What HR Looks For in Job-Hunting ID Photos: Tips for Japan's Shūkatsu

Job-Hunting ID Photos #Job-Hunting ID Photo #Job Hunting

March 4, 2022November 9, 2026 Chiharu

If you're job hunting in Japan (known as shūkatsu), you'll need an ID photo. Have you had yours taken yet?
Your entry sheet (the application form Japanese companies ask for first) is the first document you send to a company you want to join.
The photo on that document matters, so you don't want to get it wrong.

What do interviewers actually look at in an ID photo?
What makes a good impression?
We interviewed people with experience in HR and interviewing to find out what you're probably wondering about!

The people who helped us come from a wide range of industries: IT, services, entertainment, manufacturing and apparel.
If you keep the points in this article in mind, you can submit your photo with confidence in almost any industry.

Job-Hunting Photo Tip 1: A Clear, Bright Image

Above all, your face should be clearly visible and well lit.
In job hunting, an ID photo also serves to confirm who you are, so it's essential that your face can be recognized.

A photo that is too dark to see your face is a problem, and so is one that is so bright the highlights are blown out.

The ideal is lighting at just the right brightness, so your expression is clearly visible.
Also be careful with heavily edited photos, like those from Japanese purikura photo booths. They are not suitable for confirming your identity.

Job-Hunting Photo Tip 2: A Clean, Neat Appearance

A neat hairstyle and outfit, which matter in job-hunting photos

What matters most for your hair and clothes is a clean, neat look.
Be sure to fix any messy hair, such as bed head, before the shoot.

A hairstyle that keeps the area around your ears and eyes clear tends to give a neat impression.
For clothing, watch out for wrinkles in your suit, a rumpled blouse and a crooked tie.

In a photo booth, you can only check your appearance with your phone camera or a small screen before the shot, so it's easy to miss small details like these.
It's also hard to fix things in a cramped booth.
In a studio, our staff will point out hair and clothing issues you might not notice yourself.
Stray hairs that wax or spray can't tame can be naturally fixed with professional retouching.

Does Your ID Photo Affect Whether You Pass?

This is something many people wonder about.
The most common answer was that "basically, no one decides pass or fail from the photo alone," but we also heard these opinions:

It can be one factor when judging overall whether you fit the company's atmosphere and culture.

It shows whether you are someone who prepares properly when applying.

So start with the basics that people with HR and interviewing experience pay attention to:

・Your face is clearly visible

・You look clean and neat

Cover these two points and aim for a good first impression.

An ID photo you can submit without worry will also boost your confidence.
At 19 Studio, we support your job hunt with photos you can proudly send to companies.
Head into your job search with a photo you're happy with!

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.