Hi, my japanese wife, and I are going to move to Japan, Tokyo. I do speak some japanese, probably around N3 level, but I won't be able to take an exam until the end of the year. We plan to have moved before then. Currently we are waiting for the COE approval, and I'm not sure when the best time to apply for jobs would be. I am a Software Engineer with ~4.5 YoE, and plan to apply to international companies, or those with a similar culture like Rakuten, preferably. I am Full stack engineer with backend focus, mostly working with C#, and Java. If it matters I'm from a central european country, and am currently working for a big bank.
Here are some thoughts I have on the upcoming job search:
- If I wait for my visa, companies won't have to sponsor me, which would make me stand out a bit.
- Waiting for my visa, means that I have less time to look for a job, before actually moving.
- If I do wait for my visa, is it enough for the job search, or do I physically need to enter the country first, and register my residence? We will be living with family for the first few months.
- Are relocation packages common in international companies? Will I be missing out on this if I wait for my visa?
- How would I best mention my japanese in my CV, considering I didn't take the JLPT yet.
I'm happy for any advice, insights, and personal experiences!
by occasionally_smart