International engineering teams, global startups, and foreign-affiliated corporations (Gaishikei in Japan and foreign-invested enterprises in South Korea) recruit software engineers, product managers, researchers, and bilingual specialists using a Western-style one-to-two-page ISO A4 (210 × 297 mm) English resume on Greenhouse, Lever, Workday, and LinkedIn. Understanding how that English resume interacts with Japanese Rirekisho and Shokumu Keirekisho documents or Korean portal forms—and how to state JLPT, TOPIK, and visa status clearly—keeps your application complete.
| Target employer & location | Required document(s) | Key fields to highlight on your A4 English resume |
|---|---|---|
| English-speaking tech hub or startup in Tokyo / Osaka | 1–2 page A4 English Resume (Greenhouse / Lever / Workday) | Reverse-chronological bullets, production tech stack, JLPT level, and Japan visa or COE sponsorship status |
| Bilingual Gaishikei or domestic mid-career role in Japan | A4 English Resume + Japanese Rirekisho & Shokumu Keirekisho | Consistent employment dates across all 3 files, JLPT N1/N2 certification, and matching project metrics |
| Global startup or multinational branch in Seoul | 1–2 page A4 English Resume (Wanted / LinkedIn / Workday) | Single-column layout, TOPIK & English proficiency, and Korean visa category (F-series, E-7, D-10, or sponsorship) |
| Korean domestic enterprise portal (Saramin / JobKorea) | Online portal Iryeokseo & Jagi-sogaeseo + A4 PDF attachment | Exact graduation/employment dates (yyyy.MM), verified language/license certificate numbers, no Resident ID number |
When to submit a Western A4 English resume vs. Japanese Rirekisho / Shokumu Keirekisho or Korean portal forms
In Japan, recruitment follows two distinct tracks. Global tech companies (such as English-speaking engineering hubs in Tokyo and Fukuoka) and international recruitment divisions of Gaishikei firms accept a single-column, one-to-two-page A4 English resume submitted through Greenhouse, Lever, or Workday. Traditional domestic employers and bilingual mid-career (Chūto Saiyō) agencies frequently request two Japanese documents alongside or instead of an English resume: a standardized biographical Rirekisho (履歴書) and a detailed Shokumu Keirekisho (職務経歴書) describing company headcount, project timelines, and technical environments.
In South Korea, multinational branches, global startups on Wanted or LinkedIn, and English-track R&D roles evaluate a concise one-to-two-page A4 English resume. Conversely, large domestic conglomerates (Chaebol) and Korean-language openings on Saramin or JobKorea typically require candidates to complete a structured online portal Iryeokseo (이력서) and multi-prompt essay Jagi-sogaeseo (자기소개서). For native-language overview details, see Guul's Japanese (/ja/resume-builder-options) and Korean (/ko/resume-builder-options) guides.
Documenting JLPT, TOPIK, English proficiency, and work-visa status in Tokyo and Seoul
When applying to roles in Japan or South Korea as an international or bilingual candidate, hiring managers look immediately for language certification and work-permit status in your header or Skills section. In Japan, state your official Japanese-Language Proficiency Test level with exam date (such as JLPT N2, passed Dec 2025 or JLPT N1 — Business Fluent) or practical level (for example, Conversational Japanese — N4 equivalent; working in English environment), plus your visa status (such as Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa valid until 2028, Highly Skilled Professional (HSP), Permanent Resident, or Applying from outside Japan — requires COE sponsorship).
In South Korea, list your Test of Proficiency in Korea level (TOPIK Level 4 or KIIP Level 5) and official English test scores (TOEIC, TOEFL, OPIc, or CEFR C1/C2) where relevant, alongside your Korean residence visa category (such as E-7 Specialty Occupation, F-2-7 Points-Based Resident, F-4 Overseas Korean, F-5 Permanent Resident, F-6 Marriage Migrant, D-10 Job Seeker, or Requires E-7 sponsorship). Never include your Japanese My Number (Kojin Bangō), Zairyū Card number, or Korean 13-digit Resident Registration Number (Jumin-deungnok-beonho) on a resume.
Writing reverse-chronological technical bullets for Greenhouse, Lever, and Workday
Unlike a traditional chronological Japanese Shokumu Keirekisho that lists roles from oldest to newest, an A4 English resume for Tokyo or Seoul should always use reverse-chronological order (newest role first). Keep the layout single-column without photos, date of birth, or nested tables so Greenhouse, Lever, and Workday extract your job titles, company names, and MMM yyyy dates without column collisions. Lead each bullet with your individual technical or commercial contribution, the production tools used, and the quantified impact.
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