Job Discussion Forums

[Smooth Operator]

Hi guys. I am going for a university job (tenure track) and have been asked to send a resume in Japanese. Should I get it handwritten (by a native) or submit a typed version? Cheers...

[PAULH]

[abufletcher]

It is odd that you are being asked to supply a Japanese CV. Still, I suppose if they've asked you've got to come up with something. Whatever you do make sure the Japanese is FLAWLESS. I've seen my colleagues spend hours criticizing a memo because one of the kanji was wrong.

First of all, I'll mention that when Japanese apply for university positions, as least at my university, they actually fill out a standardized form by hand. It has sections for education (beginning with the elementary school you attended), work history, publications, etc. You might request that you be sent (or faxed) a copy of the university's application form. This is the only document I have every seen circulated regarding new faculty at our General Faculty meetings. I have never seen a "Japanese CV." Even visiting faculty from Korea complete this form in Japanese.

When English-speaking faculty members have been hired the normal procedure was to have someone at the university translate the English CV. In your situation they are obviously just trying to save someone some work by asking you to supply it. Either that or this is some kind of test of your Japanese ability.

I don't know what your CV looks like but mine would be almost impossible to translate easily into Japanese. For this reason, you might think of producing a "short" version of your CV in simplified, non-jargon-laden English and then translating THAT into Japanese.

Good luck!

[abufletcher]

Think about this a bit more, one problem with submitting a handwritten CV is that it will be assumed that the handwritting belongs to the applicant. Some people looking it over may even be influenced by the style, size, neatness, etc. of the writing.

So unless you yourself are up to writing (or filling out the form) in Japanese, it would be better to type something out out.

Are they expecting you to be more or less fluent in Japanese for this position? What is the actual positon? Would you be doing mostly EFL courses or would you also be teaching a range of "content" courses (perhaps also in English but not straight EFL)?

[Smooth Operator]

Thanks for the replies guys. The job would be effectively a promotion from my current position at the same uni but I have to apply for it. As for the teaching, presently I teach content and, as it's a new job in a new centre, it's not clear what actually I'll be teaching. That is for me (if hired) to decide along with other Faculty. Japanese ability is required although whether my level is good enough is the big question I have within myself.
Cheers...

[ndorfn]

I've always got mine typed in Japanese (I mean, imagine rewriting your CV every time you applied for a job!), but when my Japanese wife applied for a job, she handwrote her CV. she said that was "Japanese style".

you should be fine with a typed version I reckon.

[abufletcher]