Japanese Resume Sizes: A4, B5, A3 Folds, and Printing Settings
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Category: Job Search Preparation & Interview Tips, Job Change
Authors: Shusaku Yosa
Follow the employer's size instructions for a Japanese resume. If no size is specified, choose a form that fits your content and submission method. Paper size alone does not determine a hiring outcome.
A common source of confusion is that “an A4 resume” and “a resume printed on A3 paper” can describe the same form. This guide separates the size after folding from the paper used for printing.
A4 and B5 versus folded A3 and B4
A commercially sold folded resume may be labeled A4 or B5 according to its size after folding. Using the JIS B sizes common in Japan, the dimensions are as follows.
Format | Dimensions after folding | Dimensions when unfolded |
|---|---|---|
Folded A4-format resume | 210 × 297 mm | A3: 297 × 420 mm |
Folded B5-format resume | 182 × 257 mm | B4: 257 × 364 mm |
Resume on two A4 sheets | 210 × 297 mm per sheet | Two separate A4 sheets, not one folded sheet |
An “A4-format” label does not necessarily mean you should print on A4 paper. Check whether the downloaded form is one A3 page or two A4 pages.
Choosing when no size is specified
A4 is convenient alongside an A4 work history
If the work-history document is A4, matching the resume's submitted size makes the documents easier to organize. An A4 layout can also help keep text readable when you have more to include.
B5 can work when the requirements and content fit
B5 forms also exist. If you use a form you already have, confirm that the employer accepts it and the required information fits legibly. If a small field forces you to crowd in text, reconsider the form or shorten the wording.
Check for a required template before deciding on size
Use an employer's downloadable template or application form when instructed. For general templates, see Hello Work's guidance on the ministry's sample resume.
Three PDF checks before printing
- Page count: Check whether the file is one A3 page or two A4 pages.
- Dimensions: Check the original page size in document information or the print dialog.
- Appearance: Check for cropped text or photographs and unintended blank pages.
Documents created in Word or similar software may change line breaks or pagination when opened elsewhere. After exporting the submission PDF, review every page again.
Printing with a home printer
For a two-page A4 PDF, you can print each page on an A4 sheet. If the file is a single A3 page and your printer cannot handle A3, use a two-page A4 template or an A3-capable printing service.
Reducing a full A3 page to one A4 sheet makes text and fields smaller. Before choosing “fit to paper,” check how the original page and chosen paper sizes relate.
- Use white paper and a print quality that keeps text and photographs clear.
- Start with single-sided printing, unless the employer or template specifies otherwise.
- When original and paper sizes match, check settings such as actual size or 100%.
- If borders are cropped, check printable margins and the printer's supported area.
Printing at 100% is not a universal fix. Before making text smaller through scaling, consider whether another template or printing method would solve the problem.
Printing at convenience stores or other services
Paper sizes, file formats, and submission methods differ between services. Check the chosen service's official instructions for A3, A4, B4, and B5 support and single-sided or double-sided options.
In the print screen, confirm paper size, page count, scaling, black-and-white or color output, and copies. If the document includes a photograph, inspect the actual printout for a clear face and readable text, and adjust settings as needed.
At shared equipment, remember to collect originals and USB drives. Since a resume contains personal information, also check the service's file retention and deletion procedures.
Common printing problems
Everything has shrunk onto one A4 sheet
Check whether the source is A3 or multiple pages are being placed on a single sheet. For a two-page A4 version, choose one document page per printed sheet.
Borders or text are cut off
Check original dimensions, paper, margins, and orientation. If the PDF itself is cropped, correct the source document's page settings rather than only changing print options.
The photograph is blurry or the text is too small
Review the original image resolution and scaling settings. Judge readability on the actual paper, not only on screen.
Put the documents in an envelope at their submitted size
An A3 resume folded down the center becomes A4. For a two-sheet A4 version, arrange the sheets in order. An envelope that takes the documents without further folding is easier for the recipient to handle. A Japanese kakugata No. 2 envelope is one option for A4 documents.
For arranging a cover letter, resume, and work history, see the cover-letter guide and templates. Once size is settled, review the submission format and content, and focus on delivering documents that are easy to read.
