Hi fellow redditors,
I have a question for those of you who work for foreign companies here in Japan, in particular people that have worked for both Japanese and foreign companies as I’d like to hear more about your thoughts on your experiences and how you think they are different.
I started working for a fairly big Japanese company in 2022 as a shinsotsu (新卒) when I finished my Master’s degree abroad and basically came here right after and worked here ever since. Starting my 3rd year now and I am having second thoughts about my career and not sure if I enjoy working in my current company.
Mostly, when I talk with friends about what I don’t really like at my current company, they all say (Japanese and foreign friends respectively): “you should definitely work for a foreign company. You speak fluent French, English and Japanese and you have a master’s degree so you’d do so much better there and be paid way more” which kind of gives me the impression people have a myth about foreign companies in Japan being a heaven for skilled foreigners but somewhat seems a bit hard to believe.
The main things I struggle with at my current company are as follows: low pay (基本給 is about 290,000JPY before taxes), very slow-paced career progression (any interesting positions are held by 40-year old+ Japanese men), poor work-life balance, endless meetings (at least 3-5 hours a day, at uncovenient times like from 5pm until 6 or 7pm), religious following of 報連相 (daily reporting) with 朝昼夕会 (morning, afternoon and evening report meetings) every single day, operations lacking challenge or being slow-paced compared to the market due to higher-up lack of flexibility, etc…
Hearing those problems, does it feel like a typical Japanese company problem and did those kind of disappeared when moving to a foreign company or is it the same everywhere really?
I have lately have been handed the opportunity of working for a foreign consulting company here in Japan. However, including my internships, I have only done offices jobs in Japanese companies so I lack the clarity and knowledge to know if I am having a “the grass is always greener elsewhere” moment or if this is a good opportunity to work in better conditions. Any feedback would be appreciated.
by dee-lan