Starting Your Job Hunt in Japan: When Should You Take Your Photo for Internship Applications?
Internships are held before the official application period begins.
Many students think, "I'll just join one to kick off my job hunt (shukatsu)!"
Internships are important events that can lead to early selection.
In this article, we explain the photo you need for internship applications in Japan!
Contents
Don't let your guard down: prepare your internship entry sheet carefully!
Some internships require an entry sheet (a standard Japanese application form, similar to a résumé combined with a personal statement). Even though full-scale job hunting hasn't started yet, we don't recommend rushing through it.
An internship can open an early selection route, and it also gives you a chance to find weaknesses in your entry sheet before the official selection process.
That's why it's best to prepare your internship entry sheet carefully, too.
During the internship application period, when you've only just started job hunting, writing an entry sheet tends to take a lot of time, so start early.
What kind of photo do internship applications need?
The photo for an internship is the same as the standard job-hunting ID photo.
There are two main points that HR recruiters look at in a job-hunting photo.
- Your face is clearly visible
- You look clean and neat
A single photo is unlikely to decide whether you pass or fail, but it never hurts to make sure you cover these two points.
We explain in more detail what recruiters look for in a job-hunting photo in this article.
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For internships, too, it's reassuring to have a photo that follows the same points.
That's why we recommend having your photo taken at a studio.
Photo booths are convenient, but at a studio you can get advice from a third party while you're being photographed, so it's especially recommended if you aren't used to having your photo taken!
We recommend taking your internship photo in May or June
Many university students join summer internships in their third year of university.
Because they take place during summer break, they are usually held in August, and application deadlines are often in June or July.
To avoid submitting at the last minute, it's best to take your photo early. Taking it in May or June is a good idea.
Be careful, though: the weather and temperature change easily at this time of year.
We've put together tips for hot days in this article.
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What should you wear when job hunting in summer? Is a "cool biz" look okay for students? Are short sleeves fine? Is a shirt alone enough? If you're having your photo taken in the hot season, you may have the same questions…
On rainy days and other days when your appearance is easily thrown off, please refer to these articles.
[Must-Read!] How to Keep Your Hair and Makeup Looking Great Until Your Job-Hunting Photo
Messy hair and makeup are your enemy when job hunting, and the same goes for your job-hunting photo. You want to get to the photo studio without ruining the makeup and hairstyle you worked so hard on…
[Must-Read!] How to Keep Your Hair and Makeup Looking Great Until Your Job-Hunting Photo
In-person information sessions and interviews are being held again these days. Have you ever carefully styled your hair and makeup at home, only to have wind or sweat ruin it the moment you stepped outside?…
Internships held during spring break are most common in February and March. This overlaps with the official application period for full-time positions, so photo studios get very crowded.
Reservations become hard to get, so be careful.
Summary
In this article, we explained when to take your photo for internship applications.
Prepare carefully in advance so you can head into your job hunt with confidence!
- I 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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