【Job-Hunting Hair】Best Hairstyles for Japanese Job-Hunting ID Photos: Short Hair & Bob

For women's shukatsu (job hunting in Japan), the classic hairstyles are a single ponytail or a half-up style.
But if you have short hair, such as a short cut, you may not have enough length to tie it back.

In this article, we introduce hairstyles that suit shorter hair, along with points to keep in mind.

Short hair is not a disadvantage! It looks fresh and energetic, which makes a great impression ◎

When people think of job hunting in Japan, many picture hair tied back in a single ponytail with the bangs neatly pinned away from the face, so you may feel that short hair puts you at a disadvantage.
However, as long as you look clean and neat, which is the basic rule of job hunting, your hair can be short or long—either is perfectly fine.

Short hair shows off your neckline, which gives a fresh, clean impression. It also tends to come across as bright, energetic and youthful, so it is especially recommended if you want to look lively or are applying for sales positions. Styling usually takes little time, which is ideal during the busy job-hunting season.

Also, if most of the other candidates have long hair, short hair can make you more memorable to interviewers.

Keeping the hair around your face tidy gives a cleaner, neater impression

What matters most in job-hunting grooming is a clean, neat appearance.
To achieve this with short hair, sweep your bangs to the side and tuck the hair around your face behind your ears so that your expression is clearly visible.

Comparing these two photos, the woman on the right shows her expression more clearly, doesn't she?
Simply parting your bangs diagonally and tucking your hair behind your ears makes a big difference.

The same goes for your job-hunting ID photo: a style that shows your ears makes your expression easier to read, and a bright expression comes across even better.

With short hair, simply tucking it behind your ears tends to come undone, so it is a good idea to secure it firmly with black bobby pins. Be careful where you place the pins, though: hide them behind your ears so they can't be seen from the front.

A half-up style is also a good choice for a short bob

If tucking the back hair behind your ears doesn't keep it tidy, or if you have thick hair, a half-up style is also worth considering.

Because the hair around your face is tied back as well, your hair is less likely to fall over your face when you bow. It is a style you can also use for interviews and company information sessions.

If the hair near your sideburns doesn't reach the hair tie, or if stray strands come loose, secure them with pins.
To keep the pins out of sight, you can also lay the hair held by the tie over the top to cover them. Try this if a pin ends up in a conspicuous spot.
However, if hiding the pin ruins your style, that defeats the purpose. If it isn't working, it is better to leave the pin visible and simply keep your hair in place.

For the classic inward-curled straight look, use a flat iron

If you plan to wear your short hair or bob down for your job-hunting ID photo, pay attention to the ends of your hair. Ends that are neat and tucked in give a clean impression.

The classic choice is straight hair with the ends curled slightly inward. As shown in the photo, section your hair and straighten it a little at a time for a neat result.
You can curl the ends inward with the same flat iron, so it's easy to do.

A cordless iron that lets you fix your hair when you're out and about can come in handy.

When curling the ends inward with a curling iron, be careful not to overdo it.
Over-curling adds volume near your face, which can look heavy or too flashy. We recommend finishing with a flat iron, which makes over-curling much less likely.

Things to watch out for with short hair during job hunting

Because short hair has less length to weigh it down, bed head and flyaway hairs stand out more easily. Don't let your guard down just because your hair is short—tidy it properly with a hair dryer or hair iron.

Short hair also makes it obvious when your hair has grown. Even if you got a haircut when you started job hunting, your hair may reach your shoulders partway through. Once it grows to around shoulder length, tie it back.

Also, whatever your hair length, keep your bangs and the hair around your face from falling over your eyes or face. If your bangs cover your eyes, interviewers may find it hard to read your expression, and you may come across as less neat. Touching your hair repeatedly during an interview can also make you seem restless. Use pins or wax so that your hair doesn't fall forward when you bow.

Summary

19Studio offers an ID photo menu designed for job hunting.

Before your session, you can check your styling yourself, and during the shoot, staff with experience as corporate interviewers will give you advice. Professional retouching is also available after the shoot. We also offer removal of flyaway hairs and black hair correction, which makes brown hair look darker, at no extra charge.

Take an ID photo you are happy with, and head into your job hunt with confidence!

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▼How to keep your hair and makeup looking good

【Must Read!】How to Keep Your Hair and Makeup Looking Good Until Your Job-Hunting ID Photo Shoot (Hair Edition)

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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.

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