Hello everyone,
I’m 24M. I’m a 2024 graduate from top college in India. In 2023 I did a remote internship at a Japanese tech startup as an SDE Engineer Intern. Based on my performance and good work I received a pre placement offer from the company to join as a SDE engineer at their Sapporo office.
The offer letter mentioned 40,00,000 JPY as Total salary: Gross salary, including social insurance costs & taxes along with VISA application fee, flight fee from India to Sapporo (Up to upper limit). No other components (Joining bonus/ Relocation bonus) were present. I took suggestions from my seniors and other people about the offer and got to know that it’s not that bad the location being Sapporo (comparatively cheaper than tokyo). Also, I loved the Japanese culture and was interested in staying here for 1/2 years hoping to get some exposure plus I liked the projects of the company so I accepted the offer.
Now my joining date is approaching so I had a meet with my HR who provided me with my CoE so that I could proceed further with my VISA application. Also he told me that for the company could provide me with stay for the first month at a cost of 50,000 JPY to which I agreed as it seemed reasonable but I got a bit skeptical when he said that they are looking into the estimated cost for my flight from India to Sapporo but the company would only cover upto a maximum amount.
I am disappointed at this because firstly I’m not getting any bonuses (joining or relocation) which my friends who joined in India got (they got bonuses plus min 1 month of stay in 3/5* hotels) I don’t generally compare but I’m quite disappointed now 🙁 Moreover the company wants me to bear the cost of the flights too.
Therefore I wanted to know If it is normal in Japan/ Japanese companies (no joining/ relocation bonuses + the employee have to bear flight fee too). I’m very confused at the moment and experiencing mixed feelings because it’s gonna be my first job. I wanted to join the company because I thought they liked and appreciated my work and not because I’m a “cheap labour” to them.
by wweverma1