How to prepare a Resume to
Work in Japan
This
is a short guide to help you. How to prepare a resume to work in Japan.
A
rirekisho,
should accompany any application to a Japanese company to show
awareness of and respect for Japanese custom.
The rirekisho
can be purchased at any stationery store, the stationery department of
the supermarket, or even the 100 yen shop.
Japanese Resumes
/ CV’s must be hand written and Of course, they should be written in
Japanese.
If you have
never tried to fill out a rirekisho before it is probably a good idea
to buy the first package at the 100 yen shop for practice.
Inside of the
package, you will find both Resume/ CV forms and a special envelope in
which to send the Resume.
It looks very
much like any other envelope, but has the words "Resume Enclosed"
written in red to draw attention to it.
What is a
Rirekisho
It is more of a personnal profile than a way to
show your
talants and what you can bring to the job.
Japanese
companies are not looking for someone to come in and make a huge
difference they want a team player someone they can train.
Do you fit in
with the rest of the team in terms of your education and work
experience, but also you general areas of interest, if you are not
Japanese they would like to know what exposure you have already had
with the Japanese culture (can you really work here comfortably?), and
your hobbies.
The first
section is for your personal details, including address, phone number,
date of birth and photograph. In Japan, it is not illegal to request
this type of information.
Photos are
standard-size, 36-40mm in height X 24-30mm wide, taken from the chest
up (i.e. no snapshot showing the full body).
These photos are
usually submitted in black and white, and should be attached by glue to
the résumé form.
Japanese CVs
should be organised by topic, and under each topic your experiences
should be presented in reverse chronological order (most recent
activity first).
Take special
care with your appearance for this photo, dressing conservatively in a
dark business suit (both sexes) and with a neat hair style.
If you visit a
Japanese department store and ask to see "recruitment" suits, the
clerks will show you what is considered appropriate clothes for the job
search.
Take your clue
from these.
The next section
of the Resume form is for your educational background and prior work
experience, in chronological order beginning with the name of your
school.
You can go back
further if, for example, you lived in Japan or other countries as a
child and want to stress your international background.
Prior work
experience should also be listed in chronological order, beginning with
the oldest.
It is very
important not to list personal achievements the more prestigious the
University the more likely you will get an interview.
If you are
Non-Japanese will probably need a recommendation/reference outside of
the Resume form, i.e. a connection, in order to get to the interview
stage. Networking
in Japan is Key
Older managers
will consider less than 3 years at a company to show less perseverance.
If you have spent less than a year at more than one company, be
prepared for questions at the time of the interview.
On the second
page of the Resume form, the top section is for any qualifications,
certificates or specialized training held by the applicant. You could
include your driver's license, if you hold one, and the level you hold
at any of the recognized Japanese language proficiency tests.
Professional qualifications should also be listed here.
The next section
includes your reason(s) for applying to the company, your hobbies,
interests, and favorite subjects/clubs in University.
The boxes to the
right of this section ask how long a commute it will be from your
current address to the office, if you have any dependents, if you are
married, and whether you are responsible for your spouse's financial
status.
The final
section is for any comments you wish to make, including any requests
you have in terms of salary and work location.
Work permits in Japan
• If you wish to
enter Japan you must be in the possession of a valid passport and a visa
obtained from the embassy or consulate in your home country.
• A visa
cannot be acquired after you have arrived in Japan.
• Contact the Japanese
embassy in your home country for further information.
The application procedure in Japan
• The best way
to find a job in Japan is to be introduced by a mutual acquaintance.
• The quality of one’s education and, more important, the university
attended, play decisive roles in a person’s career.
• It is customary to have just one or two job interviews in Japan.
The application letter in Japan
• A good
application letter shows how effective you are as a communicator.
• Application letters should be printed or preferably handwritten (and
in Japanese, but only if you are really fluent in that language) on
high quality paper.
• As a rule, try to keep it down to no more than four paragraphs.
Dos
• Plan on a
relatively long-term basis; this long-term thinking has always been one
of the pillars of the Japanese management culture.
• Keep in mind that the relationship with your Japanese opponents is
just as important as business itself.
• Make sure that you are on time because punctuality is very important
in Japan.
• Keep in mind that losing face is a big issue in Japan. Therefore it
might be advisable to use a third party to
minimise the risk of losing face for either negotiating partner.
Don’ts
• Go to Japan on
a “Temporary Visitor” visa to look for work.
• Show emotions in public, especially not as a businessperson.
• Ask direct questions because they are regarded as rude.
• Interrupt when a Japanese person is speaking.
Management culture in Japan
• The Japanese
have a strong sense of hierarchy, rank, position and status at all
times.
• Team spirit and performance are more important than your individual
achievements.
• Status is often attributed according to one’s age, gender and
organisational rank.
• Cooperation and harmony in a group takes precedence over individual
responsibility, authority or
initiative.
• The Japanese prefer quiet, respectful and patient behaviour.
Good Luck
Go to Learn Japanese to work in Japan
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