Resume Photo Etiquette — Complete Guide: Size, Attire, How to Take & Attach
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Published:
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Category: Job Search Preparation & Interview Tips
Authors: Shusaku Yosa
The photo on your Japanese resume (rirekisho) is the very first impression a hiring manager sees. If the size is wrong, or the attire and expression are inappropriate, it can leave a negative impression no matter how strong the content is. This article is a complete guide to resume photo etiquette—covering the standard size, attire manners, how to take the photo, and how to attach it. These are the basic rules shared across career changes, new-graduate job hunting, and part-time applications, so review them before you apply.
The standard size for a resume photo is 40mm tall × 30mm wide (4cm × 3cm). Commercially sold resumes and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) template are almost all designed around this size. Unless the employer specifies otherwise, choosing this 40mm × 30mm size is always a safe bet.
ID photos come in various sizes, such as passport size (45mm × 35mm) and driver's license size (30mm × 24mm). The resume photo differs from these at 40mm × 30mm, so when using a photo booth be sure to select the "resume / general" size. Choosing the wrong size means the photo won't fit the frame and you'll have to redo it.
If your photo is larger than the frame, trim the surrounding margins straight with a cutter or scissors to adjust it. Cut carefully while watching the top-bottom and left-right balance so the face isn't cropped. A photo that is too small looks awkward with visible gaps, so rather than use it, it's better to retake it. If it's only slightly smaller than the frame it's fine to attach it, but if it's significantly off, we recommend reshooting.
Note that the photo size and the resume paper size (A4 / B5) are two different things. For how to choose the paper size, see also Which Resume Size Is Correct? Choosing Between A4 and B5, and Printing.
The standard attire for a resume photo is a clean, tidy suit. Avoid casual or everyday clothes, and dress just as you would for an interview. Before shooting, check that your jacket and shirt are free of wrinkles and stains and that the collar isn't crooked.
Men should wear a dark-colored jacket (navy, charcoal gray, etc.) with a white dress shirt, and a necktie is a must. A tie in a plain or subtle regimental pattern is safest. Fasten the top button and check in a mirror that the knot of the tie isn't crooked.
Women should also pair a jacket with a blouse or shirt as the basic style. Calm tones such as navy, gray, or beige give a good impression. Be careful not to have too open a neckline; choosing an inner top that shows the collarbone slightly makes the area around the face look neat. Avoid large accessories and keep it simple.
Style your hair so that the outline of your face and your eyes are clearly visible. Keep bangs from covering the eyes, and tie long hair back or tuck it behind the ears for a clean look. Watch out for bed hair or visible dandruff. Keep makeup natural, finishing for a healthy, bright impression. Avoid flashy colored contacts or heavy makeup.
The ideal expression is a natural smile with the corners of the mouth slightly raised. You don't need to smile enough to show your teeth—just gently lifting the corners of a closed mouth creates a bright, approachable impression. A completely straight face can look stiff or intimidating, so relax when the photo is taken.
For posture, straighten your back and face directly forward. Tuck your chin in slightly and keep your shoulders level on both sides for a proper, put-together impression. Always shoot from a straight-on angle, and avoid tilted or upward angles.
The background of a resume photo should be white, blue, or gray. Choose a plain background that makes you stand out and keeps your complexion looking bright. Avoid patterned or dark backgrounds and photos with scenery behind you. Many photo booths let you select the background color, so choose based on the balance with your clothing color. In general, white gives a bright, clean impression, blue a fresh and crisp one, and gray a calm, soft one.
There are three ways to take a resume photo: a photo studio, a photo booth, or a smartphone app. Each has its own characteristics, so choose based on your purpose and budget.
A professional photographer adjusts the lighting, expression, and posture for you, so this delivers the highest-quality result. Many studios also offer retouching (such as skin correction), reprints, and digital data, making it the recommended choice for career changes and important selections. The cost starts around 3,000 yen—higher than the other methods—but it comes with peace of mind.
Photo booths installed near stations and convenience stores strike a good balance of convenience and price. For about 800–1,000 yen you can print on the spot. When shooting, select the "resume / general (40mm × 30mm)" size and adjust the background color and brightness. If you choose a model that supports data saving, you can also use it for online submissions.
With a resume-photo app you can shoot on your smartphone and print at a convenience store or save the data. It's the cheapest method, but because you shoot it yourself, adjusting brightness and angle is harder and results vary. When shooting, use a bright spot with natural light, put a plain wall behind you, and fix the phone on a tripod to avoid failures.
When submitting a resume through a job site or application form, prepare the photo as data. JPEG (.jpg) is the common file format; if the employer specifies otherwise, follow that. Many photo booths and studios support providing data, so if online submission is expected, it's reassuring to also receive the data.
Photo data should also keep the 4:3 (height:width) ratio as a rule. Avoid extremely low-resolution images or using a casual snapshot taken with your phone as-is. Naming the file clearly, such as "Name_ResumePhoto," makes it easier for the hiring manager to manage.
When attaching the photo to a paper resume, it's important to be considerate—so it can still be identified as yours if it falls off—and to attach it neatly. Follow these steps.
Before attaching the photo, write your name on the back with an oil-based pen. This is a courtesy so that, should the photo come off after submission, it can still be identified as yours. Pressing hard with a ballpoint pen can leave marks on the front, so write lightly with a fine-tip oil-based pen.
Attach the photo with a glue stick or photo double-sided tape. Liquid glue tends to warp the photo or backing with moisture, so it's safer to avoid it. Attach it straight to the frame without tilting. Taping over the front surface with cellophane tape is a manners violation, so always fix it from the entire back side.
The following kinds of photos give a negative impression to hiring managers, so avoid them.
As a rule, use a resume photo taken within the past 3 months. Hairstyle and body shape change over time, so an old photo can conflict with your current appearance. Avoid photos taken a while ago or reusing a photo from your job-hunting days years earlier; retake it at the time you apply. Anticipating applications to multiple companies, making reprints or saving the data is efficient.
Just by nailing the basics of size, attire, expression, background, and attaching, you can greatly raise the first impression your resume photo makes. The size is 40mm × 30mm, the attire is a clean suit, and the background is white, blue, or gray. For shooting, choose a photo studio if you prioritize quality, or a photo booth or app for convenience—and use a photo taken within 3 months. When attaching, write your name on the back and use glue or double-sided tape to place it straight and neatly. With one carefully considered photo, give yourself an edge in the document screening. For how to write the resume overall, see also The Complete Guide to Writing a Resume: Manners and the Right Answer for Each Field.
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