Resume & Work History
What is found in a typical English resume is presented in two separate documents in Japanese, i.e., a resume (“Rirekisho”) and a long work history (“Shokumu keirekisho”). So the set of these two documents are submitted by job seekers in Japan today.
Resume (“Rirekisho”)
The Japanese resume in the standard format consists of two pages. On the first page are found:
• Name
• Date of birth
• Gender
• Address
• E-mail address
• Phone number/s
• Academic background
• Brief work history
As to the academic background, description starts with elementary school or high school, including date of entrance and graduation. If the applicant left school without completing the entire program, he/she normally gives reasons.
The applicant’s work history is briefly mentioned, touching on the name of the organization/s, date of joining and retiring or resigning and reasons for retiring or resigning. More detailed information on work experience is given in the long work history mentioned below.
Among the items found on the second page are:
• Honors and awards
• Licenses and special skills
• Hobbies
• Reasons for application
• Health condition
• Marital status and family structure
• Desired position, work location, salary, etc.
In the health condition section, a statement often used is “In good condition” or something of a similar nature.
The marital status and family structure section includes information as to whether the applicant is single or married; how many family members he/she supports; and so on.
It is optional to mention the desired position, work location, salary, etc.
Some of the items mentioned above are not included in English resumes. But it is not illegal to request this type of information in Japan.
The applicant’s recent passport-size photo is attached to the resume.
Japanese resumes have traditionally been handwritten. But many people submit their resumes produced with PCs these days.
Anyway the resume provides only a brief overview of the applicant’s personal, educational and professional background.
Work History (“Shokumu keirekisho”)
The work history used to be utilized mainly by professionals, especially those with a technical background. Today most job seekers submit work histories together with their resumes. It is in the work histories in which they can describe their qualifications and experience fully. And that is where we portray our clients in an effective manner, elaborating on their strong points.
There is no standard format for work histories. The following points are usually included:
• Objective
• Summary of qualifications
• Work experience
• Other pertinent information
It is recommended that a desired position or job description is mentioned under the heading of objective at the top of work history.
It is highly effective to highlight the applicant’s several strong points under the summary of qualifications before describing his/her work experience.
The work experience should be presented in a logical manner, describing the organizations the applicant has worked for, nature of business, assigned duties, promotions, achievements, awards, acquired skills, advanced education/training received, etc. We recommend the use of figures, when touching on the achievements made, e.g., sales increase, cost reduction, etc.
To achieve high readability, the statements in the work histories should be concise, e.g., by using bullet points.
The work histories are presented in a chronological format or in a functional format in most cases.
To obtain an application form and a questionnaire to be submitted to us along with the English resume when ordering your resume and work history, click here. The cover letter is produced free of charge when the resume and work history are ordered.