Tips for a resume and cover letter in Japanese

[MeryllB]

Hello!

Please forgive me for writing in English, I'm afraid I'd end up producing a very confusing message if I tried Japanese.
I've been living in Japan for a little over a year, mostly as an exchange student. I am now carrying out an internship in a foreign company in Japan and am looking for a job in this country.
Although I speak enough Japanese to communicate with my office colleagues without trouble, I barely read it or write it besides simple emails to friends. I have been sending a few applications in English to the Japanese executives of foreign companies without any feedback this far, which makes me think I should apply in Japanese. Trouble is, I don't know anything about the rules regarding resumes and cover letters in Japanese. Could anyone give me tips here so that I know where to start?
Thank you very much for any piece of advice, it will be greatly appreciated ...

 

[_forumuser_]

Hello!

Please forgive me for writing in English, I'm afraid I'd end up producing a very confusing message if I tried Japanese.
I've been living in Japan for a little over a year, mostly as an exchange student. I am now carrying out an internship in a foreign company in Japan and am looking for a job in this country.
Although I speak enough Japanese to communicate with my office colleagues without trouble, I barely read it or write it besides simple emails to friends. I have been sending a few applications in English to the Japanese executives of foreign companies without any feedback this far, which makes me think I should apply in Japanese. Trouble is, I don't know anything about the rules regarding resumes and cover letters in Japanese. Could anyone give me tips here so that I know where to start?
Thank you very much for any piece of advice, it will be greatly appreciated ...

You can find a sample and an explanation of the standard form (rirekisho 履歴書) used by all Japanese that can be purchased at every convenience store.

xxxx You might consider buying a Japanese guide to writing English resumes and use it "backwards". I also recommend looking for older, second-hand editions many of which sell for 1 yen.

Good luck!

 

[MeryllB]

Thank you very much for your help, _forumuser_

I have another question though : after your email, I got the impression that in Japan cover letters don't exist, and that the only document you enclose when sending an application to a company is 履歴書. Is that correct?
I am also a little confused when you talk about "Japanese resume manual". Does it mean that there are other types of resumes besides 履歴書,
or just that there are many ways to fill one?
Moreover I have another question : since I am applying per email, should I scan the 履歴書 and then attach it (it might render the mail a bit heavy) or is there a way to obtain a word file and to fill it in (a little impersonal, but much lighter)? Or do Japanese people not apply per email at all ? As I am contacting French companies doing business in Japan, I though the process would be similar as for a French company although the managers are most of the time Japanese.
Sorry for asking so many questions! I'm still struggling ^^

thanks for the great help

 

[Flaminius]

Thank you very much for your help, _forumuser_

I have another question though : after your email, I got the impression that in Japan cover letters don't exist, and that the only document you enclose when sending an application to a company is 履歴書. Is that correct?

Cover letters may not be ordinary practise in certain industries but I see no reason that it cannot provide the recruiters with better understanding of the applicant. And yes, there are industries and companies that require cover letters.

I am also a little confused when you talk about "Japanese resume manual". Does it mean that there are other types of resumes besides 履歴書,
or just that there are many ways to fill one?

The most ordinary CV format is 履歴書 template. Yet there are companies that accept more "free-style" CVs. The former requires knowledge of how to fill out the form and make it appealing whereas the latter requires another skills set. A good manual should cover both subjects.

Moreover I have another question : since I am applying per email, should I scan the 履歴書 and then attach it (it might render the mail a bit heavy) or is there a way to obtain a word file and to fill it in (a little impersonal, but much lighter)?

You need to check on the Internet for answers to your questions such as; how a company accepts application papers, what are the application papers they require and when they should be ready. Many companies require you to fill out the "entry sheet." Here are the Google results for 履歴書 electronic templates.

Moderator note:
Some of your questions are so specialised that they are getting out of the scope of a linguistic forum; even if CV writing can reflect interesting sociolinguistic facts of the Japanese speakers. I am afraid that you will have to seek information elsewhere in case you have follow-up questions.
- Flaminius

 

[MeryllB]

Thanks to all for helping me out although my question was not technically dealing with linguistics. I am now exploring all the links mentionned, thank you for the help, as I read Japanese very slowly and with great difficuly I had trouble doing the research myself, so those are a great starting point. I learned a lot already, thanks to you guys!