Hello everyone. I’m currently a teacher (not ALT) in Japan and I want to change to IT field, specifically front end dev. I hear a lot that is hard to get new job after 40 yo. I’d like your opinion on that. Do you think it is still doable to change careers on my 36 years old in Japan? I have JLPT N3 and a valid working visa.
27 comments
Depends how big of a change I think. I made a change to software engineering from chip manufacturing when I was 33. It just so happened that my current software engineer job is closely related to chip manufacturing.
In your worst case, you may have to start at haken or freelance if you want to enter the IT field without formal professional experience.
Hi !
If you have already all the right skills, go for it.
It is so hard to find talent in Japan.
On average you have two jobs open per candidate 😅
I had a manager once who worked in Japan until he was 40, went to London for 4 years, then came back and worked a different job. We’re both in tech. I myself just got hired for my second job and I’m 42.
Tech largely plays by different rules because there’s a shortage of good engineers so you likely can make this move.
If there’s a good demand for your skills, then 36 years old is still fine. Take at least N2, if you have time to study.
It only depends on whether you can do frontend development or not.
Especially for women. We are not kawaii after 30 which is the prerequisite here
I just did a help desk career change and I am not much younger than you. Tech has leniency.
I’m also trying to break into the IT industry! Am an ALT and contract ends next year August. Not sure if you heard about this Youtuber (she doesn’t post frequently though) called the Yokohama Life – I think she also switched careers at 36 from an eikawa teacher to SWE!
From what I’ve gathered, I think you’ll need to be prepared for a huge paycut first, but definitely possible if you’re not too picky.
Good luck to the both of us!
I change jobs every 2-4 years to get a bump in the salary, almost no company gives proper raises to have to do that bit myself… :/
I’m 47 this year.
If you were doing it before teaching, it should be easy to switch. If you have no skills now, it might be hard to start from zero.
get at least N2 if you want to actually work in a position requiring Japanese
Are you starting from zero, or have you already been learning as a hobby, or already have previous experience?
Been there, done that. With even less qualification than you have. So it is possible. How common or how likely, I can’t say, only that it *can* work.
In a nutshell; if you have a decent portfolio (github…) then it may be possible. If you have N2 as well then you will have a much better possibility.
It is too late. Unless you already have experience and are good at it. Unfortunately, JLPT N3 won’t help you.
I don’t know about Japan per se so maybe not very helpful and this would just be general advice, but I had this very conversation with a friend about switching careers at this age (we’re your age). I know it feels like we’re old and it’s too late, but I do think it’s possible depending on the field. For example is you’re starting from scratch in a field like medicine / biology / science, I would think it would be extremely hard and take a lot of years of study. But if it’s something you have an affinity for that doesn’t require for example, going all the way back to high school biology, I don’t see why not with dedication and drive. I’m in a pretty niche market that requires a specific degree and while I don’t LOVE my job or have a passion for it, it pays well and I’m good at it and it holds my interest, so I’ve decided to stay in this career for the time being especially since I don’t have any other specific interests that could turn into a career.
Maybe not helpful but I say go for it! Good luck!
I can’t even. 36?
I started job searching when I was just barely 28 and some recruiters said it probably wouldn’t be possible to change fields because of my age. It took me a full year to find a good job in tech.
It’s always nice to obtain a few certificates of the field you interest in. Definitely will help you on the job hunt. Also you should aim for N2 or N1 for JLPT, most of the Japanese company loves bilinguals who also fluent in Japanese as well.
I got my first front end dev. job at 39, so…
No mate. I literally just turn 36 and change my career 5 days later! Never too late if your the best man for the job. I say go for it!
I did exactly this 2 years ago at 36 and everything went fine, I have a full time position with a company from Tokyo and I can work remotely (full stack dev). Note that I already had previous experience in web dev.
It’s certainly possible, especially with 終始雇用 on the decline. However, depending on industry, you might spend a bit longer in a junior position than you might do back in Europe or the US
People have their opinions but sometimes people don’t have a choice. For example, if you get a disability and can’t perform your previous job. It will be hard to change careers in Japan, and you’ll probably have to fail before you succeed.
If you are good, you will get picked up.
If you are demonstrably good with a portfolio, you will get linkedin messages non-stop.
There is a dearth of normal human beings in every end of web development. As long as you’re normal, and can get along with people well, you will get picked up.
If you have a difficult personality, or don’t have experience taking ownership, you will need to be VERY good.
I came to Japan 3 years ago with spouse visa and N2 but could only speak above conversational but below business level Japanese. Living in Inaka area. I was 39 years old. I applied my first job as overseas sales before came to Japan and immediately got it (no proper interview and it was supposed to be red flag, but I was unaware of black company in Japan). Then, I switched job after worked/suffered there for 1 year. I applied not more than 3 jobs through local job agencies (not Hello works) and got my second job again as overseas sales. I was 40 years old. So, I think it depends on location (low population prefecture) and the companies. Hack, I am now 41 years old and thinking to switch to 3rd job as I had enough of Traditional Japanese Company. 😅
Depends on what kind of IT job. For a systems administrator there is more competition, as there are lots of young people coming out of short term vocational schools for that sort of thing. You will always lose to a native speaker with similar IT skills unless the company has some other specific requirement that you’re also good at (can also speak Chinese, etc)
Front end with an N3 is going to be rough. You already know this
If you’re also a Rust developer or know React, you can take your pick. They can’t find enough people. Though you’ll want to get your N2 to improve your chances, making you the more rare candidate