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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.

If you to look for a new job or change your career in Japan, Coto Academy offers business Japanese and advanced courses, tailored for working professionals!

We also have classes for intermediate and advanced students. If you’re interested, contact our friendly staff by filling out the form below, and we’ll get in touch as soon as possible!

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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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[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.

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How to Write a Japanese Resume: Rirekisho and Shokumukeirekisho (with Template)

Jamila Brown Updated on July 6, 2024 Working in Japan

When you apply for a job at companies based in Japan, you might see the instructions about what type of resume you must submit. This may surprise some foreigners, but it’s crucial to know about writing and submitting Japanese-style resumes to apply for a job in Japan.

This article will discuss two types of resumes used in Japan: the traditional Japanese resume, “Rirekisho,” which has a standard template, and the normal resume, which is used worldwide and is called Shokumukeirekisho in Japan.

This guide also explains the Rirekisho template, and there is also a link towards the end of this article for downloading the Rirekisho resume template.

Japanese culture values processes and standardization more highly than most other cultures. Japanese resumes are no exception. Unlike other countries, resume formats are very standardized in Japan.

However, there are exceptions to the expectations regarding the type of resume, such as multinationals with a diverse workforce, many foreigners, and modern and progressive Japanese tech companies.

Regarding the above statement, please note that depending on the domain, some multinational companies do not have diversity in the workforce. E.g., companies in auditing, consulting, and such domains.

Such companies need mainly Japanese employees; hence, the work environment, internal processes, and expectations are similar to those of traditional Japanese companies. Moreover, such companies would expect Japanese-style resumes from the candidates.

In this article

Types of Japanese Resumes

There are specific kinds of resumes to apply to Japanese companies, which are very different from Western-style resumes. There are two kinds of resumes commonly used in Japan. These are as follows:

• Rirekisho (履歴書) : A brief personal history
• Shokumukeirekisho (職務経歴書) : Career history

Japanese Resume – Rirekisho

If you are applying for a job with a traditional Japanese company or even a multinational that works in the traditional Japanese style, the Japanese resume “Rirekisho” is often mandatory, along with the detailed resume called “Shokumukeirekisho.” However, modern Japanese companies typically do not require the traditional Rirekisho resume.

What is Rirekisho Resume?

Some dictionaries refer to “Rirekisho” as “Resume.” However, the literal meaning of Rirekisho is “Personal History.”

The word “Rirekisho (履歴書)” comprises three Kanji characters. These are as follows:

• 履: “Footwear,” “Walk” on, or “Tread.”
• 歴: “History of”
• 書: Document

If you look at the above-mentioned meanings of the Kanji characters, you will find that the meaning of the word “Rirekisho” is quite poetic and self-explanatory. It means “History of your walk or treading your path.”

Quite poetic, right? So, the Japanese resume “Rirekisho” briefly summarizes your “personal” history. In Rirekisho resume, you do not have to mention work experience details .

Why Rirekisho Resume in Japan?

Traditionally, Japanese companies had a lifetime employment system in which candidates joined a company right after graduation, and companies trained them to carry out their work responsibilities. These work responsibilities may or may not be related to the educational qualification. Moreover, employees would stay with the same employer for life to retire from the same company.

During an employee’s career journey, the job role may change, and the employer provides the required training for the new role.

In fact, in the large traditional Japanese corporate world, this practice still continues.

In the above scenario, the candidates did not have any prior full-time work experience. Hence, a brief personal history of educational qualification and any part-time jobs was sufficient. And that’s why the existence of Rirekisho resumes.

In today’s Japan, large Japanese corporations still hire mainly from universities, as they did in the past. But unlike in the past, some employees change jobs, creating the need for experienced talent to replace them. Moreover, the corporate sector is also realizing the need for change.

So, the brief Rirekisho resume practice and the detailed resume are still practiced at companies with traditional Japanese work environments. However, now, the Rirekisho serves as the resume summary before the hiring manager decides to review the detailed resume .

Details of Japanese Rirekisho Resume

Rirekisho (履歴書) is a two-page template for the basic Japanese resume, which is a must when applying to any traditional Japanese company. In this resume, a candidate lists all the facts about their education and experience in a “ standard order “. Please note that modern Japanese companies do not require a Rirekisho.

Creating a Japanese resume is not directly translating your English resume into Japanese. There are specific differences in the formatting and writing that are mainly used when creating a Japanese resume. You can also download the rirekisho template online here to fill it out and send it by email, or print and send the hard copy of your Rirekisho resume.

These days, resumes are electronically submitted, but don’t be surprised to hear that some employers might prefer handwritten ones. Therefore, you can find a blank resume template from your local convenience store.

Make sure your resume is easy to read. If you are not used to writing kanji , it would be worth having a native speaker check your application before submission.

Parts of Rirekisho

The following are the parts that make your Rirekisho-style resume in Japan:

Basic Information 

The first part of a standard Japanese resume covers the applicant’s basic information, including the full name (first, middle, and last), birthday, phone number, address, and photo .

Non-Japanese names should be written in capital letters starting with your last name , then first and middle names. The address should also be written in Japanese for easy reading. Be sure to include furigana in both your name and address. 

We know that it’s uncommon to include a photo with Western resumes. However, having a photo on the resume is a common practice in Japan. Some people may argue against putting a self-picture on their resume, but they should also complain to LinkedIn.

The photograph should be on a neutral background, showing your face clearly with non-distracting hair and make-up. You’re expected to look professional, so wear a nice shirt and a jacket. Residents in Japan often use photo machines that are explicitly used to take these types of photos. They’re usually found in shopping malls and train stations. 

Education and Work History 

The second section of the resume is for education and a brief employment history.

In this next section, you will need to list the names of the schools and the programs you studied . In the first line and center, enter gakureki (学歴) to denote education. You need to list your academic background from your senior high school graduation. If you attended school out of the country, you could specify the country in brackets [] before writing the school’s name.

Below the educational section, you need to write your work history briefly. This is called shokureki (職歴).

To clarify that the following sub-section is for work history, please write shokureki (職歴) in the center to move on to employment history .

Start with the company that first hired you and end with the place where you’re currently employed.

You will see that the first two columns of this section are “年” (Year and “月” (month). Start with the date you entered the first company and right nyuusha (入社) after the company name. Then, in the subsequent line, write the date you left the company with taishoku (退職).

When you come down to the last line, and you’re still employed, write genzainiitaru (現在に至る) for currently still employed. At the end of the section, on the following line, write ijou (以上) to show the end of the section. 

Licenses and Qualifications (Certifications) 

The third section of Riirekisho is for writing about licenses and certifications you might have. Please note that these certifications are not related to your main educational degrees.

Like the previous section, start with the month and year of the qualifications you earned.

Be sure to use the official names of qualifications (certifications) instead of the shortened acronyms , i.e., for the JLPT N1 certification, use 日本語能力試験1級. If you don’t have any qualifications here, then write tokuninashi (特になし) in the first line. 

Self-Promotion, Hobbies, Family 

The left column of the 4th section of the resume is “志望の動機、自己PRなど” (Shibō no dōki, jiko PR nado). This means “Motivation for applying, self-promotion, etc.”

Be sure to fill out the jiko-PR (Self PR or Self Promotion) in this left column of the 4th section of the resume with something that will give your future employer a better understanding of your skills and interests. Include your motivation for applying and any special skills and experiences that would make you stand out from other applicants. 

The right-hand side of the 4th section of Rirekisho resume is used to give a bit more personal information about yourself. In this column, you need to fill out the following personal details:

• Commute time from your home to the closest station or bus stop to go to the office
• Number of dependents, excluding Spouse
• Whether you need to support the spouse as a dependent

Please note that the number of dependents is mainly used for insurance purposes. If you have a spouse (In Japanse haigusha (配偶者)), circle “ yuu (有)” for yes or “ mu (無)” for no.

Next, you need to mention if your spouse is financially dependent on you and you need to support her. This information is also required for insurance and tax purposes. So, if you’re planning to support your spouse, circle “Yes,” but if your spouse is working, then circle “No.” 

Personal Requests

The 5th section, or the bottom section of your Japanese Rirekisho resume, is for special requests.

Such special requests could be related to things like commuting issues or health concerns. Be aware that any requests you make will likely be discussed during the interview. If you don’t have any particular concerns, write kishakiteini Itagaimasu (貴社規定に従います) .

Template of Japanese Resume Rirekisho’s Template

English translation rirekisho template.

Please note that the following English translation of the Rirekisho resume template used for applying to Japanese companies is just for your convenience and understanding and not for actual use when you apply to a Japanese company; the original template in Japanese must be used.

Shokumukeirekisho: Detailed Japanese Resume

The second resume which you submit along with the Rirekisho is known as “ Shokumukeirekisho ( 職務経歴書 )” . The translation of Shokumukeirekisho is “Job / Work History Document” . As the name suggests, this resume is to write about your work experiences in detail.

The “Shokumukeirekisho” Japanese resume is like the resumes used globally. A Rirekisho only lists the bare facts without any scope for you to mention your experiences and achievements in detail. Japanese companies might have considered these bare facts enough to make a hiring decision for fresh graduates. However, a Rirekisho, with its brief facts and figures, doesn’t serve the purpose of hiring experienced candidates.

In today’s world, the list of just your education and past employers with titles can’t become the basis of a hiring decision. Hence, a Shokumukeirekisho allows you to elaborate on your experience and achievements.

A Shokumukeirekisho resume is similar to the resumes used in Western countries and does not force you to follow a specific template. However, one difference in this Japanese resume is that the Japanese Shokumukeirekisho resume includes some elements of a cover letter . Japanese people refer to this part as “Self-Promotion.”

Which Resume Should I Submit – Rirekisho or Shokumukeirekisho?

The origin of the Japanese resume Rirekisho was due to Japanese companies’ traditional hiring approach to recruiting fresh graduates. Therefore, a Rirekisho template does not provide an opportunity to highlight your work experience. However, if you are applying to a traditional Japanese company, they would prefer to see your Rirekisho resume. So, in such a case, it is recommended that you submit both types of resumes, i.e., Rirekisho and Shokumukeirekisho.

On the other hand, modern Japanese companies and most foreign multinationals in Japan only expect and welcome your detailed resume, i.e., Shokumukeirekisho.

Should I Write My Resume in Japanese or English?

Well, on one hand, it seems a tricky question; however, the answer is very simple and depends on the following factors:

• Type of company and Type of Job
• What is your Japanese level

Please note that while the decision to write the resume depends on the above two factors, you must decide about the resume language in the same order. The decision should be based first on the type of company and job and then on your Japanese level. Let’s see how and why:

Type of Company and Resume Language

Suppose you are applying for a job at a traditional Japanese company where the official language is only Japanese. In that case, you have no choice but to prepare and submit your resume only in Japanese.

On the other hand, new-age Japanese tech companies look forward to receiving resumes for tech jobs written in English.

These modern tech companies have many foreigners working with them, and many of them do not speak Japanese. Therefore, even if the HR personnel are Japanese, the hiring manager and other tech people reviewing your resume may not understand Japanese. However, even such companies would require Japanese resumes for jobs in other areas, such as HR and finance.

If you are applying to a foreign multinational that is not a technology company, you will find very few foreigners apart from the information technology department. In such a case, though they would welcome resumes written in English for information technology jobs, there is a high probability that they would require a Japanese resume for jobs in other departments.

English or Japanese Resume Depending on Your Japanese Level

A tricky question at first glance, but not so tricky if you think deeply.

However, this factor needs serious consideration when deciding whether to write your resume in English or Japanese because of the serious implications it can have.

Writing a resume in Japanese may get you shortlisted for the interview if the job requires good Japanese skills; however, it may kill all your chances of sailing through the interview if your Japanese is not up to the mark.

If you submit your resume in Japanese, you indirectly tell the prospective employer that you know Japanese well. However, if you do not handle your interview well in Japanese, you will directly imply that you lied.

Even if the company and job you are applying for don’t need good Japanese skills, the hiring company may decide to go for an interview in Japanese instead of English. In such a case, you might very well spoil your chances unnecessarily.

Bottom Line: Resume Language

When you decide whether to prepare your resume in Japanese or English, please check the job advertisement based on the above factors. In most cases, hiring companies mention language preference in the resume. In case of doubt, please check with the company, if you are directly applying to them, or the recruitment agency about the resume language preference.

While the detailed Japanese resume ( Shokumukeirekisho ) is the same as the one used globally, writing a Japanese Rirekisho resume may initially seem intimidating.

However, once you write your first Rirekisho resume, you can modify it yearly as you move through your career in Japan.

Like all resumes, Japanese resumes are designed to be easy to read and create a quick picture of your background. Be consistent with formatting to ensure neatness, and finally, have one native Japanese speaker check over your resume before submitting it.

( Download rirekisho template .)

Jamila Brown is a 5-year veteran in Japan working in the education and business sector. Jamila is currently transitioning into the digital marketing world in Japan. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and writing about the culture in Japan.

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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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Landing an Internship in Japan: Tips and Strategies for Foreigners

• 7 minute read

Teaching English in Japan: Requirements, Salary, and Opportunities

• 10 minute read

Business Card Etiquette in Japan: A Guide to Exchanging Meishi

• 6 minute read

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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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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JapanResumeBuilder lets you create a perfectly formatted resume, which you can download a water-marked preview version immediately for no-charge . Once you are satisfied with your resume, for a small fee, you are able to remove the water-mark in your resume and receive a perfectly formatted resume that is ready to be sent to potential employers in Japan straight away! You can also create an account with us free of charge, which lets you create multiple resumes, as well as access to the paid human proof-reading service is conducted by native Japanese speakers .

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Get job alerts, what's a shokumu-keirekisho how to write a japanese cv [with template].

Updated September 5, 2023

Japan Dev Team

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• Career Development

Leaving a good first impression is always important, especially in a business context, and that’s exactly what your CV is for.

If you want to maximize your chances of getting the job, you need a CV that’s well-prepared. However, there’s no “one-size-fits-all” approach when it comes to preparing a good CV. 

Not only do you need to be mindful of the industry you’re in, but if you’re applying for jobs in Japan as a foreigner, you also need to be mindful of the commonly used formats.  But you also need to think about the company you’re applying to.  For larger and more traditional Japanese companies, you may want to be conservative, but this is less important for more international companies.

Essentially, you want to send the right type of CV for the job you want. That is, of course, if you don’t want your CV to be thrown into the “rejected” pile.

This is why today, I’d like to talk about one of the two specific CV formats that exist in Japan, which is “shokumu-keirekisho.” I’ll tell you how it differs from the other CV format, “rirekisho,” when you should prepare one, as well as how you can prepare one in detail. 

I also built my very own template for the Japanese CV shokumu-keirekisho, which you can simply download and fill out.

Download my Japanese CV template here and follow along.

Let’s start with the differences between rirekisho and shokumu-keirekisho, and whether you need one in the first place.

In this article: 📝

The Accepted CV Formats in Japan For Software Engineers

The main difference between shokumu-keirekisho and rirekisho, how to write a japanese cv shokumu-keirekisho for software engineers, japanese cv template: shokumu-keirekisho template for engineers, how to write a japanese cv for software engineers: tech startups and modern it companies, a few final words of advice.

As I mentioned, there are two specific CV formats that are commonly used in Japan, namely “rirekisho” and “shokumu-keirekisho.”

If you’re not familiar with either, you might be confused as to which one you should use or if you should use one at all, which is also a possibility if you’re a software engineer, and I’ll get to this in a bit.

Additionally, there are also instances where you might need an English resume. I also talked about this in detail in another article for drafting a resume in English as a developer in Japan.

Now, let’s get on with the two specific Japanese resume formats and how they differ from one another.

In the simplest terms, the main difference between a rirekisho and a shokumu-keirekisho is the level of detail the two documents include. 

A rirekisho has all the basic information a company will need to know about you at first glance, which includes your contact information, education, work background, and relevant qualifications.

However, a rirekisho doesn’t include details such as how your job experiences relate to the position you’re applying for or what your duties were at a past company. These details are usually saved for the second, more detailed type of resume we’re focusing on today, shokumu-keirekisho.

Usually, you need both of these documents if you’re job hunting in Japan, and the process is primarily in Japanese. Usually you will submit both documents at the same time when you apply, and it can be helpful to bring a copy of both to your first interview just in case.

Sometimes, companies will state that you don’t need a shokumu-keirekisho and only require a rirekisho.  In this case, it’s fine to skip sending this document — you shouldn’t include it if the company specifically asks you not to.  But if it’s not stated that you don’t need one, it can’t hurt to include it.

If you’re curious about what you’ll be asked in a job interview, you can check out our post on the top interview questions in Japan .

Even though these resume formats are widely popular in Japan, they’re usually only required when you’re applying to a traditional Japanese IT company (particularly a “system integration” company). 

If you’re applying to IT startups and companies that are more on the “modern” side, like the ones on the Japan Dev company list , you don’t have to go through the trouble of following a specific format.

If you’re applying to a more modern Silicon Valley-style tech company in Japan, please skip to the “How to Write a Japanese CV for Software Engineers: Tech Startups and Modern IT Companies” section.

Either way, I’ll also explain how you can prepare an impactful CV for these companies below, but first, let’s take a look at what goes into preparing a good shokumu-keirekisho.

Before I go into the specifics, I’d like to remind you that I also have a separate post detailing how you can prepare a good rirekisho , which also includes a downloadable template.

Unlike rirekisho, which mostly has a specific format due to the form-like nature of the document, there actually isn’t a specific shokumu-keirekisho format that’s “correct.”

However, there are definitely some things that you must include. These are

Your title and personal information,

A detailed summary of your career,

A detailed summary of your relevant skills and knowledge in the field,

Your work history (specific companies and roles)

Your technical skills that are relevant to the job you’re applying for, and

Self-Appeal (Self-PR).

Now, let’s get into the specifics of how you should write these sections in your shokumu-keirekisho.

Title and Personal Information

A good shokumu-keirekisho starts with a proper title. Write “職務経歴書” at the top of the page, and start with your personal information and the date of creation and/or submission right below that. 

You can include everything from your full name and address to your contact information like phone number and email address here just to be thorough, but usually, just your name and the document submission date should suffice. 

As for the date, make sure you update the date of submission every time you send your CV to a new company. 

If you include the creation date, be sure that the date isn’t older than a few months. Japanese companies pay extra attention to this, and they might ignore your resume if they assume that the information on your CV isn’t up-to-date.

Lastly, remember to write the date in the Japanese date format, which goes like “year/month/day (day of the week).” You can skip the day of the week, of course, but the date itself should be written in Japanese format.

Career Summary

This is the part that recruiters like to look at first when they review a CV, and therefore, it’s arguably the most important part of your resume.

You might be confused as to why there are separate “career summary” and “work history” sections, as it may look like they both refer to the same thing, but there’s a difference.

Your career summary is where you give a general overview of your work history before you go into the line-by-line specifics of each company you worked for. You can use simple sentences here to describe your career so far in a brief paragraph. 

You can consider this as the abstract to your CV, as it’ll serve as an introduction to what you’ve done until now. Therefore, not going into too much detail and keeping it between 200 and 300 words is a good idea.

Summary of Relevant Skills

In this section, before you get into the specifics, you’ll give a brief introduction to your most relevant technical skills for the job. A few short lines should be enough here, as you can see in the example. 

Basically, you want to present the information you want the recruiter to see first here. Don’t try to add everything in this section — there’s a separate section below where you can talk about all of your skills in more detail.

Work History

Finally, this is the part where you get to go into detail about each one of your past experiences, as it serves as “the meat and the bones” of your CV. 

In this section, you can list each job experience as a bullet point. Under each one, you can include various information, such as the skills you’ve used/developed, as well as your duties in each position. 

There’s no right or wrong here. You can include any relevant information under each experience that you think will help you get the job. Be sure to also include the relevant information for the companies you worked for. 

This can include but is not limited to when the company you worked for was founded, the industry the company is in, the number of employees, and the company’s yearly profit. You should also include information regarding your position. Here are a few specific topics you can mention:

The duration of your employment,

The projects you’ve participated in,

Your department and title at the company

The projects where you were a part of the development cycle, and

The programming languages, frameworks, and programs you used.

It’s important to include relevant information here, of course. However, you should avoid including unnecessary details and only include the information that you think will be helpful.  There’s no hard limit on number of pages, but it’s good to keep it concise where possible.

Following a Reverse Chronological Order

Another important point in this section is to list your past jobs in reverse chronological order. You want to start with the most recent job at the top and work your way down to the first job you had. 

You might get confused here because, in a rirekisho, you’re expected to do the exact opposite and list your experiences chronologically. 

The reason you’re following a reverse chronological order this time is that, in theory, a rirekisho is considered a more “generalized” document. In contrast, a shokumu-keirekisho is a specific document that you’re supposed to prepare for each application. 

Therefore, recruiters will prefer to check your shokumu-keirekisho when they’re screening your application, and they want to see your most recent job experience right at the top.

Detailing and Categorizing

Since there’s no set format you need to follow with a shokumu-keirekisho, you can get as specific as you want. I recommend mentioning not only the projects you worked on but how these projects were completed and what the results were as well.

For instance, you can include information on whether the project was completed earlier than planned without any hiccups. You can mention things like how the project helped improve the system performance or the efficiency of your team.

Additionally, you can treat your shokumu-keirekisho as your portfolio and include links to the finished projects, like an app you helped build or a website you created. You can also mention what you’ve learned while working on these specific projects, which will be even more impactful.

Lastly, as opposed to grouping the projects, skills, and languages in the same section, I recommend leaving a separate column for the programming languages and the projects, as we did in the sample above. This will help the recruiters find the information they need the most easily.

Relevant Technical/General Skills and Certificates

In this section, you’re expected to talk about your relevant technical skills and qualifications. 

As the shokumu-keirekisho is supposed to be tailored for the specific position you’re applying to, it’s best to start with the most relevant skills first. Again, you can get creative here and group things so that they’re easier to go through.

I recommend starting with your technical skills first. Don’t forget to mention how long you’ve had the said skill next to each item on your list.

You can also create a sub-group for your relevant education in the field and list any diplomas and certifications you collected. If you’ve had any internship programs that you couldn’t include in the career history section, you can list those here as well.

What’s more, as a foreigner, you’ll need to specify whether you speak Japanese or not and what your JLTP level is in your CV. You can mention this along with the other languages you speak in this section. If you have multiple qualifications for this section, you can again create a separate section in your CV just for languages.

If you don’t speak Japanese or don’t have a JLTP score yet, you can benefit from my other post, where I talk about the best Japanese language schools in Japan .

Self-Appeal

Last but not least, the self-appeal section, also known as the “self-PR” section, is the part of your CV that is essentially for bragging — but with style.

Before you write this section, don’t forget that there’s also a self-PR section in your rirekisho. 

If you’re sending both for an application, remember to switch things up between the two documents. Alternatively, you can give general information in your rirekisho and be more specific in your shokumu-keirekisho.

You can freely express what you can bring to the table in this section. You can talk about how your skills and qualifications can contribute to the company you’re applying to. You can describe how you’re the perfect fit for the job. It’s all fair game.

You can also mention why you’re applying for this specific job and talk about your reasons. I recommend saving at least half of this section to talk about your motivations specifically, which will grab the attention of the recruiter.

Generally speaking, it’s best to keep this section to around 300 words. Try to have a clear focus and avoid using pretty but meaningless words to avoid giving the impression that your motivation lacks substance.

As there isn’t a specific format that exists for the shokumu-keirekisho, you can download the sample I created — the included screenshots are from the sample — and fill it out to use in your applications.

This sample was created specifically with engineers in mind (with a focus on more traditional companies like “SI” companies), but it can also be modified to fit other industries as well. 

Here’s a downloadable link to my very own Japanese CV template:

Japanese CV template - download .

As I mentioned, while a shokumu-keirekisho is a popular CV format that’s widely used in Japan, if you’re applying to tech startups, modern IT companies, or companies that develop B2C (business-to-consumer) web services, you don’t need any of these.

Actually, you don’t need to follow any specific format. You can just create a modern CV that you’d prepare for a job in the United States or Europe. However, there are definitely some tips you can follow to make your CV as striking and impactful as possible, and that’s what I’m here to talk about as well.

As there isn’t a specific format to follow or a form to fill out, feel free to prepare your CV using Google Docs , Github , or Notion . You can also use Markdown if that’s what you feel more comfortable with.

While writing your CV, even if you don’t follow this particular order, you should include the following sections:

Career Introduction,

Work History,

Personal projects and miscellaneous activities,

Social/Online presence,

Self-Summary (Self-PR), and

Career plans.

Now, let’s take a look at each section and how you can write them.

There isn’t much to explain here, as this section is where your personal information goes. 

Your full name, age, birthdate, as well as contact information, like your email address and phone number, all go under this section. 

You can also include a link to your LinkedIn profile here, but you can also choose to do this in a separate section where you’ll mention your online presence anyway. 

Just don’t go overboard and share all your socials. Your LinkedIn should be enough to identify you. Instagram links can look unprofessional so we don’t recommend including them, but a Twitter link can be helpful if you have a lot of followers or are putting a lot of effort into tweeting (professionally).

Career Introduction

Before you get into the specifics, it’s a good idea to start your CV off with a brief summary that doesn’t go over a few sentences. Think of this as an elevator pitch. You want to be as concise as possible while giving out the most crucial information about yourself.

Here, you’ll talk about the most important aspects of your career. Think about what sets you apart in terms of your professional experience in the field, and center this part around that. 

Remember that the recruiters will most likely look at this section of your resume first. Even if you don’t prepare a separate CV for each job you apply for, I at least recommend tailoring this part specifically for every application. 

For the same reason, I also recommend mentioning your visa situation in this section as well if you think it will help your case.  For example if you have permanent residence, it can be helpful to include that here.

Therefore, if you already have a visa that allows you to work in Japan, stating this in the summary section will definitely work in your favor. 

Lastly, try to keep this section concise. I recommend not going over 300 words. A small paragraph should do, and I think that a word count between 250–300 words is the sweet spot here.

Similar to your work history section in the shokumu-keirekisho I explained above, you’re expected to list all of your professional experiences in this section.

Writing in chronological order should be fine here, so you can start from the very first job you had at the top and work your way down to your most recent work experience.

For clarity purposes, you should write the projects you were involved in as bullet points. Depending on the formatting of your choice, under or next to each project, you need to provide the most important details. Here are some of the things you should definitely mention:

The name of the project

The period — the amount of time you’ve worked on the project.

Job title and description — your position in the project and briefly describe your duties.

Scale — the scale of the project in terms of size and the number of people involved if you’re at liberty to share such information.

Languages and Operating Systems used — everything from programming languages to databases used in the process.

Target — the target user of the project.

If your work is largely project-based and you have more than a few projects under each job, you can also create a separate section under this one for projects. If you do separate the projects section, you can just state your title and duties next to each work experience, along with your accomplishments in the role.

In the skills section of your CV, you’re expected to list your technical and soft skills. 

For the technical skills part, I recommend listing a balanced set of skills. In general, I’d say that technical skills can be categorized under two groups: skills that are current and trendy, and basic skills that are evergreen.

What I mean here is that you should list enough of both skills that are basic and will show the depth of your technical understanding and skills that are currently trendy to have in your field. 

Most young engineers make the mistake of mostly listing skills that are trendy, and they forget to list the most obvious and basic stuff. However, these skills can become obsolete in the near future at any moment when the tide turns, and this is why it’s important to have a good balance.

As for your soft skills, since it’s very easy to be cliche and list generic things like “good communication skills” or “time management skills”, I recommend a more specific approach here. 

Think about the projects you’ve worked on, and try to focus on your strengths. Try to remember what challenges you actually faced and how you handled them. This can help you come up with more specific skills that actually look convincing.

For instance, instead of just stating that you have good leadership skills, you can come up with a solid example from your own past experiences and state how you rose to the occasion during a specific time when your leadership skills were needed.

This part doesn’t need much introduction. Essentially, you need to list the languages you speak in this section. 

If you know Japanese and have a JLPT certificate, you should definitely mention it here. Don’t forget to mention your first language too, and if English is one of your second languages, you can also include any TOEFL or IELTS score you may have. 

If you don’t speak Japanese but want to learn, you can check out my post on the best tools to learn Japanese . If you’re already learning Japanese and want to take the JLPT test, I also have a separate post where I explain how to prepare for the JLPT specifically.

Personal Projects and Miscellaneous Activities

You might have tons of work experience, but work is work at the end of the day. It’s something you do to earn a living, and thus, it’s considered the bare minimum in terms of actual experience.

If you have the work experience needed, what you do outside of work can be really effective in setting you apart from the rest of the applicants. This is why I recommend listing all of your personal projects in this section, as well as any other activities you think are relevant to the job you apply for.

Any open source or collective projects you’ve contributed to go under this section as well.

Social/Online Presence

Your online presence is important for your CV as well. Your Twitter can be helpful for tech companies so feel free to include it if you think the company you’re applying to would appreciate it.

Adding links for your GitHub, Stack Overflow, HackerRank, or any other relevant profiles you may have with quality content is a good idea here. These will serve as living proof of your coding abilities.

Also, if you have a personal website or a blog, I recommend listing that as well. If you don’t have one yet, I recommend taking the time to create one, as it’s an investment that will definitely be rewarding down the line.

If you haven’t done so already in your summary section, you can also add your LinkedIn profile here as well.

As you already covered plenty in the sections that came before this, I recommend going easy on the self-PR section and going for a more focused approach.

A good approach to preparing to write this section is researching the company you’re applying to. Try to find out the technology used or what kind of culture the company has. This can help you create a targeted self-PR section where you can talk about how you can contribute to the company.

As for the length, I recommend writing a concise and focused paragraph of about 300 characters that delivers the most crucial information about you.

Career Plans

Lastly, you may want to discuss your future career plans before you finish your resume.  This section isn’t strictly necessary, so I’d only recommend including it if you think it will make you look more impressive.

This section is for describing what your career goals are and how this specific job fits into your career plans. Basically, you want to look like you know what you’re doing and not just applying to jobs for the sake of getting a job.

If a recruiter isn’t convinced that the job you’re applying for is the one you planned for yourself all along, they may set your resume aside in favor of someone who is more convincing. This is because, essentially, recruiters don’t want to risk hiring someone who took the job on a whim and may quit at any moment.

Writing a few sentences that’ll make you look like you know what you’re doing with your career should be enough here. After explaining your goal, you can tie it all together by explaining how this job brings you one step closer to where you want to be in life, and you should be good to go!

Why do I want to work in Japan?

If you’re applying from overseas, it might be helpful to state why you want to work in Japan.  If there are any concrete reasons you can provide, that’s especially good.

For example, if you belong to Japanese communities, have friends or family in Japan, or if there are specific goals you want to accomplish here.  A lot of companies will be apprehensive about hiring someone from overseas due to the extra costs involved and your lack of experience here, so I recommend trying to assuage their fears if possible.

However this section is optional.

Japan Visa Status

This is another optional section, but again it can be helpful in certain circumstances.

Do you have permanent residency, or are you married to a Japanese national?  If so it can help your chances of getting an interview to state that here.

Otherwise, you can be honest and say that you’ll need visa sponsorship, or you can just skip this section.

Before I conclude this guide, I’d like to share some notes and tips that you might want to watch out for when preparing your CV.

You generally shouldn’t include a photo in your shokumu-keirekisho. This can help take bias out of the equation and give you a more fair chance. Some more traditional companies might require one on your rirekisho however.

I also recommend leaving out information such as your gender and marital status for the same reason, which is also becoming a thing of the past. 

Lastly, you might also want to leave out the references section that you commonly see on western-stye resumes. The recruiter will ask for your references if needed, and therefore, it’s not necessary.

Basically, this is all the information you need to prepare a good Japanese resume in both traditional and modern ways. However, before you get on with your job-hunting journey in Japan, you might also want to check out my guide on how to find a job as a software engineer in Japan .

This post was written by our Japan Dev editorial team.

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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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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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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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Dive Into Expert Guides to Enhance your Resume

Japanese Resume: The How-To Guide

Create a winning resume for your Japanese job application

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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Writing a Japanese Resume – Mastering the Art: A Step-by-Step Guide

Stepping into the realm of professional opportunities in Japan requires more than just a skill set; it calls for a well-crafted resume that speaks the language of Japanese employers. In a country where traditions and cultural nuances play a significant role in the business world, mastering the art of writing a Japanese resume is essential to make a lasting impression and secure your desired position. In this article, we will guide you through the intricacies of creating a compelling Japanese resume, equipping you with the knowledge and strategies needed to navigate this unique application document. Whether you’re a job seeker aiming to work in Japan or simply curious about the cultural nuances of resume writing, join us on this journey as we unlock the secrets to crafting a remarkable Japanese resume that opens doors to a thriving career.

Table of Contents

Understanding the importance of a japanese resume.

Format and Structure

Writing a Convincing Personal Statement

Education and Academic Background

Language Skills and Certificates

Adding Additional Sections

Tips for Proofreading

Contrasting Japanese and Western Resumes

Cultural Expectations

Links to more of our articles can be found at the bottom of the page.

In Japan, the resume serves as the primary means for employers to evaluate candidates and make initial judgments about their qualifications and suitability for a particular role. Understanding the importance of a Japanese resume is key to effectively navigating the job market and positioning yourself as a desirable candidate.

Depending on your desired field of work, you may want to hand write your resume. In traditional Japanese culture it was customary to hand write resumes. As technology has progressed, writing a digital Japanese resume has become more common. If you are going into the I.T. field, I would suggest a digital resume as you can show off your digital skills. 

1. Cultural Expectations: Japanese resumes adhere to specific cultural norms and conventions. (read more about cultural norms at the end of the article). Employers expect applicants to conform to these expectations, demonstrating respect for tradition and attention to detail. Failing to meet these expectations may inadvertently convey a lack of understanding or disrespect for Japanese customs, potentially jeopardizing your chances of securing an interview.

2. Emphasis on Order and Structure: Japanese resumes follow a well-defined structure, typically organized in a specific order of sections such as personal information, career objective, education, work experience, skills, and references. Deviating from this structure can create confusion and make your application appear disorganized or unprofessional. 

3. Attention to Detail: Japanese resumes place great emphasis on precision and attention to detail. Each element of the resume, from the choice of words to the formatting, is carefully considered. Errors or inconsistencies in formatting, grammar, or punctuation can reflect poorly on your application, giving the impression of carelessness or a lack of thoroughness. 

4. Cultural Fit: Japanese employers often prioritize cultural fit when evaluating candidates, so through your resume they seek to understand not only your qualifications but also your compatibility with their company culture and values. Demonstrating an understanding of Japanese business customs and incorporating relevant experiences can enhance your chances of being perceived as a good fit for the organization.

5. Differentiation in a Competitive Market: Japan’s job market can be highly competitive, especially for coveted positions. Crafting a standout Japanese resume allows you to differentiate yourself from other applicants and grab the attention of employers. It provides an opportunity to showcase your unique strengths, accomplishments, and experiences in a way that aligns with Japanese professional expectations.

By recognizing the importance of a Japanese resume and tailoring your application accordingly, you can effectively communicate your qualifications, professionalism, and cultural awareness to potential employers, increasing your chances of success in the competitive Japanese job market.

Format and Structure of a Japanese Resume

Writing a Japanese resume might seem different to writing one from your own country, but there might be some things that are similar.

1. Length and Format: Japanese resumes generally follow a structured and concise format. Unlike some Western resumes, which can be multiple pages long, Japanese resumes are typically limited to one or two pages. They are written in a logical, chronological order, ensuring that the most recent and relevant information is prominently displayed.

2. Document Orientation: Japanese resumes are usually written in a horizontal, left-to-right format. This orientation is the most common type of writing style, with the text horizontally aligned on the left side of the page, and sections stacked one below the other.

3. Clear Sections: A Japanese resume typically consists of clearly defined sections, and each has its own headings. Common sections include personal information, career objective or summary, education, work experience, skills, certifications, and references. Adhering to this clear and structured approach ensures that employers can easily navigate and find the information they are looking for.

4. Professional Photograph: When writing a Japanese resume it is customary to include a professional headshot photograph in the top right or left corner of the resume. The photograph should be of high quality, featuring a neutral background, and portray you in professional attire with a confident and approachable demeanor. It is customary to wear a suit for these photographs.  This photo is easily attained at a Photo Booth, and there is a default setting for resume photos.

5. Personal Information: The personal information section appears at the top of the resume and includes essential details such as your full name, address, phone number, email address, and sometimes your date of birth and nationality. In Japan, it is common to include additional personal details such as your gender, marital status, and sometimes even your blood type.

6. Career Objective or Summary: Following the personal information section, it is customary to include a brief career objective or summary statement. This section highlights your career goals, aspirations, and what you can bring to the role or company, so should be concise and tailored to the specific job you are applying for.

7. Education: The education section lists your academic background, starting with the most recent degree or qualification. Include the name of the institution, the degree obtained, major or specialization, and the dates of attendance or graduation. It is customary to only write the year and month. In Japan, graduation is always in March and attendance starts in April. Employers will check to see if you have any gaps between education and employment etc. and may ask you to expand on the reason as to the gaps.

8. Work Experience: The work experience section outlines your professional history, starting with your most recent employment. Include the company name, your job title, dates of employment, and a description of your responsibilities and accomplishments. Focus on quantifiable achievements and emphasize skills and experiences that align with the desired position.

9. Skills and Certifications: In this section, highlight your relevant skills, both technical and soft skills, such as language proficiency, computer skills, or specific certifications. Be specific and provide details that are directly applicable to the job requirements.

10. References: In Japan, it is common to include references or testimonials from previous employers or professional contacts. These references can add credibility to your application. If you choose to include references, provide the contact information or mention that references are available upon request.

By following the prescribed formatting and structure when writing a Japanese resume, you demonstrate your understanding of Japanese business customs and make it easier for employers to review and assess your qualifications. Attention to detail, clear organization, and concise presentation are key elements in crafting an effective Japanese resume.

The personal statement, also known as a career objective or summary, is a crucial section where you can convey your professional aspirations and showcase what makes you a strong candidate for the job. Here are some key points to consider when crafting a convincing personal statement when writing a Japanese resume:

1. Be Concise and Focused: Keep your personal statement concise and to the point. Japanese resumes typically prioritize brevity and clarity, so aim to communicate your career objectives and highlight your key qualifications within a few sentences.

2. Tailor to the Job: Customize your personal statement for each job application. Research the company and position you are applying to, and align your statement with their needs and values. This demonstrates your understanding of the role and shows that you are genuinely interested in the opportunity.

3. Highlight Relevant Skills and Experience: Identify the most relevant skills and experiences that make you a strong fit for the position. Focus on those that directly relate to the job requirements and highlight how your background aligns with the organization’s goals. Emphasize your unique selling points and what sets you apart from other candidates.

4. Showcase Achievements: Use your personal statement to highlight significant achievements or milestones in your career. Quantify your accomplishments whenever possible, providing specific metrics or results to demonstrate your impact because this helps to substantiate your claims and illustrates your ability to deliver results.

5. Express Enthusiasm and Passion: Convey your enthusiasm and passion for the industry or field of work in your personal statement. Employers appreciate candidates who show genuine interest and motivation, so use positive and proactive language to demonstrate your commitment and eagerness to contribute.

6. Maintain Professional Tone: While showcasing your enthusiasm, maintain a professional tone throughout the personal statement. Use language that is appropriate for a formal resume, avoiding overly casual or informal expressions. Strike a balance between showcasing your personality and maintaining a professional image.

7. Seek Feedback: After drafting your personal statement, seek feedback from trusted colleagues, mentors, or native speakers if possible, as their insights can help you refine your statement and ensure clarity and effectiveness.

Remember, the personal statement is an opportunity to make a strong first impression and capture the attention of potential employers. Craft a concise, targeted, and compelling statement that showcases your qualifications, aligns with the job requirements, and highlights your passion for the industry. By doing so, you can significantly increase your chances of standing out and progressing in the selection process.

Highlighting Education and Academic Background

1. Chronological Order: Start with the most recent educational achievements and work backward in reverse chronological order. This format is preferred in Japanese resumes and allows employers to quickly assess your academic progression.

2. Institution Details: Include the names of the educational institutions you attended, such as universities, colleges, or vocational schools. Provide the full official name of the institution, and include any applicable campuses or faculties.

3. Degree or Qualification: Clearly state the degree or qualification you obtained, along with the field of study or major. Include the specific degree title, such as Bachelor of Arts, Master of Science, or any other relevant academic designation.

4. Dates of Attendance: Mention the dates of your attendance or graduation for each educational qualification. Provide the month and year for both the start and end of your studies. If you have not yet graduated, mention the expected graduation date.

5. Academic Honors or Awards: If you received any notable academic honors, scholarships, or awards during your studies, include them in this section. Highlighting these achievements can demonstrate your academic excellence and dedication to your field.

6. Thesis or Research Projects: If you completed a thesis or research project during your studies that is relevant to the job you are applying for, consider mentioning it briefly. Include the title of the project and provide a concise description of its significance or findings.

7. Study Abroad Experience: If you have had the opportunity to study abroad, mention it in this section. Highlight the countries or institutions where you studied and briefly describe the international academic experiences and skills you gained.

8. Relevant Coursework: If there are specific courses or subjects that are directly relevant to the job you are applying for, you can mention them. This can help employers understand your specialized knowledge or expertise in certain areas.

9. Professional Development: Include any additional professional development or training programs you completed during your academic journey. This could include certifications, workshops, seminars, or online courses that enhance your qualifications for the desired position.

10. GPA or Academic Performance: In some cases, including your GPA (Grade Point Average) or academic performance may be relevant, especially if you achieved exceptional grades or if the employer specifically requests this information. However, it is not always necessary to include GPA, so consider the context and requirements of the job application.

When highlighting your education and academic background, focus on providing relevant and concise information that demonstrates your qualifications and commitment to your field of study. By showcasing your educational achievements effectively, you can present yourself as a well-rounded and knowledgeable candidate to potential employers.

Including Language Skills and Certifications

1. Language Skills: In this section, list the languages you are proficient in and your level of proficiency for each language. Common proficiency levels include:

   – Fluent: If you have a high level of proficiency over the four main skills (speaking, reading, listening, and writing).

   – Proficient: If you have a high level of receptive skills (reading and listening).

   – Advanced: If you have a strong command of the language but not at a fluent level.

   – Intermediate: If you have a basic understanding and can communicate in the language.

   – Basic: If you have limited proficiency and can understand and use simple phrases.

2. Specify Language Proficiency: Instead of just stating “Fluent in English,” provide more detail on your language proficiency by mentioning specific skills such as reading, writing, speaking, and listening. For example, you could say “Fluent in English (reading, writing, speaking, and listening)” to provide a comprehensive overview of your language abilities.

3. Certifications: Include any language certifications you have obtained, such as TOEFL, IELTS, JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test), or any other relevant language proficiency exams. Mention the name of the certification, the level achieved, and the year of attainment. These certifications serve as concrete evidence of your language skills and can be valuable for employers.

4. Language Experience: If you have professional experience or specific projects where your language skills were utilized, mention them briefly. For example, if you have worked as a translator, interpreter, or in a customer service role that required multilingual communication, highlight these experiences to showcase your practical language skills.

5. Specializations or Industry-Specific Language Skills: If you have language skills that are specific to a particular industry or field, such as technical or medical terminology, make sure to mention them. This demonstrates your ability to effectively communicate within specialized contexts and may be particularly relevant for certain job positions.

6. Cross-cultural Experience: If you have lived or studied in a foreign country or have experience working in a multicultural environment, mention it in this section. This highlights your adaptability, cultural awareness, and ability to work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.

Remember to be honest and accurate when stating your language proficiency when writing your Japanese resume. If you have a certification, provide the necessary details to validate your skills. Language skills and certifications are highly valued in many job positions, so presenting them effectively can significantly enhance your chances of success in the application process.

Adding Additional Sections (e.g., Volunteer Work, Publications)

1. Volunteer Work: If you have engaged in volunteer work or community service that is relevant to the job or showcases your skills, consider including a section dedicated to it. Provide the name of the organization, the duration of your involvement, and a brief description of your responsibilities and contributions. Highlight transferable skills or experiences gained through volunteering that align with the job requirements.

2. Publications and Research: If you have published any articles, papers, or research findings, you can create a section to highlight your scholarly work. Include the title of the publication, the name of the journal or conference, the date of publication, and any notable recognition or impact of your work. This demonstrates your intellectual curiosity, expertise, and contribution to your field.

3. Professional Memberships and Associations: If you are a member of any professional organizations, industry associations, or relevant clubs, mention them in this section. Include the name of the organization and your membership status. Being a member of such groups indicates your commitment to professional development and staying connected to industry trends and networks.

4. Awards and Honors: If you have received any notable awards, scholarships, or honors throughout your academic or professional journey, create a section to highlight them. Mention the name of the award, the granting organization, the date received, and a brief description of the achievement. This adds credibility to your profile and showcases your exceptional abilities or accomplishments.

5. Language Proficiency Certifications: If you possess language proficiency certifications beyond the basic language skills section, you can include a separate subsection specifically for these certifications. List the certification name, level achieved, and the year obtained. This emphasizes your dedication to language learning and validates your skills in a formal and recognized manner.

6. Skills in Specialized Software or Tools: If there are specific software programs, tools, or technologies that are relevant to the job you are applying for, consider adding a section to showcase your proficiency in these areas. List the software names or technical skills, along with your level of expertise. This demonstrates your ability to use industry-specific tools and technologies effectively.

7. Projects or Side Ventures: If you have undertaken any significant projects or side ventures outside of your main employment that demonstrate your skills, entrepreneurship, or problem-solving abilities, include a section to highlight them. Provide a brief description of the project, your role, and the outcomes achieved. This showcases your initiative, creativity, and ability to take on independent projects.

When including additional sections, focus on the ones that are most relevant to the job you are applying for and emphasize the aspects that highlight your qualifications, achievements, and unique strengths. Ensure that the additional sections complement the main sections when writing your Japanese resume and provide a well-rounded view of your skills and experiences.

Tips for Proofreading and Reviewing Your Resume

1. Take a Break: Writing a Japanese resume can be energy consuming so after completing your resume, step away from it for a while. This break allows you to approach the document with fresh eyes during the proofreading process. Ideally, take a break of a few hours or even a day before reviewing your resume.

2. Read Aloud: Read your resume aloud to catch any awkward phrasing, grammatical errors, or typos, as hearing the content can help identify issues that might not be evident when reading silently.

3. Check for Consistency: Ensure consistency in formatting, punctuation, and capitalization throughout your resume. Consistent use of bullet points, font styles, headings, and indentation creates a visually appealing and professional-looking document.

4. Grammar and Spelling: Carefully proofread for grammar and spelling mistakes by using spell-checking tools, but don’t solely rely on them. Pay attention to commonly misspelled words and homonyms because spell-checkers might not catch them.

5. Review the Content: Double-check the accuracy and relevance of the information provided. Ensure that your resume reflects your current skills, experiences, and contact information, and remove any outdated or unnecessary information that might distract the reader.

6. Ask for Feedback: Seek feedback from trusted friends, colleagues, or mentors, as they can provide valuable insights and help identify any areas that need improvement. Consider their suggestions and make revisions accordingly.

7. Be Mindful of Formatting: Pay attention to the overall visual appeal of your resume. Ensure that the font type, size, and spacing are consistent throughout. Use bold, italics, or underlining sparingly to emphasize important points.

8. Proofread for Specific Sections: Give extra attention to critical sections such as personal information, job titles, dates, and contact details because these details need to be accurate and error-free.

9. Check for Clarity and Conciseness: Review your sentences and bullet points to ensure they are clear and concise. Remove any unnecessary jargon, repetition, or wordiness that may confuse the reader or make your resume appear cluttered.

10. Use a Checklist: Create a checklist of common resume errors and go through it systematically during the proofreading process. This can include items such as checking for consistent verb tenses, removing excessive adjectives, or verifying proper capitalization.

11. Seek Professional Help: If you are unsure about the quality of your resume or need assistance with proofreading or writing your Japanese resume, consider engaging a professional resume writer or career counselor. They can provide valuable guidance and help you refine your document further.

Remember, proofreading and reviewing when writing your Japanese resume is crucial to ensure a polished and error-free final version. A well-presented resume demonstrates your attention to detail, professionalism, and commitment to delivering high-quality work.

Contrasts: Japanese Resume vs. Western Resume

1. Format and Structure:

Japanese Resume (Rirekisho – 履歴書 – りれきしょ): The Japanese resume, known as “Rirekisho,” often follows a standardized format. It typically includes personal information such as name, address, contact details, and a passport sized  photograph. Educational background, work history, skills, and certifications are presented in a reverse-chronological order. Length is often limited to one or two pages.

Western Resume: Western resumes tend to be more flexible in format and structure and they typically include a header with contact information, followed by sections such as summary/objective, education, work experience, skills, and additional sections tailored to the individual’s strengths and relevant accomplishments. The length can vary, but it is generally recommended to keep it within two pages.

2. Personal Details:

Japanese Resume (Rirekisho): The Rirekisho places emphasis on personal information. It commonly includes details like age, gender, marital status, and sometimes even blood type. These details, though uncommon in Western resumes, are considered relevant in the Japanese culture for creating a comprehensive profile.

Western Resume: In Western resumes, personal details such as age, gender, and marital status are generally excluded because the focus is primarily on professional qualifications, achievements, and skills. The aim is to present a candidate’s suitability for the position based on merit and qualifications rather than personal attributes.

3. Objective Statement:

Japanese Resume (Rirekisho): The Rirekisho typically lacks an objective statement, and candidates may choose to include a brief self-introduction highlighting their personal qualities and career aspirations.

Western Resume: Western resumes commonly feature an objective or summary statement at the beginning. This concise paragraph highlights the candidate’s career goals, relevant skills, and experiences. It serves as an opportunity to capture the attention of the recruiter and align the candidate’s objectives with the position they’re applying for.

4. Work Experience:

Japanese Resume (Rirekisho): In the Rirekisho, work experience is presented in a reverse-chronological order, including job titles, company names, and durations. However, the focus is often placed not on specific accomplishments or responsibilities, but more on the company name.

Western Resume: Western resumes provide more detailed information about work experience, emphasizing accomplishments, responsibilities, and quantifiable results, as the aim is to showcase relevant skills and demonstrate the impact the candidate had in previous roles. Bulleted lists and action verbs are commonly used to convey this information concisely.

5. Skills and Qualifications :

Japanese Resume (Rirekisho) The Rirekisho generally lists skills and qualifications without providing extensive descriptions or examples. It focuses on highlighting the candidate’s areas of expertise briefly.

Western Resume: Western resumes emphasize skills and qualifications, often through bullet points or concise statements. The aim is to provide concrete evidence of the candidate’s abilities and align them with the requirements of the position. Specific examples and achievements are commonly included to showcase proficiency in different areas.

Cultural expectations for Japanese resumes:

1. Structure: Follow a chronological format with sections on personal information, education, work experience, and skills.

2. Photo: Include a professional headshot in the upper-right corner. A plain, formal suit attire is ideal for example a navy or black suit paired with a white or cream business shirt. It is best to remove accessories such as piercings and other jewelry. For new graduates, there are special suits dedicated to new grads and they are typically a more affordable suit option.  For women, light makeup is recommended.  For men you should either be clean shaven or have a prominent beard. A 5 o’clock shadow can leave a sloppy impression.  It is recommended that you have neat hair in your professional photo. If you have long hair, tie it up so your face is very visible. 

3. Personal Statement: Write a brief self-introduction highlighting personal qualities, career goals, and interest in the position/company.

4. Handwritten Signature: Add a handwritten signature at the end for a personal touch.

5. Attention to Detail: Ensure clarity, neatness, and no errors or smudges, and use formal language and polite expressions.

6. Length: Keep the resume concise, typically one or two pages.

Remember that specific requirements may vary, so it’s always advisable to research and follow any instructions provided by the employer.

Conclusion:

While the ultimate goal of both Japanese and Western resumes is to secure a job, the cultural differences shape their respective formats and content. When writing a Japanese resume, understanding these distinctions is crucial for job seekers looking to make a positive impression and effectively communicate their qualifications in different cultural contexts. By adapting their resumes to align with local norms, candidates can enhance their chances of success in today’s interconnected job market.

Other articles from The Tokyo Life :

Taxes in Japan

Obtaining a My Number Card

Need help with figuring out living in Tokyo? Our Tokyo 101 guides  take the stress out of navigating life in Japan.

Cover Image: Photo by João Ferrão on Unsplash Laptop and Notepad: Photo by Bram Naus on Unsplash Tokyo University: Photo by note thanun on Unsplash Ladies Using Laptop: Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash Man With Suit and Watch: Photo by Hunters Race on Unsplash

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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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Gaijinpot Blog

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.
• Can’t speak Japanese just yet?  These positions  don’t require Japanese ability.

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Andrew Smith

Traveler, musician, runner, gamer, video editor.

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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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How to write a Resume in Japan -The Perfect Guide for Foreigners-

“It’s difficult to write a resume in Japanese” “I don’t know how to write it because it’s my first time” “How important is a resume?” There may be many foreigners who think this way.

In Japan, the resume is the standard for passing before continuing to the interview. That’s why you need to write your resume in correct Japanese, while following Japanese business manners.

A resume can be called the first barrier. But, if you learn how to write it properly, anyone can create a high-quality resume. This article is for foreigners who do not know how to write resumes, such as basic information like name, address, education/work history, license/qualifications, motivation, hobbies / special skills, etc. Let’s carefully explain how to write a resume.

If you are a foreigner who has trouble writing a Japanese resume, please use this text as a reference. Let’s aim to create a resume that makes people think: “I want to meet this person!”.

• 1 Resume Writing Rules
• 2 How to write a resume -basic information-
• 3 How to write a resume -Education History and Work History-
• 4 How to write a resume -Licenses and Certifications-
• 5 How to write a resume -Motivation/Reasons for application-
• 6 How to write a resume -Hobbies/Special skills-
• 7 How to write a resume -Personal aspirations, Commuting, Marital Status-
• 8 Write a high-quality resume and work for a Japanese company of your choice!

Resume Writing Rules

Before you start writing your resume, there are writing rules that you should know first. The two most important rules are:

①If you make a mistake, write a new resume. ②Do not re-use resumes with the same content.

In case of making a mistake in a handwritten resume, do not attempt to correct the mistake by crossing it out or using whiteout. Since it will give a bad impression, it’s better to rewrite it.

You can avoid these mistakes by first drafting with a pencil and then writing above it with a black ballpoint pen. Recently, an increasing number of companies accept resumes created on computers. However, it is important to understand that there are still many companies to which resumes should be handwritten.

It is also important not to re-use the same resume. People who work at companies are professionals at reviewing resumes. For this reason, if you use the same resume that was also used for another company, it won’t seem solid and will make difficult to communicate your motivation to join the company. Create a resume for each company. That is a vital point to pass the document screening.

There are other writing rules. It is important to be careful with Japanese polite sentence closer, “masu” (-ます), “-desu” (-です), and to make sure that all the items are filled in and that there are no typographical mistakes or omissions.

If you register on a career change website or to a career change service, you can rest assured that a reliable agent will check your resume.

How to write a resume -basic information-

Let’s understand how to write a resume while valuing the rules for writing a resume. First, I will explain how to write basic information on resumes.

①Date Enter the date you will submit your resume, not the date you wrote your resume. In case of mailing the application, enter the mailing date. Please fill in the date of the interview if you are taking it to an interview. Also, let’s make compatible the year writing into either the Japanese calendar ex. 「令和X年」 or the Western calendar ex. 「20XX年」.

②Name Although it is a name, write your name in the place where “氏名” is written. Make sure to leave a space between the last name and the name. In the furigana above the name field, enter “Hiragana” or “Katakana” according to your resume.

To identify which one to write, use Hiragana if the word “Furigana” is written in Hiragana, and Katakana if the word “Furigana” is written in Katakana. In Japan, the family name is written in front and the first name is written behind.

③Birth date and age Write it according to the calendar type that is written on the date of ①, “Japanese calendar” or “Western calendar”. Enter your current age at the time you submit or mail your resume.

④Address and contact information Enter the address without omitting zip code, prefecture, address, building name, and room number. Please fill in the Furigana correctly. If the contact address is the same as the address, enter “same as above”. If you would like to write another contact, do not omit it.

⑤Phone number/email address f you do not have a fixed phone, enter the mobile phone number only. Please enter your web e-mail address, not the mobile phone e-mail address. The company will contact you with the information listed here, so be sure not to make any mistakes.

⑥Photo Many foreigners may be wondering where to shoot. It is common to take photos for resumes at ID photo booths installed at train stations and photo studios.

In that case, it is basic to shoot it with a black or blue suit and no hat. Paste the front photo (bust-up photo) taken within 3 months to your resume. When pasting, cut it into a size of 3cm wide x 4cm long, and paste it with glue.

How to write a resume -Education History and Work History-

①Education history First of all, “Education History” is clearly stated in the center of the first line. The educational background will be written from the second line, the general rule is to write from the previous academic background.

The final educational background is not “the last school you graduated” but “the highest educational institution”. For example, if you graduate from a university and enter a vocational school, the university has a higher standard as an educational institution, so you should write first “university” as previous academic background.

The school name must be an official name. Please write properly department, major, major subject, etc. Enrollment and graduation years must be displayed the same as the date (Japanese or Western calendar). If you dropped out of school, indicate “dropped out”, and if you are currently in school, state “expected graduation”.

②Work history Write a line below the academic background and specify “work history” in the center. In the order of the company where you worked, enter “year of hire, company name, type of industry, number of employees, concise job description” and “year of leave/reason for retirement”.

If the reason for retirement is for personal reasons, specify “retirement due to personal reasons”, and if you retire due to dismissal, state “retirement due to company circumstances”. Also, if you are currently working, you have to state “Present”. Finally, write “End” in the last line.

How to write a resume -Licenses and Certifications-

“License/Qualification” is in principle the official name. Also, it is necessary to indicate the year of acquisition of each one correctly. It’s important to make sure to state at the top the license or qualification that can be used in the company you want to apply. If you have not acquired any, specify “None”.

How to write a resume -Motivation/Reasons for application-

In the resume, the “Motivation” field is the one that can promote yourself the most. It is important not to write a reason that you can use to apply to any company. You should investigate the company you want to apply, and to concretely write what kind of experience you have had, your skills, and what you want to do after joining the company.

＜Advice＞ I’ll explain the difference between “Kisha” and “Onsha”, both meaning is “your company”.

Kisha (貴社): Use this when writing resumes or emails. Onsha (御社): Use for interviews and business talks.

Although it is a small detail, by remembering this, it can give a good impression by using it properly.

How to write a resume -Hobbies/Special skills-

Hobbies and special skills may become a topic in conversations with interviewers. For this reason, avoid “nothing in particular” or to leave it in blank. If your hobbies and special skills are related to your work, it will lead to appeal. Please try to include specific details. Also, please note that hobbies and feats that give negative impressions of gambling and crimes are better to avoid.

How to write a resume -Personal aspirations, Commuting, Marital Status-

①Personal aspirations Clarify the desired job type. It is a rule of principle to state that your workplace, salary, and treatment can be according to the company regulations.

②Commuting Specify the commute time to the company and your nearest station. As a general rule, commuting time should be 90 minutes or less. If you live in a remote area or are coming to Japan, it is necessary to state that you will be able to commute without problem after joining the company. “最寄り駅” means the closest station from home.

③Marital Status Foreigners who are married will circle “Yes” in the marital status field. If you are single, please circle “No”.

Write a high-quality resume and work for a Japanese company of your choice!

Many foreigners are reluctant to Japan’s resume. However, if you learn how to write it properly, you can create a resume that will interest companies.

Let’s create a high-quality resume, by keeping correct Japanese expressions and Japanese business manners. As long as you write politely, you will have the chance to work for a Japanese company of your choice.

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How to write a Japanese resume

Applying for jobs anywhere in the world can be daunting. However, crafting a resume for a job application in Japan can be especially challenging for someone who hails from North America. The expectations for Japanese resumes are quite different than they are in the West, including a strict format that is rarely tampered with. Learn the basics of creating a well-structured resume for the Japanese job market and the key professional and cultural differences to watch out for.

Cultural differences

Japanese resumes include much of the same information about education, work history, and skills. However, there are some critical cultural differences that any Westerner applying for a job in Japan needs to know about. 

First, creative resumes are rarely seen in Japan. This is because resumes, referred to as “rirekisho” (1) in Japan, follow a strict resume template . There are lines, boxes, and structural expectations for every section, so you’ll never have to guess about what information you should include or where it belongs on the page.

A formal Japanese resume should also include a photograph and information about the applicant’s age and family structure. (2) This is generally a no-go in the United States, where applicants and organizations alike often worry about navigating issues of age and racial discrimination.

Another difference between a North American and a Japanese resume is that the latter is not as concerned with conciseness. Job seekers in the Western world often worry about putting too many details on their resume. Those in Japan must include lots of personal information. In some cases, they must include a more detailed CV along with their resume. Consequently, it’s not uncommon for Japanese resumes to be more than one page.

Although some have indicated that a Japanese resume must be handwritten to be accepted, this is not the case anymore. However, while many North American companies would think it strange to receive a handwritten resume, Japanese companies look favorably upon this practice. (3)

Expert Tip:

When crafting your application, consider starting with a Japanese resume example or template. This will help you adhere to the strict format for Japanese resumes and ensure that you include all the necessary information your target employer wants to see.

Format and structure of a Japanese resume

Unlike resumes in the Western world, a Japanese resume follows a strict format and structure. Here are the essential elements you should include to ensure that your resume will be well-received.

Although virtually no one in the United States puts their photo on a resume, it is common practice in Japan. The photo you use should be a professional one in which you are dressed conservatively in formal office attire. 

The picture should be similar in size and type to a passport photograph. This means that your face should be well-lit against a solid background. Avoid wearing glasses, hats, flashy accessories, and heavy makeup. Don’t have hair on your face or smile too wide. Also, ensure that the photograph is in color instead of black and white.

Date of application

The top of your Japanese resume should include the year, month, and day you will submit your resume. In the U.S., this information is generally reserved for your cover letter . In Japan, include it on the resume and make sure it’s accurate. 

Personal information

While most North American resume articles would advise against it, Japanese employers expect that you’ll disclose many personal details in your resume. 

As with resumes in the Western world, you will need to give your full name, present address, phone number, email address, and any other contact information you want to include. However, a Japanese resume also needs to include your nationality , date of birth, age, and gender (4) — all elements you would leave off the resume in many other countries.

Academic history

In Japan, any resume you submit should include your full academic history , starting with high school and ending with your highest level of education. Include your graduation month and year for every level of schooling, as well as the school name, department, and major. You won’t have to worry about your graduation year giving away your age since you will already have included your age and date of birth in the previous section.

Work history

After a one-line gap, you will next give the employer details about your work history. Unlike the reverse chronological resumes that set the standard in the U.S., your past employment should be listed in chronological order (5) on your Japanese resume, which means you should start with your first job and end with your most recent position.

Don’t forget to state the year and month you joined the company as an employee and state your reason for leaving in the next line. You don’t have to include bullet points about your roles and responsibilities if you will be including a CV along with your resume. If not, you can include a few details about the nature of the employer’s business and your role in the company.

Licenses and qualifications

If you have applied for any job in the United States, this short section will already be familiar to you. Here, you will list any relevant licenses or certifications that can make you stand out in the hiring process or that are relevant to the job. Make sure to include the year and month it was obtained next to each license or certification.

Special skills and self-promotion

If you’re the kind of person who likes to “sell yourself” on your resume, then you’re in luck if you’re applying for a job in Japan. The Japanese resume format makes space for anyone to showcase their skills and tell why they’re a great candidate for the job. 

You can use this space on your Japanese resume as a professional summary of sorts, listing your special skills and highlighting the value you can bring to the company. Make sure that you’re being polite when explaining how you can use your skills to benefit the company. 

Although it is not uncommon to use the same resume to apply to different positions, you should still ensure your skillset is relevant to the role you’re applying for.

Miscellaneous information and requests

This last part of your resume will include quite a bit of information about your personal life. Although you have already listed your address at the top, you need to indicate your commute time in five-minute increments so the employer can see how close you are to the job. (4)

Additionally, you should list any dependents for whom you will provide at least half of their support, as well as information about your spouse and whether they are employed. (4)   You also need to indicate whether you have a health condition that will affect your working life and make a detailed request for any special accommodations. (6)

Job seekers in other countries may consider this section to be a little “too much” in terms of information disclosure, so North American resume and cover letter examples don’t usually include it. However, Japanese companies need to have this critical information about you to determine whether you’re suitable for the job and to ensure they can accommodate your needs. 

“Job seekers in the Western world often worry about putting too many details on their resume. Those in Japan must include lots of personal information.”

Following the rules is the key to crafting a standout Japanese resume

Japanese and North American resumes include many of the same elements. However, the addition of highly personal details, the strict format, and the inclusion of a photograph make the Japanese resume stand out as unique.

When creating your Japanese resume, avoid typos and grammatical errors that can overshadow your qualifications. Include all necessary information, but try not to be long-winded or ramble on about irrelevant details. If you’re from North America or a different country, write your resume in Japanese and ensure that it’s readable and clear.

If you need help getting started with your job application in Japan, consider using Jobseeker 's resume examples and cover letter templates that adhere to the cultural norms. When you respect the rules of job hunting in Japan, you can rest assured that you’ll come across as poised, professional, and qualified for the position.

(1) Inbound Technology: How to write a “Shokumukeirekisho,” the other Japanese resume

(2) Japan Today: No gender, photo, or first name – One company makes major shakeup to job application forms

(3) Peregre Works: Do I have to write a resume with my hand?

(4) GaijinPot: Japan 101 - Jobs and Employment

(5) Internship in Japan: How to improve your CV to work in Japan

(6) Living In Japan: How to Describe “Personal Requests” in your RIREKISHO – Documents required for job hunting 09

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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.

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• Japanese resume (1)

1. Rirekisho (Japanese Resume 1)

There are two kinds of resumes commonly used in Japan: 履歴書(rirekisho) and 職務経歴書 (shokumukeirekisho). Rirekisho is a brief overview of your educational and/or work history. It only shows basic yet important details about yourself such as your graduation dates, companies you have worked at and the time you have spent at each company. It is almost seen as a business card for those looking for work.

(1) Writing Points

point 1 Emphasis on readability

You can either use your handwriting or a PC, but make sure your resume is easy to read.

point 2 Unify fonts

The standard fonts used in Japan are Gothic and Mincho. Make sure to only use one font throughout the whole document. Change the size and boldness for the parts you wish to emphasize such as the title or your name.

point 3 The JIS standard

This section explains how to write a well-balanced Japanese resume in the JIS standard, which is the most common in Japan. Some companies may specifically ask for a JIS standard. It might also be permitted to submit your resume in a free format, but since the JIS standard contains all the information required by the companies, it helps to provide all appropriate information as a formal document.

(2) Basic writing style

① basic information.

• Name, address, age, gender
• Use Hiragana or Katakana
• The photograph should be taken with a white, blue or other plain background, showing the face clearly and taken from the chest up. Wear a nice shirt and a jacket. If you are in Japan, it is recommended to use a photo machine specifically for official photos. You can find them installed in many locations, such as in the train stations or shopping malls.

② Background

• The years are written down in the Japanese calendar style (Showa, Heisei, etc.) and should be listed in chronological order.
• The dates should correspond to the dates written down in the 職務経歴書 (shokumukeirekisyo).

Academic background section (high school, university etc.)

List the name of the school and the major studied. Academic bacground generally starts from senior high school graduation. If the country in which the school was attended is not included in the name of the school, it is best to write it down before or after the school name. You can use brackets [] to make it more readable. For short-term study abroad or language school experiences it might be better to create a separate section as to not make the academic background too long.

Work history section

Write the name of the companies you have worked at. For each company listed, write down 2 lines; "株式会社XX入社 (Started work at XX)", "株式会社XX退職 (Left XX)". In the event of a transfer, enter " XX株式会社へ転籍 (Transferred to XX Kabushiki Kaisha)". If you work at an organization or government agency, write down the correct Japanese expressions such as "入団 (joining the organization)" or "入庁 (joining the agency)".

Note Departmental transfers and detailed company information Since all your departments and positions are written in your 職務経歴書 (shokumukeireisho), it is not necessary to write down every time you have been transferred or promoted in your resume. If there are too many positions or departments listed on the resume, it might give an impression of changing jobs too often. ""Employment form,"" ""Department,"" ""Number of employees,"" and ""Business description"" are also not required to be filled out.

Note Employment experience in part-time employment and interns No particular entry is required, but if you want to make a special appeal, please write it as [Supplement] at the end if you want to fill in the blank. (e.g., part-time workers at shops from October 2000 to October 2000)

Note Reason for resignation In the event of a dismissal due to bankruptcy, downsizing, withdrawal from business, or personnel reductions, the reason for resignation is "会社都合により退職 (Resignation due to the company's circumstances)". Otherwise, "退職 (Resignation)" or "一身上の都合により退職 (Resignation for personal reasons)".

③ Qualifications and notes

• List the qualification you have acquired along with the date of acquisition.
• Use the official titles for the qualifications (e.g. first class driver's license for ordinary vehicles). Verify the correct information on the certificate or on the internet.
• Information on spouse, dependents, etc. This information might be nescessary for the company insurance.
• If you have a blank period in your career history, you can use this space to explain what you did at that time.

⑤ Hobbies, special skills, self-PR, and motivations

• Special skills and hobbies are not mandatory to fill in.
• Self-PR should be written specifically for each company or general as to apply for various companies.
• Your motivion should be tailored to each company you apply for. ※When sending your resume to a recruitment agency, it is recommended to leave the motivation field blank.

⑥ Section to write your conditions, hopes and wishes

• If you do not have any specific conditions, it is recommended to write "貴社の規定に従います (in accordance with your company's regulations)". Writing down your desires is not a problem, but it is important to avoid writing down too many, as to avoid leaving a negative impression.

(3) Download samples and formats

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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.

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.

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.

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!

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How to write the perfect cv 履歴書(rirekisho) resume in japanese.

How to write the perfect CV 履歴書(rirekisho) Resume in Japanese : A look into all of the information, techniques, tips and tricks you need to write the perfect CV in Japanese to land a job in Japan.

• 1 How to write the perfect CV 履歴書(rirekisho) Resume in Japanese
• 2.1 Rirekisho 1: Start with basic information
• 2.2 Rirekisho 2:Education and work history section
• 2.3 Rirekisho 3:Certificates of licenses
• 2.4 Rirekisho 4:The reason as to which you are applying for the job
• 2.5 Rirekisho 5:Hopes and dreams
• 2.6 Learn Japanese rirekisho with BondLingo
• 3 Study in Japan?
• 4.1 Related

So, you think you are about ready to get a job in Japan? Great news, but you’re going to need a CV, or in Japanese, 履歴書-りれきしょ-Rirekisho . In today’s online Japanese lesson we are going to build a CV from scratch and look at all the information you need. Of course you only really need a Japanese CV if you are going to be working in a company in which you are required to communicate in Japanese.

If you are just looking for a teaching job or somewhere that is using English as the main form of communication, odds are that an English CV will do the Job.

• Basic information(Name, sex address…)
• Your education & work history
• Licenses or certificates
• The reason why you are applying for the job
• hopes and dreams

But wait, even if you think you don’t need a Japanese CV right now, stick around and find out how to build one anyway as this will really help you in the future should you want to pursue a career with a Japanese company. Plus, you’re going to learn some great new vocab anyway. Let’s jump in now so you can take the next step towards your dream job.

Now you know the main elements for putting together a killer CV in Japanese, let’s look at some of the vocabulary you will come across.

Vocabulary for writing a Japanese resume(rirekisho)

Japan’s CV’s in general are very different to the traditional CV you are probably used to. The first major difference is that a picture is a necessity to be included on your CV. Formal business attire is a must for these pictures and you should be sure that you are looking your best.

It’s important to note as well that Japan also has 2 main hiring seasons, the end of summer and the beginning of spring so make sure you time it just right, it’s never too early to prep and work on your perfect CV.

Now there are lots of templates available online and they are all essentially very similar in terms of the information you are required to input. We suggest finding one of these and putting it to work as it will make the process a lot easier.

Rirekisho 1: Start with basic information

You should start with basic information, name, hanko (name stamp), date of birth, phone number and address. When it comes to writing your name, Katakana is acceptable for foreigners and it’s a good idea to write your name in Romaji too.

When giving your age you must conform to the traditional imperial method. This method is based on the era’s of Japan 昭和,平成 and so forth. You simply have to find the dates of which the era spans and select the year from that era which correlates to your birthday. It seems complicated but there are also lots of converters online that can achieve that for you too.

Rirekisho 2:Education and work history section

You will then need to fill in your education and work history section. Unlike what you are probably used to, you don’t need to write how your work and education has prepared you for the role you are searching for, you simply need to state the facts of when and where in chronological order.

Once you have finished your education and job history section, use 以上 to show that you are finished with that company or school, however if you are still currently in a position, you should use 現在に至る to indicate that fact.

Rirekisho 3:Certificates of licenses

In the next section you need to input any certificates of licenses that you have to prove to your employer that you are worthy of the task at hand. This could be a driver’s license, teacher qualification, fork lifting qualification etc.

Rirekisho 4:The reason as to which you are applying for the job

We now come to possibly the most important section of your CV which is the reason as to which you are applying for the job. Talk about your interest, skills and why you are the perfect person for that role. You will then need to consider things like commute time, marital status etc.

Rirekisho 5:Hopes and dreams

The last and final section covers hopes and dreams and it is also very common place to write down the type of salary you are looking for too so don’t be shy about that.

We would definitely recommend showing your CV to a Japanese friend just to give it a once over before sending your CV out to potential employers.

Thanks for reading today’s online lesson about creating the perfect CV in Japanese. As always, keep pushing yourself and striving to learn every single day. Until next time everyone, またね。

Learn Japanese rirekisho with BondLingo

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