Job: mod_perl::DBI portal developer

[Taro Toporific]

[namakemono]

Hey, I'm new here, mina-san yoroshiku!

I applied for this job a couple of weeks ago, and I was looking around for more info about the company live door and found this site - my new home page

Anyone have anything more they can tell me about this job and how it compares to most jobs out there for gaijin code-monkeys?

[Taro Toporific]

[quote=""namakemono"...more info about the company live door ....
Anyone have anything more they can tell me about this job and how it compares to most jobs out there for gaijin code-monkeys?[/quote"]

I have no idea about 'live door' but I've never noticed a spit of difference working in let's say NEC vs Toshiba vs Fuijitsu. In fact I covered for gaijin project leader at Fuijitsu for a week and his work had no difference from mine at Maybe-the-Largest Inc. EVEN in the comments in his group's code were the same. No, they weren't copying --- all Japanese THOUGHT THE SAME WAY.

As for as the wages at live door, that's typical gaijin code-monkeys. just starting out. Since accommodation is included maybe it's better than most if it's REAL expat accommodations not Japanese company dorm slave quarters.

[namakemono]

haha k thanks

apparently live door is a big communications and web development/management company...

http://corp.livedoor.com/en/

4.5M yen is about AU$54,000 which is a fair bit more than entry-level programmers earn in Australia. I just got out of uni myself a few weeks ago so I'd be pretty happy if I got the job

I found out today that they started a second round of applications and delayed the starting date by several weeks. Hopefully that means they're having trouble finding enough people which would give me a greater chance of getting a place. Here's hoping...

[Taro Toporific]

4.5M yen is about AU$54,000 which is a fair bit more than entry-level programmers earn in Australia. I just got out of uni myself a few weeks ago so I'd be pretty happy if I got the job .

Terrie Lloyd who runs a large job firm here Daijob.com did an salary overview:
"JPY400,000 per month for good coders"

IT Salaries in Tokyo


Also read ....
Min. wage in Tokyo
JPY200,000 is the Magic Number

No 111. What do Entry Level Jobs Pay?

[namakemono]

so it wouldn't be bad at all... especially considering my entry-level status

thanks for all the links dude

[GomiGirl]

so it wouldn't be bad at all... especially considering my entry-level status

thanks for all the links dude

Don't equate salaries in Japan to Australian salaries. You will need three times as much to enjoy the same level of real disposable income in a MUCH smaller living environment.

I had a three bedroom house with a study in Brisvegas in a quiet leafy suburb 3km from CBD with a large garden and outdoor deck and now I live in a 40 sq metre apartment on a main road with a postage stamp balcony that I can't use and it costs me twice as much per month.

Tokyo is again voted as the most expensive city in the world. That said, I wouldn't live anywhere else... for the moment anyway.

[namakemono]

Guess who got the job ^_^

I found out about the accommodation, it's a semi furnished 1 room apartment about 65 m2 (215 f2). I'll be going in a couple of months.

I found out some stuff about LiveDoor from a Japanese friend of mine. He says they're in the news a bit coz the CEO wants to buy the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes baseball team.

Does anyone know any of the other successful applicants? I'd like to get 2 know some people before I go, if possible...

[Big Booger]

LiveDoor recently partnered with Lindows AKA Linspire. My giri no otousan invested heavily in LiveDoor stock. I believe he made a sound decision. Livedoor offer a portal and search engine much like Yahoo. In fact I think they are Japan's challenge to the Yahoo foothold.

Congrats on the new job! Have fun!

[Cubed]

I know that the LiveDoor portal engine was developed by a middle-aged American who only started coding when he reached 30 after a career in the US Forces as a mech(?) engineer.

No seriously. I came across his CV by mistake while searching for something completely unrelated. He specializes in free / subscription based dialup portals. Don't remember his name but I remembered his CV. A talented guy that's for sure.

[GomiGirl]

I know some people who left because their company was bought out by live door. They didn't have nice things to say.. but no-one ever has nice things to say about the company that has bought you out...

Congrats on the job anyway. When do you arrive?

[namakemono]

I have to get my coe sorted then my work visa, I think it will be about 6 or 7 weeks.

When a Japanese company says the office is 'in walking distance' but says commuting expenses will be payed for.... how far is it? I don't know exactly where I'm going to be living yet, waiting for their reply, but I'm going to be working in Mori Tower. Anyone been there? What's it like? I've looked up lots of stuff about it, but it's not the same as actually going somewhere.

[GomiGirl]

Which Mori Tower? Half the towers in Tokyo were built by Mori.

I seem to remember that my friends were in Roppongi Hills. If so then you will be in the same building as many FG's.. lots of lunches etc.

Walking distances.. apartment will be in the Gaijin Ghettos of Roppongi, Azabu Juban or Hiroo.

But paying for transportation to and from work is standard in Japan.

[Taro Toporific]

I the office is 'in walking distance' [of] Mori Tower. Anyone been there? What's it like?

Dude. If you're living within "walking distance" of THE Mori Tower, you just lucked into a sweet deal --- monthly rent there is more than your monthly salary in the Real World. Kool.*

As I've said just a few times before, the big question is: "How much do you love concrete?"


*However, even though it will be cost the company bazillions of yen in apartment rent, the housing will be substandard quality and smallish.

[namakemono]

Well, I wonder how far 'walking distance' actually is.... Anyway I'm too lazy to walk usually so I think I'll just be taking the train ^_^

I don't mind concrete at all, and I'll have enough room I think. 65 sqaure metres is a hell of alot more than the pokey little hole in the wall I've lived in at college for the past 3.5 years

[Taro Toporific]

Well, I wonder how far 'walking distance' actually is....

Japanese walking-to-the-station-distance is measured using Olympic Race Walking times. A normal "15-min walk" assumes you have 25 minutes to spare and very wrong trousers.

[namakemono]

Dude. If you're living within "walking distance" of THE Mori Tower, you just lucked into a sweet deal --- monthly rent there is more than your monthly salary in the Real World. Kool.* .

Yeah as far as I know it is 'THE' Mori Tower, in Roppongi Hills, next to the TV station and the Hyatt.

I got the official offer letter by email yesterday, just waiting for them to tell me about the flight ticket they're giving me and where the apartments actually are, then I can get the ball rolling.

[namakemono]

Apparently the apartment is in Bunkyo-ku, but that's a pretty large area isn't it? I can't find any good maps so I still don't have good idea of where it is in relation to Roppongi Hills. Does anyone know a good map or can tell me where it is?

[namakemono]

LiveDoor has been f**king me around. They say they want to put the round of people they just contracted (including me) 'on hold' because they're delaying 'the project' because of the costs of the last round on people they put on

I'm just waiting now to find out what they mean by 'on hold' and noe it looks like I have to start looking for another job! Does this sort of thing happen often?