Hi everyone, I’m a 28-year-old Korean working as a web developer in Japan for about 1.5 years. I’m thinking about a job offer I got, but I’m torn and could really use some advice from foreigners working in Japan or anyone with insight.
My Background (Briefly):
- Age & Time in Japan: 28, been in Japan for 1.5 years.
- Education: Bachelor’s degree (Korea, Industrial Engineering, not Computer Science).
- Current Job: Web developer at a Korean company’s Japan branch (game company) for 1 year and 3 months. Mostly working on landing pages, not much core logic.
- Language Skills:
- Japanese: Early business-level, JLPT N2.
- English: Conversational, IELTS 7.0.
My Situation:
I joined my current company as a front-end developer, but I’ve been stuck making landing pages, which doesn’t feel like it’s building my resume. The company’s situation isn’t great, and I’m on a contract that’s renewed every 3 months now (it’s getting shorter). So, I’ve been job hunting for about 2 weeks using doda (a recruitment agency). However, my Japanese isn’t perfect, and my 1.5 years of experience mostly in landing pages might be holding me back. I’m getting few responses, and the ones I do get are mostly for dispatch roles (e.g., CAL).
The Job Offer:
A Japanese acquaintance (a former teacher from an IT job prep course I took in Japan) recently reached out. He’s leaving a big company to start his own and offered me a role. He’s been working solo on revamping a small recruitment agency’s website (run by his friend) and wants me to join him full-time as a permanent employee to work on it together.
Details of the Offer:
- Team Size: Just the two of us for now.
- Role: I’d handle both front-end and back-end (they’re using serverless tech).
- Salary: Slightly higher than my current job.
- Visa: Handled through his friend’s established company (a 20-year connection), so it seems secure. I’d be paid through that company but officially employed by the new startup.
- My Acquaintance’s Background: He’s done development but spent a lot of time at a dev consulting firm, so he’s experienced but not purely a coder.
My Concerns:
- Small Team: It’s just the two of us. Is that too risky?
- Career Growth: Will joining a tiny startup help me grow as a developer? I’d get to work on both front-end and back-end, which sounds exciting but also daunting.
- Stability: A friend working at a big company in Japan thinks it’s too unstable and advised against it.
- Freedom vs. Risk: I’m worried about working alone with just one other person, but I also think it could be a chance to use various tools freely and learn a lot.
What I’m Thinking:
The offer sounds promising—better pay, visa security, and a chance to work on diverse tasks (front-end + back-end). But the tiny team size and startup nature make me nervous. I’m wondering if this could be a good opportunity to grow as a developer or if it’s too risky. I need to decide by next week.
To Foreigners Working in Japan (or Anyone with Insight):
If you were in my shoes (1.5 years of experience or starting fresh in Japan), would you take this offer? Does it sound like a place to learn and grow, or would you avoid it? Any advice on navigating this decision or job hunting in Japan as a foreigner?
Thanks so much for reading and sharing your thoughts!
by DeanYoon