Japanese Degree

[cenic]

Let me preface my question with a bit of history. I completed an AS in Computer Science a few years ago, then dropped out of school to work in tech. When that began to sink I went back to school, but rather than completing my BS in CS, I brilliantly decided to complete two more years of Japanese (I had one year from the CS degree) and get my AA in Japanese.

Now, here I stand 24 years old, going through the "what the fuck have I done/doing with my life" phase. With my CS Skills and my minimal Japanese language skills (two years of college Japanese provided me with the ability to maybe communicate with small children or animals, haven't figured out which yet). Can someone with some technical background as a programmer (working at shitty startups as a perl web dev) and little language skills actually find technical work in Japan? Or, if I decide, if I completed BA in Japanese (I am more interested in Japanese then CS now) could I actually find work doing something relating to Japan, or will I be like another lost Philosophy major?

Any advice relating to careers or jobs would be great. I know my question was vague, and I should probably fully consider my options, but I feel posting here is better than being a dirty hippy backpacking around europe.

[Taro Toporific]

...if I completed BA in Japanese (I am more interested in Japanese then CS now) could I actually find work doing something relating to Japan, or will I be like another lost Philosophy major?
.... I feel posting here is better than being a dirty hippy backpacking around europe.

Hey, don't knock being a dirty hippy backpacking around Euro-land---it's a hell a lot more fun the beating your head against the wall studying Japanese.
Anyway, a Japanese BA with CS experience should get you very decent paying J-to-E translation jobs here (however, actual CS jobs would be difficult without better CS/IT skills). A dual major, Japanese and CS, for BA would be bettere. Still, a Japanese BA with CS experience would get you work provided you could pass the Level 1 Japanese Language Test. The technical translators I work with typically don't have any CS eduation (almost all translators were only language majors in college).

[kamome]

Cenic,

Best advice: finish your CS degree and work for a while in the States before making the move to Japan.

[cenic]

In the states experience (and friends) is paramount to getting a position in tech. For example, I could probably get a pretty good paying position/contract doing backend dev in perl, without a bachelor, simply based on my past experience (and I live in seattle, where some jobs still exist). Is this assumption true in Japan as well? In a another thread mobile phone programming was pointed out as a priority technology, what other technologies should one focus attention on? I've held this theory in my head that Japan hasn't gone, or is on the brink of going through the same technology internet bomb that the states has. Is this theory incorrect?

I am more confident that I would be able to complete my BA in Japanese, and not CS (I spent long nights struggling with three years of calc with my associates) If I where to continue to pursue my Japanese degree what type off field could I look at getting into? I would like to get into backend dev work or localization doing something relating to Japanese, working in Japan right away isn't a requirement.


Thanks for the help, I am sure I could have found resources elsewhere, or spoken with a apathetic college councilor, but I would much rather hold a dialog with real people with real experiences. I've been lurking for several months and have found this board to very helpful and amusing.

[Seiji]

Have you looked at working for the USA gov on military bases you would be civillian employee

here is a quick site

http://www.federaljobsearch.com/default.asp?cid=151052&tid=148875&fname=&lname=&em=ssjd325%40aol%2Ecom

try it but bases on Japan also have their own web sites with jobs listed
I have noticed several jobs for computer realted work.

[cenic]

Yeah, I think I am going through a pre-life crisis. My career of working the computer industry has bit me in the ass, I am sick of 6 month contract jobs, then 6 months of unemployment. I still want to work as a developer, -- but in a specialized field, like localization of software. I already have an AS in computer science and an AS in Japanese.

If I were to just complete my BA in Japanese, just to use on my Resume, and use my past experience as web application developer, do you guys think that is enough to get me in the door doing localization or something such as that?

[Taro Toporific]

If I were to just complete my BA in Japanese, just to use on my Resume, and use my past experience as web application developer, do you guys think that is enough to get me in the door doing localization or something such as that?

Ok. Most the FG working for me do have a BA in Japanese, but they're translators (and they're damn good). HOWEVER, my experience here at Maybe-the-Largest-Japan Inc is that NOBODY is looking for Japanese major but rather they are looking for somebody who can do the CS/IT job that Japanese cannot do. Yes, they'll want to hire you if you communicate in Japanese but that is just a maybe-foot-in-the-door.

Fforeign companies who view a BA in Japanese as "suspect" (and for good reason since furries, fanboys/girls, rich-biaches, otaku and other alien life forms love to take a BA in Japanese).

Bottom Line: It's your unique skill, not your BA in Japanese that will get you a job here.

[cenic]

Fforeign companies who view a BA in Japanese as "suspect" (and for good reason since furries, fanboys/girls, rich-biaches, otaku and other alien life forms love to take a BA in Japanese).

I hear ya, I am young, and I am looking to start a "career" rather than shitty contract jobs. I figured maybe if I combined my interests it would improve things.

I was wondering if anyone knows about software localization jobs state side, if they pay well, or are in high demand?

[kamome]

Bottom Line: It's your unique skill, not your BA in Japanese that will get you a job here.

I second this pearl of wisdom from Taro, with a corollary: your unique skills (which you hopefully developed in the US) will not only get you a job in Japan, they will also provide an exit strategy in case your time in Japan doesn't work out/you decide you don't like living here/you get laid off.

Always think about your exit strategy and make sure you have the option to get rehired in the US. Just coming here with no experience/no degree could leave you high and dry (i.e. unemployable in the US) when you decide to go back.

[japslapper]

Always think about your exit strategy

That is an eloquent flash of linguistic genius.

For good mental health in Japan rule#1 is

have an exit strategy

[Neo-Rio]

It's definitely not what you know but WHO you know.

I graduated from university in social sciences, and four years later I am working for a Japanese IT company. I had some rudimentary PC skills going into the job. I didn't know PERL or unix/linux at all (but I know it now). I got my CCNA on the job.
I did the English circuit for 3 years, on which I made friends and learnt Japanese.

Even after all of that, I know English teachers here who get paid better than me, have cheaper rent, and get more holidays.

What you will need to get a job here:-
1) That college univeristy degree
2) A good command of the Japanese language (nihongo level 2 at least)
3) Contacts for work
4) Guarantors
5) A fair bit of cash
6) A hell of a lot of patience

And that exit strategy is essential

[cenic]

so I am going to finish up my BA in Japanese. Get a cert in localization and Perl. Now i pray that working this shitty job so I can go back to school will actually amount to something when I am 26 and finished.

[GomiGirl]

When you are done with your certificate in localisation and perl, drop me a line and a CV... my company is always looking for people with these skills.. any experience or interest in mobile devices?

Have a look at Python too.

[cenic]

I've been writing realty CRM (Customer Relations Managment) software on the side and planned on setting up WAP support. Likewise, I downloaded the SDK for my sprint phone the other day and planned on messing with that on the side.