Any non-Japanese heritage individuals here get a job in Japan as a �V��?

[Siitrasn]

I'm starting at a Japanese company soon... While I've had those thoughts as well I'm going to have to put up with it as it's my ticket to Japan

Best of luck to you. If you ever want to stay in contact, send me a PM. I'm always down for networking.

[zillacles]

I'm starting at a Japanese company soon... While I've had those thoughts as well I'm going to have to put up with it as it's my ticket to Japan

[Siitrasn]

Work at a foreign company if you are an engineer. Unless you have a really good reason not to, the pay is better, the hours are fewer and the job security is tighter. Japanese companies will not ever accept you as an insider, even if you work there for years.

Japan is the most insulated country in the history of human civilization. You are either "soto" or you aren't. Anyone thinking otherwise is a deluded fool.

I've had my fair share of identity crises simply living in the U.S. Thanks for the tip, but at the moment I'm simply using the company so it looks nice on my resume. If I don't like it, I'm planning on leaving.

Work at a foreign company if you are an engineer. Unless you have a really good reason not to, the pay is better, the hours are fewer and the job security is tighter. Japanese companies will not ever accept you as an insider, even if you work there for years.

Japan is the most insulated country in the history of human civilization. You are either "soto" or you aren't. Anyone thinking otherwise is a deluded fool.

[Since1990]

That would be ���ɓ���΁A���ɏ]��.

I prefer ��ɓ��ꎕ personally

[zmcnulty]

It's not a Japanese company; overseas branch doesn't mean the same thing for us as it does for Japanese ones. Our hubs (London, Singapore, Hong Kong, etc.) are larger and have more senior people than Tokyo. In Tokyo we only have one global head in my department, the rest of them are in a hub somewhere.

I guess I'm kind of a special case since by being in Tokyo, I already am working "overseas" given that I was born, raised, went to college in the US. Ordinarily yes, we ask our Japanese new graduates (especially ones with limited experience overseas) to work outside of Japan after a few years. But that doesn't necessarily apply to me, since arguably I'd be less exposed to specific cultures in Hong Kong or Singapore, as those offices are drastically more internationalized than Tokyo. It would be a step away from local culture and a step towards multiculture which I supposedly already am (if that makes sense). For me, maybe Shanghai, Mumbai, Taipei or another EM location would be more applicable.

However my company is pretty flexible compared to others. If I want to move to a different location and there's an applicable role, they'll be supportive. On the flip side, if you want to stay, they'll do what they can. In any case I have no desire to leave Tokyo right now. At the same time, in this industry, you don't want to pigeonhole yourself in a specific country.

[zillacles]

Have they ever mentioned wanting to have you work in an overseas branch?

[zmcnulty]

Sorry for the delayed reply; I don't visit this forum very often and I'm not using subscriptions/etc.

I work in finance and I'm still at the same company. Just started my 5th year.

[Siitrasn]

Um, �S�O�O���~ / 12 = 333,333�~ / month, not 400,000.

Sorry, fellow Asian math Nazi

but either way, 333,333 / month is a pretty decent starting salary for a non-English teaching job. Engineers usually get killed on their first few years in terms of salary and hours ;0


-Duy

The number is higher than 400,000; I rounded down so as to simply provide a number.

No Meguro-ku doesn't sound like it would be viable - lot of expensive real estate there.
Tamagawa area .... Hmmm - might be pricy too.

If that is the general area you are thinking about, how about neighbouring Ota-ku as another possibility. Not as up-market or well known... But still not that far out. There may be something reasonable there.

Thanks for the tip! I'll look around, but the most important thing is probably how easy it is to get to the company via train.

[PurpleDaisies]

I'm not sure if that's a factor. I'm a fresh graduate with no work experience. I'd rather live frugally for my first 5-10 years paying cheap rent and saving money than living in a place in Tokyo-to where I'll be surrounded by lots of temptations.

...unless I'm doing the math wrong and living in like Meguro-ku or Shibuya-ku is equally viable. At the moment my first choice is Kawasaki City or close to Tamagawa.

No Meguro-ku doesn't sound like it would be viable - lot of expensive real estate there.
Tamagawa area .... Hmmm - might be pricy too.

If that is the general area you are thinking about, how about neighbouring Ota-ku as another possibility. Not as up-market or well known... But still not that far out. There may be something reasonable there.

[Duymon]

Thanks for your response zmcnulty. I have not started working yet as I have not graduated from university here in the States.

At first I too was doubtful of the 40k figure, but on the company's website it specifically says �S�O�O���~ for �w���� and a smaller number less than that for �Z�呲 (though the ���C�� for �Z�呲 is higher than the 20k average). I have taken a screenshot just in case, so hopefully the number will be that subtracted by taxes, etc.

Like the poster before me, I too am curious as to whether or not you stayed in the company. Also, what industry do you work in? If you don't mind me asking, that is.

Um, �S�O�O���~ / 12 = 333,333�~ / month, not 400,000.

Sorry, fellow Asian math Nazi

but either way, 333,333 / month is a pretty decent starting salary for a non-English teaching job. Engineers usually get killed on their first few years in terms of salary and hours ;0


-Duy

[Siitrasn]

Thanks for your response zmcnulty. I have not started working yet as I have not graduated from university here in the States.

At first I too was doubtful of the 40k figure, but on the company's website it specifically says �S�O�O���~ for �w���� and a smaller number less than that for �Z�呲 (though the ���C�� for �Z�呲 is higher than the 20k average). I have taken a screenshot just in case, so hopefully the number will be that subtracted by taxes, etc.

Like the poster before me, I too am curious as to whether or not you stayed in the company. Also, what industry do you work in? If you don't mind me asking, that is.

[zillacles]

I was a bit surprised at the 400,000 too, since I'll be starting on 204,500/month (engineering grad).

Have you stayed with the same company, zmcnulty?

[zmcnulty]

This thread is a bit aged and the OP may have started working yesterday, but I'd double-check that salary figure. 400,000 yen is basically double the market rate for �V��. You'll find most Japanese companies paying ~200,000/month for undergrads, maybe a couple man more for people with Masters degrees. Itochu for example, supposedly one of the "elite" ����, starts their grads out at 205,000 yen. That said, the 200,000 yen is the base salary; depending on the company you may also get paid overtime, twice-yearly bonuses, performance bonus, a housing allowance, so on. Not saying 400,000 yen is impossible but it's worth checking again since it sounds awfully high for a Japanese company, especially in this economy.

FWIW I'm also a "non-Japanese heritage individual" who got a shinsotsu job from BCF. Made some posts about it years ago, feel free to search.

[Siitrasn]

Good attitude. Work hard for two years and see how you can advance in the company (a lot of people are complaining about the 'glass-ceilings' if you have the wrong passport but there are always exceptions). If not, move on. As my boss said 'in your first job you get always ripped off'.

I'm not dead set on staying in Japan if 1) I don't like working at a Japanese company after about 2-3 years or 2) if I do find myself hitting that "glass-ceiling," though I suspect that will come a few more years down the line. I figured if I really didn't like it, I could come back to the States after 5 years abroad.

Also, thanks again everyone for your responses. Some were incredibly helpful, and I appreciate everyone spending time and replying in some capacity.