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How to write a shokumu keirekisho
If the rirekisho is the form, the 職務経歴書 (shokumu keirekisho) is the part where you actually make your case. It has no fixed layout, which is exactly what makes it harder. This is the document that most resembles a Western CV, and for mid-career roles in Japan it is usually the one that decides whether you are called in.
What it is for
The rirekisho says where you were. The shokumu keirekisho says what you did there: the scope of the role, what you were responsible for, what changed because you were in it. Employers read it to judge whether your experience transfers to the job they are filling.
- One or two A4 pages. Three is acceptable only with a long career; one is fine early on.
- Typed, not handwritten. Nobody expects handwriting here.
- Plain polite Japanese. Bullet points and short headings are normal and welcome.
- Put numbers in wherever you honestly can — team size, budget, number of accounts, percentage change. This is the main thing that separates a strong document from a vague one.
Choose one of the two standard layouts
Jobs in date order, oldest first. The default. Use it when your career runs in a reasonably straight line and the most recent role is the most relevant one.
Grouped by what you can do rather than by employer. Better if you have changed jobs often, or if the relevant experience is not in your most recent role.
A reverse-chronological variant (逆編年体式, newest first) also exists and is accepted, but it is less common than in English-speaking countries. If in doubt, use the chronological layout.
What goes on the page
- 職務要約 (shokumu yōyaku) — a summary of your career in three or four lines, at the top. Many readers decide here whether to read on.
- 職務経歴 (shokumu keireki) — per employer: company name, period, what the company does, its size, then your role, responsibilities and results.
- 活かせる経験・知識・スキル — the experience and skills you would bring to this role, as a short list.
- 保有資格 (hoyū shikaku) — qualifications, if they are not already obvious from the rirekisho.
- 自己PR — a closing paragraph. Keep it specific and keep it short.
Writing it when Japanese is not your first language
Two things make the biggest difference. First, keep sentences short — long sentences are where grammar errors accumulate and where meaning gets lost. Second, lead each bullet with the concrete thing you did, not with a preamble. Japanese business writing tolerates plain, direct description far better than it tolerates vagueness.
The Sokureki builder asks about each job in turn and lays the answers out in the standard format, which removes the layout question entirely. It can also draft the summary and self-promotion sections from what you entered, for you to correct.
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How to write a rirekisho
Download a blank career history form
Frequently asked questions