IT World

[Ozjin]

I am in the process of obtaining a spouse visa to move over to Japan indefinitely with the mrs. Currently I work in IT and have 5 years expereince. 2 years on a helpdesk and 3 years as a helpdesk manager. My technical skills are limited but I do know my way around Windows and Linux servers plus some other knowledge like SQL and SQL Plus. My Japanese is also limited but I do have a basic conversational level and doing some self study atm.

Does anyone know what the IT market is like now? Would someone with my background and skillset have any chance in getting an IT gig? I would be willing to start at a lower level in order to gain further experience.

[wernst]

unless your Japanese is at least level 1 your chances are nihil. Especially if you want to work at a helpdesk. Helpdesk jobs are plenty but need JLPT 1.

[Effected After]

I was going to point you to a thread started by a current member, who has 22 years IT experience, but very little Japanese knowledge, and cannot find a job. Unfortunately he deleted it. But the point is, be prepared to teach English as a backup if you can't find a job in IT.

[Ozjin]

Thanks for the replies, guess I better hit the books.

[iago]

Thanks for the replies, guess I better hit the books.

Or the bottle...

Just don't hit the rocks.

[YokohamaTommy]

I was going to point you to a thread started by a current member, who has 22 years IT experience, but very little Japanese knowledge, and cannot find a job. Unfortunately he deleted it. But the point is, be prepared to teach English as a backup if you can't find a job in IT.

That would be me.
And indeed that is accurate.
And it was deleted due to drunken ramblings of nonsense.
(Like you've never done it, people.)

There are I.T. jobs available, but the competition is fierce if you don't have a good command of the language.
Also be prepared for a shock in salaries. You'll be fighting tooth and nail for a job that probably pays 50-70 % less than what you may be used to.
Best advice, study Japanese day and night.
Get an English job to make ends meet (The money is the same anyway) and get more certs in your spare time.
In Japan, there's a guy in I.T. who can do your job for half the pay and will work triple the hours with no complaints.

[Ozjin]

Or the bottle...

Just don't hit the rocks.

I'll stick with the books for now.....then maybe the bottle later.

[Ozjin]

That would be me.
And indeed that is accurate.
And it was deleted due to drunken ramblings of nonsense.
(Like you've never done it, people.)

There are I.T. jobs available, but the competition is fierce if you don't have a good command of the language.
Also be prepared for a shock in salaries. You'll be fighting tooth and nail for a job that probably pays 50-70 % less than what you may be used to.
Best advice, study Japanese day and night.
Get an English job to make ends meet (The money is the same anyway) and get more certs in your spare time.
In Japan, there's a guy in I.T. who can do your job for half the pay and will work triple the hours with no complaints.

Damn, all sounds pretty daunting in the IT world.

[YokohamaTommy]

Damn, all sounds pretty daunting in the IT world.

Unfortunately, that's the environment in Japan right now.
Many jobs are being outsourced to China or Singapore or India.
Even Japanese I.T. pros are feeling the crunch, and I have many Japanese friends who simply moved to those places.
Kudos to those Gaijin fortunate enough to get a foot in a few years ago.

[Ozjin]

Unfortunately, that's the environment in Japan right now.
Many jobs are being outsourced to China or Singapore or India.
Even Japanese I.T. pros are feeling the crunch, and I have many Japanese friends who simply moved to those places.
Kudos to those Gaijin fortunate enough to get a foot in a few years ago.

Actually I should not be that surprised really. The same things is happening here in Australia. A lot of IT jobs are going to India.

[hml]

But the point is, be prepared to teach English as a backup if you can't find a job in IT.

Or teach English in an IT company...

[ttokyo]

J-skills are required for working at a Japanese company, but I know several IT guys who got hired at foreign banks without a single word of Japanese. So limit your searches to foreing companies where the working conditions (pay, holiday) are better anyway. Check the panache website IT for jobs listings. Not sure what skills are 'en vogue' these days.

[Ozjin]

J-skills are required for working at a Japanese company, but I know several IT guys who got hired at foreign banks without a single word of Japanese. So limit your searches to foreing companies where the working conditions (pay, holiday) are better anyway. Check the panache website IT for jobs listings. Not sure what skills are 'en vogue' these days.

Thanks, will check it out.

[ENF]

Even Japanese I.T. pros are feeling the crunch, and I have many Japanese friends who simply moved to those places.

Two guys I worked closely with at a foreign bank, recently relocated to Singapore. Another one is scheduled to move to India next month. Those jobs they are leaving are being removed. (These were IT & Project Management areas)

Another financial group is closing a support department and it's being sourced to Singapore and India, that's about 10 folks. Some good friends have left Japan in the last year because of these movements.