlight which are needed to get noticed by companies in Japan. Learn all you need to know about the types of resumes, the resume-making process, and important know-how on creating a great resume curated for what kind of company and work you are looking for. Learn the intricacies of traditional Japanese job hunting, including resume making in the Japanese style. This article will have a copy and paste or downloadable template and a guide on what to write and how to write it so you can get hired. Some sections of the resume and CV can become repetitive but every section should be filled and not left blank unless stated otherwise. 

This is part of our extensive series on getting a job in Japan as a foreigner Ultimate Guide to Jobs in Japan for Foreigners

Want our best job hunting tips?

1 email a week for 12 weeks, how japanese resumes differ from western resumes or resumes in english.

Chances are, as a reader you are familiar with western style resume writing and may have made one for yourself before. However, using the same structure as the ones used in say the United States or Europe is not going to work in Japan at a Japanese domestic company. Even if you were to apply for a gaishike or foreign-owned enterprise, chances are you are still going to need both an Western style and Japanese style resume as there are other higher ups within the company that may not be well versed in English and require Japanese to read. Also, it is expected that the Japanese resume is not just a translation of your english one. It must follow a pretty unyielding format.  

Working in Japan as an international, you are going to need a visa, to find out how check out The Ultimate Guide on Japanese Visas

Handwritten - Possibly the most noticeable difference upfront is that many Japanese companies would prefer that you create a handwritten resume instead of just typed and printed . Writing each resume by hand is something underheard of in the western world, especially when you are most likely applying to a bunch of companies at a time. You can already imagine the hand cramping. This also means that you should be confident in writing in Kanji or willing to look it up.

But luckily, these days, most of the companies accept typed up resumes. Yet, handwritten shows your dedication and hardwork. It is recommended you first write lightly in pencil in case you make a mistake and finalize by writing in black pen. Avoid white out as it looks messy. You can buy empty resume forms at the conbini (convenience stores) for around ¥20 per sheet or you can get a free template here,

Download 3 Japanese Resume & CV Templates that you can use to apply for your next job!

Downloadable CV Templates for Rirekisho and Shokumukeirekisho

If you make a mistake, you have to restart with a new sheet. Make sure to buy or print extras for when you might need to use another more.

Time for a headshot - In Western countries, it is not a requirement to put your face on your resume. There is actually much debate on whether or not there even should be one on it, in the U.S. employers actually can not ask for photos as there is a possibility that applicants can be judged more on looks and less on work qualifications. However, in the case of Japanese resumes, it is a requirement that you can not neglect. 

Too much information - In most cases, you would not put personal information on Western Resumes such as, age, sex, commuting time, dependents, and birthdate. On the contrary, in Japan it is a must.

Free for all - In Western style, you are solely responsible for how your resume looks and the design. Yet, in Japan you are going to need to follow the same style and form as everybody else applying. 

Signed and sealed You must have an inkan (stamp form of signature) for a Japanese Resume, very official. 

1 vs 2 - Another difference is that usually, Western resumes only need one page, on the other hand Japanese CVs want you to have two, the Rirekisho and Shokumukeirekisho. 

Types of Japanese Resumes 

Now that you are a little bit more familiar with how the Western and Japanese style resume differs, it is time to get into the nitty-gritty. It is time to start making your Japanese resume. As mentioned earlier, the two big sections you need are called the Rirekisho and Shokumukeirekisho . What is that?

The Japanese Resume: Rirekisho

Put simply, a Rirekisho is a straight forward rundown of your education and work record. It just presents the fundamental and principal features of yourself such as the companies you have been employed for, how long, graduation year, etc. It is important that it is legible and follows the JIS standard (Japanese Industrial Standards), which is the most frequent type in Japan. There are some businesses that may explicitly ask for a JIS standard. 

1. Japanese Resume: Personal Information

Date of submission - At the top, put the date (year / month / day) in which you will submit your resume. Try to keep this one accurate. 

Full Name - Write your full name where it says 氏名 ・shimei・ しめい. Fill in your name in English or in Katakana . If your name is Chinese or Korean, write it in Kanji . First, put your ‘Last Name’, then a space and enter ‘First Name’. Write your name in Hiragana at the top, where it says ふりがな・ furigana .

Photo - This is almost as important as the whole rest of the resume. Stick a professional photo of yourself to the top right corner of your resume. The photo should look presentable with the face fully lit and viewable. 

• Solid background (white or blue is common) 
• No hair obstructing face ( tie long hair back)
• Steer away from heavy makeup (colorful eyeshadow, unnatural lipstick, etc.)
• Wear a business suit (what you would wear to an interview)
• Solid eye contact to the camera 
• Conservatism is important 
• Try not to grin from ear to ear with your teeth showing, just a slight, closed mouth smile.
• No facial hair
• Styled hair (no bedheads!)
• No crazy accessories (earrings, necklace, etc.)
• 3cm width x 4cm height
• taken in the last 3 months (recommended, try not to catfish your employer)
• in color, with nothing else in the image

To take the photos, look for photo booths that are along the streets of business areas or near big train stations. It usually fits the criteria stated above and the cheapest option at around 600 yen to 800 yen. Additionally, it is very quick and easy, it can be done in minutes. 

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Your Nationality

Where you are from. Put your country of origin (nationality) where it says 国籍 ・kokuseki ・こくせき. 

Date of Birth and Age

The section where it says 生年月日（年齢) ・seinengappi ( nenrei )・せいねんがっぴ（ねんれい), write your birthday. 

It should be written as (Year) 年/ (Month) 月/(Day)日生.

Then 満(your current age)歳 

Example: １９９９年１月１日生（満２２歳）

Circle male (男) or female (女) where it says 性別 ・ seibetsu

Present Address

Write your current address where it says 現住所・ Genjūsho・げんじゅうしょ.

Phone Number

Where it says, 電話 ・denwa・でんわ , write your phone number so that the employer can contact you. 

Email Address

Write your contact email where it says メールアドレス 

*You should have an email that is professional, typically just your name with numbers if necessary, not a middle school joke address like crazygamerchucky88

Additional Contact Info

Unless you want to put extra contact information other than what was written before,  just write 同上・ dōjo・どうじょう,  which means same as above meaning it is the same as what was written earlier.

2. Japanese Resume: Academic and Work History

Academic History 

Write your education in chronological order from earliest to latest.

Start by writing 学歴 ・gakureki ・がくれき in the middle of the first line.

Next line: Start from High School, write the year of graduation and month.

Then write enrollment year and month into university, next is the graduation year and month, and so on. 

Write the official school name, department, and major.

Work History  

Make sure to have a one line gap between academic history and work history.

Write your employment history in chronological order.

Start by writing 職歴 ・Shokureki ・しょくれき in the middle of the line

Next lines:

Start with your first company you worked with.

Year and month you joined, Company’s official name, Department and position

Next line: Year and month you left the company and reasons for that

3. Japanese Resume: License and Qualifications

In the next section, where it says 免許・資格・ Menkyo・shikaku ・めんきょ・しかく write any licenses or qualifications that pertains to the company and position you are applying for along with the year and month you obtained it.

4. Japanese Resume: Special Skills, Self Promotion

Where it says 特技・自己 or Tokugi・Jiko・とくぎ・じこ This is where you can sell yourself, write your skills that at least somewhat relates to the job or would aid in you being better at the job. The Self PR section can convince the employer why you would be good for the job (draw from previous experiences, etc.)

5. Japanese Resume: Transportation time

Write the commute time from home to work unless you do not have a Japan address yet. This is relevant because 86 percent of Japanese companies pay for employees' commuting allowance.  They also want to get a grasp of where you are coming from and may prefer someone living closer to the work location. 

6. Japanese Resume: Miscellaneous Information

In the section 扶養家族（配偶者を除く） Fuyō kazoku (haigūsha o nozoku) ふようかぞく（はいぐうしゃをのぞく the Dependents (not including spouse) section, write how many dependents (someone you support: You give at least half of their total support for the year: clothing, food, and shelter etc.) you have not including spouse. Example: your kids (unless they are making their own income).

Spouse and Spouse’s Obligation to Support

配偶者・ Haigusha はいぐしゃ section, if you are married with a spouse, check “Yes (有)”. But if you are not married with no spouse, check “No (無)”.

配偶者の扶養義務・ Haigūsha no fuyō gimu はいぐしゃのふようぎむ section, If your spouse is working and he or she is already working for a company that has social insurance, check “No (無)” unless your spouse needs social insurance, in which case check yes. 

7. Japanese Resume: Space for Personal Request

This section, 本人希望記入欄・ Hon'nin kibō kinyū ran ・ほんにんきぼうきにゅうらん

Write any specific requests (work location, salary, etc.)

But most people write 貴社規定に従います・ Kisha kitei ni shitagaimasu・きしゃきていにしたがいます or I will comply with your company regulations.”

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Do Japanese resumes need an accompanying CV?  

Yes - now that you know the first part of a resume, the Rirekisho it is time for the next part. 

The  Shokumukeirekisho is the CV (Curriculum Vitae), a form that connects to past work experience (companies where you were employed, about the job, skills you acquired, etc.)

1. Date of Submission and Full name

First, write your full name and the day you will be submitting it in the upper right corner. 

*It should be the same as your rirekisho

2. Summary of employment history/work

Here, write your past employment history. Unlike the resume, Rirekisho, put down all the companies you have been employed at in order of newest in order instead of oldest, then write the dates you were employed and the company’s name.

5. Summary of Experience and Knowledge

Area of Experience, Expertise, or Skill. You want to write down what kind of skills or experience you got from your previous companies. If you have any technical skills. Any leadership or management experience? Achievements?

6. Professional/Work Background and Experience 

First, write in the detailed information of each of the companies you have worked at. Things such as the background of the company, the size of the business, how many employees, employment period, and what kind of work you did. Order it as earlier by the last company you were enrolled in first and the first company you worked at will be last. 

Next, write an explanation of what your job was and what kind of activities you did and accomplished while you were there. You should write any projects, works, assignments you did and what you learned from them. Write what kind of assignment it was, how long it took, what you utilized, what was the outcome, and how big it was and your position in it. Unlike western styles, there is more emphasis on explaining about what kind of work and projects you did over the fancy titles.

7. Skills (Technical)

This is if it applies to your area of work, here, you should write what capabilities you have and expertise that are pragmatic and related to scientific, mathematical, mechanical, or IT (information technology) skills.

8. Certifications/Licenses

Now you should write any licenses or certifications that would be good for the company. If you are reading this article, you probably know English, for Japanese resumes, language significance is emphasized so it would be good to put your TOEIC or other language abilities as this is sought after! 

Examples would be language, Information Technology, etc. licenses/certificates.

9. Summary about yourself 

This may be repetitive as you already wrote it in the rirekisho but it still needs to be done. But again, put down information about your experiences, qualifications, skills that would benefit the company. Why you would be an asset to the company. Compared to the western style, it is recommended to not put recreational activities and instead keep it to strictly business related information.

Mistakes you should avoid making on your Japanese resume

It can be easy to make simple mistakes and you do not want to make careless mistakes that result in you not getting an interview even though you are qualified! Watch out for these common slip-ups:

• Typos and Grammatical Errors - These are small but noticeable mistakes that make your resume look sloppy and like you did not put time and effort into it. Make sure to double and triple check through your resume.
• Different set of eyes - If you have been working on your resume for a while, it will be harder and harder for you to really see what it would be like from an outside perspective so have someone else, preferably that knows Japanese and about the resumes to have a look over yours to tell you if there is anything you should fix.
• Too long or Too short - Try not to go on long tangents in your resume and keep it to a minimum or the most important parts that are relevant to your work. No more than 3 pages or you will lose their interest. On the same note, do not forget to add in something that would be crucial to your job experience and only write a little bit as it will seem like you did not do much.
• Avoid writing in Hiragana only - this may be obvious but it is important to write like you really do know Japanese, implement kanji to keep a professional appearance, and look them up if you do not know. There are lots of words that sound exactly the same but have different kanjis for different meanings so do not forget to check you are using the right ones. 

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• Write respectfully - When writing, especially in the sections where you write paragraphs such as Self PR don't forget to use the formal language of Japanese です、ます・desu・masu and not like you are just talking to a friend. 
• Personalize - Customize each of your applications to accommodate each company. This means you should know about the company and the role you are applying for, it will show that you are dedicated and seem loyal to the company. It just takes a quick google search and set an hour or two for each company. Find out about their history, CEO, what kind of work environment they have, and other roles they have.
• No need to be fancy - For western resumes, you can get pretty creative with your resume to stand out from the competition, however, you do not want to be putting crazy designs and colors on your Japanese resume, it will not be taken seriously with glitter borders and strange fonts. 

The most common job that English speaking foreigners do in Japan is being an English teacher, find out more on how you can become one here Ultimate Guide to Teaching Jobs in Japan

Useful words you need to know for your Japanese resume

When writing your resume, it is important to know some of the basic words that you should become familiar with and you will see throughout. Avoid going in blindly, you should know some Japanese words to be able to recognize them.These are useful nouns, verbs, and characteristics. Here are some you can also apply to your resume:

If you want to learn some more, check out Business Japanese Vocabulary for your Resume

This may have been a lot of information to take in and apply to your own resume, but that you have learned about the different types of Japanese resumes,  Rirekisho and Shokumukeirekisho, you have created a great resume with the right components to apply for the companies and show your best self to your employer. Keep on applying to a lot of different companies, hopefully you will be able to find a place to work that is best fit for you. To find out more about getting a job and working in Japan, check out our website BFF Tokyo . Good luck on your shushoku katsudo !

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Resume Template

Resume Template（PDF)

Wear formal clothes, preferably a business suit. Make sure your hair looks tidy, and for men it is advisable to shave.

Write down the dates of entering and graduation from junior high school, high school and university in the order above. Write the names of schools and universities in full. Also write down Your department and major.

Professional Experience and Internships

Title the first paragraph “Professional experience”. Mention all companies You have worked for.Write down names of departments, positions and describe Your responsibilities. For internships, specify the name of the company and Your responsibilities as an intern.

Self introduction

CV Template

CV Template（PDF)

Reasons for studying Japanese

Write about the reasons for your deciding to study Japanese. Mentioning specific events that moved you it will make your point stronger.

Area of study

Write about your major at the university. Science major students should specifically promote the contents of their research projects.

Selling points

Avoid such general phrases as “I am a very reliable person” or “I am very hard-working” Instead, try to make your explanation more convincing by adding specific episodes, proving your abilities. Use numbers to make your story more appealing.

Write down what you can do for the company, what tasks you would like to undertake once you start working for the company. Make sure to check the company website before you apply. Once you have researched about the company, promoting qualities that are linked to the company’s work and values would be most effective. Your statement would be more convincing if you connect the above selling points to your objective.

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Are you looking for a new job? The resume is a necessary part of looking for a job, for both in and outside Japan. However, Japanese resumes - commonly referred to as rireki-sho (履歴書) - follow a unique format that can be a confusing and frustrating process for many. Not to worry, as we've got you covered! Use our downloadable template and step-by-step guide in this article to prepare your rirekisho and get hired in no time!

Before You Begin

In Japan you generally need two documents to apply for a job:

① A resume ( rirekisho 履歴書) which shows your basic (name, date of birth, address etc.) and background (education, work experience) information

② A CV ( shokumu-keirekisho 職務経歴書) which describes your past work experience and skills in detail

Your Japanese resume is used to give a quick summary of your information for companies to understand your experiences and qualifications. It is usually the first document you have to prepare when applying for a job and gives the first impression to your potential employer.

Many employers prefer handwritten resumes, but this will probably depend on the industry or type of job you are applying for. You can find blank resumes for this purpose from the convenience store. Alternatively, you can download a template to print or send digitally to your potential employer.

Sometimes, your employer or company may specify the type of resume they prefer. In this case, be sure not to use your own template, but the specified format!

In this article, we will show you how to write a Japanese resume and provide you with a template to download so you can get started straight away!

How to Write a Japanese Resume

The Japanese resume is separated into different sections. First, you have the basic, personal information with the photo, your name and address, and contact details. Next is the education and employment information section followed by the skills and qualification section. Fourth is the appeal point, commuting time and family information and finally the last section is the personal requests.

How to Write the Basic Information Section on a Japanese Resume

Let's take a closer look at how to fill in each box in the basic information section.

Dress professionally and take a photo to include in the resume. You can find photo booths around town (in train stations, department stores) that will take pictures at the correct size, which can be easier and appear more professional than trying to take one yourself.

Make sure that the image has been taken in the past 3 months. The photo can be older, provided that it matches your current appearance. It should be a picture from the chest-up, facing the camera front-on.

Try to look as professional as possible. A suit is usually a safe bet, for both men and women. Make sure not to wear a hat, or any accessories that may stand out. A natural smile and natural style of makeup is preferred.

② Resume Submission Date

Enter the day you will submit the resume, in the order of [ year / month / day ]. Alternatively, write the day you have created the resume. Do remember, however, that this will make the resume only acceptable for interviews in the near future.

③ 氏名 – Full Name

Enter your name in the space next to 氏名 in English or Katakana. If you have a name that includes kanji, write your name in kanji. Write your Last/Family name first, then your First/Given name with a space inbetween.

Enter the reading of your name in hiragana above, inside the box labeled ふりがな (furigana). ＊If the box is labeled in katakana (ex. フリガナ), write the reading of your name in katakana instead.

④ 生年月日 – Date of birth (Age)

Write the date of your birth in the order [year (年) / month (月) / day (日)].

There is a space to write your current age. The kanji '満' refers to full and '才・歳' refers to age. Thus, fill the space in-between with your age. (ie. '満[Age]才')

In some templates, you may be asked to write your birth year according to the Japanese calendar. In this case, you are generally asked to choose between 昭和 (Showa 1926 – 1988) and 平成 (Heisei 1989 – 2019). If you are confused, here are some websites to helpy you convert your age to the Japanese calendar.

⑤ 現住所 – Current Address

Enter your current address. If you live in Japan it's preferable to fill in the address in kanji in the large section and the furigana in the "ふりがな" box, similarly to the format of the name section. The numbers in the address do not require furigana.

⑥ 連絡先 – Contact Information

Fill in this section only if you wish to be contacted at an address different from your current address. If you request it to be the same as that listed in your current address, write '同上' which means "same as above".

⑦ 性別 – Gender

Here, you can circle 男 (male) or 女 (female).

⑧ 電話 – Telephone number

Enter your Japanese phone number, or any number that your employer can use to easily contact you. If you don't have a Japanese number and are using an overseas number, enter the country code as well.

⑨ メールアドレス – E-mail

Input an email address that you check regularly.

⑩ 電話 – Telephone Number

If you want to write down an alternative phone number, you can do so in this section. If not, you can leave this blank, or write '同上' (=same as above).

How to Write the Education and Work Experience Section

学歴 – Education

In the center of the first line, write "学歴" to specify that you will be talking about your education first.

In the education section, list the name of the school and department in which you studied. Enter your education history from your high school graduation, then the date you entered and graduated university (and Masters, PhD. if applicable).

Label each school with "卒業" (sotsugyo), which means graduation as well as "入学" (nyugaku), means enrollment. If you left your school before graduating, you can write "中途退学" (quit school mid-way) instead.

If you want to be more specific, or if it is unclear from the school name, you can add the country name before the school name.

If you are still in school, add the year and month of your expected graduation, and write "卒業見込み" (expected graduation) after the school name.

職歴 – Work History

Below your educational background, write "職歴" in the center of the row to indicate that you will now be sharing your employment history.

Write the names of any company you have been a part of, in order from oldest to newest.

Start with the date you entered your first company and after the company name write "入社" (joined company). In the next line write the date you left the company with "退職" (left company) after the company name.

If you are still employed, in the next line write "現在に至る" (currently still employed).

You can continue over to the next page if you need more room.

When you have completed detailing your employment history, in the next line write "以上" (end) to show the end of the section.

How to Write the Qualifications Section

In this field, you will write any licenses or qualifications you have. This may include language proficiency tests like the JLPT or TOEIC, a driver's license (be careful to specify whether for car or bike), or any other specific qualifications (for example for architecture or accounting).

• If you own a driver's license, be sure to write this on the first row, and write your other qualifications afterwards in order from oldest to newest.
• Ensure that the date is correct, and use the qualification's official name.
• Add a space after the qualification name, and write '取得' (obtained) for any qualifications, licenses or scores, and '合格' (passed) if it is a pass/fail type of test.
• After you have written all of your qualifications, write '以上' again to indicate the end of the section.

If you do not have any qualifications, you can write '特になし' (none in particular) on the first line.

Jiko PR: How to Write the Hobbies, Appeal Points, Commute Time, Family Situation

① 志望の動機、特技、好きな学科、アピールポイント - Skills and Appeal Points

This is essentially the Jiko PR (自己 PR, self-promotion) part of the resume. Make sure you fill in the 志望の動機、特技、好きな学科、アピールポイント with something that will catch the eye of the employer.

• 志望の動機 - Talk about your motivations for applying for the job and the company.f
• 特技 - What are your strengths and skills? Ideally, mention the ones that suit the job you are applying for.
• 好きな学科 - Here, talk about your favorite subject of study: again, try to connect this to the job details.
• アピールポイント - What makes you best suited for the job? What can you offer to the company? Appeal your skills and experiences to the company.

For more details on how to write this section that makes your resume stand out, check out this article .

② 通勤時間 – Commute Time

Enter how long it takes to commute from your home to the workplace. Round the number to the nearest 5th: for a 44 minute commute, round to 45 minutes, for a 28 minute commute, round to 30 minutes. If possible, you should also include the methods of transportation you will be utilizing (bicycle, bus, train, etc;).

③ 扶養家族（配偶者を除く）– Number of Dependents (Excluding Spouse)

Here, write how many family members (excluding your spouse) are supported by your income. This is important information as it is necessary for your company when calculating income tax or social insurance.

For example, If you are a family of 4 with a spouse and 2 children you support you would write 2 here. Even if your spouse is supported by your income, they are not to be counted in this section. If your children already have jobs of their own and are able to support themselves do not include them in this number.

④ 配偶者 – Spouse and 配偶者の扶養義務 – Spouse Obligation

配偶者 – Spouse

If you are married and have a spouse, circle "有" (yes). If not, circle "無" (no).

配偶者の扶養義務 – Spouse Obligation

Circle "有" (yes) if: 1. Your spouse is not working, and you plan on supporting your spouse with your income. 2. Your spouse is working, however they earn less than 1,300,000 yen per year (about 110,000 per month).

Circle "無" (no) if: 1. Your spouse is working 2. They earn more than 1,300,000 yen per year.

How to write the space for personal requests on a Japanese resume

The final space is the "本人希望記入欄", designated for personal requests. If there is something important you would like your employer to know, for example regarding your salary, preferred job type, or workplace, you may write them here. However, most requests are often best discussed in the interview.

If you have no particular requests, it is common to write "貴社規定に従います" which means "I will comply with the company's regulations".

Are You Ready to Write Your Japanese Resume With the Template?

Congratulations! You now know everything there is to know about a Japanese resume. Do you feel prepared to get started on yours? Before submitting your resume, it's always a good idea to have it checked by a Japanese friend, especially if it's your first time writing one.

If you have any questions or issues filling in your Japanese resume, let us know in the comments or on our Facebook page!

If you're actively looking for a job, you can apply to many opportunities on our website, Guidable Jobs .

Good luck, and we hope to see you there soon!

Guidable Writers

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How to Write a Japanese Resume

Follow this step by step guide for writing your Japanese resume.

By Andrew Smith Jan 10, 2020 6 min read 8

Japan takes a very different approach to resume writing than what we might be used to back home. There are two major hiring seasons in Japan in the early spring and the late summer, but it is never too early to start working on your resume.

When creating a Japanese resume, most companies prefer resumes to be handwritten. If you feel your kanji skills are not up to scratch, there are websites that allow you to enter your information and have it printed and emailed. You can actually buy blank resume forms at convenience stores for about ¥20 a piece. Or download a template from the internet — just google 履歴書 “Rirekisho.”

GaijinPot’s Jobs and Employment page in our Japan 101  guide to surviving and thriving in Japan is also a great resource (if we do say so ourselves!) to check out if you’re putting together a Japanese resume.

1. Attach a professional photo to your resume

The general rule of thumb when taking a photo for your resume is think of a passport photo. The more professional and presentable you look in the photo, the greater your chances are of being called in for an interview. The photo should be glued to the top right corner ( 4 ) of the resume.

Men typically wear a dark suit with a conservative tie. There are plenty of photo booths, not unlike the popular purikura , that specialize in taking photos just the right size for resumes and passports. It is even able to remove redness and any blemishes on your skin from the photo without having you do anything extra.

The booths can be found on the streets of business districts or at most major train and subway stations. In fact, many machines let you pay with your train pass . To use the booth, step inside, close the curtain, and start to choose your settings. Of course, not every machine is the same, but usually, you will first be given the option to choose between a black and white photo and a color photo.

Then you will be asked what size photo you would like to print. For resumes, press the  履歴書  button. All that is left to do after that is to line yourself up with the camera and look your best. If the seat is too low or too high, it can be adjusted by turning to the right or to the left. There is a limited amount of tries, so it is in your best interest to try to get it right the first time. After you have chosen your favorite photo, it takes only less than a minute to print.

2. Fill out the resume template

The rest of the resume is just as easy if you just follow the template step by step. It starts with basic information under the current date ( 1 ) including your name ( 2 ), stamp ( 3 ), date of birth, sex ( 5 ), phone number ( 7 ), and address ( 6 ). The first line at the top is to write your name (last, first) in furigana. Here you should write your name as it sounds in hiragana. Then in the section below, write your name in Japanese. For foreign names, katakana is acceptable.

The date of birth can be confusing because it uses the traditional Japanese imperial method of giving age. There will be a few kanji to choose from in the section which represent the Japanese eras . Most likely you will be choosing between 昭和 (Showa) which spans the years 1926 – 1988 and 平成 (Heisei), 1989 – 2019. For example, if you were born in 1991 you would circle 平成 and write the number 3 because it is the third year of that era. Then to the right, you should also write your age.

Below that section is the area where you should put your current phone number and address. Again the template asks you to write the furigana on the line above.

Finally, for the first section, don’t forget to circle 男 for male and 女 for female.

The second section on the first page is for education ( 10 ) and work history ( 11 ). Each school that you attended should be written in chronological order with the dates of entry and graduation. For universities make sure to be specific and not the name of the branch along with any special certificates or awards that you earned while attending that school.

The work history is written chronologically just like the school history. Unlike most western resumes, you don’t need to elaborate on the duties and requirements of all your previous jobs or try to explain how it is useful for the job you are seeking.

After completing your job history skip and write 以上 showing that you are finished, but if you are still currently working note by writing 現在に至る.

Next, you should write any accomplishments that you have achieved over the years such as licenses or certificates ( 12 ). This even includes a driver’s license. In a city like Tokyo many people do not drive, however, some “paper drivers” get a license anyway just to appear more impressive on their resume.

If you are searching for an English teaching position, this is where you would put any teaching certifications you have earned.

Next is the section that is arguably the most important because it includes the reason why you are applying for the job ( 13 ). This is your opportunity to be creative and really appeal to the company by mentioning any special skills (特技) or interests (好きな学科).

If you are applying to many companies at once, though, and would like to use the same resume, it is acceptable to write the common phrase for resumes “営業経験を活かして、 [field of work] の仕事にて活躍したい” which basically says that you would like to use your past skills and experience to work in a certain field.

The rest of this section is asking for more personal information like commute time ( 14 ), the number of dependents ( 15 ), and marital status ( 16 ) and legal guardian status if applicable ( 17 ).

The final major section is for desires, hopes, and dreams which obviously will include for you to talk about the kind of salary that you want ( 18 ). If would rather negotiate the salary face-to-face, you can write “ご相談させて頂きたいと思っております.” Otherwise, feel free to write down what you are worth in this area.

Finally, there is a space for you to write information about your legal guardian if you have one ( 19 ), but after that, your resume is complete. The most important thing to remember is to be polite on your resume.

No matter how confident you may be in your Japanese skills, it is always a good idea to run your resume by a close friend who is a native speaker and also has experience writing resumes.

Vocabulary for writing a Japanese resume

For help finding a job in japan.

• Check out  GaijinPot Jobs  for the latest job postings across a variety of industries.
• Living outside of Japan? Take a look at  these jobs  that accept applicants from abroad.
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Can this “現在に至る.” or “以上” be written outside the table if all the rows have been filled? Also, I think I need a more precise clarification on when to use either or both of them. It doesn’t seem so clear with your explanation in the article.

I am looking for Japanese professional terms for investment banking (M&A/PE) sector. It would very helpful if I can get some info on the above.

Some one kind enough to support me to build up my Japanese resume. I would be very grateful! Thank you !

I haven’t sent resume on paper for years. Doesn’t everyone do it electronically these days?

Which brings me to my question – when you take a resume photo in the photo booth is there a USB port so I can store the photo electronically? Or at least an option to email the photo to myself?

This is a good primer. Bear in mind this result is only good for pretty old-fashioned companies. Tech companies, foreign companies and most service oriented companies (legal, consulting etc.) would also like the classic “American-style” resume. For example, I have interviewed hundreds of candidated throughout my career, and I do not even look at the Japanese resumes. They are meaningless. While in Japan information like marital status is considered OK, US companies cannot ask such personal questions like age, marital status, number of dependents etc, so I do not like looking at the Japanese resumes to begin with. With companies that are associated with the “new” economy, having a resume in Japanese that is “American-style” is important to get the interview. If you decide to do that, definitely have someone look at your Japanese resume before sending it over.

It may gradually be changing, but using the Japanese-style resume is still very much the norm even with foreign companies in Japan. I would assume if they don’t mention the type they want specifically it’s safer to go with the Japanese style.

I really hate filling out the resume, takes a lot of time and I don’t want to make a mistake, if I make one mistake I have write a whole new one otherwise it looks really bad and dirty in my opinion that is. Dont want to use the ‘im a gaijin ‘ excuse.

But ive used printed out ones and never ever received a positive reply on them, so writing increases your chances by 80% at least.

I think only at the really traditional Japanese companies you have to do that. Most of my Japanese friends that are job hunting now don’t hand write their resumes.

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When you’re planning to change jobs to a foreign-affiliated company, or a globally expanding Japanese company, you may have to submit an English resume. Although you probably have some experience writing a resume in Japanese, we understand that it may be quite challenging to write one in English.

To help you write an English resume, RGF Professional Recruitment Japan would like to explain some key points and provide some useful tips on how to write a good resume in English:

The Differences Between a Japanese Resume and an English Resume

How to Write an English Resume 

Essential Tips for Writing a Cover Letter in English

General Resume Template (in English)

Here is an English resume template from RGF Professional Recruitment Japan. Although English resumes usually do not have a fixed format, this template aims to give you some guidance on how to properly structure your English resume. 

General Resume Template Download

General Resume Template (in Japanese)

When applying for jobs in Japan, you will generally need two documents in Japanese: a general resume (Rirekisho) and a career-specific resume (Shokumu-keirekisho). 

Rirekisho: Conveys your general background (education, work experience) and basic information (name, date of birth, contact information, etc.)

Rirekisho Download

Shokumu-keirekisho: Illustrates your detailed career history.

General Shokumu-keirekisho Sample

IT Engineer Shokumu-keirekisho Sample

Industry Specific Resume Samples

In addition, RGF Professional Recruitment Japan has created sample resumes by industry to guide you as you write and improve your resume.

Office Administration

Supply Chain Management

Field Service Engineering

Server-side Engineering

Frontend Engineering

Cover Letter Sample

Download  here

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Templates for CV, Rirekisho and Shokumukeirekisho

Downloadable cv templates for rirekisho and shokumukeirekisho.

In Japan there are different resumes for different purposes and sometimes companies ask for more than just one CV. Our consultants at WorkBeam Japan are often asked to provide templates for Japanese and English Resume formats. We prepared some free template for you to download with an easy explanation of the differences between each resume. Please find the following free templates below for your use .

1. English Standard Resume – Simple format

This is a general English style format resume that can be commonly used for all types of career profiles and levels. This resume includes: an Introduction with your personal details, Technical Skills or Certifications (you can also add Professional Memberships, Achievements and Awards), Experience,  Education, Hobbies or Relevant Personal Information (ex. International Volunteer for 3 years). Make sure to include the spoken languages and your JLPT level as well, this could help you to stand out from other applicants. Depending on the candidates background, it would be recommended to adapt it slightly to suit the candidate’s profile. For example a more technical developer background should fill in more in the technical area with which development languages they have used and to what level.

English CV Template Free

2. Japanese Resume – Shokumukeirekisho

This is exactly the same as the above, but would be the Japanese version of the English above.

Japanese CV Template Free

3. Japanese Resume – Rirekisho

This is the traditional Japanese format which is required for some companies and gives a breakdown on each year and other circumstances. A photo is also required for this and can be digital too. The Rirekisho is a record of your education and positions. It is a list of your professional experiences from the most recent to the oldest, including your university and school. It doesn’t go deep into the roles, duties or tasks so usually Japanese company aks for bot a rirekisho and a Shokumukeirekisho.

Rirekisho 履歴書 Template Free

If you have any questions on preparing your resume, please contact us for help with this and in finding you’re the next great opportunity.

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• Job Change / Resignation
• Resume Preparation

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A large part of the job-seeking process seems to rest on how much experience you have as an applicant. This can put some people off who may not have a long work history, such as those who have recently graduated, those with a gap in their employment record, or those who simply want to expand their horizons and seek a new career.

How to write a Japanese resume

Much like in other countries, applying for most jobs in Japan will require a resume, regardless of part-time /full-time or industry. However, Japanese resumes have a fairly strict structure so be sure to adhere to the unique rules.

Rirekisho (履歴書 literally means background form. In addition to the rirekisho , depending on the position a more detailed list of responsibilities and achievements in a shokumukeirekisho (職務経歴書) may be required. For students and new grads usually a rirekisho would suffice as most don’t have much work experience to be expounded on. When in doubt, always check with the application guidelines or the appropriate HR staff.

What is a Shokumukeirekisho?

Unlike resumes in many other countries, Japanese resumes do not include your job scope and your achievements in previous companies. They only include the names of the schools you attended and the companies where you worked in the past. Some companies require a Shokumukeirekisho, where you indicate your career history and achievements.

Important points when writing

Although some Japanese companies may prefer hand-written resumes, in recent years most of the companies will accept typed resumes . If you make a mistake, you must use a new paper. Always print or buy extras in the case you need to use another one. Even if Japanese is not your first language, hiring personnel will appreciate your efforts put into the application.

If it needs to be mailed in , use a large envelope instead of folding it. Place all supporting documents in a clear file in the order that the requirements are listed in the job posting before placing inside envelope.

Even if you are confident of your Japanese skills, it’s always best to have someone familiar with job applications to look over your resume. Since it will most likely determine if you are called in for an interview or to proceed to the next step in the screening process, pay special attention to detail and have someone check your work.

Do not photocopy one to use in another application, even if you’re proud of your good work. HR personnel will be able to tell and it will give them an impression of laziness. That said, certainly photocopy one for your own use so you can use it to copy from when writing a new one. Make sure you write the correct date!

Resume photo

The resume photo is the only image on the resume and play a big part in the form. In Japan, it is customary to judge a resume by the photo, among other factors. That is to say, it’s not important whether you are attractive or not, but look like a trustworthy, hardworking person.

Photo booths are available at train stations, convenience stores and around the city where you can select the appropriate sizes. You can also go to a studio to have professional photos taken. Make sure it’s a recent photo (within 3 months) and is taken with a plain background in the right size (usually 4cm x 3 cm).

Write your name on the back of the photo in the case it falls off the resume. Glue it on the form, don’t use tape except for double sided tape that may come with the resume form.

You should look the same in the photo as you would at an interview . Wear your glasses if you regularly wear them and you will wear them to the interview. Wear a dark suit with white or light colored shirt and a conservative tie for men. Make sure your hair is not covering your face and smile slightly, without grinning.

Application date/date of birth 日付・生年月日

For the application date, write the date that the application is turned in, not the date you are filling it out. If mailing it, it should be the same as the post-marked date. If bringing it into an interview, fill out the date that you will bring it.

Write the date in either Japanese years or Western years and stick to it for the rest of the resume. Generally Japanese companies still prefer Japanese traditional years but for foreign companies or industries like IT may prefer Western years. The important thing is to be consistent throughout the resume.

Address/phone number 現住所・電話

Write complete addresses beginning with the prefecture. Don’t abbreviate and include apartment/condo names. For example, instead of “1-2-3,” write “一丁目2番地3号.”
 Write both your home phone and cell phone numbers if you have both, but one or the other is accepted.

Contact information 連絡先

In the JIS standard form, the renrakusaki (連絡先) section is for an alternate address. It’s acceptable to leave blank or to write your e-mail address or other contact information. Do not write your current employer’s address if you are employed.

Education and work history 学歴・職歴

Both the educational and work history sections are usually in the same section of the resume. However, you should section them off by writing “学歴” and “職歴” at the top of each section, centered.

Generally, write from the oldest to the newest. For education, write the year you started and the year you graduated on separate lines. Include your majors and research topics as appropriate. Generally, it is accepted to write your final two degrees. For example, if you have a bachelor’s write your high school graduation, university entry and graduation.

For work history, only list full-time positions. Part-time positions as a student, etc., are generally not included. Next to company names, you may write the number of employees and a brief outline of duties if you are not separately submitting a shokumukeirekisho.

At the end of the history section, write “現在に至る。” if still working, and regardless after that write in the next line, write “以上” aligned right.

Licenses/certifications 免許・資格

Generally, write the name of the licenses and certifications as “Name of license 免許 取得” or “Name of exam 検定 合格.” You can either write in time order or in order of relevance. You can also list other skills here.

Reason for application 志望動機

This section is extremely important. As with an interview, answer the question “why do you want to work here?” Write in complete polite sentences ending in “です・ます” Research the company and write how you would like to contribute using your strengths, skills and experiences. This should be different for every job application.

Self-promotion points 自己 PR・アピールポイント

This is the most important part of the resume to set yourself apart from other candidates. Highlight your strengths, skills and experiences you can bring to benefit the company. Write in complete polite sentence form as with the previous section. You could include brief examples that support your points.

Commute time 通勤時間

Write the time it would take to commute from your house to the office at the fastest route. You should look up train times online or through a train app.

Requests/notes 本人希望記載

This section is for requests, however it’s best to discuss work-related details at the interview. It’s acceptable to leave it blank, or write something such as “勤務条件は貴社の規定に従います。” or “○○職を希望します。” to briefly indicate what you are interested in. You could also write available times for interviews or any additional information you would like the company to know.

Get a template

You can easily find templates online to download and print on your own. The JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards) template can be found on the Hello Works website . Although there are slight differences, most are pretty similar in style.

Depending on which section you would like to highlight, you may find a better fit version. Resume templates can also be purchased at convenience stores , stationary stores, department stores and grocery stores .

Many samples are available online and in books, so in addition to the previous tips and guidelines, try to look at several different resumes to help you in writing your Japanese resume.

Now you’ve completed your Japanese resume and sent it off, you just have to wait for an interview . Good luck!

For more information about living in Japan, check out the Go! Go! Nihon blog .

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[Resume / CV] Download Format and Template

This post is also available in 日本語

There is no format determined in law for the “RIREKISHO (resume)” and “SHOKUMU KEIREKISHO (curriculum vitae)” required when looking for a job in Japan. However, there are general style formats that are recommended for fair employment screening. On this occasion, we shall introduce you to the recommended format of the documents and method of acquiring the format. You can also download the template that is easy for foreign nationals to complete.

Related Articles on Documents Required for Job Hunting

• 01 What is a RIREKISHO and SHOKUMU KEIREKISHO?
• 02 Size of the RIREKISHO and SHOKUMU KEIREKISHO
• 03 Format types and Downloading templates（PDF/Word/Excel）
• 04 How to Write “Basic Information” in the RIREKISHO
• 05 “Photograph” to affix to the “RIREKISHO”
• 06 How to Describe “Academic History/Work History” in your RIREKISHO
• 07 How to Describe “License/Qualifications” in your RIREKISHO
• 08 How to Describe “Reason for Application” in your RIREKISHO
• 09 How to Describe “Personal Requests” in your RIREKISHO

Format types

Until recently, in Japan, the format examples shown in the JIS standard have been recommended. However, this year a format has been unannounced by the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare has been announced that includes items in which items that may lead to employment discrimination have been deleted. Commercially-available RIREKISHO may still include some of these items, but they are being replaced little by little.

There are also RIREKISHO you can purchase that are specifically designed for career change or part-time work. Rather than the specific items changing, the size of the column for description is different, so these tend to be easier to write. In addition to this, you can find many different products for sale commercially, including items that come as a set with the envelope, products with multiple sets, and copy-type products that will leave you your own copy. Choose the product right for your purpose.

SHOKUMU KEIREKISHO

Typically, these will be in annals(chronological) format or career format.

Method of acquiring the format

When this is specified by the company, you should always adhere to such stipulations. If this is not specified, purchase commercially-available products or download and use formats published online.

RIREKISHO and SHOKUMU KEIREKISHO can be purchased in a variety of stores.

• Online stores
• Stationery stores
• Book stores
• 100-yen shops
• Convenience stores
• Supermarkets
• Home centers
• Drug stores

Downloading templates

At Living in JAPAN, we have prepared a template that is easy for foreign nationals to complete. Please download and utilize this simple-to-use file. The RIREKISHO is created based on the “Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare RIREKISHO format example”. The SHOKUMU KEIREKISHO is available in annals or career formats. The methods of filling in each of these shall be described at a later date.

This article introduced the format of the application documents and and how to obtain them. The first thing you should do is check whether the company concerned are specifying a particular format. In the next episode, we shall explain how to write the basic information in the RIREKISHO.

• [Explained by a Legal Professional] Points to consider when you wish to work in Japan
• How to Write/ “Taishokunegai (Resignation Requests)” and “Taishokutodoke (Resignation Notices)”
• [For Foreign Nationals] Examples of Questions Frequently Asked at Interviews
• [Explained by a Legal Professional] Different Types of Status of Residence and its Rules
• “Welfare Benefits” that are common in Japanese Companies:

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JapanResumeBuilder is the fastest and easiest way to securely create a perfect Japanese resume in rirekisho (履歴書) format. A Japanese resume in rirekisho format is the absolute best way to demonstrate your professionalism and understanding of Japanese business culture. Unfortunately, creating a Japanese resume is a painful and frustrating experience that is prone to mistakes and misunderstandings, especially from overseas applicants! In fact, employers in Japan will not consider a candidate if they have a single mistake in their rirekisho resume . JapanResumeBuilder was built to bridge the gap between your skills and Japanese employers' expectations, as we guide you through the resume creation process in clear, concise English . Simply put, JapanResumeBuilder is your ticket to landing your dream job and staying in Japan long-term!

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How to Write A Japanese Resume (Rirekisho)

How to write a Japanese resume, called 履歴書 (Rirekisho) in Japanese, is one of the biggest worries jobseekers face whether they are Japanese or a foreign national looking for work in Japan. Same as an English resume, a Japanese resume is an important document for a company to evaluate job candidates. 

However, the format of a Japanese resume is very different from an English resume. Therefore, it is essential for a successful job hunt to know the proper Rirekisho format and how to write a good Japanese resume. 

First Published: 2021-11-01 Updated: 2024-03-11

Table of Contents

What is a Rirekisho? Is Shokumu Keirekisho different? 

Difference between english resume and japanese resume, personal information and profile photo.

• Academic and Work History 
• Licences, Qualifications and Certifications
• Appeal Points and Reason for Application
• Personal Requests and Other Information

Important Rules When Writing a Japanese Resume (Rirekisho)

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Rirekisho and Shokumu Keirekisho are two different documents though they are both used for job applications. 

履歴書 (Rirekisho) (image above) is a standard two page resume that contains a job candidate’s personal information, academic history, work history, licences & qualifications, and other information. It is required for most, if not all, job applications regardless of fresh graduate or mid career applicants, or full time or part time positions. 

職歴経歴書 (Shokumu Keirekisho) (image above) is only required for mid career candidates when changing jobs in Japan. It is a supplementary document to a Rirekisho containing detailed information about a candidate’s work history including job description, skills gained and use, and projects worked on.  There is no limit to the number of pages as content depends on each candidate’s career experience. Additionally, there is no standard format for Shokumu Keirekisho, though most people use a simple table for writing date (年・月, Month/Year) and workplace (勤務先, Kinmusaki)・job description etc. (業務内容, Gyoumu Naiyou).

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Before we proceed to learning how to write a Japanese resume, let’s first understand the differences between an English resume and a Japanese resume. 

How to Write a Japanese Resume (Rirekisho)

It used to be expected that Rirekishos would be handwritten, however typed Rirekisho are widely accepted nowaday. Make sure to check beforehand if the company you are applying for has a specific requirement or a preference. Traditional companies may want a handwritten Rirekisho. 

If you’d like to, or need to, handwrite your Rirekisho, Rirekisho forms with envelope sets can be easily bought at convenience stores, stationary stores and 100 Yen shops in Japan. 

Rirekisho Standard Template

Below is a sample Rirekisho released by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in 2021 for business owners to follow. The updated Rirekisho format reflects social changes including open answers for gender (previously choices to circle male or female), and the removal of certain categories of information (private information like marital status and number of dependants). 

Below, we will break down the information to be included in a Rirekisho. 

The personal information to be included in a Rirekisho are as follows. 

A profile photo is required for a Rirekisho, and is pasted to the right of your personal information.

The rules of a Rirekisho profile photo are as follows.

• Photo size of 3 cm x 4cm (L x H).
• Clear white, blue or grey background. 
• Front camera facing angle. 
• Professional looking with business attire of white collared shirt, black suit jacket, and tie for men.
• Name written on the back and glued firmly and neatly. 
• Recently taken within 3 months. 

Some things to be careful of include…

• Hair should be neat and not covering eyes.
• Mouth close, no teeth. 
• No sunglasses, hat or jewellery. 
• Simple makeup. 

Profile photographs can be taken at 証明写真機 (Shoumei Shashinki) - ID photo booths . These ID photo booths can usually be found on the streets, at train and subway stations, and near convenience stores. Aside from Rirekisho profile photographs (3cm x 4cm), you can also print passport and ID-sized photographs. Select the correct option. There are limited takes and you can only choose between one or two photos. A set of 6 photographs costs around 700 ~ 1000 Yen. 

Alternatively, you can take your own photo and have it printed in the correct size at convenience stores that offer printing for a much cheaper price. A set of 4 photographs costs around 200 ~ 250 Yen. 

Another alternative is having your photo taken at a photo studio which costs around 400 ~ 1000 Yen per photo print. It is the most expensive option, but additional services like makeup, hair styling, suit rental, and image data may be provided. Depending on the service, the price may go up to 10,000 Yen. 

Academic History - 学歴 (Gakureki) & Work History - 職歴 (Shokureki)

Academic History and Work History share the same section in the Rirekisho. Your education background should come first, followed by your work history. Separate the sections by using the relevant words. If there is space, leave a blank row to clearly separate the two. Like so, 

Academic History - 学歴 (Gakureki)

Gakureki (学歴) is the section for writing your academic history or education background in a Rirekisho. Write your academic history in chronological order beginning from high school education. Unlike an English resume, do not include details about your accomplishments, club activities, etc. 

Information to be included in Gakureki are...

• Name of Educational Institution, Department and Major 
• Period of Enrolment, from Entry (入学, Nyuugaku) to Graduation (卒業, Sotsugyou)
• In the case of current enrolment, indicate by 現在に至る (Genzai ni Itaru)
• Country for studies outside Japan indicated by 〇〇国 (〇〇 Kuni)

Gakureki Example: 

Work History - 職歴 (Shokureki)

Shokureki (職歴) is the section for writing your work history or career background. Shokureki should be written after Gakureki and in chronological order. Unlike an English resume, information is kept brief and does not include appeal points. A short single line of your duties can be included, indicated by 〇〇〇を担当 (〇〇〇 wo tantou) - “In-charge of 〇〇〇” . 

Information to be included in Shokureki are…

• Company Name, Department Assigned, Position
• Period of Work from Enrolment (入社, Nyuusha) to Resignation (退職, Taishoku) including reason for resignation.
• In the case of current employment, indicate by 現在に至る (Genzai ni Itaru) or 在職中 (Zaishokuchuu).
• Part Time Jobs or Internship History should only be included if relevant to the position you are applying for. 

Shokureki Example:

If you are applying for a first job, and therefore have no work experience, then indicate with the words なし (nashi) meaning “none”.

Shokureki First Job Example:

Conclude the Gakureki and Shokureki section with 以上 (Ijou) , meaning “The End” or “That’s All” on the lower right side of the table. 

Closing up Gakureki and Shokurei Section Example:

Licences and Qualifications - 免許 (Menkyo)・資格 (Shikaku)

Menkyo and Shikaku (免許・資格) is the section for writing any licences, qualifications or certifications that you have obtained. If you have many, then only include the most relevant ones for the job. 

Information to be included in this part are…

• Name of Licence, etc.
• If the licence, qualification, or certification was obtained outside Japan, then also include the country. 
• Date Passed (合格, Goukaku) for examinations, or Date Obtained (取得, Shutoku) for licences or scores

For foreign national job applicants, having a Japanese language proficiency test is highly recommended as many jobs hiring foreign nationals usually have a minimum Japanese level requirement. If you have passed multiple levels for the same qualification, then only include the highest achieved. For this section, it is not necessary to end with 以上. 

Menkyo and Shikaku Example: 

If you have no qualifications to write, do not leave it blank but write 特になし (Toku ni nashi) , which means “nothing in particular”. 

Menkyo and Shikaku Nothing to Add Example: 

Appeal Points - 自己PR (Jiko PR) & Reason for Application - 志望動機 (Shiboudouki)

Jiko PR and Shiboudouki (自己PR・志望動機) is the section that provides you with an opportunity to sell your strengths to the company, letting them know why they should pick you. Write clearly, concisely, and straight to the point. If you make it to the interview stage, keep in mind that you may be asked about what you’ve written in this section. 

Information that can be included in this section include…

志望動機 (Shiboudouki) - Reason for Application

Your reason for application and interest in the company. Do some research about the company in advance. Explain why you want to join while highlighting the company’s features. Include information like why you’d make a great fit for the role in the company, and include past experiences and strengths that would make you an asset to the company. To further demonstrate your enthusiasm, you can include your goals and career plan after joining the company. Make sure that your vision for the future is something that can be realised while at the company you are applying for. 

自己PR (Jiko PR) - Promoting Your Positive Qualities 

Recruiters are also interested in you as a person and not just your motivations for joining the company, this is where you can appeal to the company by sharing your positive qualities. If you have hobbies or special skills that can be used at the job, give priority to them. For example, if you are applying for a hotel or tourism job, then highlighting your bilingual or multilingual skills will be an advantage. Further, when writing about your hobbies, elaborate on them a little. Let’s say that your hobby is reading - it would be better to add a sentence to show just how much, such as “I read 20 books a month.” 

特技 (Tokugi) - Special Skill

Through your hobbies, you can also demonstrate your strength and personality by including an episode about your activities. For example, if your hobby is a sport, you can talk about your endeavours to improve yourself and discipline in sticking to your training regime. If you play competitively, you can also demonstrate your will to overcome defeat, teamwork skills, etc. with past experiences to back them up. 

Personal Requests - 本人希望欄 (Honnin Kibouran) & Other Information

Honnin Kibouran (本人希望欄) is a dedicated section for candidates to make requests to the company. If there are multiple positions available, this is where you can write your preferred position. It is not recommended to write salary, working hours, or workplace preferences unless there are special circumstances; these are better brought up during the interview. 

If there is nothing in particular to add, do not leave this section blank but write 貴社規定に従います (Kisha kitei ni shitagaimasu.) which means “I will follow the stipulations provided by the company”. 

Depending on the Rirekisho’s template, additional information may be asked of you…

通勤時間 (Tsuukin Jikan) - Commute Time

Write down the travel time from your current residence to the office. If different modes of commute are required then state the total time. For example, 10 minutes walk to the nearest station plus 20 minutes train commute to the office for a total of 30 minutes commute time. 

If you are planning to move house somewhere nearer to the company upon being hired, then indicate here that commuting will not be a problem.

配偶者の有無 (Haiguusha no Umu) - Marital Status

配偶者 (Haigusha) means “spouse”, and 有無 (Umu) means “Presence or Absence”, so this is basically asking your marital status. Circle 有 if married, 無 if unmarried. 

配偶者の扶養義務 (Haiguusha no Fuyougimu) - Duty to Support Spouse

If you financially support your spouse, meaning your spouse is a dependant on account of being a housewife/househusband or earning income below the dependant threshold, then circle 有. If your spouse is self-supporting and earning a salary above the dependant threshold, then circle 無. 

扶養家族 (Fuyou Kazoku) - Dependants

This section inquires whether you have dependants aside from your spouse, the words 配偶者を除く (Haiguusha wo Nozoku) - “excluding spouse” is usually written next to it in brackets. Write down the number of dependants apart from your spouse here, for example children and parents that you are financially supporting. 

There are some important rules to abide by when writing your Rirekisho. Be careful not to make these common mistakes!

• Do not abbreviate names of educational institutions or companies. Always write the full official names.
• Do not use pencils, mechanical pencils, erasable pens when filling out your resume.
• Do not use correction fluid. If there are any mistakes, rewrite from scratch even if it’s troublesome. 
• Do not leave any sections blank. If there is nothing to write, then indicate with 特になし (Toku ni Nashi) meaning “Nothing in particular.” Leaving sections blank can be interpreted as omission out of carelessness. 
• Do not reuse old resumes. Always use updated resumes and customise resumes for each application. 

WeXpats operates a service for foreign nationals who want to work in Japan. There are jobs in a variety of industries. There are 3 patterns for finding jobs with WeXpats: 

① Search Jobs Yourself 

WeXpats Jobs  is a job site for foreign nationals who want to work in Japan. You can search for jobs in 11 languages (English, Vietnamese, Korean, Indonesian, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Burmese, Thai, Spanish, Portuguese), including Japanese. Find jobs that suit you by specifying your Japanese language level, occupation, location, and etc. 

② Receive Job Offers from Companies 

Complete this short questionnaire on  WeXpats Jobs  to receive updates about jobs that match your desired work conditions. It’s completely free to use, so register as a member using the button below to find a job that suits you! 

③ Speak to a Career Advisor

WeXpats Agent  is a career support service brought to you by WeXpats Jobs. Speak to our bilingual career advisors in English or Japanese, and get introductions for full time positions to companies that best fit you. As we receive job ads with the intention of introducing them to foreign nationals in Japan, we can suggest jobs to you right away. Our support includes helping you with job application aspects that foreign nationals have trouble with, such as how to write a Japanese resume, Japanese interviews, etc. 

Recommended Reading

A Guide to Japanese Interviews (example Japanese interview questions and answers)

What is Shuukatsu (就活)? Job Hunting in Japan for International Students

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Get job alerts, how to write a perfect developer resume in japan [2024 guide + template].

Updated April 5, 2024

Eric Turner

Founder of  Japan Dev

• Career Development
• Interviews & Resumes
• Tech Trends

Are you looking for a job in Japan as a software developer?  If so, the job hunting process can be confusing.  

If you’re fluent in Japanese and looking to work at a traditional Japanese company, you have a set path to follow.  But if you want a developer job at a tech startup or foreign company, it’s often less clear.

When applying to these companies, you’ll usually need a western-style version of your resume that’s specifically prepared for the Japanese tech industry. 

This post is my resume guide for software engineers who want to work in the Japanese market. I’ll explain everything you need to know, in detail.

Also, I built a sample resume based on this guide.  You can click here to download the sample template now and customize it based on the advice below.

Let’s get into it!

In this article: 📝

Do I Need a Japanese or an English Resume in Japan as a Software Engineer?

Cover letter for software developers and programmers in japan, before you begin: meet application tracking systems (ats), how to write an english resume to use in japan, tips for fighting an uphill battle.

As a foreign developer in Japan, one of the questions I get asked the most is whether to prepare a resume in English or in Japanese.

It’s a valid question, as the tech industry is different from many parts of the traditional business world in Japan. However, there isn’t a clear-cut answer to this question. 

If you’re applying for a job at a Japanese company that operates in English or a global company that works in the international market, you definitely need an English resume that’s prepared in the classic western style. 

Most modern tech companies in Japan (like the ones on Japan Dev ) will accept an English resume — there’s no need to prepare a Japanese “rirekisho”.  But you should check the requirements for each job, and prepare one if it’s required.

Alternatively, if you’re applying to a traditional Japanese company, you’ll likely need a Japanese resume (“rirekisho”) ready.

A Japanese resume basically proves your motivation toward the job you’re applying for, and it also serves as proof of your Japanese competency. I talked about how to prepare a Japanese resume for software engineers in a separate article , which you can follow to prepare yours.

In general, you should check the requirements for each position and prepare the type of resume they ask for .  And if it’s unclear from the job description, you can’t go wrong by including both English and Japanese resumes.  Especially for positions that require business level Japanese skills or above.

For positions where the interview process is all in Japanese and the company is international, an English resume is usually enough.

During your job hunt in Japan, in addition to a “rirekisho” and an English or Japanese resume, you may also need a nicely written cover letter.  But please note, traditional Japanese companies don’t require a cover letter , so if you’re applying fully in Japanese using a “rirekisho” it’s probably not needed.

A cover letter is a personalized letter that you attach to your resume. Here, you have the chance to explain why you’re the perfect fit for this job specifically, and you get to explain anything you want to clarify that’s on your resume as well.

Essentially, your cover letter should include the following:

Why you’re applying/your motivation,

Why you’re the perfect match for this specific job,

Details about your most relevant 2–3 skills, and

Explanation regarding any potentially concerning points your CV may include.

That last point is mostly about explaining the gaps in your resume. I wrote about what’s considered a “gap” in my post on changing jobs in Japan , which you may find helpful. 

However, a gap might not be the only thing that needs to be explained here. If you have any interesting experiences or skills that are unrelated to the rest of your resume, you might also want to provide an explanation for these as well. 

If you’re looking for a detailed guide on writing a cover letter, I recommend you check out my other post, where I talked about writing the most effective cover letter in detail.

Before I get into the specifics of preparing an effective resume, I need to explain what an ATS is.

Essentially, ATS, or Application Tracking System, is the “robot” that screens your CV before it’s seen by an actual human. Not all companies use ATS systems to screen resumes, but some companies do.  So it’s useful to be aware of them.  

These systems are mostly utilized by large corporations to save time and optimize the hiring process.  So you usually don’t need to worry about them when applying to small startups.

An ATS works by going through the document and looking for specific keywords and clusters to decide whether a CV is relevant to the position. If your CV doesn’t include the relevant keywords or if the formatting is too complex for the ATS to understand, it might end up being excluded from the other applications. 

This is why you need to pay extra attention to your wording and formatting when preparing your resume. The templates you find online may look pretty, but the formatting alone may cost you an interview if you aren’t careful.

In my guide below, I’ll explain how you should word and format specific parts on your resume to make it optimized for Application Tracking Systems and to make sure that your resume passes the automated screening process.

Now, let’s get on with how you should write your resume.

As I explained above, the format and structure of your resume are very important. While you’ll want your resume to pass the ATS screening, you also want your resume to catch the recruiter’s eye.

You want a clean look and a clear structure to follow — avoid using fancy but hollow words to describe yourself or your experiences.

In general, you’ll also want to avoid using graphics and sidebars to show your skills.  In general, the simpler the better .  The goal is clarity — you want the interviewer to be able to glance at the page and immediately want to interview you.

Because regardless of how long it takes you to prepare your resume, research shows that hiring managers may only view it for 7 seconds on average.

For a well-optimized and clean resume, you can roughly follow this structure:

Header and personal/contact information

Personal summary

Detailed work experience

Education history

Relevant skills and certificates

Optional add-ons (side projects etc.)

Let’s now take a closer look at each section and how you should write it. Before we begin, you can download our sample resume template from this link and prepare it according to our instructions below.

Header and Contact Info

First things first, you need to start your resume off with your name. If you want, you can include a title below that, like “Software Engineer”, but I don’t think it’s necessary in most cases.

Right below your name and optional title, you should state the city where you’re located (you don’t need a full address — they just want to know your basic location), your contact info, and links to relevant platforms like your Github and/or LinkedIn. 

It’s helpful to include clickable links to your profiles on platforms such as GitHub , Stack Overflow, HackerRank, or other platforms where you have good, relevant content. These links not only show off your online presence but also your coding skills. 

Just make sure to embed your links properly and not leave them out as visible links for a clean look.

Personal Summary/Profile

I recommend calling this section “Summary” or “Profile”.  A lot of people call it “Objective”, but this is a mistake — your goal is to highlight why the reader should hire you .  The focus should be on proving you’re a good fit for their needs, not your personal “Objective”.

The “Summary” section is the only section of your resume where you can write about yourself freely, using full sentences. This is exactly why you should be extra careful when writing this section . Let me explain.

As a software developer, you might have a few different titles.  You may have worked as a backend engineer for a while, and a front-end engineer at other times.  So how should you describe yourself in this section?  It’s simple: personalize it to the specific job you’re applying to.

For example, if you’re applying to a server-side engineering role — and you have experience working as a server-side engineer — you should highlight this experience as much as you can (without lying).  

When you personalize your wording to the exact job, a hiring manager will see the keyword they expect (e.g “backend engineer”) within 2 seconds of viewing your resume, and want to read more.  If you write “full-stack developer” instead, you might fail to get their attention and get passed over.

In general, always personalize your resume to the specific job you're applying to .  I know it’s time consuming, but it’s worth it — you’ll get way more interviews if you do this.

Many people go all out here and fill their summary with flashy words and information that has no place in a summary in the first place. I recommend a more minimalistic approach — use it to quickly get the company’s attention, and explain why they should hire you .

As most people struggle with writing this section, I recommend preparing the rest of your resume first and then coming back to this section once you’re done. This way, you get to take a look at your work history and the skills you’ve listed on paper and be more objective towards yourself. 

This method will help you pick the skills and experiences that are the most relevant to the job you’re applying for more easily. Then, you can simply shape your summary around this information.

Ideally, you want to answer the questions the hiring manager has in their head as they open your resume.  

Let’s go through this example summary again, from the perspective of a hiring manager.   Here’s what they might be thinking:

“I need a backend engineer.  Can this person do that job?”

> Backend engineer

“Great! But are they experienced?”

> With 8 years of industry experience in Japan

“Cool! But have they worked with Go?”

> scalable backend systems with Go, GCP, and Kubernetes

“Awesome! But are they bilingual?”

> Fluent Japanese speaker

“Sweet!  But do we need to help them get a visa?”

> permanent resident of Japan

“Amazing! I should interview this person!”

Of course, it helps when you’re qualified for the position.  But you can always highlight different aspects of your profile to give the best impression possible for each job you apply to.

And if you’re a foreigner who needs a visa to work in Japan, I recommend including your visa status in your summary as well (especially if you’re a permanent resident or already have a visa, as companies will see this as a plus). Many recruiters and hiring managers will likely look for this as soon as they realize you’re a foreigner, so giving this information early is a good idea.

With all that said, if you’re having an especially hard time writing this section, you can choose to skip it entirely. Focusing on optimizing your work experience section instead can yield better results than you may think.

Work History

The work history section is arguably the most important, as it’s where you get to show off your relevant professional experience in the field. 

For starters, make sure you list your experiences by recency (most recent first).  This means that your most recent job should be at the top, immediately visible at first glance. 

Simply write the name of the company and your title/position for each job, and include the time span you’ve worked there.  You may want to include the location as well, especially if it’s different from the location of the job you’re applying for.

As for what you should write under each work experience, there’s a simple rule you can follow that will help you impress recruiters. For each experience, you should mention what you did (responsibilities), and your achievements (this is not the time to be humble).

Responsibilities

This is what you were hired to do, and the projects you were a part of. You want to clearly communicate to the recruiter what type of experience you got, and show that it qualifies you for their job.

It’s helpful to mention any technologies you used that match the requirements in the job description.

As a rule, writing in long sentences and big paragraphs should be avoided here. A clean-looking bullet-point list will deliver the message better, it’ll work better for the ATS screening, and it’ll also make your resume look more professional.

Be concise.  I recommend writing just enough to explain what you did , and then focus more on achievements and outcomes.  Be careful, though, as each bullet point shouldn’t take more than one line. 

Lastly, try to use power words where possible.  Don’t just say “responsible for X” — that sounds too passive (like you were assigned some work, not like you actively took initiative).

Here are some power words you can use:

implemented 

But in general, the best advice is to use concrete numbers wherever possible.  Instead of saying “high-throughput” you could say “1 million daily users”, for example.

Key Accomplishments

A lot of people make the error of skipping their accomplishments and only mention their roles in their resumes. Putting key accomplishments under each experience shows that you’re result-oriented and are actually getting things done, rather than just filling a role.

Essentially, key accomplishments are where you talk about results. I’d say mentioning at least 1-2 accomplishments under each role is a good idea.

Make sure your accomplishments are concrete and measurable .  Far too many people write accomplishments like “increased page speed substantially”.  This is vague, and doesn’t really tell the reader much.  Laszlo Bock (Google’s former SVP of People Operations) has great advice on how to list your successes: “Accomplished [X] as measured by [Y] by doing [Z]” . 

If your work is largely project-based (e.g. in development, as a PM) and you have plenty of projects you want to list under each role, you can also create a separate section dedicated to projects .

This helps keep the format clean.  An “Experience” section with 5+ bullet points under each company looks crowded and most people aren’t going to read it all.  But if there’s a separate 

As a general rule, I recommend writing more bullet points for the most recent jobs you’ve had. This is what the recruiters will mostly focus on anyway, and you want to keep your resume as concise as possible.

I recommend focusing on the past 3-5 years in your work history.  You don’t need to include everything you’ve done in your career, just the most relevant parts, and with a focus on recency.  You should try to at least have the list of positions, but you don’t need detailed information for old or irrelevant jobs.

Similarly, as a developer, you can also leave out unnecessary details about the inner workings of a project. Simply giving the title is enough in most cases, and more details will just take up precious space that could be utilized otherwise.

Also, sticking to using industry-specific keywords only is also a good idea, which might help an ATS find keywords and increase the chances of a human viewing your resume.

Education History

Even if you’ve proven yourself through your work, many employers in Japan still care about your education history.

Of course, this section matters less as you progress in your career. This means that if you’re a recent graduate with only one job experience under your belt, you’ll need to rely on this section more.

This may be vague, so as a rule, I’d say that if you have over a couple of years of experience already, stick to just writing the name of your college and your degree, along with the duration of your studies (and maybe some simple details like coursework, if they help prove you’re a good fit).

Many people also like to list their GPAs here, but if you’ve been out of college for more than a few years, this will be redundant. Don’t list your GPA unless you’re a new graduate (and it helps prove you’re a good fit).  Your school accomplishments won’t matter much if you don’t have the relevant experience, after all.

However, if you graduated recently with a great GPA (perfect, or close to perfect), or if you were the valedictorian of your class, you can also mention that. 

This sort of information can actually help create a good image as it makes for a “go-getter” or achievement-driven look. You can back this up in the other sections of your resume and create a consistent, successful image.

Also, I recommend only mentioning your college education and higher under this section. This means no high school information , and certainly nothing below that. You may laugh, but this isn’t exactly unheard of.

If you have directly relevant certificates from a professional program, you can mention these as well. But it’s usually better to list these at the bottom under “skills” or “certificates” (or skip them entirely depending on the position).

Skills and Qualifications

Speaking of which, your relevant skills and certificates are another important part of your resume.  It’s often a good idea to include them (at least your skills for development positions).

Just make sure this section feels focused .  You don’t want to list a huge amount of data across different areas.  Instead, you should be supporting the basic assertion that you’re a skilled developer.  So if you’re applying for a backend position, you should focus on skills related to backend.

I don’t usually include a “Certifications” section, but you can if you feel it will help your chances of getting an interview.  In that case, make sure it’s up-to-date.  You don’t want your only certificates to be from 10 years ago, which will work against you instead and can make you look like you’ve stopped improving. If this is the case, I recommend removing this section completely.

Lastly, make sure you write the names of skills and certificates in full. An ATS might not recognize abbreviations when searching for keywords.

Using Charts, Bars, or Graphs

When writing the skills section, you want to keep it relevant and list the skills that the job listing calls for. You can categorize your hard skills (e.g "backend", "frontend", "databases" or whatever's relevant to the position). 

Many people like to rate the level of their skills in their resumes using a chart or a bar, but I don’t recommend doing this for two reasons. Firstly, your potential employer will most likely test your skills and decide for themselves through a trial task anyway and probably won’t take your charts into account.

Secondly, an ATS is usually unable to recognize and register the bars, graphs, and charts that are used to “rate” these skills on resume templates. Formatting this part in a chart or graph can lead to ATS not recognizing your “skills” section completely, which isn’t ideal, to say the least.

Ultimately, these scores are too subjective to be directly useful to hiring managers when comparing candidates.

Soft Skills

The other thing I wanted to touch on is soft skills, which are often skipped.

Soft skills are non-technical skills that show how you do your job and how you handle certain situations and therefore are telling of your character. I recommend researching the role and the company you’re applying to and tailoring your soft skills section to fit the culture and the environment of the company.

For development positions, I don’t normally include any soft skills .  But if you have a unique and relevant experience that you think will impress hiring managers, you can include them.

While this section may not be a requirement in all resumes, I definitely recommend including this for applying to jobs in Japan . 

English isn’t as widely-spoken in all parts of Japan, and most jobs may require at least some level of Japanese. If you don’t speak Japanese at all, learning at least basic, conversational Japanese can help you tremendously in finding a job.

You can head on over to my post on the best tools to learn Japanese if you’re curious. Alternatively, you can also check out my guide to the best language schools in Japan as well if you learn better in a classroom setting.

Also, it’s better to state your speaking and reading/writing levels separately when you’re listing your Japanese skills. You can also back this up with a JLPT score, which you can learn how to prepare for in my post on how to study for the JLPT .

That said, while the JLPT score can help you get an interview, it certainly won’t help you after you pass the initial stage. 

I talk about this extensively in my post on how to find a job in Japan as a developer , but essentially, most Japanese people don’t even know what the JLPT is. If you manage to snag an interview, your conversational Japanese skills during the interview will be much more effective than the score on your resume.

Of course, if you speak any other languages, you can list these as well. If you’re not a native English speaker, you can state your levels the same way you do with Japanese, and if you have one, including your TOEFL/IELTS score is also a good idea.

Optional Add-Ons

If you’d like, you can list any personal interests you have (especially if they have corresponding achievements), along with personal projects. This is a chance to show a little bit of personality, and it’s also a chance to prove that you’re actually interested in the job.

Although it’s optional, this part serves as the “Self-PR” section of your resume and, therefore, shouldn’t be skipped. You want to show that you’re not just lazing around in your free time and that you’re actually interested in what you do.

Bonus points if your outside-of-work activities match your work because it’ll just prove how dedicated and sincere you are. If you have other interests, that’s fine too. It’ll show the recruiters that you’re an interesting person, which might help in getting you an interview.

This section is also great for showing off any contributions you may have on open-source projects . Open-source projects are a great way to show off your skills and your passion for your work. I highly recommend including these, especially if you’ve contributed to projects used by the company you’re applying to.

Similarly, if you’ve collaborated with other people on their projects, you can mention these too. If you don’t have any experience collaborating with other people, you can check out my post on the best Tokyo meetups , which will help you meet like-minded people you can collaborate with.

Interest in Japan/ Japanese culture

If you come from abroad, feel encouraged to add the reason you moved/ are planning to move to Japan (if you feel comfortable to do so, of course).  Most hiring managers will be wondering this, so it can be helpful to answer it clearly.

But it also depends on your situation.  As a permanent resident of Japan for 10 years, I wouldn’t include this information.

Junior Developers

In Japan, mid-career software developers are in high demand.

That means there’s a clear path for finding a job as a mid-level or senior dev.  When you apply to companies, they’ll usually reply — even if your resume isn’t perfect.  Recruiters will be eager to talk to you.

But what if you’re a student or recent graduate?  What if you don’t have a lot of work experience?  I’ll be honest: it will be more difficult to find a job.  But not impossible.

One thing you can do is focus more on your educational background in your resume.  You can include university projects and play up your coursework more (targeted towards the position of course).

Some companies are open to hiring juniors.  You just have to show that you have curiosity and a desire to learn and contribute.  It might take some effort, but plenty of people find great positions in Japan as juniors.

Gaps in work history

If you have gaps in your work history, a standard resume might not be the best fit.

You could change the format to focus more on your skills, projects you’ve built and other types of experience you may have had (including those focused on soft skills).

One extreme option is to remove the dates from your CV, and keep only the periods of employment measured in months or years.  Or you could keep only the years, and take out the months (for example, 2017 - 2020).

Some companies will likely decline to interview you if you do that though, so it might not be the best idea.  In general, it’s better to do whatever you can to fill the gaps (usually you were doing something during that time).  Or if you’re comfortable writing the reason for your absence from work (e.g “on medical leave”) you can just be honest and insert it in the experience section.

Another outside-the-box option would be to simply focus on methods of applying that don’t require a resume .  For example, go to meetups and meet people from your target companies, and apply through a personal connection.  That way you’ll probably still need to submit a resume, but it will be less important for getting you an interview.

What not to include on your resume

Now let’s summarize what not to include.  It may vary based on the situation, but in general you shouldn’t include any of the below:

Unrelated experiences that don’t show why you’re a good fit to the specific position you’re applying to

A photo of yourself

Personal data like full address, marital status, age, gender

An Objective (add a “summary” or “profile” instead)

Old or irrelevant certifications

Your university GPA or SAT scores

Any information about your high school years or earlier

As I conclude this guide, I want to briefly go over the key parts and clear some things up.

First of all, tailor your resume to each position .  Yes it takes time, but this is the easiest way to get more interviews.  Every word on your resume should support your case that you deserve this position .

Next, remember to be as concise as possible and keep it simple.  Some hiring managers will only look at each resume for a few seconds, so you need to have a simple format that makesit easy to scan and quickly find important information.

Also, be mindful that some companies use an ATS to automatically scan resumes.  Make sure you use a simple PDF or .Docx document and use relevant keywords for your experiences.

Make sure your experience is concrete and achievement-based .  Use numbers wherever possible.  The more measurable the results you share are, the better.

You should also add relevant skills. Diversifying your skills in a balanced way can give your resume the extra edge that it needs as well.

A question I often get is, “is it OK to send an English resume to companies looking for multilingual applicants?”. While the answer depends on the company, it should be fine if it’s a modern, international company, or a tech startup, like the companies featured on the Japan Dev company list .

However, I still recommend having a Japanese version ready, just in case, along with a rirekisho. It’s normal for Japanese companies to ask for both a short resume and a long-form CV, which is something you should be prepared for as well.

Also, I recommend mentioning your visa status in your summary section at the beginning of your resume. If you have questions regarding the process, you can take a look at my post on getting a visa as an engineer in Japan here .

Lastly, click here to download a simple resume template with all the elements we discussed in the article.  Feel free to use this as a base and customize it with your own experiences.

Good luck with your job search!

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Japan Resume Format

Rishani Inparaj

Good news for you Japan job seekers! Japan is planning to hire more foreign employees by the year 2040. Get ready to secure your position with your outstanding Japan resume. Yes, you heard it right. Your resume is going to market your skills& expertise. Don't panic. This article will provide you with all the essentials of CV in Japan.

Create a Japanese resume online for free !

Don't have a Japan part-time job resume or full-time job resume. Don't worry. Build it now referring the sample resume in Japan.

Improve your existing Japanese curriculum vitae!

Do you already have a Japan CV which is getting rejected again & again? Don't worry we got you covered. The major reasons for rejections can be:

1 .Not formatted according to resume format in Japan

2.Failed to incorporate ATS friendly keywords:

3.Including harmful buzzwords

What are the two types of CV format in Japan?

1.Rirekisho : Job seeker’s personal story( Similar to biodata in Japan)

2. Shokumu-keirekisho : Job seeker’s professional story

In these resume format Japan , Shokumu-keirekisho is similar to English CV format. But Rirekisho is different from English CV.

Difference between both CV format -Japan

Let us explore more about these two Japan CV formats:

1.Rirekisho – Japan Resume format

• It is similar to your biodata in Japan. Include your details in this Japan CV form.

Rirekisho: Japan resume sample information

Personal Information :

• Follow the Japanese date format (Year, month, date), you can also mention your age in parentheses.
• Update the submission date at least every three months.
• Generally, photographs are mandatory in Japanese resumes.
• Attach a recent professional headshot with a plain background.
• Avoid photos with too much of accessories fancy hairstyles and beards.

Academic/ work history :

• State your academic and work history in reverse chronological order. Example: State your high school degree, then the university degree and finally your master's degree.
• Provide accurate information as it is important for your visa acquisition and joining procedures..
• Don't mention your internships or part-time jobs here.
• If you don't want to elaborate on the reasons for leaving, you can simply mention something like "personal reasons".
• If you are still working in the company, put it as "Current”.

License & Qualifications :

• If you have a driving license, include the details of it as it is relevant in Japan.
• Add recognized titles for the qualifications and licenses.
• Class A driver's license for commercial trucks

Personal requests :

• There are no hard and fast rules about the information needed to be mentioned here.
• Here you can state your expectations or any special requests regarding the job.
• If you don't have anything, you can leave it blank or state "I'll comply with company regulations."

Self-promotion& reasons for application :

• You can promote yourself self with this section.
• Try to use respectful Japanese language.
• Include the commute time from home to work: "About 45 minutes"
• If you haven't still moved to Japan yet. Keep it blank.
• Normally the family members supported by your income will be mentioned here.The spouse is not considered dependent even though she doesn't have her income.
• You are married and have 2 children, here number of dependents is
• If your children are earning, then they are also excluded from the dependents. In the above example, if your one child is working, your number of dependents will be 1.
• Also, you must mention whether your spouse is supported by your income.

2.Shokumukeirekisho – Japan Resume format

It is not like your Japanese bio data. Here you have to include your professional details.

Shokumukeirekisho : Japan resume sample information

Career summary :

• "I have 3 years of working experience in an Marketing agency as a sales " As a team leader, I provided training for about ten mid-level employees annually, I also acted as the administrative representative in regular meetings with senior management."
• Technical skills: Java, Power BI, C#
• Soft skills: Communication skills, Leadership

Work history :

• Use reverse chronological order here. (Where you can start from the most recent)
• ABC Digital Marketing (January 2019 - Present)
• Position : Sales Manager
• Department : Sales
• Completed Project: Spearheaded successful marketing campaigns for major clients in the industry.
• No of Employees: 50
• Technologies Used : Google Analytics, SEO tools.
• Skills Developed: Strong customer service, and marketing strategy development.
• English: Native level
• Japanese: Fluent (JLPT N1)
• Spanish: Business level
• You can also include your IELTS scores here.

Personal projects and miscellaneous activities:

• You can include the project title, your role, duties and responsibilities and skills acquired from the job.

Digital Marketing Coordinator at TechPro Solutions (June 2017 - August 2019)

• New Software Launch
• Developed and implemented digital marketing strategy
• Conducted market research.
• Implemented social media and email campaigns.
• Analysed campaign performance.
• Social media marketing
• Proficient in analytics.
• Strong project management.

Online/ social presence:

"As part of my professional career, I participate in industry discussions on Stack Overflow ( https://stackoverflow.com/users/123456 ) and present my coding projects on GitHub ( https://github.com/yourusername ) " Additionally, I have a Medium blog ( https://medium.com/@yourname ) where I share my career thoughts."

Self-appeal:

"As a Digital Marketing Coordinator, I am expertise in Google Analytics, SEO optimization, and social media strategies. My experience fits your technical environment, and I am looking forward to boost [Company XYZ]'s online visibility and produce positive impact."

Career plan:(Optional)

I love creating exciting contents in digital platforms!" This position excites me because it fits my career aim of content writing. It's a great opportunity to kickstart my passion as my career!

How to incorporate ATS friendly keywords in your Japan CV?

• Japan gives more value to technology, so make sure to include the industry keywords.
• In rirekisho you may not have chance to include these words. However you can customize your CV with industry specific keywords in Shokumu-keirekisho.
• Incorporating action verbs will showcase your proficiency effectively.
• You can find these keywords from your job descriptions.
• But don't limit only to that.
• Most of the Japanese companies use Application Tracking Systems (ATS) to short list their candidates for the interview.
• ATS normally filter CVs through keyword searching. If you don't include sufficient keywords. Mostly your CV will be rejected.
• Therefore try to include these keywords as much as possible.
• You can include these keywords when describing your: Self-promotion and reason for application, Career summary, Work history, Personal Projects and Miscellaneous Activities.

Useful action verbs:

How to identify the harmful buzzwords in your japan cv .

• Buzzwords have the power to make or break your Japan CV. There are two types of buzzwords. The good ones will make your CV work! Bad ones will break your CV!
• But the actual problem is identifying these good & bad ones. Because you never believe these words as buzzwords.

Bad CV buzzwords

• Yes, you are reading the bad CV buzzwords. These words have became meaningless today.
• Over using them will decrease the originality of your CV.
• Make sure to check for these harmful buzzwords when you are writing your self- appeal and career plan.

You have learnt the essentials of Japan resume! Now you are ready to create your Japan resume online or improve your existing resume!

Sample resume for Japan

1.Rirekisho- Japan resume template Example

2.Shokumukeirekisho-Japan CV template Example

1.Do I need to write curriculum vitae in Japanese for Japan jobs?

• Some traditional companies prefer handwritten resumes. However modern Japanese companies don't ask for handwritten resumes.

2.What is the best Japanese font for a resume?

• Most of the Japanese companies prefer Mincho typeface which is also called as Ming or Song.

3.What documents I need to work in Japan?

• Working visa
• Proficiency in Japanese
• University degree& work experience
• A CV prepared according to Japan resume format
• Passed the interview

4.What are the two writing styles in Japanese?

• The two writing styles in Japanese are Hiragana and katakana .

5.What is Furigana means in Japanese?

• Furigana is a reading aid for Japanese, basically it helps t o pronounce Japanese.

6.How can I write a resume for Japan?

• Download the proper Japan CV format .
• Edit it according to you.
• Incorporate ATS-friendly keywords.
• Scan for buzzwords.
• Proofread your CV.

There is no standard resume format for all the countries. Every countries expect a CV that is formatted according to their specific format. Using your UAE CV or Netherlands CV for Japan won't work. Make sure to follow the right resume format for reference.

Write a Japanese resume with Yaaay's template!

Why we recommend writing a Japanese resume

Two points to keep in mind, the template makes it easier than you imagine, was this helpful, thanks for your feedback, trending notes.

In short, yes it does. But please make sure to read this article because there are some procedures that you have to take care of to get your VISA.

Companies want to know "Why you applied for the job". Leaving your answers blank or writing too short because you do not know what to write about is the same as jeopardizing your own chances of advancing to the interview. This article will explain how to write the reason for your application that is appealing to the hiring manager.

Interviews in Japan do not only revolve around skills and experiences; personality and mindset is an important factor in the recruitment process. Here are some questions that foreigners are frequently asked at interviews. Use them as a reference when preparing for your interview!

What are you waiting for?