Getting into IT in Japan ASAP

8 comments

1. This is a copy of your post for archive/search purposes.

   —

   **Getting into IT in Japan ASAP**

   Hello Reddit,

   So, I am trying to move to Japan this year, but it may be too late to start now so if based on my information if that is the most realistic option, feel free to let me know. Anyway, I am about to graduate and get my four-year degree in Japanese. I speak Japanese fluently and also have an associate degree in systems administration (IT) from a community college. I chose to major in Japanese because it was very difficult for me to continue studying the language “on the side” as it is suggested to many who stress the importance of developing another skill as they study the language. Well, here I am 4 years later and fluent in Japanese without another proficient skill. (N1 level) And that’s okay! Because I knew what I was getting into from the start, and I am confident in learning something else now that I know I have the capability to learn something to a high level.

   My question is, how should I go about getting into IT in Japan as soon as possible? My current plan is to save more money while working at a help desk job in the States for a few months, get some networking certifications, go to a vocational school/ language school in October or January of 2024, and work part-time in Japan in IT to continue gaining experience. I would then attempt to find a job in IT after I finished school in Japan with a student visa.

   Remember, my goal is to be in a Japanese environment asap as that is my goal. If possible I wouldn’t want to work 3/5 years in IT in America before going, and would prefer to build my skillset in Japan. Thank you reading and I look forward to your suggestions!

   *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/movingtojapan) if you have any questions or concerns.*

2. Well you have 2 options. Once you get your degree you can apply straightaway however the junior dev market is hyper competitive, and the junior dev market in Japan even more so, so your chances of finding success here will be less and if you are successful, you will most likely be on an incredibly low salary.

   Or you can get a couple of years experience in home country, and then apply which will have a higher chance of success and a higher salary.

3. Out of curiousity, are you applying directly to vocational/language school? Have you looked at the options and costs for going down that path, because now kind if considering it.

   Best of luck in your endeavors!

4. You have an associates which is a no go and you have little IT experience. You’ll need beginner or higher experience. Help desk isn’t gonna cut it

5. Look man, this is going to sound really harsh, so I apologize. But, what skills do you bring to the table that a Japanese employer would want? There is an army of Japanese college graduates every year who are native in Japanese, and now a day’s many can speak fairly good english (I interview a lot of new grads). Even if you go to a Senmon Gakko in Japan, there is still nothing that separates you from the domestic population other than the fact that you are a native english speaker.

   I hire a lot of foreign nationals, all of which are experienced, because 1) A few years of experience in a foreign company is better (in my humble opinion) than a few years of experience in a domestic company and 2) I don’t want to teach people how to adult.

   Of course, there is always a chance you can get hired with no skills, but I don’t think being in Japan or attending Japanese schools will help fill what is really missing here – experience. If you want to try to get hired without experience, the zero-risk approach is to reach out to hiring agencies in Japan that specialize in connecting Japanese employers to foreign talent.

6. Putting aside the visa requirements for a work visa. (Which you don’t fulfill with just an Associate degree)

   The quickest way to get into IT without any experience, while being in Japan, is going for one of the many companies that hire non-experienced people and train them to become an IT engineer.

   The pay is garbage in most cases, and the companies are really hit or miss. It’ll also most likely be a 派遣 style of work, so expect to be dispatched to another company.

7. Japan values degrees above anything else. I honestly don’t think you’ll have any chances of getting an actual IT related job here unless you’re willing to go through university again. Sure your Japanese degree fulfills the visa requirement, but do you honestly think any employer would care about a degree in the language all the other applicants speak fluently?

8. I think the other commenters here are being too harsh. There is a huge shortage of IT professionals in Japan. A lot of Japanese companies will hire people with 0 experience and teach them. The catch is that you have to speak fluent Japanese (and OP can).
   So if you look hard enough, you’ll definitely find something. Especially look into my rural places such as Kyushu/Tohoku as there is less competition.

   Here’s the problem though. Expect to earn povery wages and hate your life. You’ll be earning around 16-18万円 montly ($14k-$18k yearly, exchange rate will screw you over) for your first job with long hours and a Japanese work cultural environment, with little progression and outdated technology. You won’t be able to enjoy Japan and you’ll question why you left one of the best country’s on earth atm for young tech professionals.

   I’m in this situation and I’m only doing this so I can become fluent in Japanese/get some tech experience and then move home/to a foreign company.

   Anyway that’s probably the quickest way to get into an all Japanese environment as you said you wanted (I have no idea why you’d want that though)