Resume Standards in Japan
Understand local expectations and formatting guidelines
resume vs cv
Japan uses a distinctive two-document system. The 履歴書 (rirekisho) is a highly standardized, form-based resume covering personal details, education, and work history in a fixed grid. The 職務経歴書 (shokumu-keirekisho) is a more free-form 'work history / career CV' where you describe roles, responsibilities, and achievements. Mid-career and professional applications almost always require BOTH, submitted together. Bilingual and global-company roles may instead (or additionally) accept a Western-style English resume.
page length
Rirekisho is typically 1-2 pages on the standard template; shokumu-keirekisho is usually 1-3 pages (2 is most common). A Western-style English resume should stay to 1-2 pages.
language
Japanese is expected for the vast majority of roles. English-only resumes are accepted mainly at international companies, English-teaching jobs, and dedicated bilingual/global positions. When in doubt, prepare a Japanese version; a clean, native-checked Japanese document signals seriousness.
photo policy
A photo IS conventionally expected on the rirekisho — a recent, formal headshot (business attire, plain background, roughly 3cm x 4cm). A photo is generally NOT included on the shokumu-keirekisho. Western-style English resumes for global firms usually omit photos.
personal details
On the rirekisho it is still customary to include date of birth/age, gender, full address, phone, and email; a hanko (personal seal) field may appear on older templates though it is increasingly optional. Avoid My Number (national ID), bank details, and family register info. On English/global resumes, omit age, gender, marital status, and photo to align with anti-discrimination norms.
date format
Year-Month-Day order is standard (e.g. 2025/04/01 or 2025年4月1日). Japanese forms frequently use the imperial era calendar (令和 Reiwa) alongside the Western year — e.g. Reiwa 7 = 2025. Be consistent: pick one calendar system and use it throughout the document.
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Top Industries Hiring in Japan
Automotive and auto parts manufacturingElectronics and semiconductorsInformation technology and softwareMachinery, robotics and precision instrumentsBanking, insurance and financial servicesHealthcare, nursing and pharmaceuticalsRetail and e-commerceTourism, hospitality and travelLogistics and trading companies (sogo shosha)Gaming, anime and digital contentConstruction and real estateEducation and language teaching
Typical Salaries in Japan
Approximate annual ranges by role to benchmark your resume
Software Engineer
¥4,500,000–¥9,000,000
Senior Engineer / Tech Lead
¥8,000,000–¥15,000,000
Sales / Account Manager
¥4,000,000–¥8,000,000
Registered Nurse
¥3,800,000–¥5,500,000
English Teacher (ALT / eikaiwa)
¥2,800,000–¥4,500,000
Marketing Manager
¥5,000,000–¥9,000,000
Bilingual HR / Recruiter
¥4,000,000–¥7,500,000
Finance / Accounting Specialist
¥4,500,000–¥8,500,000
Where to Find Jobs in Japan
The top job boards and platforms recruiters use locally
Indeed Japan
The highest-traffic aggregator in Japan; broad coverage across industries and seniority levels.
doda (doda.jp)
Major mid-career platform pairing a large job board with recruiting-agent support.
Rikunabi / Rikunabi NEXT
Recruit's flagship boards — Rikunabi for new graduates, Rikunabi NEXT for career changers.
Mynavi
Heavyweight for shinsotsu (new-graduate) hiring and early-career roles.
BizReach
Premium scout-based platform for mid-to-senior and executive professionals; headhunters reach out to you.
GaijinPot Jobs
Go-to board for foreign job seekers — English-friendly roles and bilingual positions.
Daijob
Long-running bilingual job site for multilingual professionals working in Japan.
Work Authorization & Visas in Japan
Non-Japanese nationals generally need a status of residence (visa) that permits work. Most professional hires use a work visa such as Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, with categories also covering skilled labor, intra-company transfer, and the Highly Skilled Professional points-based visa. Employers typically sponsor the visa after a job offer, and the Certificate of Eligibility (COE) streamlines the process. Rules and categories change — always verify current requirements with the Immigration Services Agency of Japan or a licensed professional.
- A job offer is normally required before a work visa is granted; the employer sponsors and helps obtain the Certificate of Eligibility (COE).
- The Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa is the most common route for white-collar and tech roles and usually requires a relevant degree or equivalent experience.
- Permanent residents, spouses of Japanese nationals, and certain long-term residents can work without employer sponsorship or job-type restrictions.
- Students on a student visa need 'permission to engage in activity outside status' for part-time work, which is hour-capped.
- The Highly Skilled Professional and Specified Skilled Worker categories offer additional pathways; confirm eligibility and current rules officially before applying.
Sample ソフトウェアエンジニア Resume
5年以上の経験を持つフルスタックエンジニア。JavaScript、Python、クラウドインフラに精通し、顧客向けWebアプリケーションの設計・開発をリード。
シニアソフトウェアエンジニア
株式会社テックブリッジ • 東京都渋谷区
2021年4月〜現在
- ReactとNode.jsを用いた大規模ECプラットフォームの開発を主導
- CI/CDパイプラインを導入しデプロイ時間を30%短縮
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ソフトウェアエンジニア
株式会社イノベート • 大阪府大阪市
2017年6月〜2021年3月
- PythonとDjangoで社内業務システムを構築
- AWS上でのインフラ設計・運用を担当
- 新人エンジニアのメンターとして教育プログラムを実施
Professional Resume Templates
Choose from designs optimized for Japan
Shokumu-keirekisho Career CV
Best for: Mid-career professionals, Engineers, Sales and marketing
Bilingual Global Resume
Best for: International company roles, Bilingual professionals, Foreign job seekers
ATS Systems in Japan
Large multinationals in Japan often run Workday or SuccessFactors, while domestic firms favor HRMOS, AirWORK, or Talentio. For ATS-parsed roles, submit a clean, single-column document with standard headings and an editable Word/PDF file. Japanese-language ATS handle Japanese text well, so keep the rirekisho structured and mirror the keywords from the job posting (in the same language as the posting).
HRMOS (by BizReach / Visional)AirWORK (Recruit)TalentioSmartHRWorkdaySAP SuccessFactors
Expert Tips for Japan
- Prepare both documents: a standardized rirekisho for the facts and a shokumu-keirekisho to tell your professional story with results.
- Use a recent, formal headshot on the rirekisho — business attire, neutral expression, plain light background, roughly 3cm x 4cm.
- Keep one calendar system throughout; if a form uses Reiwa, convert consistently (Reiwa 7 = 2025).
- Have a native or fluent speaker proofread your Japanese — flawless, polite language matters more here than in many markets.
- In the shokumu-keirekisho, quantify achievements (sales lifted X%, team of N, project budget) rather than listing duties.
- Add a concise self-PR (自己PR) and motivation (志望動機) section tailored to each specific company.
- Use A4 size and standard Japanese fonts (Mincho or Gothic); keep the design clean and conservative.
- End the rirekisho with the conventional closing 以上 in the bottom-right of the history sections.
- For global or bilingual roles, prepare a parallel English resume that drops age, gender, marital status, and photo.
Common Resume Mistakes to Avoid in Japan
- Submitting only one document — many roles expect BOTH the rirekisho and the shokumu-keirekisho together.
- Skipping the rirekisho photo or using a casual/selfie image instead of a formal business headshot.
- Mixing date formats or eras — switching between Western years and Reiwa, or inconsistent year/month/day order.
- Writing in casual or grammatically rough Japanese; typos and non-native phrasing are read as a lack of care.
- Treating the shokumu-keirekisho like a Western resume with only bullet-point duties instead of describing concrete achievements and context.
- Leaving gaps unexplained or ending the rirekisho without the customary closing line (以上).
- Over-designing the layout — flashy templates and graphics clash with the expected clean, standardized look.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I really need both a rirekisho and a shokumu-keirekisho?
For most mid-career and professional roles in Japan, yes. The rirekisho gives standardized personal and history facts, while the shokumu-keirekisho details your actual work experience and achievements. New-graduate hiring sometimes relies mainly on the rirekisho, but submitting both is the safe default.
Should I put a photo on my Japanese resume?
On the rirekisho, yes — a formal business headshot is conventional and its absence can look incomplete. Use a recent photo in business attire against a plain background. You generally do not add a photo to the shokumu-keirekisho or to an English resume for a global firm.
Can I apply with an English-only resume?
Sometimes. International companies, English-teaching jobs, and dedicated bilingual roles accept English resumes. For the broader Japanese market, a Japanese rirekisho and shokumu-keirekisho are expected. If a posting is in Japanese, assume Japanese documents are required.
Is it OK to list my age and date of birth?
On the rirekisho it is still customary to include date of birth and often gender. On a Western-style English resume for global employers, leave out age, gender, and marital status to align with anti-discrimination norms. Match the convention of the document type you are using.
Which calendar should I use for dates?
Either the Western calendar or the Japanese imperial era (Reiwa) is acceptable, but be consistent across the whole document. Many official forms use Reiwa — for reference, Reiwa 7 corresponds to 2025. Keep year/month/day order throughout.
How long should my documents be?
The rirekisho fits the standard template, usually 1-2 pages. The shokumu-keirekisho is typically 1-3 pages, with 2 being common. Be thorough but concise — padding it out unnecessarily works against you.
Do I need a work visa to apply?
To work in Japan as a non-citizen you need a status of residence that permits employment, most commonly a work visa sponsored by the employer after an offer. Permanent residents and spouses of Japanese nationals can work without sponsorship. Always confirm current rules with the Immigration Services Agency of Japan.
What is self-PR (自己PR) and do I need it?
Self-PR is a short section where you highlight your strengths and what you bring to the role, while 志望動機 explains why you want this specific job. Japanese employers value tailored, sincere statements over generic ones. Customize both for each company you apply to.
Should I handwrite the rirekisho?
Handwriting was once preferred and is still appreciated by some traditional employers, but typed digital rirekisho are now widely accepted, especially in IT and global companies. If you handwrite, do it neatly in black ink and avoid correction fluid. When in doubt, a clean typed version is safe.
How important is perfect Japanese?
Very. Polished, polite, error-free Japanese signals diligence and respect, which Japanese hiring culture prizes. Even strong candidates get filtered out for sloppy grammar or typos. Have a native or fluent speaker review your documents before submitting.
Resume Resources for Japan Job Seekers
Build and sharpen your resume with these guides and free tools — they work for any role you're targeting in Japan.
AI Resume Builder
Generate a tailored, ATS-ready resume for Japan in minutes.
ATS Resume Checker
Scan your resume against applicant tracking systems and fix what blocks it.
Resume Templates
Professional templates that pass ATS parsing and read cleanly.
How to Write a Resume
Step-by-step guide to a strong, modern resume from scratch.
Resume Examples
Real, role-specific examples to model yours on.
Cover Letter Guide
Write a cover letter that complements your resume.
Interview Questions
Prepare answers to the questions you'll actually be asked.
Salary Calculator
Benchmark pay before you negotiate your offer.
