I'm a dev in the U.S., not looking to work in Japan but still interesting to learn about the market over there. Subbed to see more dev / Japan content!
Salaries are pretty close to a high income European country from what I've seen (feel free to correct me). It's just that the US pays their devs an insane amount like wayyy above any country. But if they're that desperate to get devs in Japan maybe it's even higher than your average job in western Europe which is pretty cool I guess. @@mattb4625
When I was in college and thinking about if I should move to Japan, one of the biggest reasons I declined to do so is Japan has really entrenched seniority culture. Here in the states, you can get promoted really quickly as long as you demonstrate your skill in the work, and you aren't penalized for job hopping much which means you can go from intern to Principal or Staff engineer in 10 years and max out your salary band. In Japan, it is a lot more slow going and they penalize you heavily for swapping companies it sets you back a ton for promos and you don't see a big salary boost like you would in the states. The pay was also a lot worse, especially if your goal is to live and work in Tokyo. 8 years later i don't regret my decision 🥰
I'm glad you made a good decision you can live with. I understand this perception, but it just doesn't line up with what I personally have seen. With that being said, it could've been different when you were looking into Japan. But, I doubt the negative aspects were completely true. There has been a long history of painting Japan with broad strokes, whether in a good light or bad light. But you have to remember, even if there are some truths in those generalizations, people here are also striving to improve things and don't just go around thinking "let's just live in this horrible status quo". I think Japan is maybe just lagging behind the west in work-life balance, but is headed in the same direction.
As someone living in Japan, working in IT (Cyber Security) who has changed jobs this is not true for non-Japanese companies. It is harder to get salary increases when switching jobs because it is expected that you disclose your current salary before you get an offer, but besides that you can change companies without any issues. My advice would be to not work for a Japanese company unless you need the experience.
I’ve been learning Japanese for about two years while working full-time as a junior software engineer (with a BTech). Right now, I'm at N3 level, but I'm hoping to reach N1 and land a job in Japan!
I didn't realize IT jobs are shortage there in Japan. In US you literally have to be a competitive programmer and have system design application like Netflix to be considered for junior dev position.
@@hundvd_7 Brother my cousin worked for BELL, the biggest internet provider in Canada in a high level IT position with a decade of experience, they laid him off and it took him 5 months to find another job. Even then he only got another one because his old connections at BELL fought to get him back in, but in a different sector because he was a good worker.
Im a software engineer with 8 years experience (no degree) just got a job here in the states at a Japanese company in their ITS department doing software solutions and basic IT. Feel like a couple more years and i could be on my way to figuring out how to transfer to their parent company in japan :O recently started learning Japanese. Iv been wanting to learn a new language for a hot second, thought about learning Spanish as it would be a utility to know it in the states however now that im at a Japanese company with a handful of Japanese expats to speak to, its a win win.
Holy crap, dude, that was truly useful information. Moreover, you delivering the information in very concise point. I take that depend on your education and experience, get into language and programming school. Then you list two very useful website to explore the job market. You have my utmost respect. I'm following you..
Thanks for your comment! I'm glad you found it helpful. I always think of stuff that I should have talked about after the fact though... so that's probably why it ends up maybe overly concise 😂
First of all, you're pretty much the only person i know of that made a video specifically outlining how to get a technical job in a specific country and being straightforward on top of that, so thank you Secondly, i do have a Bachelors in IT but with no experience yet, since i currently live in Australia and breaking into even entry level is tough right now, do you think it would be wise to try my luck in Japan, or should i wait it out a bit, improve my Japanese study and build my portfolio while still in Australia?
Do you know some Japanese? Without Japanese, I would say no it is not possible. You should self-study while you are in Australia or come to a language school and look for jobs while studying I have heard of some people getting internships here from overseas, so I'm sure an entry position is possible with some Japanese knowledge. Not sure how difficult it is though, I'm still gathering that information over on the discord. Consider joining to stay updated on that
@william_in_japan right now I'd say im on a N4 level and i can read and listen somewhat comfortably, im still actively self studying Japanese while also building up my IT portfolio so i can break into the Australian job market, it's more of a fallback option in case Australia doesn't work out
That sounds really, really awesome... I can only hope such opportunities will still be open by the time I get my degree, as I'm only 17. Until then, I'm going to work hard towards this goal.
Sure wish there was some board to put to it self up on. Like an adopt an IT worker market. Select which countries you’d be interested in moving to for work.
Great video! Lots of useful information, will defnitely be using the sites you mentioned in the future :) It's funny, in Germany developers are also highly valued and companies are desperate to find them.
Two questions (which are mostly assumptions on my end) 1. I'm assuming most of the companies on those sites want someone who is fully fluent in Japanese? I know there are some other sites that let you filter by language requirement but those usually end up being heavily teaching or 英会話 positions on those websites. 2. Are they only looking for IT/Comp Sci engineers because as a semiconductor manufacturing engineer, I'm curious how many companies would be interested in foreign manufacturing engineers. edit: nvm to no. 1 just reached the point in the video where you stressed to know Japanese. Already plan on becoming fluent but was hoping to use getting a job as an entry point to immerse and learn Japanese and work towards Permanent residency.
So if I have zero years of IT experience but already live in Japan and want to get my foot in the door, vocational school would be the best way to go? Or perhaps language school, and then vocational school if my Japanese is below N2? If my Japanese is N4-N3 level with zero IT experience, what would my job options be for entry-level IT?
Great video! I've been working in IT for close to 10years. Starting from Help Desk to Senior SWE. I have been casually looking into jobs in Japan, but I can't find any that would sponsor not only me, but my family of 3 as well. It's highly impossible since they all would need visas as well, but I can only dream
@@william_in_japan please do i am personally on my journey to dive into algorithms specifically for python and diving other languages slowly and i am a bit lose and want to gain some knowledge about how you all get it related jobs after university/self taught period. I am a uni student so the information would help.
japanese is for sure the big barrier, and the cultural nuances, i lived in japan for 6 months and learned alot of cultural nuances with some japanese friends. however the language itself just doesnt go into my head for whatever reason
idk if its something you heard or might find annoying, but i would guess the reason is your not actively studying, yes its a interesting language to learn, but that also means you have to like specifically put an effort into learning, 日本語を勉強して2ヶ月。it may not be much but every bit counts.
With ITPEC certifications, you can get an IT job in Japan and a visa without a degree or 10 years of work experience. ITPEC certifications from other countries, like PhilNITS, are also recognized in Japan. This is important because the Japanese ITPEC certification, the IT Passport, is only available in Japanese, while other member countries offer the exam in English. Additionally, as a spouse of someone holding a Highly Skilled Professional visa, these restrictions also do not apply. I personally know people in my current environment who have benefited from both cases.
@@pororiman9489 Yes, I personally know someone who did not fulfill the requirements for a work visa, who then took and passed the PhilNITS (FE) for this reason and then got a work visa here. On the immigration website, on the nyukan hourei page, it also says that it is recognized.
@@pororiman9489 Yes, I personally know someone who did not fulfill the requirements for a work visa, who then took and passed the PhilNITS (FE) for this reason and then got a work visa here. On the immigration website, on the nyukan hourei page, it also says that it is recognized.
@@william_in_japan As far as I have heard, the ITPEC can also earn 5 points for the HSP, but I don't know anyone who has done this myself, so I'm just putting it here as a “rumor”.
the 10 years of experience doesn't have to be experience in your exact job either, just the same general responsibilities, so if you did IT support for like 4 years and then became a software engineer for 6, it all counts as engineering since the responsibilities likely have some crossover
@@william_in_japan is it arbitrary, and really up to the immigration worker you're working with, but honestly I'd say more often than not you'll probably be fine if you give enough supporting documentation that you worked jobs involved to your field for them to not scrutinize it too heavily. Plus if you have a Japanese company sponsoring you and assisting you with an agency it becomes even easier because they will go to bat for you.
I recently moved to the US and have had absolutely no success in finding an entry level position. I have only 2 years of experience, and half of that is freelance work. I do have a bachelor's degree, but it's in Economics. I have a number of certificates in various programming languages and data science, but I don't know Japanese. What are my chances? Unfortunately i don't have any savings at all, so I can't just move over to Japan and study the language, I need a job asap.. I knew the job market was bad, but I never expected it to be this bad. I'd literally work for half the average salary if someone would just hire me, I'm definitely capable of getting things done.. but all these positions in the US have $70-130k ranges.. I'd work for $50-60 if it's a remote position, and extra hours! Now I'm considering moving to a cheaper country, but I don't know the languages..
I have a family member in a similar position, so I know that the U.S. job market is very tough right now for Jr. developers. Unfortunately, it is going to be very tough to get a developer job in Japan with no Japanese and no experience. The degree being unrelated is not a problem. Your certificates are definitely a plus! Do you actually want to come to Japan, or are you only considering it as a way to find a job outside of the U.S.? No judgement either way, I just want to know because if you actually want to be in Japan for a few years to come, here's what I would consider if I were you: Considering the Japanese developer job market is currently better for software developers and you would like to be in Japan, you should use your degree to get into the country doing any job that you can get. In practice, this would likely mean getting an English teaching job. I have never done one myself, but I have heard that they are very easy to get if you have a degree. The pay is very low, but it would allow you to be in the country while learning Japanese and applying to developer jobs as you make a portfolio to show to potential employers. edit: Oh I just noticed that you say you moved to the U.S. Is English your native language? If so, then English teaching is a possibility. If not, then you may have to find some other job that you can get into Japan for.
@william_in_japan yes, I am actually interested in moving to Japan in particular. English is indeed my native language, so that might be an option. Thanks for the detailed reply and suggestion, I'll look into it. I wonder if one needs specialized education to be a teacher though
No, from my understanding, you don't need a certain education to be an English teaching assistant here. Look up "ALT teaching in Japan" . Again, the pay will be quite low, but it will get you into Japan for the time being with a place to live. Then, you switch to software development as soon as possible.
@@william_in_japan Thank you for your advice, I will look into it. Generally how honest should I be for an ALT job, like informing them I intend to go for a few years and go into Software Development, etc? I also do not have much tech experience, actual industry experience would amount to maybe a year for me. If I do this, I intend to build up a portfolio while doing the job, would this still work out?
Yeah, most of this I agree with as someone who is living here and working. I would say however that most companies care MORE about your language ability than your technical ability for foreigners. If you can speak to them in Japanese then you’ll have more of a shot. Also, I have met so many Japanese people who were nurses, teachers, or other positions who got a job in programming with 0 knowledge. The company hired them and they are learning on the job, not even getting properly trained. It’s all “ok go”. So it’s more about your language skill than anything for Japanese companies. Some international companies don’t need you to have Japanese but do require a large amount of experience.
Hi William. Thank you so much for this video. It gave me an idea on how to move on from where I am now. I feel stuck, being 22 and having a delayed education due to national service, I feel so far behind of my "peers" (Who are 2 years or more younger than I am, but I take the same lessons). I also feel that college is not teaching me anything that I feel I would want to use, and instead takes away from my time being able to learn the things I want to learn on my own. I am still scared though. I'm half Japanese (Japanese-Chinese), but I was born in Singapore, raised in the States. My parents raised me in a mainly Chinese household, and Asian culture in general focuses really hard on studies. But I really feel like if I continue on this path, I'm gonna fail someday. That scares me. And the prospect of me bringing up dropping out, and Hail Mary myself to Japan is also extremely scary. And the financial aspect feels unattainable. Genuinely, I wish I had more people in my life that could give me the courage to make a decision.
How long have you been at your studies in university? 2 years or so? It may be worth it to get the degree so you will have less worries in the future. But, I somewhat know how you feel because college was not for me and I dropped out very fast. Please come over to the discord so we can talk more.
California based dev here with a BS in compsci and 4 years of experience and JLPT N5 hopefully soon to be N4. I've spent over 3 months in Japan collectively, probably gunna pull the trigger soon. Appreciate the content.
Awesome concise and informative video, thanks for making it. Any idea on salary ranges you can expect or ask for based on years of experience in general, 1,2,3 yrs etc? thanks!
Hi William. I wanted to ask for your thoughts on something I’ve been considering seriously lately-studying and possibly working in Japan. Currently, I’m preparing to apply for the MEXT scholarship for a master’s degree in Computer Science, focusing on cybersecurity and software development. It’s a fully-funded scholarship offered by the Japanese government to international students. However, I’ve been hearing mixed things about working in Japan, especially in tech. Some people say the industry can feel a bit outdated, and others mention the challenging work culture. That’s what worries me: how big of a risk am I taking if I study in Japan but decide not to work there afterward? Will the skills I learn be relevant outside Japan? Since you have experience in the tech field, I’d really appreciate your perspective. Do you think Japan is a good long-term option for a career in Computer Science, or should I see it more as a stepping stone for future opportunities elsewhere? Looking forward to hearing your thoughts! I’d really value your advice. Take care
I don't even have a degree, so take this with a grain of salt. But of course your masters degree would be relevant outside of Japan. I see where you are coming from with the outdated nature maybe taking away from what you actually learn. But Japanese universities are kind of outside of that. I mean, there aren't really any external pressures keeping what you learn antiquated. Especially if it's a university that the Japanese government is introducing foreign students to. I have a friend in graduate school who's studies seem everybody as rigorous as what you would find in the west. More than that, I would be concerned whether or not the international job market for foreign developers has recovered by the time you graduate. My guess is it will, but you never know. In that case you may be only able to find a job in Japan... but that wouldn't be because of your studies here being insufficient. As for the work culture. Yes it can be a bit lagging behind the U.S., but there are many good people working on improving things at more tech-focused companies here. Many companies have moved to fully remote or at least partially remote. You will find barely any developer jobs that are fully in office, for example. Along with that, many companies have moved to "flex time", meaning you can set your own hours as long as you put in your time (though meetings can sometimes mess with this). Don't put too much weight on this outside perception of Japan. Of course there is some truth in it, but Japanese people, just like people anywhere, are slowly pushing for better work-life balance, and I am actually seeing it. In my almost exclusively Japanese workplace at the least.
Hi man, I need some assistance from the guru. I have a bachelor degree in CS and almost 3 years of experience in a field of Instrumentation and Control System (have worked mostly with C-like languages and somewhat frontend aspects but not directly). The question - if I went to study to Japan in a Language school for 2 years (and got N2-N1) would it be possible to find preferably a backend entry position (have no actual experience with backend)? And is there entry-junior positions for graduates without actual experience in a certain field (backend, DevOps, frontend etc.) TY!!!
This opened a very interesting route for me that I didn't really realize was a potential path to go. I've long considered taking a "year off" and going to a Language school in Japan just for the novelty of experiencing the country longer term. How does the process in terms of switching to a vocational school actually work? You made it sound fairly simple here, but maybe it's actually a involved process that requires a lot of small pieces to align? I have no hard experience with software development, but it's something that I have studied in my free-time for the past year or so and started to find a real connection with. Being able to take a step towards forwarding a career in this field while also getting a chance to experience Japan sounds pretty damn great. Is it realistic to try to walk this path while actually having no merits in IT to start with? I am fairly confident in my Japanese however, and I do feel like I have a decent grasp on a fair few facets in the software development field too via my free-time studies, so hopefully I'd be a quick learner here. Thanks in advance for any insights.
Getting into a vocational school after language school is not a rare or difficult path. But you will need at least N2 level Japanese to get into one. So, depending on where your Japanese is starting at, one year of language school may not be enough. If you are starting at, say N4. I think one year is enough if you are decent at learning. If you have the finances to do it, then there is nothing stopping you from taking this path.
I have two degrees (physics, astronomy) and have some data science coding experience, I also know some Japanese but not a lot. I’m working toward a PhD in astronomy right now, but I wonder if this is a potential path for me, especially if I were to get some more experience and certifications in addition to learning more Japanese.
I do wonder if I could get a job in Japan doing the controls work I currently do. Maybe it would be a good idea to drop by a technical school next time I visit and ask what qualifications can carry over.
Data center jobs are easy to get, but they don’t pay as well, but if you really want to live in Japan, that’s the way to go. The challenge is learning Japanese.
Hm, so I basically have a Master's degree in IT, but my programming skills definitely aren't that great yet. I'm currently in the process of creating my own portfolio with like at least 3 projects, which I can show to companies on my Github account. I already have JLPT N1 as well. I'm currently working in the IT field, but it doesn't have too much to do with web development. Do you think I'd still have a chance to get a job via one of those two websites ?
Yes. You have a Masters and N1, you can get a decent job, even without much experience. I wouldn't even wait to finish your projects. Most people applying don't have N1 and certainly most don't have a Master's degree. You're golden.
Is there any demand for device driver or imbedded systems programmers in Japan? Im sure a bulk of the workers they need are in web development but i have no interest in that kind of work; I like to get down and dirty with the metal. I am not far enough along in my Japanese studies to read the listings myself, so any sort of input there will be super helpful!
Hi William, Thank you for sharing the video, it was clear and informative. I really appreciate your insight. I wanted to ask for your advice regarding my situation: I am a self-taught developer with no work experience and will be graduating next month with a major in geophysics. My Japanese language proficiency is close to the N2 level, and I'm preparing to take the exam in July. I'm looking forward to next year, trying to meet the challenge of lack of experience. Would you advise me to start freelancing or contributing to open-source projects? As you know, the job market-especially in the purification field-is very challenging at the moment, and finding jobs as a new graduate seems to be difficult. Thank you for taking the time to read my comment, and I hope to meet you in person one day.
I've personally not contributed too much to open source projects yet. I show potential employers a portfolio of small projects that I made myself. So it might be a good idea to do some small projects. Be careful that you don't start taking too long on any one project though, I mean get a minimal finished product at first so that you can actually show something nice in your portfolio. Freelancing would be good if possible, but considering I had a hard time finding jobs when the job market was good, I think it will be almost impossible now. (I don't mean to discourage you, I just can't imagine it got easier to find freelance work). With that being said, you should be able to use git and know some of the basics of collaboration so you can say that in an interview. Open source would be good for that. Sorry, what do you mean by the purification field? Since you mentioned geophysics, do you mean decarbonization? If so, I know of at least three such companies actively hiring here. (I got a job offer at one before) Great job getting near N2, that will set you up nicely! Hope to see you here in Japan soon. Please let me know here or on discord if you have any more questions.
@william_in_japan Thank you so much for your thoughtful and detailed reply. I sincerely apologize for the late response. I completely agree with your advice about building a portfolio of small projects. Recently, I worked on converting a dictionary PDF into a functional web app, it took me 4 months to do it "yeah it was a pain" but it helped me understand the importance of creating usable products. I’ll continue working on similar projects and ensure they are polished enough to present in interviews. Regarding the purification field, I was referring to its geophysics aspect. As a new graduate with no internship experience, it has been challenging to find entry-level opportunities. I would be incredibly grateful if the companies you mentioned offer internships, whether in geophysics, software, or a combination of both fields. That would be an amazing way for me to grow and gain experience & get my feet wet to Japan. Thank you for your encouragement about my Japanese proficiency-it means a lot! I’m pushing hard to pass the N2 exam, and I hope it will help open doors for me in the future. I truly look forward to moving to Japan. Hopefully... Thanks again for your time and advice! Definitely, I’ll reach out on Discord
I'm looking to get a bachelors in Cloud Computing, working towards specializing in cloud security with experience and certs throughout my career, while also branching into network security just to have that in my tool belt. Also learning the language to at least a n3 level before possibly going to a language school. How in demand would you say that area of IT is in demand and how easy would it be with the BS, language proficiency, but little to no expereince?
I have a bachelors in IT along with sec+, CYSA+, and been doing tech support for a few years. If i do language school here and get my n1. Does that also work.
@@nahidsarker69 the local tech wages here in italy are generally too low speaking from personal experience, i live in parma, and even good engineers here often earn far less than what would be considered a junior salary in other countries i switched to freelancing and started working with international clients, which has allowed me to earn a better income and work remotely (something that’s still not widely embraced here) there are a few good companies in milan offering decent salaries, but breaking into those is extremely competitive and not easy
@@nahidsarker69 garbage, mostly consultancy jobs with low pays and not very nice culture (plus, very few English only. Maybe Bending spoons and few others, but good look to get a job there)
Nice vid! You mentioned in another video that you work for a company that mainly uses Japanese for communication. Would you mind if you can share how conversations go like and some lingo that would be useful? I don't have much problems communicating daily but when it comes to programming related conversations in Japanese it's pretty difficult so I'd like to hear your thoughts (a video about this would be a lot better if you have the time!). Thanks!
Ok, I will try to make a video about using Japanese in a software engineering setting. Its kind of interesting because most people in the engineering department speak some degree of English, so there is a lot of mixing of Japanese and English, even in the same sentence.
My god dude just learn the language of the country you plan on moving to, I know this may be hard for Americans to comprehend but every single European I know (Including myself) has at least managed to obtain a resonable level of speaking in Japanese (N3 or higher) before moving there, its common sense and decency to do so....
Can you share a bit more about the interview process of a japanese tech company? I am already in Japan but I am working for a subsidiary company of my home country so I have no experience about the interview process of japan tech interview
Hey !I tried to sign up on both websites you mentioned to look into opportunities in the relevant field, but I can't get through the Sign Up page since I don't have a Japanese phone number. What can I do to fix this problem? Also, as I am still a student, what should I enter for previous companies or roles?
Hi, I'm looking to move there with a job currently, I haven't passed any JLPT exams, but I believe I can pass N3 if I tried. I have 2 years of experience as a software engineer and I have a bachelor's degree in software engineering, but so far my job seeking experience in japan as a foreigner has been much more difficult compared to what you've described in the video. I haven't tried your website yet, but other than that am I doing something wrong?
Do you have over 10 years of experience? If so, then yes; if not, you will may need to find a different way to get here. I'm not really sure about technical degrees
Thanks for making this video. I just stumbled upon it. When you say "have a degree" do you mean a degree in computer science or software engineering? My degree's in Economics, but I have about 5 years experience in software development.
The degree is just to get a visa sponsored, it can be unrelated! 5 years experience will be fine with employers, you shouldn't have to worry about it being unrelated on that front either.
How do you feel about the job market for cybersecurity jobs in Japan? Are these sites useful for that or only developer positions? Currently I work in a SoC for a North American company remotely and I’m studying Japanese at the moment so I’m curious about that.
Thank you for making this. This is very useful information. I have a question. I am currently studying IT in college, and I still have a few years left before graduating. I'm thinking that once I graduate(or maybe during my last year before I finish) I will work at a company in my country. Based on what you said at the beginning, would the degree and some experience be enough to allow me to enter Japan and look for a job there? I am also going to start learning the language, since it will help me get around if I ever make it to Japan.
I just use the term "IT" because that's a catch-all term for tech jobs here in Japan. (Also it's shorter for the title) I'm in web development myself, and there are many web dev jobs on the sites I introduced!
Hi William! Thank you for the video! I don't intend on moving to another country, but would like to work for a japanese company, how's the market for foreign remote work there?
i'm a junior developer self-studying front-end development. i'm already a resident of japan and want to shift my career, so i decided to focus on front-end development. however, it's really hard to find a junior position here, especially since my japanese proficiency is at n3 level. any advice?
Hi, thank you for the video it was quite informative! I have 2 years of experience and an N3 certificate and writing the N2 in a few days🤞 I wanted to know about Japanese resumes and some recruiters have provided me with templates that are basically like forms, I'm not sure if that is the norm or is there an updated meta of it.
The forms are Very standardized, so what they gave you is probably the norm. However, I always just got by with telling them I only have a U.S. style resume, then I translated it into Japanese and gave it to them. No one ever rejected me based on that. But your recruiter will probably press you to fill out the standardized forms.
Ouch. As a data scientist who worked for Indeed in the US and JP, this hurts a bit. I can definitely agree that you should stay away from Indeed JP to get a software job. FYI - Indeed is owned by the Japanese company Recruit.
how do you find using indeed to get any job? i use it in usa but it just seems hopeless. i used to work with recruit in japan so im familiar with the company. but im really finding it not so useful.
@@underflo43tky The problem with all of the digital job boards like LinkedIn and Indeed is that their business model promotes mass applications. This in turn makes the job of hiring manager at companies harder, so they impose increasingly impossible requirements in hopes of limiting the apply volumes. The job platforms that act more like a dating website or catered experience are probably better overall. But the best route to a job is still the oldest - know people or have a network that can help you get directly in touch with the hiring manager.
@@underflo43tky Indeed is not great in the U.S. either. When I last used it you had to wade through many job descriptions to find one that was under a month old.
@@underflo43tky sadly, this problem isn't really Indeeds 'fault', so they can't fix it. Any digital job board the reduces the barrier to applying for jobs will naturally result in employers being inundated with applications. Even highly senior position in tech on LinkedIn will have over 100+ applications in 24 hours. This puts a tremendous burden on hiring managers, who will often close roles after a few days because they have hundreds of resumes to screen. If they don't find someone they like, they'll repost the same job a week later, but inevitably they get many of the same candidates. I hate to say it, but the older systems of referrals from professors and colleagues did a much better job of landing people jobs quickly, but it often came with a lot of built in bias too. The only times that I ever got hired in under a month were for roles where I had previously worked with the hiring manager, and no job search websites were involved at all.
I'm an engineer with 10 years experience. I don't know Japanese, but I ended up finding a job with a recruiter after going the JET route. I am getting paid significantly less because of it, around 5 million yen a year.
Thank you for sharing! Just wondering, why would you go the JET route if you had ten years of experience? You should have been able to just get visa sponsorship. Also, 5 million is way too low for your experience. You really need to learn Japanese because you should easily be at 10 million or more.
heyy willian ! thanks for the video. I am currently in my first year of university in software engineering . I wanted know whether I can also also come for internship there for 2-3 months if I have N5 level of jlpt . Also , After my uni is completed can I find job like this because I wouldn't have any job experience by that time
In germany, I'm doing something called an "ausbildung". It's something like apprenticeship/training, it takes 3 years, I also have to pass several exams while working for a company. Is this considered education and does it count for work experience? thanks in advance !
Do you have any thoughts on working in Japan as a CS new grad with some Japanese skill but otherwise no IT work experience? (took the n2, although not sure abt results). I really want to be in Japan, although no clue if job market would be any easier as a jr dev there vs in the US.
Dude you are awesome I'm about to finish college as a developer and might go for a bachelor's after, if there is any way to keep in touch or if you keep making videos you might be a lifesaver
Thank you for your comment! I just now made a discord to discuss things in, so feel free to join it! (the link is in a comment on this video, sorry I can't pin comments yet) Otherwise, I'll reply to any questions you have here in the comments too
Would it be an issue if the degree is unrelated from software engineering? I have a bachelor in pharmacy, but then pivoted to Software engineering by doing a graduate certificate in computing at another university and then a 6 month boot camp in software engineering. now I am working full time as a software engineer in a startup but I am considering working in Japan. Just wondering what you might think about my situation and my odds? I also plan to get N2 certification.
No, an unrelated degree is not a problem! With N2 you would be setup pretty well. It would just depend on your experience and selling yourself to a company
So I would love to hear from you on my situation currently. I graduated from university in July with a BSc in Comp Sc (3.7 GPA). I wanted to come to Japan for a long time so I decided to come over as an English Instructor to begin with. My Japanese is pretty basic and I'm still learning, but as a recent graduate, I don't have any experience in the field yet. Any tips on what I can do? I'm self studying Japanese, but I've been trying to figure out where I might be able to take some classes or something maybe, but just not sure what to look for yet as I keep finding language schools for thousands of dollars
Does taking JLPTN require a language school? I don't have education and I am curious if it is possible to "play it safe", i.e keep working and building a portfolio and study at the same time from my own coutry and then attempt to apply to the point visa at some point
No, anyone can take the JLPT! The safe way is definitely possible. Just to be clear, though, the JLPT is not a requirement for a visa. It just makes you more attractive to potential employers.
I wonder if software eng job could be considered into international service category in a Gijinkoku visa app so that only 3 yoe needed instead of 10 for those w/ degree 😅. I mean the tools/platform/syntax are mostly in eng sooo
Thanks for the info! Also I need some advice I'm fresh out of college (CS grad from the PH) but severely lacked job experience in the IT field (my internship experience really sucked), what skills should I focus on just to land a decent job in Japan? Also any projects worth doing so I can fillup my portfolio?
New subscriber here! Anyway I applied to many companies here in japan, in IT as a career shifter but I couldn't get a job. I'm just not sure if it's because I'm not good enough or I dont have a degree or I'm not yet proficient at japanese language(just n3) even though I usually do well in interviews but I think they're looking for someone who has a lot of experience already. I'm living in Japan btw and married to japanese wife. What do you think is the problem? Anyway please continue to make videos, it's very helpful 🎉
Don't take this personally, but I think you're communication might have been lacking in some of the interviews. My first few interviews I wasn't used to talking about programming in Japanese, and so even though I did technically well, my explanations I could feel were not up to par. If you're 100% confident your Japanese impressed them, then you might need to show them more experience via some portfolio projects.
I already live in Japan but hate my current job. I can work any job because like you, my wife is Japanese. Considering moving into IT but I don't know anything because both of my degrees are in communication. What languages would you recommend learning to market yourself here? I'm also limited because my wife doesn't want to live anywhere too far from her hometown. This means remote would be ideal but some locations are doable.
Personally, I would learn Typescript as the first language, and then React as the framework for broad marketability. If you're starting from zero, though, you need to learn html, css, and javacript first. Don't worry, I think it will be easier than it sounds. Take some tutorials and then imagine a simple website that you want to build, then start looking stuff up about how to do it. Stay away from chatgpt when possible, so you force yourself to learn. But when you just don't know a direction, ask chatgpt for what you should be looking into in order to do something.
@@william_in_japan Thanks boss. May I ask if you work remote? I was surprised to hear that you have 4 yers of experience since you look to be about the same age as me. Did you get to it straight out of undergrad?
Hello William! Thank you so much for your kind advice and information. I spent one year in Japan and obtained the N2 certification. I’ve signed up for a Japanese language school starting in April next year. I’m looking forward to earning my CCNA before returning to Japan, although I won’t have any work experience in the field. Would you recommend enrolling in an engineering school after that? If so, could you provide more details on which school or how to proceed? Also, do you think I could find a part-time job related to networking with just the CCNA certification (assuming I pass)? I’ll be staying in Kobe, where my Japanese girlfriend lives. Thank you again for everything!
@@william_in_japan I graduated two months ago in oriental languages and civilizations but I never did anything related to network engineering. thank you so much for your support
Hmm, maybe on other sites. On this site I see a lot of react, nodejs, go, typescript, etc. But I'm sure it depends a lot on the website your looking at. Also, I don't have any interest in those two languages, so they get filtered out Definitely new startups are NOT choosing PHP and java
There are mainly two reasons. 1. Nowadays, Japanese software companies are usually looking to expand overseas eventually. By having international engineers, they can more easily handle localization, both in language and in adjusting the software to societal norms. 2. More foreign capital is now flowing into Japan, and overseas investors like to see globalized teams. Probably for both the expansion potential and showing that the companies are forward thinking and not too different from the companies that they are used to investing in.
How technical are the testing portions of the interview process? I am a IT generalist with over 30 years experience with one of the big 4 in the US. I am JLPT N5 and looking to finish my career in Japan. I am senior level so most of what I do now is more architecture/ team lead / mentoring vs actual coding
All of the coding tests I and technical questions I have taken have been very easy. But, I haven't tested at any major tech companies yet and am much earlier in my career than you. Coming from your experience, you will not even need Japanese to be considered. I would think you could get a job anywhere. I know of companies that have someone who only speaks English leading groups with members that don't speak English (not ideal though).
With that much faang experience, I think you can get the local equivalent (20 million jpy). The exchange rate is bad now, but the lifestyle within Japan would be equivalent or better than $200,000 in the usa. Your choices will probably be limited to larger companies or international companies, though.
Interesting. Im working towards an IT degree, gonna need 4 years, but am very interested in living in JP at some point. Might try learning Japanese in my free time if im not lazy
I have an accredited bachelors degree with a high GPA and I can’t even get an interview with my reviewed resume not sure if going to Japan would help 😂. Very interesting video though
It just depends on the company, but I would say live coding is not the norm! Of around 7 interview processes I've taken, only one had live coding, and it was very easy javascript string and array manipulation stuff.
I went to japan without a degree through the student visa route. Despite having dev working experience and going far into a few recruitment process, I was always ultimately rejected because of visa issues as the visa couldn't be sponsored without a university degree.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
I just made a discord for questions and discussions: discord.gg/vcUFHBm2w3
I will still reply to comments here too!
link is expired.
edit : nvm the link in the description works
I like these types of videos. No bullshit and straight to the point.
"Don't forget to like and subscribe! Buy the merch! Sacrifice a goat for the dark gods!" and so on
I'm a dev in the U.S., not looking to work in Japan but still interesting to learn about the market over there. Subbed to see more dev / Japan content!
I've worked in both JP and the US. It's a very different system and economic outlook in both countries. Salaries also vary by a HUGE amount.
How did you managed to go to the US ?
Salaries are pretty close to a high income European country from what I've seen (feel free to correct me). It's just that the US pays their devs an insane amount like wayyy above any country. But if they're that desperate to get devs in Japan maybe it's even higher than your average job in western Europe which is pretty cool I guess. @@mattb4625
salary standard is like 40k usd a year
When I was in college and thinking about if I should move to Japan, one of the biggest reasons I declined to do so is Japan has really entrenched seniority culture. Here in the states, you can get promoted really quickly as long as you demonstrate your skill in the work, and you aren't penalized for job hopping much which means you can go from intern to Principal or Staff engineer in 10 years and max out your salary band. In Japan, it is a lot more slow going and they penalize you heavily for swapping companies it sets you back a ton for promos and you don't see a big salary boost like you would in the states. The pay was also a lot worse, especially if your goal is to live and work in Tokyo. 8 years later i don't regret my decision 🥰
This is true at traditional Japanese companies, but not true at start-ups and most IT focused companies.
@@noseboop4354 I only looked at IT companies. A lot could change in a decade but it was a really bad proposition for me out of college
I'm glad you made a good decision you can live with.
I understand this perception, but it just doesn't line up with what I personally have seen. With that being said, it could've been different when you were looking into Japan.
But, I doubt the negative aspects were completely true. There has been a long history of painting Japan with broad strokes, whether in a good light or bad light. But you have to remember, even if there are some truths in those generalizations, people here are also striving to improve things and don't just go around thinking "let's just live in this horrible status quo". I think Japan is maybe just lagging behind the west in work-life balance, but is headed in the same direction.
@@william_in_japanmaybe another 80 plus years in Japan to catch up to 2010s
As someone living in Japan, working in IT (Cyber Security) who has changed jobs this is not true for non-Japanese companies. It is harder to get salary increases when switching jobs because it is expected that you disclose your current salary before you get an offer, but besides that you can change companies without any issues. My advice would be to not work for a Japanese company unless you need the experience.
I checked, I have 37 degrees actually
that's an advantage, most japanese people do have less degrees actually
36 and 60% of the way towards the 37th
celsius
bro were you born in a college?
I’ve been learning Japanese for about two years while working full-time as a junior software engineer (with a BTech). Right now, I'm at N3 level, but I'm hoping to reach N1 and land a job in Japan!
n3 is great, nice work
thanks, clean and straight to the point, loved it ! Keep up the good work.
I didn't realize IT jobs are shortage there in Japan. In US you literally have to be a competitive programmer and have system design application like Netflix to be considered for junior dev position.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
There's an IT shortage everywhere. It's just difficult to get hired as a junior
But if you have ~2 years behind you, you're set
@@hundvd_7 nah, job market is bad right now. Even 20+ year experience people can't find jobs for months
@@hundvd_7 Brother my cousin worked for BELL, the biggest internet provider in Canada in a high level IT position with a decade of experience, they laid him off and it took him 5 months to find another job. Even then he only got another one because his old connections at BELL fought to get him back in, but in a different sector because he was a good worker.
its sad that this is not an exaggeration
This was super helpful. Thanks for this video!
I'm glad you found it useful!
This is excellent info, thank you!
Im a software engineer with 8 years experience (no degree) just got a job here in the states at a Japanese company in their ITS department doing software solutions and basic IT. Feel like a couple more years and i could be on my way to figuring out how to transfer to their parent company in japan :O recently started learning Japanese. Iv been wanting to learn a new language for a hot second, thought about learning Spanish as it would be a utility to know it in the states however now that im at a Japanese company with a handful of Japanese expats to speak to, its a win win.
Holy crap, dude, that was truly useful information. Moreover, you delivering the information in very concise point.
I take that depend on your education and experience, get into language and programming school. Then you list two very useful website to explore the job market.
You have my utmost respect. I'm following you..
Thanks for your comment! I'm glad you found it helpful. I always think of stuff that I should have talked about after the fact though... so that's probably why it ends up maybe overly concise 😂
First of all, you're pretty much the only person i know of that made a video specifically outlining how to get a technical job in a specific country and being straightforward on top of that, so thank you
Secondly, i do have a Bachelors in IT but with no experience yet, since i currently live in Australia and breaking into even entry level is tough right now, do you think it would be wise to try my luck in Japan, or should i wait it out a bit, improve my Japanese study and build my portfolio while still in Australia?
Do you know some Japanese? Without Japanese, I would say no it is not possible. You should self-study while you are in Australia or come to a language school and look for jobs while studying
I have heard of some people getting internships here from overseas, so I'm sure an entry position is possible with some Japanese knowledge.
Not sure how difficult it is though, I'm still gathering that information over on the discord. Consider joining to stay updated on that
@william_in_japan right now I'd say im on a N4 level and i can read and listen somewhat comfortably, im still actively self studying Japanese while also building up my IT portfolio so i can break into the Australian job market, it's more of a fallback option in case Australia doesn't work out
Thank you for the Video Chris Weidman👍
I have no clue who that is 😆
@@william_in_japan Whatever you say Chris :)
That sounds really, really awesome... I can only hope such opportunities will still be open by the time I get my degree, as I'm only 17. Until then, I'm going to work hard towards this goal.
Sure wish there was some board to put to it self up on. Like an adopt an IT worker market. Select which countries you’d be interested in moving to for work.
Great video! Lots of useful information, will defnitely be using the sites you mentioned in the future :)
It's funny, in Germany developers are also highly valued and companies are desperate to find them.
I didn't know that, Thanks for sharing!
Great video! I'm a dev from Brazil and want to work in Japan someday, your video was very helpful.
Hope to see you in Japan someday!
Two questions (which are mostly assumptions on my end)
1. I'm assuming most of the companies on those sites want someone who is fully fluent in Japanese? I know there are some other sites that let you filter by language requirement but those usually end up being heavily teaching or 英会話 positions on those websites.
2. Are they only looking for IT/Comp Sci engineers because as a semiconductor manufacturing engineer, I'm curious how many companies would be interested in foreign manufacturing engineers.
edit: nvm to no. 1 just reached the point in the video where you stressed to know Japanese. Already plan on becoming fluent but was hoping to use getting a job as an entry point to immerse and learn Japanese and work towards Permanent residency.
So if I have zero years of IT experience but already live in Japan and want to get my foot in the door, vocational school would be the best way to go? Or perhaps language school, and then vocational school if my Japanese is below N2? If my Japanese is N4-N3 level with zero IT experience, what would my job options be for entry-level IT?
Great video! I've been working in IT for close to 10years. Starting from Help Desk to Senior SWE. I have been casually looking into jobs in Japan, but I can't find any that would sponsor not only me, but my family of 3 as well. It's highly impossible since they all would need visas as well, but I can only dream
Thank you for sharing, would love to know more about the work culture (especially in IT/engineering)
This is some pretty good advice.I am self learned programmer looking to find a job there in near future and glad to see this!
I am self-taught too! It's definitely possible if you can get some experience. Wishing you luck!
@@william_in_japan Any tips for getting experience? Doing some projects? Freelancing? Love the channel tho!
@@leodnz-sg I will address this in an upcoming FAQ
@@william_in_japan please do i am personally on my journey to dive into algorithms specifically for python and diving other languages slowly and i am a bit lose and want to gain some knowledge about how you all get it related jobs after university/self taught period. I am a uni student so the information would help.
So helpful! Thanks!
Bro, dope video love the vibes, excited to see more
japanese is for sure the big barrier, and the cultural nuances, i lived in japan for 6 months and learned alot of cultural nuances with some japanese friends. however the language itself just doesnt go into my head for whatever reason
idk if its something you heard or might find annoying, but i would guess the reason is your not actively studying, yes its a interesting language to learn, but that also means you have to like specifically put an effort into learning, 日本語を勉強して2ヶ月。it may not be much but every bit counts.
With ITPEC certifications, you can get an IT job in Japan and a visa without a degree or 10 years of work experience. ITPEC certifications from other countries, like PhilNITS, are also recognized in Japan. This is important because the Japanese ITPEC certification, the IT Passport, is only available in Japanese, while other member countries offer the exam in English. Additionally, as a spouse of someone holding a Highly Skilled Professional visa, these restrictions also do not apply. I personally know people in my current environment who have benefited from both cases.
Thay is great to know, thank you!
Hi! Have you or someone you know used this way to get into Japan? I’ve recently passed PhilNITS FE but still kinda afraid if it’s gonna work
@@pororiman9489 Yes, I personally know someone who did not fulfill the requirements for a work visa, who then took and passed the PhilNITS (FE) for this reason and then got a work visa here. On the immigration website, on the nyukan hourei page, it also says that it is recognized.
@@pororiman9489 Yes, I personally know someone who did not fulfill the requirements for a work visa, who then took and passed the PhilNITS (FE) for this reason and then got a work visa here. On the immigration website, on the nyukan hourei page, it also says that it is recognized.
@@william_in_japan As far as I have heard, the ITPEC can also earn 5 points for the HSP, but I don't know anyone who has done this myself, so I'm just putting it here as a “rumor”.
the 10 years of experience doesn't have to be experience in your exact job either, just the same general responsibilities, so if you did IT support for like 4 years and then became a software engineer for 6, it all counts as engineering since the responsibilities likely have some crossover
Good to know, thank you! I wasn't too familiar with how the 10 years of experience worked.
@@william_in_japan is it arbitrary, and really up to the immigration worker you're working with, but honestly I'd say more often than not you'll probably be fine if you give enough supporting documentation that you worked jobs involved to your field for them to not scrutinize it too heavily. Plus if you have a Japanese company sponsoring you and assisting you with an agency it becomes even easier because they will go to bat for you.
Amazing video man. Thank you so much!
I recently moved to the US and have had absolutely no success in finding an entry level position. I have only 2 years of experience, and half of that is freelance work. I do have a bachelor's degree, but it's in Economics. I have a number of certificates in various programming languages and data science, but I don't know Japanese. What are my chances? Unfortunately i don't have any savings at all, so I can't just move over to Japan and study the language, I need a job asap.. I knew the job market was bad, but I never expected it to be this bad. I'd literally work for half the average salary if someone would just hire me, I'm definitely capable of getting things done.. but all these positions in the US have $70-130k ranges.. I'd work for $50-60 if it's a remote position, and extra hours! Now I'm considering moving to a cheaper country, but I don't know the languages..
I have a family member in a similar position, so I know that the U.S. job market is very tough right now for Jr. developers.
Unfortunately, it is going to be very tough to get a developer job in Japan with no Japanese and no experience.
The degree being unrelated is not a problem. Your certificates are definitely a plus!
Do you actually want to come to Japan, or are you only considering it as a way to find a job outside of the U.S.? No judgement either way, I just want to know because if you actually want to be in Japan for a few years to come, here's what I would consider if I were you:
Considering the Japanese developer job market is currently better for software developers and you would like to be in Japan, you should use your degree to get into the country doing any job that you can get. In practice, this would likely mean getting an English teaching job. I have never done one myself, but I have heard that they are very easy to get if you have a degree. The pay is very low, but it would allow you to be in the country while learning Japanese and applying to developer jobs as you make a portfolio to show to potential employers.
edit: Oh I just noticed that you say you moved to the U.S.
Is English your native language? If so, then English teaching is a possibility. If not, then you may have to find some other job that you can get into Japan for.
@william_in_japan yes, I am actually interested in moving to Japan in particular. English is indeed my native language, so that might be an option. Thanks for the detailed reply and suggestion, I'll look into it. I wonder if one needs specialized education to be a teacher though
Picked a bad time, bad market atm
No, from my understanding, you don't need a certain education to be an English teaching assistant here. Look up "ALT teaching in Japan" . Again, the pay will be quite low, but it will get you into Japan for the time being with a place to live. Then, you switch to software development as soon as possible.
@@william_in_japan Thank you for your advice, I will look into it. Generally how honest should I be for an ALT job, like informing them I intend to go for a few years and go into Software Development, etc?
I also do not have much tech experience, actual industry experience would amount to maybe a year for me. If I do this, I intend to build up a portfolio while doing the job, would this still work out?
Yeah, most of this I agree with as someone who is living here and working. I would say however that most companies care MORE about your language ability than your technical ability for foreigners. If you can speak to them in Japanese then you’ll have more of a shot. Also, I have met so many Japanese people who were nurses, teachers, or other positions who got a job in programming with 0 knowledge. The company hired them and they are learning on the job, not even getting properly trained. It’s all “ok go”. So it’s more about your language skill than anything for Japanese companies. Some international companies don’t need you to have Japanese but do require a large amount of experience.
Hi William. Thank you so much for this video. It gave me an idea on how to move on from where I am now. I feel stuck, being 22 and having a delayed education due to national service, I feel so far behind of my "peers" (Who are 2 years or more younger than I am, but I take the same lessons). I also feel that college is not teaching me anything that I feel I would want to use, and instead takes away from my time being able to learn the things I want to learn on my own.
I am still scared though. I'm half Japanese (Japanese-Chinese), but I was born in Singapore, raised in the States. My parents raised me in a mainly Chinese household, and Asian culture in general focuses really hard on studies. But I really feel like if I continue on this path, I'm gonna fail someday. That scares me. And the prospect of me bringing up dropping out, and Hail Mary myself to Japan is also extremely scary. And the financial aspect feels unattainable.
Genuinely, I wish I had more people in my life that could give me the courage to make a decision.
How long have you been at your studies in university? 2 years or so?
It may be worth it to get the degree so you will have less worries in the future. But, I somewhat know how you feel because college was not for me and I dropped out very fast.
Please come over to the discord so we can talk more.
California based dev here with a BS in compsci and 4 years of experience and JLPT N5 hopefully soon to be N4.
I've spent over 3 months in Japan collectively, probably gunna pull the trigger soon. Appreciate the content.
What do you mean? Are you gonna come back to US? If so, why? Why not work longer in Japan?
@ababey1644 I mean I’ve spent 3 months in total across my trips to Japan. I still live in the US (for now) 🙂
is there a job for illustrator there? i mean on findy
Awesome concise and informative video, thanks for making it. Any idea on salary ranges you can expect or ask for based on years of experience in general, 1,2,3 yrs etc? thanks!
Hi William. I wanted to ask for your thoughts on something I’ve been considering seriously lately-studying and possibly working in Japan.
Currently, I’m preparing to apply for the MEXT scholarship for a master’s degree in Computer Science, focusing on cybersecurity and software development. It’s a fully-funded scholarship offered by the Japanese government to international students.
However, I’ve been hearing mixed things about working in Japan, especially in tech. Some people say the industry can feel a bit outdated, and others mention the challenging work culture. That’s what worries me: how big of a risk am I taking if I study in Japan but decide not to work there afterward? Will the skills I learn be relevant outside Japan?
Since you have experience in the tech field, I’d really appreciate your perspective. Do you think Japan is a good long-term option for a career in Computer Science, or should I see it more as a stepping stone for future opportunities elsewhere?
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts! I’d really value your advice.
Take care
I don't even have a degree, so take this with a grain of salt.
But of course your masters degree would be relevant outside of Japan. I see where you are coming from with the outdated nature maybe taking away from what you actually learn. But Japanese universities are kind of outside of that. I mean, there aren't really any external pressures keeping what you learn antiquated. Especially if it's a university that the Japanese government is introducing foreign students to.
I have a friend in graduate school who's studies seem everybody as rigorous as what you would find in the west.
More than that, I would be concerned whether or not the international job market for foreign developers has recovered by the time you graduate. My guess is it will, but you never know. In that case you may be only able to find a job in Japan... but that wouldn't be because of your studies here being insufficient.
As for the work culture. Yes it can be a bit lagging behind the U.S., but there are many good people working on improving things at more tech-focused companies here. Many companies have moved to fully remote or at least partially remote. You will find barely any developer jobs that are fully in office, for example. Along with that, many companies have moved to "flex time", meaning you can set your own hours as long as you put in your time (though meetings can sometimes mess with this).
Don't put too much weight on this outside perception of Japan. Of course there is some truth in it, but Japanese people, just like people anywhere, are slowly pushing for better work-life balance, and I am actually seeing it. In my almost exclusively Japanese workplace at the least.
Hi man, I need some assistance from the guru. I have a bachelor degree in CS and almost 3 years of experience in a field of Instrumentation and Control System (have worked mostly with C-like languages and somewhat frontend aspects but not directly). The question - if I went to study to Japan in a Language school for 2 years (and got N2-N1) would it be possible to find preferably a backend entry position (have no actual experience with backend)? And is there entry-junior positions for graduates without actual experience in a certain field (backend, DevOps, frontend etc.) TY!!!
This opened a very interesting route for me that I didn't really realize was a potential path to go.
I've long considered taking a "year off" and going to a Language school in Japan just for the novelty of experiencing the country longer term.
How does the process in terms of switching to a vocational school actually work? You made it sound fairly simple here, but maybe it's actually a involved process that requires a lot of small pieces to align?
I have no hard experience with software development, but it's something that I have studied in my free-time for the past year or so and started to find a real connection with.
Being able to take a step towards forwarding a career in this field while also getting a chance to experience Japan sounds pretty damn great.
Is it realistic to try to walk this path while actually having no merits in IT to start with?
I am fairly confident in my Japanese however, and I do feel like I have a decent grasp on a fair few facets in the software development field too via my free-time studies, so hopefully I'd be a quick learner here.
Thanks in advance for any insights.
Getting into a vocational school after language school is not a rare or difficult path. But you will need at least N2 level Japanese to get into one. So, depending on where your Japanese is starting at, one year of language school may not be enough. If you are starting at, say N4. I think one year is enough if you are decent at learning.
If you have the finances to do it, then there is nothing stopping you from taking this path.
I have two degrees (physics, astronomy) and have some data science coding experience, I also know some Japanese but not a lot. I’m working toward a PhD in astronomy right now, but I wonder if this is a potential path for me, especially if I were to get some more experience and certifications in addition to learning more Japanese.
I do wonder if I could get a job in Japan doing the controls work I currently do. Maybe it would be a good idea to drop by a technical school next time I visit and ask what qualifications can carry over.
Data center jobs are easy to get, but they don’t pay as well, but if you really want to live in Japan, that’s the way to go. The challenge is learning Japanese.
Hm, so I basically have a Master's degree in IT, but my programming skills definitely aren't that great yet. I'm currently in the process of creating my own portfolio with like at least 3 projects, which I can show to companies on my Github account. I already have JLPT N1 as well. I'm currently working in the IT field, but it doesn't have too much to do with web development.
Do you think I'd still have a chance to get a job via one of those two websites ?
Yes. You have a Masters and N1, you can get a decent job, even without much experience. I wouldn't even wait to finish your projects.
Most people applying don't have N1 and certainly most don't have a Master's degree. You're golden.
Is there any demand for device driver or imbedded systems programmers in Japan? Im sure a bulk of the workers they need are in web development but i have no interest in that kind of work; I like to get down and dirty with the metal. I am not far enough along in my Japanese studies to read the listings myself, so any sort of input there will be super helpful!
One thing that you may not get used to is the work culture, loyalty isn’t a suggestion, it’s a requirement.
I made a video about the work culture now
Hi William,
Thank you for sharing the video, it was clear and informative. I really appreciate your insight. I wanted to ask for your advice regarding my situation: I am a self-taught developer with no work experience and will be graduating next month with a major in geophysics. My Japanese language proficiency is close to the N2 level, and I'm preparing to take the exam in July.
I'm looking forward to next year, trying to meet the challenge of lack of experience. Would you advise me to start freelancing or contributing to open-source projects? As you know, the job market-especially in the purification field-is very challenging at the moment, and finding jobs as a new graduate seems to be difficult.
Thank you for taking the time to read my comment, and I hope to meet you in person one day.
I've personally not contributed too much to open source projects yet. I show potential employers a portfolio of small projects that I made myself. So it might be a good idea to do some small projects. Be careful that you don't start taking too long on any one project though, I mean get a minimal finished product at first so that you can actually show something nice in your portfolio.
Freelancing would be good if possible, but considering I had a hard time finding jobs when the job market was good, I think it will be almost impossible now. (I don't mean to discourage you, I just can't imagine it got easier to find freelance work). With that being said, you should be able to use git and know some of the basics of collaboration so you can say that in an interview. Open source would be good for that.
Sorry, what do you mean by the purification field? Since you mentioned geophysics, do you mean decarbonization? If so, I know of at least three such companies actively hiring here. (I got a job offer at one before)
Great job getting near N2, that will set you up nicely!
Hope to see you here in Japan soon.
Please let me know here or on discord if you have any more questions.
@william_in_japan
Thank you so much for your thoughtful and detailed reply. I sincerely apologize for the late response.
I completely agree with your advice about building a portfolio of small projects. Recently, I worked on converting a dictionary PDF into a functional web app, it took me 4 months to do it "yeah it was a pain" but it helped me understand the importance of creating usable products. I’ll continue working on similar projects and ensure they are polished enough to present in interviews.
Regarding the purification field, I was referring to its geophysics aspect. As a new graduate with no internship experience, it has been challenging to find entry-level opportunities. I would be incredibly grateful if the companies you mentioned offer internships, whether in geophysics, software, or a combination of both fields. That would be an amazing way for me to grow and gain experience & get my feet wet to Japan.
Thank you for your encouragement about my Japanese proficiency-it means a lot! I’m pushing hard to pass the N2 exam, and I hope it will help open doors for me in the future. I truly look forward to moving to Japan. Hopefully...
Thanks again for your time and advice! Definitely, I’ll reach out on Discord
I'm looking to get a bachelors in Cloud Computing, working towards specializing in cloud security with experience and certs throughout my career, while also branching into network security just to have that in my tool belt. Also learning the language to at least a n3 level before possibly going to a language school. How in demand would you say that area of IT is in demand and how easy would it be with the BS, language proficiency, but little to no expereince?
Very helpful
Thanks a lot
I have a bachelors in IT along with sec+, CYSA+, and been doing tech support for a few years. If i do language school here and get my n1. Does that also work.
Is this 4 year degree necessarily related to IT? I have a BsA but it has nothing to do with IT, the degree I have in IT is an associate's
The bachelor degree can be in anything!
i'm a dev from italy, i've always loved japan and their culture since i was little, working and living in japan would be a dream for me
I'd like to work there too but just for a few years
what about Italy? How is the job market over there for tech field?
@@nahidsarker69 the local tech wages here in italy are generally too low
speaking from personal experience, i live in parma, and even good engineers here often earn far less than what would be considered a junior salary in other countries
i switched to freelancing and started working with international clients, which has allowed me to earn a better income and work remotely (something that’s still not widely embraced here)
there are a few good companies in milan offering decent salaries, but breaking into those is extremely competitive and not easy
@@nahidsarker69 garbage, mostly consultancy jobs with low pays and not very nice culture (plus, very few English only. Maybe Bending spoons and few others, but good look to get a job there)
Nice vid!
You mentioned in another video that you work for a company that mainly uses Japanese for communication. Would you mind if you can share how conversations go like and some lingo that would be useful? I don't have much problems communicating daily but when it comes to programming related conversations in Japanese it's pretty difficult so I'd like to hear your thoughts (a video about this would be a lot better if you have the time!).
Thanks!
Ok, I will try to make a video about using Japanese in a software engineering setting. Its kind of interesting because most people in the engineering department speak some degree of English, so there is a lot of mixing of Japanese and English, even in the same sentence.
@@william_in_japan Thanks for replying! Looking forward to it
Great video! What about English-only senior roles? As well as part-time English-only roles?
My god dude just learn the language of the country you plan on moving to, I know this may be hard for Americans to comprehend but every single European I know (Including myself) has at least managed to obtain a resonable level of speaking in Japanese (N3 or higher) before moving there, its common sense and decency to do so....
Can you share a bit more about the interview process of a japanese tech company? I am already in Japan but I am working for a subsidiary company of my home country so I have no experience about the interview process of japan tech interview
Hey !I tried to sign up on both websites you mentioned to look into opportunities in the relevant field, but I can't get through the Sign Up page since I don't have a Japanese phone number. What can I do to fix this problem? Also, as I am still a student, what should I enter for previous companies or roles?
Comment for the algo. Thanks for posting!
Hi, I'm looking to move there with a job currently, I haven't passed any JLPT exams, but I believe I can pass N3 if I tried. I have 2 years of experience as a software engineer and I have a bachelor's degree in software engineering, but so far my job seeking experience in japan as a foreigner has been much more difficult compared to what you've described in the video. I haven't tried your website yet, but other than that am I doing something wrong?
This is my dream job and my dream country. I plan on finishing college here then moving to Japan after I save some money.
Hoping to see you in Japan soon!
Can I get a job without bachelor degree(it's technical degree but not CS)?
Do you have over 10 years of experience? If so, then yes; if not, you will may need to find a different way to get here. I'm not really sure about technical degrees
Thanks for making this video. I just stumbled upon it. When you say "have a degree" do you mean a degree in computer science or software engineering? My degree's in Economics, but I have about 5 years experience in software development.
The degree is just to get a visa sponsored, it can be unrelated! 5 years experience will be fine with employers, you shouldn't have to worry about it being unrelated on that front either.
How do you feel about the job market for cybersecurity jobs in Japan? Are these sites useful for that or only developer positions?
Currently I work in a SoC for a North American company remotely and I’m studying Japanese at the moment so I’m curious about that.
Thank you for making this. This is very useful information. I have a question. I am currently studying IT in college, and I still have a few years left before graduating. I'm thinking that once I graduate(or maybe during my last year before I finish) I will work at a company in my country. Based on what you said at the beginning, would the degree and some experience be enough to allow me to enter Japan and look for a job there? I am also going to start learning the language, since it will help me get around if I ever make it to Japan.
What are Japanese companies looking for portfolio wise?
I think the US equivalent to a casual talk would be a "coffee chat". That seems to be normal in general now.
Wow, very inspirational video for someone who dreams of living and working in Japan as an IT!
One question, does it also apply to web development?
I just use the term "IT" because that's a catch-all term for tech jobs here in Japan. (Also it's shorter for the title)
I'm in web development myself, and there are many web dev jobs on the sites I introduced!
My friend got a job in japan at UniQlo. I hope it's better than other companies...
Hi William! Thank you for the video! I don't intend on moving to another country, but would like to work for a japanese company, how's the market for foreign remote work there?
Could've been better if you used OBS instead of filming the screen with an actual camera but yeah nice content
i'm a junior developer self-studying front-end development. i'm already a resident of japan and want to shift my career, so i decided to focus on front-end development. however, it's really hard to find a junior position here, especially since my japanese proficiency is at n3 level. any advice?
Hi, thank you for the video it was quite informative! I have 2 years of experience and an N3 certificate and writing the N2 in a few days🤞
I wanted to know about Japanese resumes and some recruiters have provided me with templates that are basically like forms, I'm not sure if that is the norm or is there an updated meta of it.
The forms are Very standardized, so what they gave you is probably the norm. However, I always just got by with telling them I only have a U.S. style resume, then I translated it into Japanese and gave it to them. No one ever rejected me based on that.
But your recruiter will probably press you to fill out the standardized forms.
Ouch. As a data scientist who worked for Indeed in the US and JP, this hurts a bit. I can definitely agree that you should stay away from Indeed JP to get a software job. FYI - Indeed is owned by the Japanese company Recruit.
how do you find using indeed to get any job? i use it in usa but it just seems hopeless. i used to work with recruit in japan so im familiar with the company. but im really finding it not so useful.
@@underflo43tky The problem with all of the digital job boards like LinkedIn and Indeed is that their business model promotes mass applications. This in turn makes the job of hiring manager at companies harder, so they impose increasingly impossible requirements in hopes of limiting the apply volumes.
The job platforms that act more like a dating website or catered experience are probably better overall.
But the best route to a job is still the oldest - know people or have a network that can help you get directly in touch with the hiring manager.
@@underflo43tky Indeed is not great in the U.S. either. When I last used it you had to wade through many job descriptions to find one that was under a month old.
@@underflo43tky sadly, this problem isn't really Indeeds 'fault', so they can't fix it. Any digital job board the reduces the barrier to applying for jobs will naturally result in employers being inundated with applications. Even highly senior position in tech on LinkedIn will have over 100+ applications in 24 hours. This puts a tremendous burden on hiring managers, who will often close roles after a few days because they have hundreds of resumes to screen. If they don't find someone they like, they'll repost the same job a week later, but inevitably they get many of the same candidates.
I hate to say it, but the older systems of referrals from professors and colleagues did a much better job of landing people jobs quickly, but it often came with a lot of built in bias too.
The only times that I ever got hired in under a month were for roles where I had previously worked with the hiring manager, and no job search websites were involved at all.
I'm an engineer with 10 years experience. I don't know Japanese, but I ended up finding a job with a recruiter after going the JET route. I am getting paid significantly less because of it, around 5 million yen a year.
Thank you for sharing! Just wondering, why would you go the JET route if you had ten years of experience? You should have been able to just get visa sponsorship. Also, 5 million is way too low for your experience.
You really need to learn Japanese because you should easily be at 10 million or more.
heyy willian ! thanks for the video. I am currently in my first year of university in software engineering . I wanted know whether I can also also come for internship there for 2-3 months if I have N5 level of jlpt . Also , After my uni is completed can I find job like this because I wouldn't have any job experience by that time
Can I also just find a company that is sponsoring my Working Visa without having a degree?
In germany, I'm doing something called an "ausbildung". It's something like apprenticeship/training, it takes 3 years, I also have to pass several exams while working for a company. Is this considered education and does it count for work experience? thanks in advance !
Do you have any thoughts on working in Japan as a CS new grad with some Japanese skill but otherwise no IT work experience? (took the n2, although not sure abt results).
I really want to be in Japan, although no clue if job market would be any easier as a jr dev there vs in the US.
Dude you are awesome I'm about to finish college as a developer and might go for a bachelor's after, if there is any way to keep in touch or if you keep making videos you might be a lifesaver
Thank you for your comment! I just now made a discord to discuss things in, so feel free to join it! (the link is in a comment on this video, sorry I can't pin comments yet)
Otherwise, I'll reply to any questions you have here in the comments too
Would it be an issue if the degree is unrelated from software engineering? I have a bachelor in pharmacy, but then pivoted to Software engineering by doing a graduate certificate in computing at another university and then a 6 month boot camp in software engineering. now I am working full time as a software engineer in a startup but I am considering working in Japan. Just wondering what you might think about my situation and my odds? I also plan to get N2 certification.
No, an unrelated degree is not a problem!
With N2 you would be setup pretty well. It would just depend on your experience and selling yourself to a company
@william_in_japan thank you very much! This encourages me greatly!
So I would love to hear from you on my situation currently.
I graduated from university in July with a BSc in Comp Sc (3.7 GPA). I wanted to come to Japan for a long time so I decided to come over as an English Instructor to begin with. My Japanese is pretty basic and I'm still learning, but as a recent graduate, I don't have any experience in the field yet. Any tips on what I can do?
I'm self studying Japanese, but I've been trying to figure out where I might be able to take some classes or something maybe, but just not sure what to look for yet as I keep finding language schools for thousands of dollars
Does taking JLPTN require a language school?
I don't have education and I am curious if it is possible to "play it safe", i.e keep working and building a portfolio and study at the same time from my own coutry and then attempt to apply to the point visa at some point
No, anyone can take the JLPT! The safe way is definitely possible.
Just to be clear, though, the JLPT is not a requirement for a visa. It just makes you more attractive to potential employers.
I wonder if software eng job could be considered into international service category in a Gijinkoku visa app so that only 3 yoe needed instead of 10 for those w/ degree 😅. I mean the tools/platform/syntax are mostly in eng sooo
You don't need 10 years of experience if you have a degree! If you have a degree you can get sponsored.
Thanks for the info!
Also I need some advice I'm fresh out of college (CS grad from the PH) but severely lacked job experience in the IT field (my internship experience really sucked), what skills should I focus on just to land a decent job in Japan? Also any projects worth doing so I can fillup my portfolio?
Have you seen the same amount of availability for Salesforce roles? Thanks for the video!
New subscriber here! Anyway I applied to many companies here in japan, in IT as a career shifter but I couldn't get a job. I'm just not sure if it's because I'm not good enough or I dont have a degree or I'm not yet proficient at japanese language(just n3) even though I usually do well in interviews but I think they're looking for someone who has a lot of experience already. I'm living in Japan btw and married to japanese wife. What do you think is the problem?
Anyway please continue to make videos, it's very helpful 🎉
Don't take this personally, but I think you're communication might have been lacking in some of the interviews. My first few interviews I wasn't used to talking about programming in Japanese, and so even though I did technically well, my explanations I could feel were not up to par.
If you're 100% confident your Japanese impressed them, then you might need to show them more experience via some portfolio projects.
I already live in Japan but hate my current job. I can work any job because like you, my wife is Japanese. Considering moving into IT but I don't know anything because both of my degrees are in communication. What languages would you recommend learning to market yourself here? I'm also limited because my wife doesn't want to live anywhere too far from her hometown. This means remote would be ideal but some locations are doable.
Personally, I would learn Typescript as the first language, and then React as the framework for broad marketability. If you're starting from zero, though, you need to learn html, css, and javacript first.
Don't worry, I think it will be easier than it sounds.
Take some tutorials and then imagine a simple website that you want to build, then start looking stuff up about how to do it. Stay away from chatgpt when possible, so you force yourself to learn. But when you just don't know a direction, ask chatgpt for what you should be looking into in order to do something.
@@william_in_japan Thanks boss. May I ask if you work remote? I was surprised to hear that you have 4 yers of experience since you look to be about the same age as me. Did you get to it straight out of undergrad?
@@william_in_japan Also, where would you recommend learning these languages. I've had freecodecamp and UDEMY recommended to me as a beginner.
@ also, do you have any curriculum that you would vouch for? I watched a video that recommended freecodecamp for html/ css and Udemy for JS.
Hello William! Thank you so much for your kind advice and information. I spent one year in Japan and obtained the N2 certification. I’ve signed up for a Japanese language school starting in April next year. I’m looking forward to earning my CCNA before returning to Japan, although I won’t have any work experience in the field.
Would you recommend enrolling in an engineering school after that? If so, could you provide more details on which school or how to proceed? Also, do you think I could find a part-time job related to networking with just the CCNA certification (assuming I pass)?
I’ll be staying in Kobe, where my Japanese girlfriend lives.
Thank you again for everything!
Do you have a college degree? My answer would change quite a bit based on that.
@@william_in_japan I graduated two months ago in oriental languages and civilizations but I never did anything related to network engineering.
thank you so much for your support
Good video, sir
I wonder what IT jobs like network engineering look like out there. Have more than 10 years experience, principal/exec level.
Can I get work visa as QA Engineer if I have degree from law school?
There’s another UA-camr (Devlppo) who says that pretty much all jobs in Japan for web devs are for PHP and Java. Would you say this is true?
Hmm, maybe on other sites. On this site I see a lot of react, nodejs, go, typescript, etc. But I'm sure it depends a lot on the website your looking at. Also, I don't have any interest in those two languages, so they get filtered out
Definitely new startups are NOT choosing PHP and java
@ would these be languages more associated with the old guard? Established legacy companies? Potentially more black companies?
what are the interviews like?
I will try to answer in an upcoming FAQ video.
Very helpful, thanks. You said that many companies want foreign engineers, any particular reason for that?
There are mainly two reasons.
1. Nowadays, Japanese software companies are usually looking to expand overseas eventually. By having international engineers, they can more easily handle localization, both in language and in adjusting the software to societal norms.
2. More foreign capital is now flowing into Japan, and overseas investors like to see globalized teams. Probably for both the expansion potential and showing that the companies are forward thinking and not too different from the companies that they are used to investing in.
How technical are the testing portions of the interview process? I am a IT generalist with over 30 years experience with one of the big 4 in the US. I am JLPT N5 and looking to finish my career in Japan. I am senior level so most of what I do now is more architecture/ team lead / mentoring vs actual coding
All of the coding tests I and technical questions I have taken have been very easy. But, I haven't tested at any major tech companies yet and am much earlier in my career than you.
Coming from your experience, you will not even need Japanese to be considered. I would think you could get a job anywhere. I know of companies that have someone who only speaks English leading groups with members that don't speak English (not ideal though).
I dropped out of college and did bootcamp in software testing what are my chances?
Can a FAANG SWE with almost a decade of experience pull at least $200K USD equivalent in Japan? Or is that highly unlikely?
With that much faang experience, I think you can get the local equivalent (20 million jpy). The exchange rate is bad now, but the lifestyle within Japan would be equivalent or better than $200,000 in the usa.
Your choices will probably be limited to larger companies or international companies, though.
Are there any job opportunity for Data analyst/scientist in japan
Interesting. Im working towards an IT degree, gonna need 4 years, but am very interested in living in JP at some point. Might try learning Japanese in my free time if im not lazy
I have an accredited bachelors degree with a high GPA and I can’t even get an interview with my reviewed resume not sure if going to Japan would help 😂. Very interesting video though
What would you say are the most common languages (software-wise) sought after at these companies?
Do they give a live coding interview for frontend or mobile developers?
It just depends on the company, but I would say live coding is not the norm!
Of around 7 interview processes I've taken, only one had live coding, and it was very easy javascript string and array manipulation stuff.
@william_in_japan wait what? Maybe algorithms and data structures?
I went to japan without a degree through the student visa route. Despite having dev working experience and going far into a few recruitment process, I was always ultimately rejected because of visa issues as the visa couldn't be sponsored without a university degree.
Did you graduate from somewhere in Japan?