I’m currently struggling with a career decision and would really appreciate some perspectives.
I’m a UI/UX designer from Malaysia, currently studying in Japan and trying to find a new graduate (新卒) design job here. The hiring process is quite competitive — many companies have 3+ interview rounds, and some only hire 2–3 new graduate designers per year.
I’ve also noticed that many design teams in Japan have very few foreign designers, which makes me a bit unsure about long-term opportunities.
Typical offers seem to be around ¥300,000/month before tax (~¥260,000 after tax), and many include 45 hours of overtime already built into the salary. After rent and living expenses in Tokyo, it seems difficult to save much money.
If I return to Malaysia, my cost of living would be much lower and I could live with family, which would make it much easier to save money.
However, Japan also has advantages — the market is larger and the product design ecosystem seems more mature, so I feel like I could learn a lot by working here.
So I’m a bit conflicted.
For someone starting a career in UX/UI design, is it worth staying in Japan for the experience, or would it make more sense to build a career in a lower-cost country?
by Aware-Ad559