To build a Japan-ready resume on NihonResume, convert the CV you already have, or start from a template and fill the 履歴書 (rirekisho) top to bottom. Most applications also need a 職務経歴書 (shokumu keirekisho).
You do not need to learn the JIS layout from a blank Word file. You do need to check the rules the converter cannot guess: photo size, date system, and 志望動機 written for this company.
Which path should you take?
Use the path that matches what you already have. All three land on the same two documents.
| You have | Do this | Then |
|---|---|---|
| An English or home-country CV | Convert it | Fix names, dates, and photo. Rewrite 志望動機. |
| Dates and jobs in your head, no file | Start from a template | Fill 学歴 and 職歴 in order. |
| A draft that sounds like English in Japanese clothes | Ask NihonResume AI on the section | Keep your facts. Change the wording. |
PDF export is free. DOCX is on paid plans. The interface itself is in six languages (en, ja, zh, mn, vi, ne). The documents you submit should still be Japanese unless the posting is in English.
What do you fill first?
Fill history before you write 自己PR. A 履歴書 is a form: 基本情報, photo, 学歴・職歴, 免許・資格, then 志望動機 and 自己PR, then 本人希望記入欄.
Write the name the way you want it said, with ふりがな or カタカナ. Put JLPT under qualifications with the official name, not “N2-ish”.
The 職務経歴書 comes after the form is true. It is where you explain the work. If you write the essay first, you will fight the dates later.
What should you check before the first export?
Run this list once. It is the set of things that make a converted CV look un-converted.
- Photo on the 履歴書 is 40 × 30 mm, portrait, business attire, taken within 3 months
- Dates are one system, 西暦 or 和暦, on both documents
- The date on the form is the day you will send it
- 本人希望記入欄 is 「貴社の規定に従います」 unless you have a real condition
- 志望動機 names this company, not “your esteemed firm” as a placeholder
If a field is empty because the converter did not find it, fill it. Do not export a blank photo box and hope the recruiter skips it.
When do you use NihonResume AI?
Use it on language, not on biography. Ask it to turn a bullet of real work into 自己PR, or to rewrite 志望動機 against a job posting you paste in. Do not ask it to invent a degree, a visa, or a job you did not have.
The assistant is NihonResume AI, inside NihonResume. It can see the section you are on. That is the point of writing next to the canvas instead of in a separate chat window.
Common questions
Can I submit only an English CV?
If the posting asked for 履歴書, no. Convert it, then send the Japanese form. Some foreign-affiliated firms accept English for a first look. Believe the posting, not a forum thread about a different company.
Do I need both documents on day one?
You will need both for most applications, so build both once. Sending only the 履歴書 is a reasonable emergency. Sending only a designed English CV is not.
Is a digital 履歴書 accepted?
Yes, for most postings in 2026. Handwrite only when the posting says 手書き.
Convert an existing CV if you already have one. If the form itself is still unclear, read how to write a 履歴書, then use the job-hunting checklist before you press send.