Should I Create A Japanese Style Resume?

[TokyoJoeblow]

I generally don't know of many English teachers that make them and that they are usually for foreigners looking to work for Japanese companies, but I just thought I would ask? By Japanese style resume, I'm referring to 履歴書.

 

[R.O.B]

yes

 

[TokyoJoeblow]

yes

Yes, because foreign English teachers usually make them or it would be funny if I was the only one that did it? lol

Either way, I will give it a go.

 

[meiji]

If you are just applying for teaching English, a Japanese style resume isn't strictly necessary I don't think, but it might be helpful if you are looking for a different type of job.

 

[Sudsy]

As a hiring manager, I've always found it thoughtful when someone submits one in that format in addition to their CV. It definitely doesn't create a bad impression, even if it's not necessary.

 

[meiji]

As a hiring manager, I've always found it thoughtful when someone submits one in that format in addition to their CV. It definitely doesn't create a bad impression, even if it's not necessary.

Do you happen to know a good website (in English) that has a how-to or examples of creating Japanese resumes? I might be looking for new work in the next year or two and should probably start putting one together.

 

[Sudsy]

It's a standardized form. They're traditionally filled out by hand, but it's becoming more common to print them.

http://ten-navi.com/hacks/resume-34-5292

The site's in Japanese but has pictures.

 

[roots reggae]

Mr. Blow,

Breaking News!!!

I just read an article in Rocketnews24 about a possible job for you:

Six professional ninja jobs being offered by Japanese tourism board, women and foreigners welcome​

​

http://en.rocketnews24.com/2016/03/...e-tourism-board-women-and-foreigners-welcome/

and the Japan Times
​

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/20...g-full-time-ninjas-tourism-push/#.VvEcvPl94uo

But you'd better hurry and apply immediately:

A high degree of athleticism and acrobatic talent are of course prerequisites for the job, as are these seemingly contradictory, yet in this case totally justified, personality traits:

● A desire to be in the spotlight, even though you’re a stealthy ninja
● A fondness for talking with others, even though you’re wearing a mask and hood
● A kind heart, even though you’re carrying a sword

If you meet all those criteria, and you think you’d look good in black, applications can be found here, and will be accepted until March 22.

 

[R.O.B]

Yes, because foreign English teachers usually make them or it would be funny if I was the only one that did it?

Anything that shows you want the job - ahhh, that does not include strolling in off the street and abusing the staff and flaming the school, yeah? - couldn't be bad, and behind any foreigner in a managerial position in Japan, probably, eventually, there will be a Japanese person. I wouldn't put TAG members down as referees, however, and especially not Ches or especially Ches

 

[User#10402]

A lot of threads started by @TokyoJoeblow feel like his Siri questions throughout the day are automatically posted here in TAG at random. “Siri, should I create a Japanese style resume?”

Please don’t take it wrong, I often I learn something from these threads as well. I find it funny how the thread titles are crafted so much alike and always in the form of questions.

 

[calippo]

Funny thing. I've been giving out my rirekisho for three years with no satisfactory results. Last month I finally got the job I was looking for, without giving the resume

 

[meiji]

I know that hassling TJB is a favorite sport here, but let's try to stay on topic please.

 

[User#10402]

I know that hassling TJB is a favorite sport here, but let's try to stay on topic please.

Roger that. I apologize for my comment, I edited it and made it shorter so its less disruptive to the thread. I would delete, but that might create a misunderstanding.

Here is my contribution: as others already pointed out many applications forms are filled out by hand in Japan, even if you don’t see any problem with printing them out and signing were required, they would still either don’t accept your form, or even worse accept it (if you submit it by postal mail or similar) but ignore it because it “can’t” be processed.

You would have to fill your resume by hand each time. At least for me, even after getting used to reading and typing a lot of Japanese, writing Japanese by hand is still a torture. I’m afraid that after a few applications you will start to take a negative attitude toward the places that reject you, and towards looking for new places.

If you can get away without them in your profession try. If not, then there is no other way. I don’t know how it works for English teachers, but for other professions I would assume that the cut is very clear and not some sort of percentage/probability. Either pretty much all companies accept your own made CV, or they only accept 履歴書 and by hand. You won’t get extra points for conforming to the 履歴書 if its necessary, or for doing it extra when it wasn’t necessary.

 

[BladeRunner]

I work in the recruitment industry and I've never had a client ask a foreign candidate for a Japanese cv, or be biased because they don't have one. If you do create one and start dishing it out, careful your Japanese is 100% correct or it will bite you in the ass.

 

[Goiter]

I've hired a couple hundred people in Japan and find the standard Japanese resume to be beyond useless. Obviously in certain situations it's going to be required, but any self respecting manager in a multinational isn't going to want one.

Why? Because the standard format lists jobs and companies but zero details of what the hell you actually did at those places. I assume this type of resume originates from lifetime employment - i.e. I worked at company x for 20 years. What I did isn't important since the company moved me from Sales to HR to IT to the office in Vietnam. Historically in Japan, what company you worked at is the key, not what you did.

Anyway, TJB, your parody post quality is slipping. This one isn't going to generate your usual level of interest.

 

[R.O.B]

Like many things in Japan a hand written Japanese CV rireki is form and style over content. Often it is to confirm what you have been doing all you life - missing years on 'travel' can be seen negatively for example. In some industries it may not be required or at least required for non-J. I am guessing TJB is aiming at non-tertiary language school (?) where there will be a mix of J and non-J staff. J staff will have been required to submit so by offering a Japanese CV as well as English would be a positive sign in this case. I think it would be best to get a Japanese person to do it, of course and admit that if asked.

 

[TokyoJoeblow]

Anything that shows you want the job - ahhh, that does not include strolling in off the street and abusing the staff and flaming the school, yeah? - couldn't be bad, and behind any foreigner in a managerial position in Japan, probably, eventually, there will be a Japanese person. I wouldn't put TAG members down as referees, however, and especially not Ches or especially Ches

The answer would obviously be definitely NOT Ches lol.

 

[TokyoJoeblow]

I've hired a couple hundred people in Japan and find the standard Japanese resume to be beyond useless. Obviously in certain situations it's going to be required, but any self respecting manager in a multinational isn't going to want one.

Why? Because the standard format lists jobs and companies but zero details of what the hell you actually did at those places. I assume this type of resume originates from lifetime employment - i.e. I worked at company x for 20 years. What I did isn't important since the company moved me from Sales to HR to IT to the office in Vietnam. Historically in Japan, what company you worked at is the key, not what you did.

Anyway, TJB, your parody post quality is slipping. This one isn't going to generate your usual level of interest.

You hiring people...what for? Gay Gundam porn that you star in? Your posts are parodies themselves lol.

 

[Sudsy]

I've hired a couple hundred people in Japan and find the standard Japanese resume to be beyond useless.

Oh, total agreement there - my Japanese counterparts do like to see them though.

 

[R.O.B]

Historically in Japan, what company you worked at is the key, not what you did.

As I alluded to in a reply to TJB, it will also show that you were 'gainfully occupied' either in being educated or working. Gaps will set off alarm bells - why? where were you? doing what? why? how long? etc. etc. They show you are a solid, steady, responsible, level-headed individual.

What was TJB's question again?

 

[TokyoJoeblow]

Another question I wanted to ask is whether people here in Japan usually call up companies or email them initially when looking for work? I usually call them up first and mention how I came across their school online and that I'm an experienced English teacher living in the area, etc. I only email them if they seem interested and request me to send them my resume.

 

[TAG Manager]

In echoing Sudsy and Goiter to an extent, I see a mix of native Japanese and foreigners almost equally. It's very rare to meet a foreigner that has bothered with a formal Japanese style CV.

For a time, I was getting a 'facebook' of candidates from local recruiting firms. 100% of those folks didn't provide a Japanese style CV and there was a mix of foreigner as well as Japan returnees who had moved back to Japan after years of being overseas.

Success rate in getting hired here is totally independent of what kind of CV you have. The interview process, which is quite long, provides the majority of the score when deciding to extend an offer. (Just to get in the door for the interview, the CV must have certain criteria before being passed from the HR people.)

I don't get the final say in who winds up in my department, but I get a strong vote. The upper Japanese management makes the final decision based on our interview scoring. They honestly don't even look at the CV once we've completed our steps at mid-level management.

Another question I wanted to ask is whether people here in Japan usually call up companies or email them initially when looking for work? I usually call them up first and mention how I came across their school online and that I'm an experienced English teacher living in the area, etc. I only email them if they seem interested and request me to send them my resume.

Depends on the job. I have no idea about English schools.
If I had to go teach English, I have zero idea about how to even get into that scene... I'd be here asking how, lol.

 

[R.O.B]

TJB - do you have any concept of how many English teachers are kicking around Tokyo? They FILL Starbucks around the metropolis!!! You could pave the streets from Nihonbashi to Dogenzaka with them!
Call and talk to who? An email is a centimetre from the Trash. Amateur hour stuff, mate. Create a letter of intro and well as your CVs. Get the mail addresses of schools. Take the time to do it right and send them in decent quality and sized envelopes. In past lives I have been involved in this and I can tell you that phone calls and emails get nowhere fast. So many positions are filled by word of mouth anyway. You have to put yourself physically and visibly in front of someone even if you are not there. Having chindonya deliver them may also help.

 

[TokyoJoeblow]

TJB - do you have any concept of how many English teachers are kicking around Tokyo? They FILL Starbucks around the metropolis!!! You could pave the streets from Nihonbashi to Dogenzaka with them!
Call and talk to who? An email is a centimetre from the Trash. Amateur hour stuff, mate. Create a letter of intro and well as your CVs. Get the mail addresses of schools. Take the time to do it right and send them in decent quality and sized envelopes. In past lives I have been involved in this and I can tell you that phone calls and emails get nowhere fast. So many positions are filled by word of mouth anyway. You have to put yourself physically and visibly in front of someone even if you are not there. Having chindonya deliver them may also help.

Well, I'm aware of the foreign teachers that fill up cafes everywhere as I also do it myself with my private students lol. I have scored all the jobs I have now by either first calling or emailing. I just thought I would ask the peoples on here how they usually apply for jobs and what their initial steps are.

By the way, what is chindonya? Is this a delivery company?

 

[User#8628]

I've hired a couple hundred people in Japan and find the standard Japanese resume to be beyond useless. Obviously in certain situations it's going to be required, but any self respecting manager in a multinational isn't going to want one.

Why? Because the standard format lists jobs and companies but zero details of what the hell you actually did at those places. I assume this type of resume originates from lifetime employment - i.e. I worked at company x for 20 years. What I did isn't important since the company moved me from Sales to HR to IT to the office in Vietnam. Historically in Japan, what company you worked at is the key, not what you did.

Anyway, TJB, your parody post quality is slipping. This one isn't going to generate your usual level of interest.

I have no idea how that works but does that mean that i can just get a job as a coffeelady in a famous company, quit and then use their fancy name on my resume forever without people knowing what i did there? ^^