The IT market in Japan and its advantages

Japan is a market that has great opportunities for foreigners with the necessary qualifications

The IT (Information Technology) market is constantly growing, and each year the need for qualified professionals increases; however, the number of professionals with the necessary qualifications in the market is still not sufficient to meet this demand. Japan is one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world and has been struggling with this shortage of skilled labor for some time. Because of this, the country has been opening its doors to the entry of foreigners to work in these areas.

Although the country values tradition highly, Japanese ancestry has become an increasingly less important factor for those who want to work in technology in the country. According to a survey conducted by the Japanese portal TimeJP, some of the most common professions among foreigners were listed, including language teachers, translators, interpreters, and IT professionals.

According to the survey, 16% of foreigners work in the IT field, 19% in education, 16% in sales, and the rest in office work, translation, interpretation, marketing, design, and art. The number of foreigners living in Japan exceeds 1 million.

Japan is one of the most developed countries in the world, with a quality of life above average, and can offer many opportunities for foreigners with the necessary knowledge who wish to start a career in the country.

What knowledge is necessary to work in IT in Japan?

Japan is a country well known for its discipline and quality in everything it does. Therefore, the requirements for people who want to enter the IT field are not few. It is essential that candidates have complete digital literacy, in addition to being a technologist or graduate in courses focused on technological areas, programming, software engineering, among others.

It is also necessary to have specific knowledge in areas such as JavaScript and HTML/CSS, basic or advanced, embedded programming with C++, PL SQL, Excel, as well as the ability to develop web applications with plans for integration into mobile systems, as these skills make the resume more robust and impactful for hiring.

In addition to technical knowledge, other factors can greatly help people who wish to immigrate to Japan with the intention of working and having experience in the technology market, such as having a level of familiarity with Japanese and English sufficient for communication, being willing to relocate between Japanese cities, ease of teamwork, creativity, the ability to innovate, and knowing how to handle criticism. Another very common factor in Japanese companies is the long-term employment in one company, as job turnover is not common among Japanese people.

IT Passport Certification

The IT Passport certification is a national certification that proves that a person has the necessary requirements to work in the Japanese industry. It is a significant differentiator when looking for a job in the country, as it assures companies that you are qualified to perform your role.

This certificate is very common in Japan and can only be obtained on Japanese soil, so it is very important for people planning to move to Japan to start studying in advance, so that when they make the move, they can obtain their certification as quickly as possible.

Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT)

Not all companies require candidates to speak Japanese fluently; however, this can be another significant differentiator. This certification measures your fluency in the country’s native language and has 5 levels, ranging from N1 to N5, with N1 being the highest.

Many companies have programs to qualify foreigners, teaching the language, or even have translators so that foreigners can communicate, but those who already have a certain level of fluency will always be one step ahead when it comes to hiring.

Another important point in learning the native language of the country concerns personal matters or even potential freelance opportunities, as many clients do not speak other languages besides Japanese.

Look for jobs in large cities

Job openings and positions for IT professionals, just like in Brazil, are concentrated in Japan’s large urban centers. The larger and more developed the city, the more companies and opportunities it has. Cities like Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya, Sapporo, and Kobe are major technological hubs.

It is very common in large cities to find foreigners occupying positions they held in their countries of origin. In smaller cities, the vast majority of foreign labor performs operational services in factories, and the few positions in technology are held by Japanese.

Benefits and salaries of a programmer in Japan

As mentioned earlier, the IT market in Japan is quite heated and offers many opportunities. It is important to remember that the salaries paid to professionals in any field can vary according to the position, function, company, city, among other factors, just like anywhere else in the world.

Positions for programmers, analysts, systems engineers, and specialized developers earn an average of ¥350,000 (yen), which is approximately $3,189 (dollars).

Regarding the benefits offered by companies, they typically provide employees with:

• Health plan: Typically, the plans offered are quite comprehensive and extensive;
• Pension plan: A large part of companies offers this benefit;
• Career plan: Most companies focus on the professional development of employees;
• Training: It is very common for companies to offer internal and external training for employee adaptation;
• Minimum working hours: Although it is common for Japanese to exceed working hours, the workload in the country is 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week.
• Paid time off: A large part of Japanese companies offers about 10 to 11 paid time off days per year;
• Standard working time: The country’s standard is to work from Monday to Friday, with time off on holidays.

Working with systems analysis and development in Japan can be a great opportunity for people who want to live abroad, as it is an extremely developed country and one of the world references in technology. Knowing how to deal with impacts and risks is essential when moving to a new country. The adaptation process may be slower for some people, as it involves a culture completely different from ours, but this is temporary.