When applying for a job in Japan, you will create a cover letter alongside your resume. It's a must because you will sell yourself and try to increase your chance of getting a job through a convincing letter.  Continue reading to know how to write a Japanese job cover letter.

It includes four sections.

1. Introduction
2. Reason for Leaving Job
3. Qualification/Skills/achievements
4. Closing

It's time to get details of every section one by one.

Section 1- Opening Line or Introduction

In this section, you will provide an interesting introduction of yourself. Tell them who you are, what job position you are working on. Where from you find info of this job and also your main reason for applying. Show passion, be direct but try to catch employer attention.

Section 2 - Reason for Leaving Job.

Generally, you don't explain the reason for leaving a job in another cover letter. But when you apply for a job in Japan, you will have to provide a good reason. So, be ready to offer one. This reason shouldn't be negative. Never think of bad mouthing your employer. You can say, I want to be a part of a big company or want to join a better team. Something that explains growth, or gives a good reason for this level of change.

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Section 3- Qualifications/Skills

It's where you will start selling yourself to the employer. Tell him that you are such a wonderful, experienced or talented person. Use adjectives, share your quick achievement stories, and match skills with jobs. Relevancy is a key to make a cover letter interesting and eye-catching for your recruiter. Tell them how long you have been working in the industry. Some skills you can mention are analytic skills, negotiation skills, logical thinking,  good interpersonal skills, etc.

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Section 4- Closing

Now you need to showcase your passion once again for the job. Tell the employer how excited you are to join the company. Thank him for reading your cover letter. And don't forget to add a common line  お忙しいなか恐縮ですが、どうぞ宜しくお願いいたします。(Sorry to bother you when you are busy and thank you for your consideration.). Yours Faithfully, and Yours sincerely are commonly used as closing salutations.

Tips for Writing the best Cover letter

Here are some points you need to keep in mind for crafting the best cover letter.

• Remain polite and don't use some words that make you look arrogant or proud. Japanese like humble people and they won't like to hire you if you are oversmart or overconfident.
• Please don't use any contraction like I'm, I've, etc. Keep in mind that it's a formal job letter, so stay away from casual words.
• You can be funny but don't overdo it. Also try not to use exclamation points.
• Always proofread your cover letter. Check for correct grammar, full sentences and spellings.
• Length of a Japanese cover letter shouldn't be more than one page. Don't write long stories, no one is interested to read.
• You can add some industry jargon but they should be correct. Again, don't overdo it.
• Try to write a cover letter in a way that conveys a message that you research about the company and it's not a generic letter.
• Since you need to provide your reason for leaving the job in a Japanese cover letter, try not to bad mouth or please never backstab your employer. It will backfire you and cost you this job opportunity.
• People often use short forms, abbreviations, etc to save time. Don't do the same thing. It will make you look like a lazy person who isn't ready to make an effort.

Wrap Up

A cover letter is your best chance of getting attention from a recruiter. Therefore, it’s vital to craft the best one. Many employers accept resumes in English. For many jobs, requirements are simple. They don’t want a Japanese cover letter. However, if you have learned this language well, you can try your luck with a Japanese letter. But before you hit the send button, please let a native Japanese speaker review it thoroughly. This review will save you from trouble and won’t put your job application at risk.