Is finding a job in Japan with 2 years experience and a work visa doable?

[jonyfox67]

hi,

just came across this website a few days ago and it seems very helpful. Wandering if anybody can give me some advice on my situation/plan.

Some background: I've got a BSc and an MSc from two different UK universities (both in informatics/CS). Been working in UK for just over a year now as a software developer. I want to move back to Japan!
My Japanese skills are shit. Started taking evening classes same time I started working. I can say/understand some basic stuff and can read/write hiragana. On the plus side, I've got a permanent residence visa because my mother married a Japanese national. Also I lived in Japan for 5 years before uni (totally hated learning Japanese back then and I regret that now). Based on what I read in other threads the second largest problem (after lack of Japanese skills) seems to be the Visa issue which is not a problem in my case.
I should mention that my mother lives in Japan, and for the past 6 months I've been in a long distance relationship with my girlfriend who is Japanese and lives in Tokyo.

My current plan is to work in UK for another year (so I've got 2~2.5 years experience) while looking for a job in Japan. Thinking I can apply online and if they want to do an interview I can always just grab the next flight (yeah it is not cheap, but will probably be worth it). After that I'll come over and start the search full-time.

What do you guys think? Is finding an IT job in Japan in the current economy, doable with ~2 years experience, basic Japanese, and a work visa?
I want to try and avoid the language teaching route as much as possible because a: I would hate it, and b: it won't increase my IT experience and the larger gap I've got the harder it is going to be to find the next job.

The other alternative I've considered is trying to sell apps for iPhone/Android. Basically going freelance over the internet working remotely from Japan. But to go this route I would need to start spending some serious time with these platforms and I doubt they will earn much money. Most likely it would just be something I can put on my CV while searching for a Job when I come over.

Some keywords: VB/C# .Net, Python, sql, C++, php.

[wuchan]

I won't say it's impossible. A lot of the IT guys I have met are senior level management or highly skilled.

One thing that you should really think about is how much you know about actually working in japan. Large corporations here that deal with IT stuff tend to be very domestic, meaning they run things the japanese way.

[Bucky]

My son who is 25 and bi-lingual is working for a US investment bank in Tokyo. He says he will not work for a Japanese company as he has no desire to put up with the bullshit. He quit a Japanese company in April to escape the Japanese company culture. He is much happier now.

[Samurai_Jerk]

Japan is an IT blackhole. Don't come here if you want to develop your career.

[Coligny]

Japan is an IT blackhole. Don't come here if you want to develop your career.

Not if you work for a fureign company while being there as expat. (maybe...)

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

BSc + MSc*UK

=McD

[Greji]

=McD

Hair drops the wicket with a hard spinner.....

[GomiGirl]

=McD

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Screwed-down Hairdo again.

[McTojo]

You guyz don't know what the "F" you're talking about.