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When applying for a job in Japan, you submit a Japanese resume called rirekisho, which is often accompanied by another type of resume known as shokumukeirekisho. Here we will introduce you to both types of Japanese resumes and provide some tips on making your submission stand out.

If you are looking for a job in Japan, but do not know where to start, we have many useful articles covering job search websites, recruitment agencies, English-speaking jobs for foreigners in Japan, and more.

Two Types of Japanese Resumes: Rirekisho and Shokumukeirekisho

In Japan, there are two types of resumes: rirekisho (履歴書) and shokumukeirekisho (職務経歴書). When writing rirekisho, it is necessary to follow the standardized resume formula. You mostly fill in sections of the template such as name, address, education, etc., and it usually has little space for you to write freely. While rirekisho provides prospective employers with important information about applicants and can be considered as a sort of "profile", it does not go into details about career achievements, acquired skills, etc. On the other hand, shokumukeirekisho is a type of a resume in Japan that allows you to write much more freely about your experience, career achievements, skills, etc. Therefore, it can be said that rirekisho and shokumukeirekisho complement each other.

While rirekisho is almost universally required when applying for jobs in Japan, shokumukeirekisho may not be required in some cases. For instance, if you are in the process of looking for your first job after graduating from the university, it is usually not necessary to submit shokumukeirekisho as you have not yet begun your career. It is also often not required to write shokumukeirekisho when applying for part-time jobs in Japan. Some companies may specifically state that shokumukeirekisho is not required.

Rirekisho: What You Need for Writing

The type of Japanese resume known as rirekisho follows a strict format, like filling out a form rather than creating an original document. It is quite different from Western resumes, where there is some room for layout design. Japanese resume templates can be purchased in convenience stores, online or downloaded online for free. Please note that there are few formats of resumes in Japan such as JIS (JIS規格), Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (厚生労働省履歴書様式), etc. You can download various templates from the websites such as doda (in Japanese).

Writing your resume by hand can be seen as showing dedication and commitment to a new job with the neatness of your handwriting being an indication of character. While some companies stick closely to this tradition, it has become more accepted over recent years to have a typed resume.

If you choose to handwrite your resume, make sure to only use black ink, write as neatly as possible, and if you make any mistakes, start over. White-out or correction tape is not allowed to be used on resumes. If you choose to type your resume, use one of the standard Japanese fonts (usually Mincho or Gothic) consistently with no mixing of fonts.

Japanese rirekisho also requires a passport-sized photo to be attached in the upper-right corner of the front sheet. This photo is of great importance and will be considered carefully by potential employers. The photo should be similar to a passport photo or ID photo, in that it has a plain background, is taken from the shoulders up, and is usually done in a photo studio or photo booth.

Your photo should put forward your best professional appearance, meaning you should wear a business suit, have neat and professional hair, and minimal makeup and jewelry. In the following article, you will find a list of luxury tailors in Tokyo as well as stores where you can buy inexpensive suits: "Where to Find Tailor-Made Suits in Tokyo".

How to Write Rirekisho

It is important to include the following:

• Basic personal information
• Education and work history
• Qualifications
• Skills
• Self-promotion
• Practical Information

There are distinct sections that need to be filled out on this type of Japanese resume. These largely line up with Western-style resumes, however, there are differences to be aware of.

Basic Personal Information

The first section is personal information. This is where you will give the company your basic information. While Western resumes have a tendency to not include too much information here, such as gender and age, Japanese resumes require it, so you will need to enter your:

• name
• age
• gender (not compulsory in case of the format created by Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)
• contact details
• date of submission (the date you will submit the resume to the company)

Education and Work History

This section can be seen as one large table that you will need to break up into your education and work history.

Starting with education, the first line should be written as 学歴 for “educational background.” Then you can list your education starting from high school and moving forward to your most recent educational experience. You should include:

• date of enrollment
• date of graduation
• department
• your major

If you were educated outside of Japan, it is also advisable to add the country name in brackets.

In the same table, add the line 職歴 for “work history.” Starting from oldest to the most recent, add your positions with the company name, department and position, and dates. You do not need to add details of what you did in this position or how it could help in the job you are applying for. You can go more in details on your responsibilities, acquired skills, etc. in another type of Japanese resume known as shokumukeirekisho. 

Qualifications

This is an area for you to add any licenses, certificates, or additional qualifications you have. It can be something as simple as a driver's license up to and including industry-specific qualifications.

Skills & Self-promotion

After qualifications is an area for special skills and a personal statement. Here you can talk about any skills you possess that may help you in the position. You can also make a statement to sell yourself to the company. This can be seen as similar to a shortened version of a cover letter in Western resumes. This is the only place in rirekisho that is more freehand, allowing you to demonstrate why you would make a good candidate for the company. It is important to use this section to its full potential.

Practical Information

Finally, you will usually need to include some miscellaneous details, such as commute time, declare any dependents, spouse, and your spouse’s working situation. As it is standard for the company to pay transportation expenses, it can be useful for them to see your estimated commute in advance. This information also allows the company to understand the insurance situation if they hire you. To learn about employee benefits in Japan, please check this article. Please note that there are no such sections for filling in case of the format created by Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. 

Should you have any specific requests regarding location or salary, you can include it. A Japanese resume provides much of the same information as a Western resume, but it is necessary in Japanese business culture to provide it in the standardized formula outlined above, with additions when required.

How to Write Shokumukeirekisho

Unlike standardized rirekisho, shokumukeirekisho does not have a strict format. You can find various samples of shokumukeirekisho online on the websites such as doda (in Japanese). Although it is common to create shokumukeirekisho on the computer, it is also possible to write it by hand.

Although there is no one format, there are certain things you can write about. First of all, this resume should have a title, which is 職務経歴書 as well as the date of submission and name of the applicant. It often has a career summary. When writing your employment history, you can go into details about your careers at companies by proving information on your job duties, results, achievements, etc. You can also write about your skills, qualifications, as well as self-promotion (自己PR), the reason you apply for that job, etc. There are many ways you can write shokumukeirekisho making it a great tool you can use to make yourself stand out among other candidates. In this way, it is more similar to Western resumes, than heavily standardized rirekisho.

Advice on Making Japanese Resumes

Submitting resumes is the first step toward potentially getting hired at a new Japanese company. However if your resumes do not impress the people hiring, you won’t get to the interview stage. Therefore, it is important that your resumes really stand out and make an employer want to meet you in person.

In Japan, both Japanese and Western calendars can be used in resumes. However, it is important to be consistent and stick to one. You should not write one date according to the Japanese calendar format and later switch to the Western one. Here is a chart of years written in Japanese and Western calendar formats (in Japanese).

It is likely your writing of the resumes will also be scrutinized for mistakes, whether in handwriting or typing. It is necessary to proofread your resumes to make sure there are no incorrect characters, grammatical mistakes, or formality slip-ups.

Overall, your resumes should represent you and the benefits you would provide as an employee in the position you are applying for.

Navigating Japan’s Business Culture

We hope this guide has helped to simplify the complexities of writing your Japanese resumes. If you plan to work in Japan, we have a variety of useful articles covering business etiquette, gift giving, attire, communication, and more.

You may be also interested in reading:

・Business Card Etiquette in Japan – How to Exchange Business Cards

・Japanese Job Titles in English

・Business Telephone Converstaion

・JLPT for Studying and Working in Japan