What Is a Work History? Differences from a Resume and Writing Basics

When you start a job search, you are asked to submit a work history (shokumu keirekisho) along with your resume. Many people are puzzled, wondering "What is a work history?", "How is it different from a resume?", and "How should I write it?" This article explains the meaning and purpose of the work history, how it differs from a resume, and the structure and formats that form the basics of writing it, in a way that's easy to understand for those preparing one for the first time.

What is a work history?

A work history is a document that summarizes the content of the work you have experienced, your achievements, and the skills you have acquired, in order to convey how you can contribute at the company you're applying to. Through the work history, recruiters judge whether the applicant's practical ability and experience match the type of person their company is looking for. A feature is that there is no fixed format, so you can tailor the content and structure so your strengths come across.

The difference between a work history and a resume

A resume and a work history are documents often submitted as a set in a job search, but their roles differ. Let's organize the differences.

Difference in role and purpose

A resume is a document that conveys the applicant's basic profile, such as name, education, work record, and qualifications. The work history, on the other hand, is a document that concretely shows your work experience, skills, and achievements, and appeals "what kind of things you can do." It's easy to understand if you think of the resume as "the person's basic information" and the work history as "proof of practical ability."

Difference in content

A resume records, in a fixed format, items such as name, address, education, work record, motivation for applying, and the personal request field. The work history is written concretely in your own words, covering the details of the work you've handled so far, your achievements and the points you devised, the skills you can apply, and a personal appeal.

Difference in format

A resume uses a somewhat fixed format, such as the JIS standard or a job-change version. A work history has no fixed format, and it's common to fit it onto one or two A4 sheets. Because the format is free, devising how you present it leads to a better evaluation. Note that the paper size should be unified to A4 for both the resume and the work history. For details, please also refer to our article on resume size.

The basic structure of a work history

A work history has no fixed format, but it is generally composed of the following elements.

• Career summary: a concise summary of your career so far in 3 to 5 lines at the beginning
• Work history: your employers, periods of employment, duties, and achievements recorded concretely, such as in chronological order
• Experience, knowledge, and skills you can apply: organizing strengths that will be useful at the company you're applying to
• Qualifications and skills: held qualifications, proficiency with tools, and so on
• Personal appeal: appealing your strengths and character, together with the evidence of your achievements

The detailed way to write each item and templates are explained in our work history writing manual article. For how to create the personal appeal field, please also see our article on the work history personal appeal, and for job-type-specific examples, our work history examples article.

The three formats of a work history

A work history mainly has three formats depending on how you present your career. Choose the one that suits your career.

• Chronological: a format written in time order from older to newer work records. Suited to people with a consistent career
• Reverse-chronological: a format that goes back from newer work records to the past. Suited to people who want to appeal their most recent experience
• Career-style: a format that organizes by job content or project. Suited to people whose job types or duties span many areas

Basic manners when writing a work history

• Fit it onto about one or two A4 sheets and summarize it so it's easy to read
• Show achievements with concrete numbers and results as much as possible
• Adjust the content to match the experience and skills the employer is looking for
• Don't reuse the same content; review it for each employer
• Always check for typos and inconsistent notation before submitting

Frequently asked questions about the work history

Q. Is a resume alone not enough?

In a job search, you are generally asked for both a resume and a work history. Because a resume alone makes it hard to convey practical ability and concrete achievements, you need the work history to supplement "what you can do."

Q. Should a work history be handwritten or made on a PC?

It is common to create a work history on a PC. It's easy to edit and adjust the layout, and it's also advantageous in terms of readability. Fit it onto A4 with Word or a template, and submit it as a PDF.

Q. How many pages is appropriate for a work history?

One or two A4 sheets is the guideline. Even if your career is long, narrowing it to the key points and keeping it to about two pages makes it easier to read. Don't cram in too much information; organize it by prioritizing the content the employer wants to know.

Summary: A work history is a document that conveys "what you can do"

A work history is a document that summarizes your work experience, skills, and achievements so far, to appeal how you'll contribute at the company you're applying to. Its role differs from a resume, which conveys basic information, and its feature is that it shows your practical ability. It's important to keep the basic structure of career summary, work history, applicable skills, and personal appeal, and to summarize it readably on A4. First grasp the overall picture, then, referring to related articles for the detailed writing, create a document that conveys your strengths.