Japanese Résumé Photo Size and How to Attach It: 4 × 3 cm, Clothing, Name on the Back and Digital Files
The photo is the first thing someone sees when opening a Japanese résumé. Small slip-ups, such as a size that doesn't fit the photo box, a crooked photo or one that falls off and goes missing, lower the impression before the content is even read. This article covers the correct résumé photo size and face size, choosing clothes, hair and background, how to attach it neatly and why to write your name on the back, and pixel sizes for attaching a photo file to a web application.
The basic résumé photo size is 4 cm tall × 3 cm wide
The photo box on store-bought résumés, JIS sample forms and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's sample form is annotated as 36–40 mm tall and 24–30 mm wide. The most widely used size within that range is 4 cm tall × 3 cm wide. Most photo booths' résumé setting also produces this size.
| Document | Commonly specified size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Store-bought and JIS sample résumés | 4 × 3 cm tall × wide (36–40 mm × 24–30 mm) | It just needs to fit inside the photo box |
| New graduate entry sheets | Usually 4 × 3 cm | The company's specification comes first. Some use 4.5 × 3.5 cm |
| Part-time job résumés | 4 × 3 cm | Forms with a small photo box may use 3 × 2.4 cm |
| Exam tickets and application forms | Usually 4 × 3 cm | It varies by university and qualification exam, so check the guidelines |
A guide to face size and position
Résumé photos have no fixed face-size rules like passports do. But a face that's too small makes your expression hard to read, and one that's too large feels cramped. For a 4 × 3 cm photo, these proportions are easy to view.
- From the top of your head (including hair) to the top edge: about 3–6 mm of margin
- From the top of your head to the tip of your chin: around 24–28 mm (60–70% of the photo's height)
- Shoulders: a little of both shoulder lines shows, cut off around the upper chest
- Face position: centered left to right. Even a slight tilt stands out after attaching
When cropping a smartphone photo, first place your eyes about 40% down from the top of the photo, then adjust the face size from there. This tends to give a balanced composition.
Clothes, hair and background
| Item | Basics | What to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Clothing (job hunting, career change) | Suit jacket with a white or pale shirt or blouse | T-shirts, hoodies, boldly patterned shirts |
| Clothing (part-time job) | Collared shirt or plain top | Clothes with large logos or lots of exposed skin |
| Hair | Don't let bangs hide your eyebrows or eyes. Tuck long hair behind your ears or tie it back so it stays off your face | Bed hair, bangs that cast shadows on your face |
| Expression | Keep your mouth closed with the corners slightly raised | Toothy smiles, overly blank faces |
| Background | Plain white, pale blue or pale gray | Room furniture, patterned walls, dark colors |
| Glasses | Fine if you normally wear them. Watch for lens reflections | Tinted lenses, frames that hide your eyes |
A smartphone photo is fine if taken in front of a plain wall with light from the front. Skin retouching and reshaping your face create a gap with how you look at the interview, so stick to adjusting brightness and color.
How to attach the photo neatly
- 1
Write your name on the back
This is so people can tell whose photo it is if it comes off in the mail or during screening. Use an oil-based ballpoint or felt-tip pen to write the date and your name small. Pressing hard leaves marks on the front, so write lightly and don't stack it until it's dry.
- 2
Fill in the résumé first
If you attach the photo first and make a writing mistake, the photo is wasted too. Finish writing, then attach it last.
- 3
Use double-sided tape or photo glue
Glue sticks suit this because they contain little moisture and are less likely to warp the paper. Liquid glue tends to wrinkle paper, and clear tape or staples look bad, so avoid them.
- 4
Attach it straight, lined up with the box
Align the top of the photo with the top line of the box, then press downward so it doesn't go crooked. Afterward, place a sheet of white paper over it and rub with your finger so all four corners stick firmly.
If the photo is slightly bigger than the box, don't attach it overhanging. Trim the sides and top and bottom evenly so your face stays centered. If the photo is too small, it looks better to remake it.
Sizes for attaching a photo file to a web application
More job sites and company application forms now take photos as image files rather than on paper. Follow any specified pixel count or file size. If none is specified, use the sizes below as a guide, so the image is neither too small and blurry nor too heavy to upload.
| Photo size | Pixels at 300dpi | Pixels at 350dpi | Pixels at 600dpi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 3 cm | 354×472px | 413×551px | 709×945px |
| 4.5 × 3.5 cm | 413×531px | 482×620px | 827×1063px |
| 3 × 2.4 cm | 283×354px | 331×413px | 567×709px |
- JPEG is the safe file format. Some forms don't accept HEIC or PNG.
- Match the 4:3 aspect ratio (4 cm tall × 3 cm wide), and don't send a smartphone photo as its original tall shape.
- If there's a file size limit (for example, up to 3MB), compress the image using how to reduce image file size.
- Smartphone photos may contain location data from where they were taken. If this concerns you, remove it before sending using how to remove photo location data.
Common résumé photo mistakes
- Reusing a photo from years ago: within 3 months of being taken is the general guide. If your hair or build has changed, you'll seem like a different person at the interview.
- Cropping a snapshot or photo sticker: the background and angle don't look like an ID photo, and it's harder to use for identification.
- Attaching a photo larger than the box as is: overhanging the frame looks sloppy.
- Attaching a photo printed on plain paper: colors look dull, and thin paper warps. Print on photo paper.
- Forgetting your name on the back: nobody can tell whose photo it is if it comes off.
For other parts of the résumé, see how to write the education section and Western and era years on a résumé.
Make your own résumé photos and print many at once
When job hunting, you can run out of photos after applying to 10 or 20 companies. In the ID Photo L-Size Print Maker, choose Résumé / exam admission ticket (4 cm tall × 3 cm wide). A band that should contain the top of your head and the tip of your chin appears as a guide, so you just move the photo to fit the band and the face size comes out consistent.
- Arrange 4 on an L-size sheet (6 with narrower margins) or 12–15 on 2L, save as JPEG, and print at a convenience store's photo printer.
- For web applications, Save a single photo only exports just one photo with a 4:3 aspect ratio. You can choose an export resolution of 300, 350 or 600dpi.
- You can also adjust brightness, contrast, color and tilt.
The steps for printing at a convenience store are in how to print ID photos at a convenience store.
FAQ
- What size is a résumé photo in cm?
- The basic size is 4 cm tall × 3 cm wide. The photo box on store-bought résumés and JIS sample forms is 36–40 mm tall and 24–30 mm wide, and a 4 × 3 cm photo fits neatly. If the company specifies a size, match that.
- Should I write my name on the back of the photo?
- It's recommended. If the photo comes off in the mail or during screening, people can tell whose it is. Write your name lightly with an oil-based pen and attach the photo once the ink has dried.
- Should I use glue or double-sided tape?
- Double-sided tape or a low-moisture glue stick suits it best. Liquid glue tends to warp paper, and clear tape or staples look bad, so avoid them.
- How recent should a résumé photo be?
- Within 3 months of being taken is the general guide. There's no rule, but a photo where your hair or build differs from now won't match the impression you give at the interview.
- Can I use a photo taken on my smartphone?
- Yes. Take it in front of a plain wall with light from the front, crop it to 4 × 3 cm and print it on photo paper, and it works just like a booth photo. Avoid heavy editing, and limit adjustments to brightness and color.
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