Where the rirekisho is a form, the shokumu keirekisho is free-form. Candidates write it themselves, usually two to four pages, and use it to set out what they did in each role: the team, the budget, the projects, the results. It is the closest thing in Japan to a Western CV.
Many Japanese candidates write it in chronological order and describe responsibilities rather than achievements, because that is what Japanese employers have traditionally asked for. The best ones quantify: revenue, headcount, savings, time to hire.
What it means for a foreign employer
- Read it for scope, not for adjectives. Japanese candidates tend to understate. Someone who writes that they "supported" a project may have run it. Ask.
- Expect modesty about results. Taking personal credit for a team's work is uncomfortable for many Japanese professionals. Interview questions about their specific contribution get better answers than the document does.
- An English version is a signal, not a guarantee. A polished English CV may have been edited by an agency. Test English in the interview.
Sources
- Hiring convention; no statute governs it.