The job search is a major source of anxiety for many college seniors who are about to graduate. Creating an impressive CV is usually the initial step in the employment application process. The Japanese resume, or 履歴書 (Rirekisho), or what some may refer to as a Japanese CV, might be somewhat intimidating at first sight. You might be accustomed to seeing something very different in your home country. This post will walk you through the Rirekisho, the Japanese résumé, piece by section.

Important Points:

• When compared to resumes used outside, the typical Japanese resume has some key differences.
• It is common for recent college grads to use a rirekisho since they lack work experience. The main topic of this rirekisho is Gakuchika (悬悯惁悫), which refers to the areas that applicants or pupils have worked on the most in school.
• Over the past decade, work-life balance has become more acknowledged, and human resources practices at many large companies have become more worker-friendly.
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How to Format a Traditional Japanese Resume

Most Japanese bookshops carry or offer digital downloads of the Rirekisho. A plethora of samples and templates are probably available for you to choose from. The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare has supplied a template that will be used for this article.

Various forms will also be mentioned, such as the one provided to graduates by Yamanashi Gakuin University's Career Support Office, of which the International College of Liberal Arts is a constituent. Key sections typically included in university-provided templates are:

• ガクチカ (Your area of study)
• 自己PR (self-advertising)
• 志望理由 (justifications for applying)
• 
  

It should be mentioned that a lot of businesses ask applicants to fill out their own "Entry Sheet" (ES) online.

Regardless of the template you choose, a typical Rirekisho can be divided into about three parts:

• Your basic information, like name and address
• Your employment history and qualifications
• Your motivation and expectation for the position you are applying for
• 
  

As mentioned in the previous section, it is often expected that you will write a unique Rirekisho for each firm to which you apply. In this way, you won't have to send out a single CV to every single company that interests you.

Although handwritten responses are required on the Rirekisho, printed versions have gained popularity in recent years. Do your homework about the company you're applying to before you start filling out the form. Investigate more to learn the application requirements that are most valued by the organization.

Basic Information:

Personal Information Such as Name and Number:

From the very top, let us go down. Date, name, DOB, and age are the initial pieces of information that must be entered after the title. Additionally, you can choose whether or not to include your sex in the designated field.

The dates should be consistent throughout the entire form, regardless of whether you use the Japanese Calendar or the Gregorian Calendar. There are two fields for your name and furigana in the name section. To be on the safe side, copy your name precisely as it appears on your passport or residency card, capital letters only, if you are unsure of how to present it.

Contact Information:

As you will notice, there are two seemingly identical fields for your current and preferred contact address and phone number. Filling out the top section—which asks for your present address and phone number—is usually all that's required.

Entering 同上(dōjō, meaning "same as above") in the second row would be enough if you do not have a preferred separate address and phone number, which is crucial when creating a resume for purposes such as job searches or school-related paperwork, from your current abode. Make careful to write 同上 in both the address and phone number fields to avoid people questioning if you accidentally left a section blank.

Leaving off apparently innocuous information while writing Japanese addresses is a common mistake made by foreign residents, but it can have serious consequences. If you are unsure about anything, print out your resident record or residence card and copy it word for word, making sure to add the postal code following the symbol (〒).

Separating your address into two or three rows is the standard method of writing it:

• The postal code is located in the first row.
• The second one is for the zip codes associated with your prefecture, city, district, and district.
• The name of the flat and the room number are the third fields.

For Example:

ふりがな やまなしけんこうふしさかおり2ちょうめ4－5まるまるがくせいりょう123

• The postal code
• Region, City, and District identifiers
• Location and room number of the building

現住所 〒400-0805

山梨県甲府市酒折2丁目4－5

〇〇学生寮 123

Formal photo

Even though it may be surprising to hear from non-Japanese speakers, many Japanese employers still ask for a photo on resumes. The Japanese social norm is very particular about the type of photo you should use on your resume. When applying for jobs, it is customary to include the following in your professional photo:

• Keep your hair natural and avoid piercings, headgear, and excessive makeup.
• Minimal shadows and backdrop
• Teeth that are not visible
• Ensure that your entire body is facing forward and your gaze is directly on the camera.
• Business casual (men in complete black suits, ladies in a simple blouse and blazer)
• The photo ought to be from no more than three months ago.
• Prior to pasting a physical Rirekisho onto the form, ensure that you affix your name and date of birth to the back of the photograph. This way, our staff can easily reattach your photo to the right document in the event that it accidentally falls off!

Going to a professional photo studio, renting a photo booth, or even just taking a selfie with your phone are all viable options for getting your picture shot. Listed below are a few advantages and disadvantages of each approach:

Photo studio:

Pros: Your shot will be expertly edited, and the photographer will be there to advise you every step of the way.

Cons: Can be quite costly, and finding a picture studio might be a challenge based on your location.

Education, work history, and qualifications

Your background and qualifications are the most important parts of your resume, according to businesses (particularly those in Japan) and hiring managers. Although it may seem like an easy task, presenting your education, work experience, and certifications in an organized manner can make a positive impression on prospective employers.

Educational background and work history

Upon first glance, you might have noticed that this area is designed for you to record both your educational past (警歴 gakureki) and your employment history (職歴 shokureki). The reason behind this is that you are supposed to do it all by yourself. Be careful to utilize an additional row to write the title of each area (学歴 or 職歴) and to identify the year and month of all actions under them before you begin listing your schools and employment. Start with the most recent endeavours and work your way backwards to the oldest ones.

If you are a recent college grad, your academic record should begin with your graduation from junior high school and include each school you attended and graduated from in its own row. Commence with your high school graduation if you graduated from university some time ago.

Keep in mind that providing your prospective employer with the most pertinent information is more important than filling out the form completely. Be careful to mention your professors and academic program when you describe your school. It would be helpful to indicate the nation at the end of each row if you went to school in a place other than Japan. Moving on to the following part, this is also relevant to your employment background.

Work History

Your decision to include part-time jobs in the Rirekisho is final, although in most cases, you won't need to if they aren't directly relevant to the position you're seeking. A lengthy string of low-paying side gigs won't do much for your Rirekisho, particularly if they have nothing to do with the position's requirements or your plans for professional advancement. Carefully select which experiences to highlight; otherwise, you risk sending the message to the employer that you lack relevant work experience or are unable to hold a job.

Keep in mind that you should only include positions that you are comfortable discussing in an interview, and that shouldn't be included if they lasted less than a year. It is acceptable to write なし (nashi, meaning none) under your work history if you are still a student and do not have any substantial work experience to include. However, you should be prepared to discuss your hobbies and interests during the interview, and you should use this opportunity to highlight your commitment to your studies and future career.

Remember to add one more row at the conclusion of your education and employment history lists. Write 以上（ijyō）along the right-hand side to signify that there is no more information to include. A possible format for the education and employment history portion of a resume for an overseas student would be:

年

月

学歴・職歴（各別にまとめて書く）

学歴

2017年

6月

●●●中学校 卒業 （オーストラリア）

2017年

9月

×××高等高校 入学 （オーストラリア）

2020年

6月

×××高等高校 卒業 （オーストラリア）

2021年

4月

△△大学 □□学部 〇〇学科 入学 （日本）

2025年

3月

△△大学 □□学部 〇〇学科 卒業見込み （日本）

職歴

2022年

4月

レストラン「〇〇〇店」 入社（アルバイト） （日本）

2024年

12月

現在に至る

中学校（chuūgakkō）: junior high school

高等学校（kōtōgakkō）: senior high school

大学（daigaku）: university

学部（gakubu）: faculty

学科（gakka）: department

入学（nyūgaku）: enrolled

卒業（sotsugyō）: graduated

卒業見込み（sotsugyōmikomi）: expected graduation

入社（nyūsha）: entered (a company)

退社（taisha）: quit (a company)

現在に至る（genzainiitaru）: until today (for job positions that you are currently holding)

Qualifications and Licenses

Qualifications follow an almost similar format to those of the preceding sections, which dealt with employment and education. Remind yourself to put the years and months next to the certifications and licenses you've earned, and to list them in chronological order.

Examinations in areas such as basic computer skills, Japanese kanji, business etiquette, and accounting are often taken by pupils as early as elementary school in Japan. The most accepted qualifications for international students include driving licenses, language teaching certifications (TESOL or CELTA), and language examinations (JLPT or TOEIC). Feel free to enter your results from any professional certification examinations you took while in college or vocational school in this section.

年

月

免許・資格

2022年

2月

TESOL英語教授法 取得

2023年

5月

普通自動車免許 取得

2024年

7月

日本語能力試験２級 合格

以上

In the same vein as the job experience section, the aim is not to stuff as many rows as possible but to highlight your most relevant abilities and credentials. If you are at a loss for words, a shorter list is preferable to a large one filled with unimportant details, like an obscure exam you took in the distant past. Remember to add a row to the right side of your list after you finish listing items so you can do a brief 绥上ｈijyōｋ.

Motivation and expectations

This part gives you more leeway than the others to express who you are and what you hope to achieve professionally. If you want your application to stand out, this is where you should put your creative cap on! This is another area where new grads may see differences. Sections captioned "What did you dedicate your time and energy to while you were a student?" can also be found. or Gakuchika ガクチカ in Japanese, 自己PR in Chinese, and 忏望理由 in Japanese if your university has supplied a template.

Motivation and “Appeal Points”

Feel free to introduce yourself in this section. Just like the title says, this is your chance to shine by describing your unique qualifications, your greatest abilities, your favourite classes, and any other aspect of your application that stands out to the hiring manager. Remember that the Rirekisho is a formal document and that honorific language (敬語 keigo) must be used, even though writing about yourself appears to be an enjoyable and creative project.

Focus on how your unique qualities complement those of the prospective employer rather than reciting your resume's laundry list of "appeal points" or boring anecdotes about your life. In particular, you should think about the expectations of the Japanese employer and the cultural setting of the workplace in Japan.

Take sports as an example. If you're good at them and enjoy studying them, you may talk about how they helped you focus or work better with others. Describe how your work experience exposed you to new things and set you up for success in your dream job, even if you're more of an introvert.

Make sure that the position you're applying for aligns with your passions, whatever they may be. Doing so will make your application stand out to the hiring manager by connecting all of the qualities you mentioned.

Expectations for your future employer

At first glance, it seems like the next section wants you to lay out your exact requirements for future employment. In it, you'll be asked to detail your expectations for salary, role, hours worked, start and end times of the workweek, and any other relevant details.

Companies in Japan (and, I think, the rest of the globe) value adaptability and, dare I say it, obedience more than anything else when hiring new employees. A primary objective in this part is to express your desires clearly without coming across as overly demanding.

"I will follow the company's policies" (貴社の規定に従います) is an easy way to end this section if you do not have any specific expectations. Though it may come across as somewhat subservient, this identical statement is often used by recent college grads to answer the entire section.

You can also use this sentence in conjunction with your wishes if you do have specific demands. Saying something like "I am looking to work in administration at the Tokyo branch" is a good way to express your interest in working for the company's Tokyo branch in an administrative capacity. I shall adhere to the company's policies regarding compensation and other matters. Ask only two or three things and try to keep certain things up for discussion during the interview.

It is prudent to remain modest and avoid making excessively unusual requests if you do not possess any particularly noteworthy achievements or experience. Consequently, before you apply, you should look into the company's typical income and current situation. It is wiser to seek out alternative solutions than to ask the corporation to bend over sideways if their terms don't meet your expectations.

In summary

Although there are numerous variations of Rirekisho, the basic idea remains the same. Different forms may request different types of personal information, such as your marital status and family members, or they may divide your motivations and hobbies into distinct sections. Maintain an attitude of enthusiasm and honesty regardless of the medium you choose. When applying for a job, avoid making statements or assertions that you won't be able to back up with evidence.

Creating a high-quality Rirekisho is a crucial initial step in obtaining a job offer in Japan, as it serves as the initial impression to potential employers. Find out as much as you can and don't be shy about asking for assistance from people you know.

The International College of Liberal Arts is located at Yamanashi Gakuin University (YGU). If your university is similar, you should also make use of the career guidance help desk. All YGU Students, including iCLA’s can use the services provided by the Student Center, which include resume writing tips and proofreading services.

If you're an international student looking for further information on how to apply for jobs, you might find JASSO's Job Hunting Guide for International Students useful.

FAQS:

1- Do students typically use the standard Japanese resume format?

Students usually follow a resume format provided by their university, which includes sections like 学生時代に力を注いだこと (What did you focus on during your studies?), 自己PR (self-promotion), and 志望理由 (reasons for applying), compensating for their lack of work experience.

2- What sections are included in a Japanese resume?

A Japanese Resume Template generally includes the following sections: Basic Information, Formal Photo, Education and Work History, and Motivation & Expectations.

3- Is it possible to work in Japan after graduating from university?

After graduating from a Japanese university, you can work in Japan if you secure full-time employment. Job hunting typically begins in the third year of university.

4- Is a Bachelor's degree required to work in Japan?

To qualify for a Specialist of Humanities/Engineering or Instructor visa in Japan, you will need a Bachelor's degree.

We collected data from official university career resources, including the International College of Liberal Arts (iCLA) at Yamanashi Gakuin University, to provide accurate and practical guidance on writing a Japanese-style resume (rirekisho). The information is based on institutional career support materials and best practices recommended for international students seeking employment in Japan.

For detailed resume instructions and official guidelines, visit the Free Cv Builders Career Support page, where you can access structured guidance on preparing your Japanese resume and understanding employer expectations.

Written By: M. Zubair

Last Update: 12/02/2026