Work Tips
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Work Tips
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TIP 1
5 STEPS TO BUILDING THE BEST PROFILE ON IZANAU
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TIP 2
HOW TO MAKE THE PERFECT JAPANESE RESUME 
Resumes or rirekisho (履歴書 (りれきしょ)) in Japan follow a very specific format that is different from resumes in other languages. There is a template for a Japanese resume, and the format should be followed exactly.
This is not an opportunity to be creative, rather, it is an opportunity to show your ability to adjust to local standards (a very important trait when working in Japan).
The purpose of the rirekisho is to give general information about yourself such as, where you studied, the companies your worked for, and how long you were there. So fill in all the sections to the best of your ability.
Here is an explanation on how to fill in a Japanese rirekisho, A template can be downloaded here.
POINTERS FOR YOUR RIREKISHO
- Try and make your rirekisho in Japanese. This may seem daunting but if you are able to do it in Japanese you should. Ask a friend or a Japanese teacher for help. That alone will put you ahead of other candidates with English rirekishos.
- You must add a photo. While this may not be standard practice in other countries, in Japan it is a must.
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Take a professional looking photograph:
- Shoulders and head
- Size should be: H: 36 ~ 40 mm and W 24 ~ 30 mm
- Write your name on the back
- And glue it to the top right of your rirekisho
- Wear a suit in your photo in a conservative color
- Traditionally, the rirekisho was handwritten. Convenience stores sell standard rirekisho templates that can just be filled out, but in recent years typed rirekishos have become more acceptable. So, if you are extremely ambitious and want to do things the traditional way, you can hand write your rirekisho. But otherwise a typed version is perfectly fine.
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Fill in all the details in the top section of the form.
- Your name. Last name first, then first name. Don’t forget to include the furigana (pronunciation either in hiragana) on top.
- Your personal stamp or hanko. (If you don’t have one include your signature).
- Your age and date of birth.
- Circle 男 for male or 女 for female
- Your contact information, email, phone number, alternate phone number and fax number (if you have one)
- And finally your address. If you don’t reside in Japan yet, include your permanent home address and an address where you will be staying when you are in Japan.
Your Educational background should come before your work history and should be presented in chronological order. Undergraduate first, then advanced degrees. Make sure to include when you entered as well as when you graduated.
Career History should be in chronological order. First job to current job. Be sure to only include the basic information. Company, department, job title, and duration of employment.
Here are some useful phrases to use:
- 一身上の都合により退社 (Left for personal reasons)
- 契約満了により退社 (Contract termination)
- 会社都合により退社 (Contractor decision)
- 現在に至る (To the present)
When you have completed your work history skip one line then put in the word 以上 (complete).
This is where you can put in any qualifications that you may have. Your JLPT level can go here, or any other certifications, like teaching certifications or CFA qualifications.
In Japan it is often standard to mention if you have a driver's license. Often people living in big cities don’t drive so showing that you have a driver’s license can be an asset.
Your personal information is important for determining your working conditions. So make sure your employer knows where you live and if you are supporting your family.
The final three sections of the rirekisho is the only space you have to be creative and show your personality. Generally the自己PR section is your chance to explain why you want this job and what you bring to the table. When writing this section there are 3 important points to consider in order to understand what a Japanese employer is looking for.
If you are applying to a specific job opening, the job post will include some information describing their ideal candidate. Make sure you address these qualities in.
Companies want to see stability and an interest in staying for a long period of time. Express how you see your career developing in that company.
Look at the job description or company webpage to understand the mission and philosophy of the company. Then present evidence of how you would fit in well with those characteristics.
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TIP 3
WHAT TO WRITE AND NOT WRITE IN YOUR JOB COVER LETTER
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TIP 4
BASICS OF EMAIL WRITING IN JAPANESE
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TIP 5
UNDERSTANDING THE HIERARCHY OF A JAPANESE COMPANY
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TIP 6
WHAT TO DO/SAY/WEAR ON YOUR FIRST DAY OF WORK
