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When changing jobs, the quality of your Japanese resume (職務経歴書) and English CV plays a critical role in your success. These documents serve as presentation tools to showcase your experience, skills, and strengths, and are often decisive in passing the initial screening process.
Application requirements vary depending on the company and industry. At JAC International, our consultants, who are well-versed in various sectors, provide personalised support to help you craft resumes that align with the expectations of your target employers.
In general, job seekers in Japan are expected to submit a Japanese Resume (履歴書) and a Japanese Career History Document (職務経歴書). For applications to foreign-affiliated companies, an English CV is often required.
The format and language of required documents can differ significantly depending on the company’s culture and the nature of the position. Therefore, confirming and preparing the appropriate documents in advance is essential.
A strategic approach to both format and content is necessary to increase your chances of passing the document screening stage.
When considering a job change, the types of documents required vary greatly depending on the company you are applying to. Below we will introduce some typical cases.
・Required Documents: Japanese Resume (履歴書), Japanese Career History Document (職務経歴書).
・Note: Some companies may also request an English CV during the screening or interview process.
・Required Documents: English CV
・Note: Japanese documents are generally not required. The selection process typically proceeds with the English CV alone.
The Japanese resume follows a unique format. When applying to Japanese companies, it is important to use a standard structure and convey the necessary information concisely.
・Typically includes entries from high school onward.
・If you studied abroad before high school, including this may positively influence your application.
・Include enough detail to show employment duration and job changes.
・No need to mention department transfers or reasons for leaving.
・Example:
Joined ABC Corporation (Month/Year)
Left ABC Corporation (Month/Year)
・Common in foreign-affiliated companies during the offer stage.
・Falsifying or omitting past employment may be considered misrepresentation and is strictly prohibited.
・Generally not included.
・If relevant to the position, please consult with a JAC International consultant.
This document is written in free format and should be clear and well-organised for the reader.
・Lists companies and roles in order of employment.
・Ideal for showing career progression and experience timeline.
・Recommended for most job seekers due to its versatility.
・Organises experience by job function or project.
・Summarise your experiences, such as “when, at which company, in what role, and what you did.”
・Suitable for professionals such as engineers or consultants.
・Use bullet points for readability.
・Aim for 1–2 pages (A4 size).
・Quantify achievements (e.g., sales growth, cost reduction).
・Use appropriate terminology; avoid internal company jargon.
・Focus on hard skills; soft skills can be addressed during interviews.
In overseas job applications, resumes may not be required. Therefore, the career history document (職務経歴書) must clearly convey both employment history and job responsibilities.
The chronological format is most recommended because:
・It provides a consistent view of career progression.
・It is easy for hiring managers to understand.
・It offers sufficient information even without a resume.
JAC International offers sample career history documents (職務経歴書) tailored to specific roles, making it easier for first-time applicants to prepare effective resumes.
There are several ways to write an English resume, and it is important to choose the most appropriate format depending on the job you are applying for and your purpose. Below are three common formats.
・Start with the first company you worked for, list your joining, transfers, resignations, etc. in chronological order.
・This format makes it clear what experience you gained and when, and makes it easy to convey the flow of your job and your growth process.
・This format is particularly versatile and recommended when a Japanese resume (履歴書) is not required, as it allows you to consistently understand your company history and job duties.
・This format lists your work history in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent and working backward.
・Because it allows you to highlight your current experience and skills at the beginning of the document, it is particularly effective for those with experience that is directly related to the industry or position you are applying for.
・This format is the most common when changing jobs to a foreign company, and is also well suited to the selection process.
・Organise your work experience by theme and describe it by job type or project.
・This format summarises your experience, centering on “when, at which company, in what role, and what you did.”
・Suitable for engineers, consultants, IT professionals, etc. who work on a project basis.
English CVs are often required for foreign-affiliated companies and emphasise recent experience. The reverse chronological format is generally the most effective.
When writing an English CV, including your educational background is extremely important. Please keep the following points in mind:
・Be sure to include your educational background. Depending on the country, your degree or major may be a requirement for visa issuance.
・It is important to clearly state the official name of your degree, such as a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or doctoral degree.
・Especially at foreign-affiliated companies, your field of major (e.g., engineering, finance, etc.) is often evaluated and may add up to points during the document screening process.
An English CV is not only required as a selection document, but may also be required when applying for a visa after receiving a job offer. In such cases, it is important to clearly state the following information:
・That you possess the skills and experience required for the position you are applying for.
・Why the company needs to hire a foreign national.
By presenting these points in a logical and persuasive manner, you can improve the quality of your application documents and increase your chances of approval.
These documents are essential tools for communicating your experience and skills. To create compelling and easy-to-read resumes, focus on structure, clarity, and relevance.
First, review your career, understand the work content and desired profile of the company you are applying to. It is important to clarify which experiences you can utilise in the position you are applying for.
Once you have a deeper understanding of your career and the company, you can begin drafting your resume while considering its structure. At this stage, you can also choose the format (chronological, reverse chronological, or functional).
Refine the content of your resume and make it easy to read. If necessary, you can seek advice from a specialist consultant to further improve the quality of the document.
・Objectively consider how you can contribute to the company you’re applying to.
・Research the company and job description, and clarify how your experience and skills fit into the job description.
・Use bullet points for clarity.
・Keep your resume to 1-2 pages.
・Include detailed information about your most recent work history, emphasising each as important.
・Include specific numerical values for achievements and accomplishments (e.g., increase in sales by XX%, reduce costs by XX%).
・Include numerical values for project size and the number of people managing the company.
・Use appropriate terminology.
・Replace internal terminologies with other terms.
・Use technical terms as much as possible if they are relevant to the position.
・Focus on hard skills (work experience, qualifications), and supplement soft skills (personality, mindset, etc.) during the interview.
・Recommended ratio: 80-90% hard skills, 10-20% soft skills.
Creating a resume is more than just writing. It’s about presenting your career in a way that resonates with employers. Self-assessment and company research can be challenging when doing it by yourself.
At JAC International, our consultants offer personalised support to help you create high-quality resumes. What can we help you with?
Through conversation with a consultant, you can organise not only your past work experience, but also the skills and strengths you have gained from it. It is not uncommon to realise that “things you thought were obvious are actually strengths.”
Sometimes, it might be difficult to express your results or achievements in numbers, we can work together to find the appropriate way to express them.
In addition, even if you are unsure whether a word is an internal term, our consultants will objectively check it and refine it to make it easier for the hiring managers to understand.
In many cases, the company you are applying to has a different priorities from the points that you want to highlight. JAC International consultants understand the hiring needs of companies and can advise you on how to appeal to them from the company’s perspective.
Career support tailored to each professional
At JAC International, we don’t just introduce job openings, we communicate with you to provide comprehensive support,
from designing your career plan to preparing your documents and interviews.