Hello everyone,
I’m 28 and just spent two weeks in Japan, where I fell in love with the country. Currently, I’m the general manager at a marine retail company, and I’m about to finish my associate degree in IT. I’m also planning to earn several IT certifications before I graduate this fall.
A bit of background: I have 11 years of experience in retail, customer service, and sales—including 6 years in management—and I’ve been working with computers throughout that time. In my previous role, my main responsibilities were repairing and selling tech. At my current job I manage a store but have taken on some local IT work at the store drawing on my technical background. I’m also learning Japanese and considering attending language school.
I’m looking for advice on the best path to achieve my ultimate goal of living in Japan. I understand that earning a bachelor’s degree is important for securing a work visa. With that in mind, should I:
• Enroll in online bachelor’s courses while attending language school and working part-time?
• Or focus entirely on my bachelor’s for the next two years, saving money and continuing to improve my Japanese (aiming for at least N4 proficiency)?
For context, my current IT education is centered on help-desk support and general IT, and I’m interested in obtaining certifications like the CompTIA A+, Security+, and Network+ (the so-called “trifecta”), as well as possibly the Data+ certification. Of course, I know that hands-on experience is invaluable.
I appreciate any insights or recommendations based on your experiences. Thanks in advance for your help!
by SweaterRx