I might have the possibility to move to Japan and I’m not sure how to make the decision.

7 comments

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

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   **I might have the possibility to move to Japan and I’m not sure how to make the decision.**

   Hi. Probably I should mention I’m a guy of 30 years old.

   So, at my current FAANG workplace in Europe they’ve informed me that our Japanese counterparts are hiring for 2 positions. One of them is for BI team (basically coding). My workplace asked me if I want to go for that one. Initially I said yes because I thought it’s be a great opportunity. The position comes with a promotion as well.

   I have now to do the interviews/panels relatively soon, and I honestly think chances are that they will choose me if I don’t mess it up, since compared to other candidates that will be proposed I have somewhat of an advantage (more experience, more past projects to show, background education). Of course it is not a given, but I think it is a possibility. Now the closer I am to the panels, the more I think if this is really something I want to do. I am unsure because of the following:

   1. I would be going alone. I have visited (alone) Japan in the past and while I loved it, but I think living there alone would be a complete different experience. I don’t know Japanese and while I’d try to learn it, I think it would make it very difficult for me the first year or so.
   2. Work culture. Yes, the company is American and you can already tell how the environment it is a bit different here compared to other local companies, so I guess it carries that some sort of culture, but I can’t help being afraid of working overtime. Work/life balance is one of the most important things to me, as well as taking holidays and travelling the world. If it turns out I cannot have that in Japan I would probably feel miserable, so the only hope here is that the culture in that workplace is different from local Japanese companies.
   3. I’m not a serious person. Currently at my job I fortunately have the freedom of not being a serious person since what really matters is getting the job done. I can joke around with the managers, we can wear just whatever we want and we just get along quite well after and overtime is extremely rare if at all. I value that sort of environment, very laid back. I think I’d have a difficult time if it was the opposite (overtime, being serious all the time, clothing code)
   4. Life in Japan. I am generally a very open minded person and knowing how their culture can be a bit closed up, it worries me that I won’t fit well in the society or that it isolates me in very impractical ways.

   I’m not a career oriented person, I just want to work enough to get money so I can live life, so while this might be a great opportunity career-wise, I’m completely unsure on how should I go about it. I either have to do my best or let it go (I don’t like half assing things).

   I have a girlfriend but we are long distance now. The plan was that she’d come where I am currently in about 2 years from now. In any case, we would not like to live in Japan long term, the plan was always here or somewhere else in Europe. Then again, that’s in 2 years from now and in the meanwhile I could get some experience outside, maybe.

   How would you take a decision like this? I’m having a difficult time with this and it’s been bugging me for a while now.

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2. For background, I’m a senior level dev and my last 3 companies have been American ones, with the current and last one being those called big tech. I think going to Japan while single and working for a FAANG company is like playing on easy mode and there are very few things that can go wrong, double more so if you are only planning to be here for 1~2 years.

   > I would be going alone. I have visited (alone) Japan in the past and while I loved it, I think living there alone would be a complete different experience. I don’t know Japanese and while I’d try to learn it, I think it would make it very difficult for me the first year or so.

   I moved to Japan without ever visiting, and while I did speak some Japanese back then, I was only around N3 level. While there might some issues here and there, I don’t think the language is a big problem, as I assume you will live in Tokyo. Moreover, before the current hiring freeze, my company frequently flew people from all over the world to Japan, many of them don’t speak a single Japanese word, and they were doing just fine.

   > Work culture

   You are not working for a traditional Japanese company, I bet you can safely ignore all the stories about their work culture on the internet. You will almost certainly find that your team in Japan has almost the same working style as in US.

   > I can joke around with the managers, we can wear just whatever we want and we just get along quite well after all. Overtime is extremely rare if at all. I value that sort of environment, very laid back. I think I’d have a difficult time if it was the opposite (overtime, being serious all the time, clothing code)

   As mentioned above, you are likely to find things in Japan the same, or at least very similar, to things in the US. There is on caveat I noticed though, as I frequently have to coordinate with people in the US, I sometimes have to attend meeting or at least have Slack chat with them in the middle of the night Japan time. When that happens, i can always take the next day off or at least take the next morning off though.

   > it worries me that I won’t fit well in the society or that it isolates me in very impractical ways.

   This is a valid concern. But I personally don’t find people in Japan as closed up as the internet makes them out to be. Knowing Japanese will help you fit in much easier so it’s great that you are willing to learn it.

   Overall, if you really thing this is a good move career-wise then I would say go for it and see how things turn out in the next two years.

3. >I would be going alone.

   You’re not going *alone*. You’re having a large multinational relocate you to join their team in Tokyo. Yes, you have your own accommodations but you’re going to have the sort of support network that a lot of folks can only dream about. Relocation assistance to get you sorted with daily life. Company events. Team outings. Sure, no one is getting on the plane with you, but you’re only going to be alone if you choose to be.

   ​

   >Work culture.

   Presumably you already know who your manager and future co-workers are. Why not reach out to them and get the information directly from the horses mouth? It’s not like you’re joining a totally new company here, you’re talking about an internal transfer. So reach out and ask your questions. Maybe even start making friends a bit early.

   ​

   >I’m a very laid back person.

   This just seems like a repackaged version of the previous question. So the answer is the same. Figure out who your new coworkers and new manager would be, and reach out directly.

   ​

   >Life in Japan.

   Meh. If you’re an outgoing person its easy to make friends. Your company will likely have a variety of mechanisms in place to encourage socializing, not to mention more informal things. My company for example has a kind of charity job board thing where they organize frequent volunteer work that is open to anyone. For folks coming in fresh we strongly recommend participating since its a great way to meet coworkers who you wouldn’t ordinarily have any reason to interact with. Things like forestry work (planting trees, clearing brush), delivering lunch boxes to shut-ins, mentoring Japanese highschool students (you need to speak Japanese for this one), picking up garbage along the Arakawa river, etc. There are also a lot of various less formal groups. Airsoft groups, futsal groups, golf groups. There are usually some very outgoing folks in these groups who will invite you to join if you show any interest whatsoever. Again with my company, if one of these groups reaches a certain critical mass the company will start to offer some form of sponsorship. Not much mind you, maybe the company will kick in for some facility rentals. But it’s not nothing. Similar to previous points, start asking your future manager/coworkers about any activities that you may be interested in to see what’s going on.

   ​

   >I have a girlfriend but we are long distance now. The plan was that she’d come where I am currently in about 1 to 2 years from now.

   You’ll want to discuss with your HR what a minimum term would be if you’re thinking about heading back. At my company they’d require you stick to your new post at least 2 years before they’d consider relocating you back. Of course, they’d only relocate you back if there was a job there that they wanted you for, but they’ve been known to invent roles for certain key individuals.

4. Sounds pretty nice to be honest. The few things I would ask is what will be your salary range and where will you be working (general location/city)? Those two things will mean a lot. Will there be other foreigners working with you?

   I am always of the mantra that preparedness makes for a soft landing. You should set up as much as you can.

5. FAANG in Europe to work in programming in Japan?
   Strict no.

   Being a programmer means low social status, living standard in general is lower than in Europe, so is the average salary level.

6. What will you do about worldwide taxation on income?

7. Is this for the Amazon BIE WW logistics team? Sure sounds like it. Good luck