programming or teaching job half way between wakayama/osaka

[mrmachine]

i'm moving to japan in late jan / early feb and plan to live roughly half way between osaka and wakayam (i want osaka, my girlfriend wants wakayama). i don't have any formal qualifications but i have been working as a programming (sql databases and web scripting languages asp/php/etc) for about 5 years. i'd like to score a programming job if possible, but i'm guessing that is a pipe dream considering the location and the lack of qualifications. so i'll probably try and find a teaching gig close to home and improve my japanese proficiency. hopefully after 6-9 months when i can speak a little better, some mates in tokyo can score me a job with sony or canon and we can relocate to tokyo for a while.

can someone slap me if i'm expecting too much, or give me some tips for where to live and where to work in that area. or let me know if there are any programming jobs going

as for teaching, i have no teaching experience in any area. i'm just lucky enough to have english as my native language. is this enough? i have some mates who have gone to japan with nothing and no experience and lived/worked as teachers for 3-4 years.

[FG Lurker]

What is your visa status going to be? Even before getting to qualifications or lack thereof, this will determine to a great extent what is realistic and what is not.

You can PM me if you'd like to talk about this off the board. I live in Osaka and work in an IT-related job.

[mrmachine]

the visa will be working holiday when i land. unless i can find a job/sponsor from over here within the next 1 month before i arrive (doubt it).

[Skankster]

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Dont take a teaching job.
You will find a programming job in no time.

[mrmachine]

in osaka? seriously? everyone has said only 20% of IT jobs are in osaka, and only 10% of IT jobs don't require fluent japanese. but then again i also heard that IT is picking up around osaka? programming in osaka in an english and japanese speaking office would be best for me. some FG hire me!

[FG Lurker]

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Dont take a teaching job.
You will find a programming job in no time.

In Tokyo maybe, but not in Osaka. Even for a Japanese speaking FG there are not a lot non-teaching (or bar work) jobs in Kansai.

The companies that are here in Kansai also tend to be smaller. There are exceptions to this of course, like P&G and Eli Lilly.

I wish it was different, but this is the reality I live in. That said, you couldn't pay me enough to get me to move to Tokyo.

[Socratesabroad]

i don't have any formal qualifications but i have been working as a programming (sql databases and web scripting languages asp/php/etc) for about 5 years. i'd like to score a programming job if possible, but i'm guessing that is a pipe dream considering the location and the lack of qualifications. so i'll probably try and find a teaching gig close to home and improve my japanese proficiency. hopefully after 6-9 months when i can speak a little better, some mates in tokyo can score me a job with sony or canon and we can relocate to tokyo for a while.

Having worked for Japan, Inc. (a big Japanese manufacturer), I'd try to steer you away from that route. Programming is done almost all in-house by Japanese programmers or outsourced to India and China. Additionally, they also bring over trainees from Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, etc. that they train on-site and then send back to work in Japanese-managed factories.

Plus, in-country employment at major firms like Sony or Canon is a bit difficult. With the exception of out-of-country hires (like a German phD in chemistry), almost every foreigner I worked with, including myself, had spent a minimum of 4 years in Japan and had relatively fluent Japanese - for example, the interviews (min. of two and possibly a language test) were all conducted solely in Japanese. So I think you'll need more than 6-9 mos. of Japanese study for that.

Which is to say that there is a possibility, though I think it's slim. Your better bet might be to look into small and medium-sized firms. They're much more likely to hire someone with ability but no qualifications on paper. Besides, they have more flexibility regarding OTJ training. Bigger firms sort of expect you to have those quals when you walk in the door. At any rate, best of luck.

[mrmachine]

thanks for the info socratesabroad. indeed, i love small companies. i have worked mostly for small companies in australia, and i find the flexibility and work environments to be far more enjoyable than the bigger companies. if there are opportunities with small companies near osaka, i will certainly do my best to take them

[Skankster]

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Bullshit.

Just go here. They will have programming jobs galore for you (not nec in that exact area tho):

http://www.ysp1-unet.ocn.ne.jp/gaisen/E_webpage/e-toppage.htm

[FG Lurker]

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Bullshit.

Just go here. They will have programming jobs galore for you (not nec in that exact area tho):

http://www.ysp1-unet.ocn.ne.jp/gaisen/E_webpage/e-toppage.htm

Did you even read his original post? He *must* stay in the Osaka/Wakayama area for at least 6 - 9 months.

Have you ever worked in Kansai? Do you know people who have tried to get out of teaching/bar work in Kansai but couldn't speak Japanese and hopefully at least have moderate reading skills?

It is not impossible, but it certainly is not easy. It is much easier in Tokyo.

[Skankster]

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Bullshit.

Just go here. They will have programming jobs galore for you (not nec in that exact area tho):

http://www.ysp1-unet.ocn.ne.jp/gaisen/E_webpage/e-toppage.htm

Did you even read his original post? He *must* stay in the Osaka/Wakayama area for at least 6 - 9 months.

Have you ever worked in Kansai? Do you know people who have tried to get out of teaching/bar work in Kansai but couldn't speak Japanese and hopefully at least have moderate reading skills?

It is not impossible, but it certainly is not easy. It is much easier in Tokyo.

Wrong focus dude.
The idea is not to focus on what is nearly impossible but...
to focus on what is possible. Then you will greatly broaden your horizens.

Just look at it statisticaly.

One choice is nearly nil.
The other is nearly infinite.

[mrmachine]

skankster, that site says i need all these other types of visa, every other type EXCEPT working holiday visa to use their services?

[FG Lurker]

Wrong focus dude.
The idea is not to focus on what is nearly impossible but...
to focus on what is possible. Then you will greatly broaden your horizens.

Just look at it statisticaly.

One choice is nearly nil.
The other is nearly infinite.

It's great to blow sunshine up mrmachine's ass, but your hopes/advice are not realistic to the situation in Kansai as relating to mrmachine.

Yes, if the he can find a programming job that would be great. But given his visa status, desire for free time, requirement to stay in Kansai at least at first, planned length of stay, and lack of Japanese it is not a realistic expectation.