Looking for an IT Job in Japan (Very long shot)

[Papa-Lazarou]

I have 2 years experiance (Expertise level) as an IT Manager administrating SQL Server 2000 and Windows 2003 for a large financial firm in the UK.
Working knowlege of SQL Reporting and query optimization.
I have an BSc and an MSc in good 'ol IT

I have lived in Japan before, teaching english, but my Japanese is poor. Tired of the UK i would dearly love to go back to Japan to *quote my CV* "Broaden and diversify my experiance in IT"
Does anyone know an agency that specializes in placing people from overseas in Japan?

And i dont mean my local triad gang

cheers

[Maths Dude]

If you cant go to Japan, go to Oz. I know an Aussie making 60,000 pounds a year in the UK and he reckons life sucks there, so hes coming back soon.

[Taro Toporific]

I have 2 years experience (Expert level) as an IT Manager administrating SQL Server 2000 and Windows 2003 for a large financial firm in the UK.
Working knowlege of SQL Reporting and query optimization.
I have an BSc and an MSc in good 'ol IT

This ad for an ASP Programmer was running until sometime last month; however the position has been open on-and-off for years. Just be Zuzushi and bug the hell out of the boss, Mark Devlin (Hi Sparky! Long time no see. I can see by your IP address you're lurking.) Now that the website under better control and it's more stable, this would be good starting-out JPN-job.

Remember: Get's ZZS! Follow-up. Follow-up. Follow-up! Always ask for a job three times because businesses in Japan wildly admire bold gaijin persistence.

----------------
CRISSCROSS RECRUITMENT
ASP Programmer
Crisscross KK is looking for an experienced ASP programmer to work on Japan Today, the world's leading Japan portal. Send cover letter, resume and details of projects you have worked on to jobs@crisscross.com

Via japantoday.com

[cstaylor]

Probably learning .NET couldn't hurt either

[Mels]

I would also consider looking at getting Linux under your belt....there are alot of opinions about this, but Linux is much more popular in Japan (asia). I use to work for SRA Inc. from Japan and they have developed many open source apps....and have a ton of clients worldwide.....there are a lot of articles on IT sites that talk about open source...and its popularity...sure there are legal things going on...but it is the coming age.

The US is slow and MS is still big...but as the environment becomes comfortable with open source technology (regarding security,etc.) it is still a slow pick up here. '
Unix is on its way out in my opinion and Linux is the next coming thing.

If you can, I would do some research on what other IT trends Japan is going through...ones that have longetivity.

For example, here is the link to my former J company....they were the pioneers in introducing Japan is Unix and are IT experts...
http://www.sra.co.jp/
and http://sraglobal.net/ (this is the US site and location I worked for)

maybe you can get some ideas from this website.

also, there are some great articles here on the open source database Postgresql......tidbit: SRA developed Power Gres and works closely with the open source community. http://www.postgresql.org/


GOOD SKILLS

[Papa-Lazarou]

Probably learning .NET couldn't hurt either
Yeah, that would be a massive advantage. Alas i just dont have enough hours in the day to get stuck into the books.
BAH!

[Charles]

Probably learning .NET couldn't hurt either
Yeah, that would be a massive advantage. Alas i just dont have enough hours in the day to get stuck into the books.
BAH!

That's what every IT company is looking for, people who don't want to learn new things, and can only work with stuff they learned years ago. :roll:

[Neo-Rio]

Find some of the headhunting companies (if they don't find you first), as they're always looking to do interviews.

However, most of the really good jobs require level 1 Japanese proficiency, or you to specialize in something.

Failing that, it's not what you know but who you know. If you have reasonable Japanese (just sub level 2), and you know people, you can even get hired by Japanese companies at NOVA-like salaries doing back-end work with overtime. You probably don't want that either, but it is an option.

[Cubed]

Probably learning .NET couldn't hurt either

Mr Taylor, watch your language!

http://www.fuckedgaijin.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5623

(Warning: This notice is in good humour, and good faith. Rinse well before and after use. This post does not consitute a contract in any way permitted by the laws of Vanuatu and neighbouring states. Not to be taken orally. If in doubt, seek medical advice. )

[cstaylor]

Probably learning .NET couldn't hurt either

Mr Taylor, watch your language!

http://www.fuckedgaijin.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5623

(Warning: This notice is in good humour, and good faith. Rinse well before and after use. This post does not consitute a contract in any way permitted by the laws of Vanuatu and neighbouring states. Not to be taken orally. If in doubt, seek medical advice. )

I was under the impression that Papa was a lazy $&*(!@, so Microsoft tools would be right up his alley. :wink: :lol:

[Papa-Lazarou]

Probably learning .NET couldn't hurt either

Mr Taylor, watch your language!

http://www.fuckedgaijin.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5623

(Warning: This notice is in good humour, and good faith. Rinse well before and after use. This post does not consitute a contract in any way permitted by the laws of Vanuatu and neighbouring states. Not to be taken orally. If in doubt, seek medical advice. )

I was under the impression that Papa was a lazy $&*(!@, so Microsoft tools would be right up his alley. :wink: :lol:


yuss like all us MSDN types i have indeed become a lazy MS git

[Cubed]

While I don't claim to be a great programmer, I try to imitate one. An important trait of the great ones is constructive laziness. They know that you get an A not for effort but for results.

- Eric S. Raymond

Don't worry - not everyone is meant to understand 8)

[Papa-Lazarou]

Christ, getting a reponse out of people in Japan is a nightmare, nevermind an interview, job etc.

I really dont wanna have to resort to getting an Ingrish teaching gig then searching whilst i'm over there, but it could be the only way?

Is there any permit issues with comming to Japan on a teaching visa, then fucking it off after a month for an IT gig?

[cstaylor]

While I don't claim to be a great programmer, I try to imitate one. An important trait of the great ones is constructive laziness. They know that you get an A not for effort but for results.

- Eric S. Raymond

Don't worry - not everyone is meant to understand 8)

Speak of the devil:

http://www.fuckedgaijin.com/forum/album_mod/upload/dba37675ad09ace407d4ded865b6d820.jpg

[Cubed]

While I don't claim to be a great programmer, I try to imitate one. An important trait of the great ones is constructive laziness. They know that you get an A not for effort but for results.

- Eric S. Raymond

Don't worry - not everyone is meant to understand 8)

Speak of the devil:

http://www.fuckedgaijin.com/forum/album_mod/upload/dba37675ad09ace407d4ded865b6d820.jpg
Hehe. That's funny.

I like this one:

http://www.perturb.org/images/1/dilbert-unix.png

[Cubed]

Christ, getting a reponse out of people in Japan is a nightmare, nevermind an interview, job etc.

I really dont wanna have to resort to getting an Ingrish teaching gig then searching whilst i'm over there, but it could be the only way?

Is there any permit issues with comming to Japan on a teaching visa, then fucking it off after a month for an IT gig?

I don't think there are any issues with that. Have you tried those agencies like Panache? Can you speak Japanese (it'll widen your options).

Good luck mate.

[Papa-Lazarou]

Christ, getting a reponse out of people in Japan is a nightmare, nevermind an interview, job etc.

I really dont wanna have to resort to getting an Ingrish teaching gig then searching whilst i'm over there, but it could be the only way?

Is there any permit issues with comming to Japan on a teaching visa, then fucking it off after a month for an IT gig?

I don't think there are any issues with that. Have you tried those agencies like Panache? Can you speak Japanese (it'll widen your options).

Good luck mate.

i have just registered with Panache, cheers for the tip.
Alas my Japanese never progressed beyond meeting people, telling the time and asking the way to the station.


Any other agency's beside panache?

Thanks to everyone who has offered help, i really apreciate it.

[FG Lurker]

Is there any permit issues with comming to Japan on a teaching visa, then fucking it off after a month for an IT gig?
I don't think there are any issues with that.
Sure, no issues with that at all....besides the small issue that you can't do it. The visas are different and you can't just change from being an English teacher (the nebulous "Specialist in Humanities" status) to being an IT worker (Engineer status). The new company will have to become your sponsor and you will need to apply for a change in status of the visa.

As for finding a job when not actually in-country... This depends on your network of contacts in Japan. If you are lacking a decent network of contacts here then it is going to be tough. Not impossible certainly, but difficult. (I'm guessing that since you've asked about this on FG that you don't have a particularly large network here.)

Add to this not having Japanese and you get into a tougher situation still. Why? Because in such a scenario you are competing against a very large pool of highly educated Indians who speak English but not Japanese.....

Just to repeat, I'm not saying it is impossible. However, getting here, building up a network of contacts, and working on your Japanese is going to make it a lot easier.

[FG Lurker]

To add a bit of positiveness to the thread though... I suggest you start googling for Tokyo-based IT-outsourcing companies that specialize in providing support to foreign capital firms.

You might try starting with a search like this one (http://www.google.com/search?q=tokyo+%22IT+outsourcing%22+OR+%22IT+provi der%22+OR+%22IT+service%22+OR+%22IT+services%22+OR +%22IT+support%22&hl=en&lr=&c2coff=1&safe=off&start=0&sa=N).

Often times you can apply directly to the companies in question. Some of these firms are likely pretty horrible places to work, but some are going to be okay. You'll want to do some further googling on specific companies to find out what people are saying about them.

[Papa-Lazarou]

Is there any permit issues with comming to Japan on a teaching visa, then fucking it off after a month for an IT gig?
I don't think there are any issues with that.
Sure, no issues with that at all....besides the small issue that you can't do it. The visas are different and you can't just change from being an English teacher (the nebulous "Specialist in Humanities" status) to being an IT worker (Engineer status). The new company will have to become your sponsor and you will need to apply for a change in status of the visa.

As for finding a job when not actually in-country... This depends on your network of contacts in Japan. If you are lacking a decent network of contacts here then it is going to be tough. Not impossible certainly, but difficult. (I'm guessing that since you've asked about this on FG that you don't have a particularly large network here.)

Add to this not having Japanese and you get into a tougher situation still. Why? Because in such a scenario you are competing against a very large pool of highly educated Indians who speak English but not Japanese.....

Just to repeat, I'm not saying it is impossible. However, getting here, building up a network of contacts, and working on your Japanese is going to make it a lot easier.

Thanks for the tips, my network of contacts in Tokyo consists of a number of 20-something women wondering why i haven’t called in a while.

I saw a job right and i mean right up my alley, looking for a Gaijin willing to relocate with strong MS skills. Specifically disaster recovery planning fro Exchange/Windows (A big strong point for me, i have been burned in the past.......)
Anhyoo after 4 weeks of emailing them, detailing my expertise in this area without a response, i got a reply!!!

Asking me to stop emailing them


Oh, and the vacancy is still available