A Japanese application may ask for a 履歴書, a 職務経歴書, an English resume, or a combination. These are not interchangeable names for one file. The safest starting point is a single factual career record: exact start and end months, employer names, education events, qualifications, responsibilities, and outcomes. You can then render only the structure each employer requests.
Start from facts, not from a template
Record admission and graduation separately, and joining and leaving separately. Keep the original legal name of an overseas school or employer, then add a Japanese rendering only when it helps the reader. Do not guess a Japanese corporate suffix or translate a degree into a credential you did not receive.
What belongs in each document
The 履歴書 is the compact identity and chronology document. The 職務経歴書 explains scope, methods, outcomes, and transferable capability. An English resume is usually selective and role-specific, while a CV may retain a broader professional record. If the employer names a designated form, use it; a beautiful alternative does not override an explicit instruction.
Japanese ability and residence status
Japanese proficiency is useful when it is concrete: “JLPT N2,” “business meetings in Japanese,” or “customer support in Japanese and English.” Residence status and expiry are optional application details, not substitutes for immigration advice. Add them when the employer requests them or when they remove a practical uncertainty. Never imply that a language score or residence status guarantees suitability for a role.
Review before export
- Every start month has a matching end month or a current-role marker.
- Names, dates, and numbers match across Japanese and English versions.
- The 職務経歴書 explains evidence rather than repeating the chronology.
- Japanese text sounds natural but does not add facts.
- The exported PDF has selectable text, readable contrast, and no accidental blank page.
JASSO’s current guide shows that application procedures vary by company and that international students may need a residence-status change depending on the job. Treat your documents as one part of that process: accurate, tailored, and checked against the vacancy.