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Should I write my resume by hand or type it on a computer? Japanese workplace sparks heated discussions
With the advent of the digital age, many traditional ways of job seeking are gradually changing. However, in Japan, the question of whether job resumes should be handwritten or typed on a computer has recently sparked heated discussions.
A Japanese business owner named Hiroyuki Takeshita criticized young people for using computers to type resumes too perfunctorily, and even using color printing, stating that such practices lack sincerity. This statement immediately caused a huge uproar on the internet, with netizens questioning whether his views are outdated.
Controversial Speech by Yuzhi Takeshita
Yuji Takeshita is a Japanese entrepreneur who claims to have started from scratch and often shares his business philosophy through social media platforms.
Recently, he posted on Twitter criticizing contemporary job seekers for using color printed computer typed resumes to apply, believing that this shows a lack of sincerity. In his opinion, job seekers who truly want to obtain job opportunities should handwrite their resume to demonstrate their importance to the company.
He tweeted, ‘If you really want to get a job opportunity, you should use a handwritten resume to apply, right?’ This statement quickly sparked a backlash from netizens. Many people point out that in today’s era of widespread digitization, typing resumes on a computer is not only the norm for job hunting, but also the default requirement for many companies.
The intense reaction from Japanese netizens
The comments made by Zhu were quickly surrounded by a large number of netizens.
Some people believe that his views are outdated and even joke, “If you emphasize handwritten resumes so much, should your company also communicate entirely through handwritten letters
Another netizen sarcastically said, “If you have published a book, do you also write it by hand? If you really want to show sincerity, you should write the entire book by hand, right
Many young people directly express their refusal to work in such “outdated” companies, believing that companies should adapt to changes in the times and accept more efficient job search methods. A netizen bluntly said, “It’s already very difficult for college students to find jobs nowadays. Half of their energy is spent on job hunting, so there’s no need to waste time on these formalistic issues anymore
The Current Status of Handwritten Resume in Japan
Although Takeshita’s viewpoint has been criticized, in reality, Japan still has a preference for handwritten resumes. According to a survey conducted by NHK in 2020, although 85.6% of companies stated that whether a job seeker’s resume is handwritten or typed on a computer, it will not affect the admission criteria, 7.2% of companies still indicated that they prefer handwritten resumes. As for job seekers, 46.5% of students still choose to write their resumes by hand, although 46.9% of students prefer to use computers for typing.
Behind this phenomenon, it reflects a traditional concept in the Japanese workplace that handwritten handwriting is considered a way to demonstrate sincerity and effort. Although many companies have stated that handwriting does not affect admission, job seekers still choose to handwrite their resumes as a precaution to avoid missing out on job opportunities.
Changes in Workplace Concepts and Future Trends
With the progress of the times, more and more Japanese companies are accepting and encouraging digital job search methods. Especially during the pandemic, remote work and online interviews have become the norm, and the use of computer typed resumes has gradually become mainstream. However, the remarks of Yuji Takeshita also exposed the problem of some traditional Japanese companies still adhering to old-fashioned concepts.
In the future, as more young people enter the workforce, the demand for handwritten resumes may further decrease, but traditional views like Takeshita’s will still exist in some companies. This collision of ideas may continue to spark new discussions in the future workplace.
Resume is an important part of job hunting, but whether it needs to be handwritten is still controversial in today’s Japanese workplace. The remarks of Yuzhi Takeshita have sparked a fierce collision between traditional and modern workplace concepts. Although most companies no longer require handwritten resumes, many job seekers still choose to follow this tradition as a precaution. In the future, with the development of technology and the updating of workplace culture, handwritten resume forms may gradually become history, replaced by more efficient and convenient digital job search methods.