[2025 Guide] Summer Recruiting & Internship Applications in Japan: Job-Hunting Photo and Prep Tips to Avoid Regret

May 27, 2025November 10, 2026 Chiharu

A job seeker applying for summer recruitment or internships

The spring peak of Japan's 2025 job-hunting season (shukatsu) has passed, and summer recruiting (second-round hiring) and internship applications are now in full swing. If spring didn't bring the results you wanted, or if you haven't started job hunting yet, this is your chance for a fresh start.

Hiring gets faster every year, and being late to prepare directly means missing opportunities. In this article, based on 2025 trends, we cover how to take your ID photo and what to watch out for, as well as other job-hunting preparation beyond the photo.

Why Summer Recruiting and Internships Matter [2025 Job-Hunting Trends]
Make a Difference with Your ID Photo: Tips for the Shoot
Your Photo Is Your Stand-In: What Real Entry Sheets and Employer Interviews Reveal About Evaluation Criteria
Beyond the Photo: Other Ways to Prepare for Summer Recruiting and Internships
Summary | Your Impression Can Decide the Late-Stage Selection

Why Summer Recruiting and Internships Matter [2025 Job-Hunting Trends]

Japan's 2025 job-hunting season shows the following trends:

More companies are adopting year-round or late-stage hiring
Internships leading directly into formal selection are becoming the norm
Selection is increasingly focused on an applicant's personality and real-life impression

Make a Difference with Your ID Photo: Tips for the Shoot

1. Get a professional result at a photo studio
Photos taken on a smartphone or in an instant photo booth tend to have uneven lighting and a stiff expression. Studios that specialize in job-hunting photos work to maximize your impression, from lighting and posture to facial expression.

2. Choose a clean, neat outfit and hairstyle
For men, a black or navy suit with a white shirt and a tie in a subdued color is the standard. For women, a black or navy suit with a white blouse works well, and keeping your hair back so your ears and eyebrows are visible makes a good impression.

3. Show sincerity with a natural expression
If you're not used to being photographed, your face can easily stiffen, but a natural expression is what builds the most trust. Smiling too hard backfires. Aim for an expression close to how you look in everyday life.

4. Face the camera straight on, with good posture
Keep your back straight, your shoulders level, and your eyes looking directly into the camera lens. Pay attention to the angle of your chin and any tilt in your body. At a studio, the photographer can guide your posture and gaze from an outside point of view.

5. Earlier is better for the shoot
If you leave your photo until the last minute, stress and fatigue can show on your face. Ideally, get it done between June and early July.

Your Photo Is Your Stand-In: What Real Entry Sheets and Employer Interviews Reveal About Evaluation Criteria

An ID photo is more than just a picture of your face. Submitted together with your résumé (rirekisho) and entry sheet (ES, the application form Japanese companies ask new graduates to fill out), it becomes the first thing a recruiter sees of you.

19Studio is a photo studio run by an IT company. Because we hire new graduates ourselves, unlike ordinary studios, we often get to see the entry sheets and résumés that real job seekers submit.

We also regularly interview people with hiring experience and HR staff at companies, and we hear comments like this:

“If the photo looks very different from the person we actually meet, we can feel distrust. A photo with a natural expression lets us start the interview with confidence.”

In other words, over-retouching your photo and not putting in enough effort are both risks.

Drawing on this feedback from the field, 19Studio is committed to:

A clean, neat finish suited to job hunting
Shooting support that brings out a natural, trustworthy expression
A retouching balance that keeps your photo true to how you look in person

Your photo is your stand-in, making an impression before you say a word.
That's why it's worth preparing one photo that conveys your genuine appeal together with a sense of trust.

We Recommend Shooting at a Studio

To get an ID photo that makes a good impression, we recommend shooting at a studio!
At 19Studio in Shinjuku, same-day bookings are available.
We also offer an optional suit compositing service (a suit is added digitally to your photo), so it's perfect if you want your photo taken right now!

Beyond the Photo: Other Ways to Prepare for Summer Recruiting and Internships

1. Update your entry sheet and résumé from your spring versions

Are you reusing the first entry sheet you wrote as it is? For summer recruiting and internships, updating it with what you learned and reflected on during earlier selection rounds tends to lead to better results.

2. For internships, taking initiative matters more than being passive

Hiring directly through internships is on the rise. Researching the company and industry trends beforehand, and showing motivation through eager questions and attitude, leads to high evaluations.

3. Watch your social media and online history

Some companies check applicants' social media. Take another look at your profiles, post history, and privacy settings.

4. In interviews, the questions you ask can change your impression

Be careful that the questions you ask at the end of an interview don't come across as something you just asked for the sake of it. Specific questions that reflect the company's initiatives and vision build trust.

Summary | Your Impression Can Decide the Late-Stage Selection

In the 2025 summer recruiting and internship selection, the quality of your first impression, including your photo, is likely to matter more than ever. Your ID photo speaks for you, so get one you are happy with, with professional support.

At 19Studio, we offer ID photos that value each job seeker's individuality and natural charm. Start preparing now for the summer hiring season.

Chiharu: Loves writing articles and is studying copywritingI love writing and I'm currently studying copywriting. I turn the questions our guests often ask and the things I notice in the studio into easy-to-read articles about job-hunting and ID photos, so that even first-timers can understand them.