Let's get you a Japanese IT job

Today I want to go over the path for foreign engineers to get a job in Japan.
I'll share how I did it and some alternative ways to get to live in Japan while being on the path to becoming a software engineer. Let me know if you have any questions.
/ discord

[@william_in_japan]

I just made a discord for questions and discussions: discord.gg/vcUFHBm2w3 I will still reply to comments here too!

[@zanagi]

link is expired. edit : nvm the link in the description works

[@TammyTheTiger]

so how do you support yourself during the 1 and a half years of language school? do you get a loan or do you need the money beforehand? how much do you need? i have a decent paying construction job in the US with 10 years of experience I'm state licensed. The state license is considered a bachelor degree equivalent in the states (but might not in japan). I'm unsure about being a women in construction in Japan its already hard here. Thinking about starting over lately and finding a new avenue in life.

[@DontBeALlama]

dividing by 100 yen to 1 usd is outdated its not 150 yen to 1 usd

[@Abdullah-qc8np]

I like these types of videos. No bullshit and straight to the point.

[@rumplstiltztinkerstein]

"Don't forget to like and subscribe! Buy the merch! Sacrifice a goat for the dark gods!" and so on

[@SPMusic18]

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!

[@mattb4625]

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.

[@splendidbeaver2027]

How did you managed to go to the US ?

[@w花b]

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

[@aimbot0x01]

salary standard is like 40k usd a year

[@kisamehoshigaki-u1p]

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!

[@nomadtrails]

n3 is great, nice work

[@The.laxmansingh]

Which country are you from?

[@kauancorrea]

That's cool, but don't think you need N1 to go to Japan. It is very rare for someone to move to Japan at N1 level already. If you feel ready just go, N3 is more than enough. Good luck.

[@Knox69420]

N3 in two years is crazy. Got any advice? 😭

[@a.s.p.a.h]

Seeing this comment make me feel like I wrote it from an alternate account lol

[@Terszel]

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 🥰

[@noseboop4354]

This is true at traditional Japanese companies, but not true at start-ups and most IT focused companies.

[@Terszel]

​@@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

[@william_in_japan]

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.

[@David-ue7vv]

@@william_in_japanmaybe another 80 plus years in Japan to catch up to 2010s

[@boomlore73]

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.

[@Rtine]

Arrived in Japan in October with a working holiday visa. I have a master degree in computer science and more than 3 years of experience but it's really hard to find. Recruiters told to come to Japan with this visa, but it feels like they were lying.. I'll try the two websites you adviced! Thank you for the tips! And of course, continue to study japanese! I'm working towards the JLPT N3 level for this year!

[@autohmae]

I checked, I have 37 degrees actually

[@n1m4r35]

that's an advantage, most japanese people do have less degrees actually

[@spectruum]

36 and 60% of the way towards the 37th

[@marten6578]

celsius

[@alihassan4060]

bro were you born in a college?

[@alexey_burkov]

​@marten6578Fahrenheit

[@JustinBishop]

I subbed and you inspired me to just yap with a camera about working in tech as a dev. No BS. No edits. Nice work.

[@akialter]

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.

[@danigui8573]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@hundvd_7]

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

[@GameFuMaster]

@@hundvd_7 nah, job market is bad right now. Even 20+ year experience people can't find jobs for months

[@noodleboi5053]

@@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.

[@funicon3689]

its sad that this is not an exaggeration

[@BryanHoganMe]

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.

[@william_in_japan]

I didn't know that, Thanks for sharing!

[@sour_trout]

This is not even something I want to do I just clicked out of intrigue but your explanations are very clear and with a really nice tone. Thanks :)

[@deppdump]

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..

[@william_in_japan]

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 😂

[@AnonAnon-m3o]

This was super helpful. Thanks for this video!

[@william_in_japan]

I'm glad you found it useful!

[@mikekrow]

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!

[@william_in_japan]

I am self-taught too! It's definitely possible if you can get some experience. Wishing you luck!

[@leodnz-sg]

@@william_in_japan Any tips for getting experience? Doing some projects? Freelancing? Love the channel tho!

[@william_in_japan]

@@leodnz-sg I will address this in an upcoming FAQ

[@Anonymous-ri4mk]

@@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.

[@adriannica1566]

thanks, clean and straight to the point, loved it ! Keep up the good work.

[@fpsoccer9791]

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.

[@william_in_japan]

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.

[@itskko]

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

[@rodrigoguedes9294]

Great video! I'm a dev from Brazil and want to work in Japan someday, your video was very helpful.

[@william_in_japan]

Hope to see you in Japan someday!

[@JeanC4evaGG]

Very interesting and insightful video, I just wanted to point out that the annual salary @4:56 should be 5.9 mil to 6.9 mil yen (hundreds of ten thousand) which is around 39k to 45k USD

[@itamarshef4423]

Yeah that's my only gripe with the video. That's pretty bad for a comparable position in the US with the same experience/tenure.

[@Caboose_69]

This is excellent info, thank you!

[@oguzuke6958]

Thank you for the Video Chris Weidman👍

[@william_in_japan]

I have no clue who that is 😆

[@kymo82]

@@william_in_japan Whatever you say Chris :)

[@devinlauderdale9635]

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]

Good to know, thank you! I wasn't too familiar with how the 10 years of experience worked.

[@devinlauderdale9635]

@@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.

[@inquisitvem6723]

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.

[@wilzgaming777]

Thank you for sharing, would love to know more about the work culture (especially in IT/engineering)

[@lolikpof]

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..

[@william_in_japan]

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.

[@lolikpof]

@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

[@danielawoke1550]

Picked a bad time, bad market atm

[@william_in_japan]

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.

[@commandertempest6391]

@@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?

[@Kusagrass]

One thing that you may not get used to is the work culture, loyalty isn’t a suggestion, it’s a requirement.

[@william_in_japan]

I made a video about the work culture now

[@Signulll]

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.

[@holczy0]

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.

[@mailman1021]

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.

[@dejaesn]

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.

[@william_in_japan]

Maybe you should make something like that. Like a reverse Tokyo Dev. Unironically, an international developer public posting board would probably have some users. You would almost certainly have to implement some onboarding system to prevent bad actors and false claims.

[@iicekiing333]

Bro, dope video love the vibes, excited to see more

[@mistdev1824]

Very helpful Thanks a lot

[@JC-jz6rx]

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

[@ginomctony6773]

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.

[@billbarthel5224]

Amazing video man. Thank you so much!

[@alexmckinley79]

So helpful! Thanks!

[@not-lost-in-ai]

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.

[@william_in_japan]

Thay is great to know, thank you!

[@pororiman9489]

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

[@not-lost-in-ai]

@@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.

[@not-lost-in-ai]

@@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.

[@not-lost-in-ai]

@@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”.

[@iamNazrak]

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.

[@LunarCosmic]

the high barrier is japanese language requirement, it's really fkng hard

[@platinumnoodle]

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.

[@william_in_japan]

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.

[@KventinDorvard]

Thank you. Im currently going through language->vocational school myself. Though in my case i will spend in vocational school 4 years. For some reason ive decided that 高度専門士 would be better than just 専門士 from 2 years program.

[@guygreenleaf]

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.

[@ababey1644]

What do you mean? Are you gonna come back to US? If so, why? Why not work longer in Japan?

[@guygreenleaf]

@ababey1644 I mean I’ve spent 3 months in total across my trips to Japan. I still live in the US (for now) 🙂

[@typo_3148]

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?

[@william_in_japan]

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

[@typo_3148]

@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

[@hidayat1999]

@@william_in_japan So why create this video when the summary is just no japanese proficiency dont bother. Waste my time and give unncessary hope.

[@typo_3148]

This is given when you move into any country no? I'm currently a migrant in Australia and i had to be fluent in English just for a shot at a tech job, so it's not a stretch to assume that it will be the same in any other country to be fluent in their main language, ESPECIALLY Japan​@@hidayat1999

[@Kimi-xp2th]

This is my dream job and my dream country. I plan on finishing college here then moving to Japan after I save some money.

[@william_in_japan]

Hoping to see you in Japan soon!

[@ShinobuX99]

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.

[@william_in_japan]

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.

[@yukisayuru]

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!

[@william_in_japan]

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.

[@yukisayuru]

@@william_in_japan Thanks for replying! Looking forward to it

[@ariel_cs15]

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

[@william_in_japan]

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.

[@2rx_bni]

I think the US equivalent to a casual talk would be a "coffee chat". That seems to be normal in general now.

[@fahadmohamed5734]

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.

[@william_in_japan]

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.

[@fahadmohamed5734]

@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

[@andorets]

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

[@w花b]

I'd like to work there too but just for a few years

[@nahidsarker69]

what about Italy? How is the job market over there for tech field?

[@andorets]

@@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

[@alex_flyce]

@@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)

[@itsbadrabbit716]

Comment for the algo. Thanks for posting!

[@matten_zero]

This came for me just in time. Just need to get to Japan and learn Japanese

[@william_in_japan]

Great to hear you found it useful! Hope to see you in Japan soon!

[@daviddoyle7580]

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!

[@mattb4625]

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.

[@underflo43tky]

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.

[@mattb4625]

@@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.

[@william_in_japan]

@@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.

[@mattb4625]

@@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.

[@TheTanglingTreats]

Awesome guide

[@vietnguyenquoc4948]

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

[@akg_table]

Any thoughts on moving to Japan as a successful(solid income, stable for 8 years) indie game developer? Having done my research, it doesn't seem really feasible. I don't think I'm willing to get a degree(only have 2-year) and then work for a Japanese company for a couple years just so I can continue my real job/business. I'd totally go for language school and do my business on the side to try and get PR, but that also doesn't seem like a possible route(could only legally work part-time for a Japanese company, not really myself). There doesn't seem to be a path to PR that doesn't involve working for a Japanese company first.

[@milktothefifthpower]

I'm 2 years out from finishing my BS in Software Engineering, Java, but I was under the impression I needed the 4 year AND work experience to land a job and work visa. So it seems pretty hard from what I've seen. But i'm not sure. I'm very interested in trying to go work in Japan

[@william_in_japan]

No, you don't need work experience for a work visa if you have a 4 year degree! Experience would be nice to have to show an employer of course

[@AshesWake-sf7uw]

My friend got a job in japan at UniQlo. I hope it's better than other companies...

[@isaacchapman7628]

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.

[@kotomkaa]

Good video, sir

[@ManuelRossifan46]

To which vocational school did you go? And after completion you are eligible for a working visa if you find a company?

[@Alejo_Berrutti]

I'm at 90 degrees right now Will that be enough? For how much time do I need to maintain this posture?

[@trevorc4401]

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!

[@Iog]

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

[@miscerable]

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.

[@william_in_japan]

Did you graduate from somewhere in Japan?

[@yumika4877]

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

[@william_in_japan]

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

[@trontrontrontron4]

i hope to move to japan sometime in the next few years and this is great. i have about ~25 years of xp so this setup is great.

[@Shinon347]

is there a job for illustrator there? i mean on findy

[@MananaMan]

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

[@mudpill]

How is work life for a foreigner in tech? Do you also have the grueling hours I hear from most Japanese companies?

[@william_in_japan]

Check out my video "Japanese work culture as a developer"

[@kimeiga]

have you ever tried tokyo dev to find tech jobs in japan? did you like these other sites more?

[@diremaykr4855]

Is Findy primarily for IT and CS? Would be nice if it expanded to other engineering too.

[@william_in_japan]

Yes, it's only for computer science related positions as far as I know.

[@Yazuroshi]

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 ?

[@william_in_japan]

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.

[@Clairezymedia]

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.

[@lucas-bw6zu]

Thank you for the info. What is your advice for entry level new grad (comp sci) with zero Japanese language ?

[@ellebleisch6853]

I think it should be this easy getting a job is good for society it shoukd be as effortless as possible including the training.

[@Akairem]

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

[@christianvega9469]

Great title

[@Bndr11]

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.

[@Aftab_Shaik]

What about students who just graduated?

[@DorianRodring]

Are you saying language school costs $9000 a year alone or is that how much general living or some other expenses for the year are?

[@Bor1n様]

2:12 only school alone

[@DorianRodring]

@ that seems kinda expensive for 1 year. I was watching that one Japanese KZbinr i wish I could remember his name because I need to go back and find that video. He interviews people on the street and oftentimes it’s foreigners. If anybody can howl me find this video I’d be super thankful. Anyway he talks to an American guy on the street who gives tips on how to live in Japan for a lot less and mentions a school that I think is a lot less than this. Of course it might not be useful for this kind of work because of connections or certifications - if that is even needed- I don’t know a lot about this yet - but nonetheless, it is a Japanese language school, I believe.

[@MelodiesUnheard]

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?

[@william_in_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!

[@japz321]

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?

[@space_btwn_notes]

Great video! What about English-only senior roles? As well as part-time English-only roles?

[@Catwithsunglasses_]

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....

[@Dlow2]

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?

[@theteacherpreneur]

What are Japanese companies looking for portfolio wise?

[@evanc8057]

Does it matter if you have a degree in something other than software engineering?

[@mikeholkis2881]

I am a Greek with computer engineering degree (integrated Master) and two years of experience at Consulting.I am currently learning Japanese and i plan to be at n3 level in 2 years.Do you thinking then i will have a chance at moving to Japan in a decent payied job?

[@JaenCORP]

Have you seen the same amount of availability for Salesforce roles? Thanks for the video!

[@Pickle_Surpr1se]

I wonder what IT jobs like network engineering look like out there. Have more than 10 years experience, principal/exec level.

[@Al_L.]

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

[@william_in_japan]

The bachelor degree can be in anything!

[@shulkinxl]

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.

[@makkurojokergod1262]

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?

[@AndreaJapaneseImmersionJ-sc4uv]

What if I am a data scientist in gen AI working for around 3-4 years and I am at at the N3 level? Do I still have some chances? Should I avoid japanese companies at all?

[@wagamama18]

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?

[@L.Miranic]

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

[@william_in_japan]

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).

[@MikeStoneJapan]

I used to live in rural Japan and have worked in Japanese businesses in gaikoku for over a decade. My japanese is business conversational and even better when I'm there. I heard tsmc is in kumamoto and the prefecture is poised to be a tech hub (used to live there and love kyushu and hate kanto). I am now a fullstack dev with about 8 yrs of industry experience. I would love love love to come back to Japan and work. Only problem is i have a wife and child. Any advice???

[@william_in_japan]

With all of your experience, you should be able to get the "high skilled professional" visa. Your work will be tied to you working in the industry, but you'd be given preferential treatment in many ways over a normal work visa. Also, I think after three years you can apply for permanent residency, after which you would be free to do anything in Japan (your visa would be untied from working and your stay would be indefinite). You can also bring your wife and child over. As for the tsmc, I also heard about that, but I don't know much about it yet. Do you have any Japanese ability? Even without it, with your years of experience AND having previously worked in Japan, I think getting a job will be very easy for you.

[@MikeStoneJapan]

@@william_in_japan In terms of ability I know a fair of bit N2 level content and usually don't have much problems in a japanese language work place as I know how to pick up new vocab and get people to explain things to me conversational japanese so I can grasp whatever。My kanji reading could be a lot better though. Also re wife and child, are you saying I can bring them over after the three years + application or do you know/have you heard about the process of companies facilitating that? Also thanks for your response. 本当に感謝します

[@william_in_japan]

Sorry, no I meant you can bring your family over with you right away. I just meant you wouldn't have to be tied to an employer forever. It should be a part of the visa I mentioned. If you almost have N2, try to get that certificate so you can get more points towards that visa I mentioned. You can calculate your points based on if you have a degree, your current salary, years of experience, etc. JLPT certificates also get you points, but you may have enough without them. Anyway, you should be set up pretty good to get back to Japan and in a nice job if you choose to. 質問は他にあれば答えてみます！

[@porcorosso4330]

I am surprised that you with your level of experience and Japanese language skill that you are not aware that hakata has been the up and coming tech hub for Japan for the last decade or so... Tsmc is a chip maker, it does almost nothing for software. I mean look at Taiwan's software industry. Not very well known. If you are a chip manufacturer engineer/technician that don't mind working in a clean room potentially 8+ hours a day, apply to tsmc... They probably have a place for you there...

[@MikeStoneJapan]

@@porcorosso4330 that's really good to know thanks.

[@kevinrineer5356]

Im fortunate to have a job and a wife who also has a job, but if things were to go sideways I'm still not sure about working in Japan. How do you know which companies are black companies and how to avoid death marches? The culture surrounding work in general is so different

[@william_in_japan]

The thing is, black companies typically take advantage of people who don't have other options. For a normal salaryman fresh out of college in no specific field, getting a new job would be very challenging. That is not the position that most software engineers here are in. In fact, there have been people applying to my company who were changing jobs because their other job had them working too much, and they were already having interviews with several companies. Especially towards the start of your career here, the goal is to get several offers towards the same time, feel out each company for the culture, and choose which one seems best. Worst case scenario, you can go back to the other companies if you don't burn those bridges. Also, it is getting much harder to make people work late with remote work taking off.

[@MuffinsTheVoidBringer]

That was super helpful for me. Thanks. I'm intending to try and move to Japan after I'm done with school in the US, and this answered several questions I haven't had the time to find answers to yet. Any chance you have any insight on security related IT roles in Japan, very generally? Web development related or not. I'm about to start a Computer Science graduate program and focus on security. Thanks regardless!

[@william_in_japan]

Hmm, I'm pretty uninformed about specifically security related positions here, so take this with a grain of salt. The only thing I can say is that I personally haven't seen many specifically security related job listings. I see more infrastructure engineer "インフラ" listings, which I would assume it would be seen as a huge plus to have security experience when applying for. At my current job specifically, we hired one such engineer to audit our system, and they fixed various security related issues. Basically, an infrastructure engineer is mainly responsible for anything surrounding cloud resources (think AWS or Google Cloud Platform). From the security perspective, you would be making sure that all of the settings for various services are secure. Firewalls, access permissions, etc.

[@nxi666___]

Very helpful, thanks. You said that many companies want foreign engineers, any particular reason for that?

[@william_in_japan]

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.