Have you ever wondered what it would be like to work in Japan as a software developer? This article is
on how to find a job in technology, specifically information technology in Japan, including software development and other software engineering positions.
Most of us want to travel to other countries, experience different cultures and learn about new things and people. However, we usually end up seeing what other tourists see and experiencing what other tourists experience. To really get to know a country you can only live there for an extended period of time: one or two years, often more.
Most foreign professionals working in IT positions in Japan have great experiences. It is a very interesting place to work, live and explore. For software professionals who want to have a perfect balance of future growth prospects, job security and remuneration with other aspects of personal life, Japan is a great place for IT professionals because jobs here can be very rewarding, considering the aspects mentioned above.
Salaries in Japan may be lower than American standards in some cases; However, foreigners with good skills can find jobs with decent salaries and many future prospects. So if you are considering working as an IT professional in Japan, let’s discuss how to find a job as a software engineer in Japan.
Oportunidades de empleo de TI en Japón
If you are wondering what kind of salaries IT professionals can earn in Japan, you can read the article on average salaries for software developers in Japan.
Of course, if your first language is not Japanese, you may also wonder: “Can I get a job in Japan without knowing the Japanese language?” Here’s the good news: modern tech companies in Japan are very focused on increasing workforce diversity and are very open only to English-speaking talent.
Another good news is that among developed countries, Japan has one of the lowest unemployment rates. According to Japanese government statistics from May 2022, job openings in Tokyo exceeded the number of job applicants by 44%.
One reason is the country’s low birth rates and declining population, which means companies are looking for more people – especially in “young” tech-focused industries – than are available in Japan.
This means that the ratio of vacancies to applicants was 1.44 jobs per job seeker in Tokyo, 1.18 in Osaka, and 1.24 nationwide. For more details on the differences between two of Japan’s largest cities, you can also check out this article on Tokyo vs. Osaka comparison.
Employers find hiring bilingual people who are fluent in Japanese and English particularly challenging in Japan. So if you are bilingual, congratulations, you are in high demand! There are many job opportunities for Japanese and English speaking talents.
But even if you haven’t learned Japanese yet, getting a job in Japan without knowing Japanese isn’t very difficult. Nowadays, many Japanese companies are opening up to foreigners without any command of the Japanese language. There are also recruiting companies focused on English-speaking candidates, which can be very helpful in finding the right job for you.
Find an IT job
While most information technology jobs in Japan require Japanese language skills, that hurdle can be easily overcome with specific IT skills such as cloud computing, data science, data engineering, automation, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and deep learning.
What if my IT skills are not very specific?
Even if your IT skills are broader, you can still find a job in Japan for the following reasons:
● Many progressive mid-sized companies and startups in Japan want to have more diversity by employing English-speaking candidates to help them compete globally to fulfill their vision.