Hello everyone! I am 24 and I recently started working as a software engineer. It's my first job after graduating from college and I have been working for a few months now and honestly I don't really enjoy software engineering that much. It has always been a long term goal of mine to move to Japan and live there for the rest of my life. So I have been thinking of taking up Japanese language classes on the side and learning upto N4 or N3 level and then join a language school in Japan and move there on a student visa to reach atleast N2 level. What do you guys think of this plan? Should I learn upto N4 or N3 level in my country and how much time does it take to reach those levels? Also how difficult it'll be to get a part time job on a student visa and full time job after I am done with language school? I am also open to jobs in fields other than IT.
by Tall_Break_2001
4 comments
moving here as a software engineer is, tbh, one of the easiest ways to get your foot in the door to move to Japan. once you’re here you can improve your Japanese much more easily (and cheaply) through daily life and then do a career change, or (if it fits your personality) move into management where you aren’t doing software engineering work day to day, over time.
Just knowing japanese won’t get you a job so first start by getting at least 3-5 years of experience in your country while learning japanese on the side. Otherwise you would need to leave after language school.
Hey man. We are on the same boat. I’m 24 M. I’m thinking of completing N3 (cleared N5 recently). Moving there as a software engineer seems to be the best option but recently realised it’s not that easy. All the positions seem to have atleast 3 YOE as min requirement. Even though I have 1.5 YOE at FAANG, I was able to get 1 interview in which I performed well but was rejected. So language school or getting more work experience to get interviews easily are our only options and both seem to take time
Knowing the language is fundamental in any part of the world, just imagine how difficult would be to exist in ur country without being able to effectively communicate. Apart from that, be aware that speaking Japanese will just put you in the same position as any other Japanese in the job market. That being said, knowing English is great in any industry you are in Japan. Tbh I wouldn’t move there for a junior position. If I where you, I think it would be more reasonable to get experience at home and after that land a job that at least offers you more than 15 days of vacations. You can use that time to improve your Japanese as well.
Tbh I think being able to integrate to a society is the main challenge when you migrate and that’s why I think you should at the bare minimum get an n3 before you go to work, just so you are not depressed. Good luck 🙂