Computer Technology in Japan?

[Dark Pontiac]

Okay so i thought I'd ask this question since i need to know lol.

So my life is Computers. Ever since i have seen then i loved them. I am planning on going into college with computer tech repair or something around that as my major...

Now heres the question

I am thinking about moving to japan (after a few visits of course) and i just want to know if jobs are available for foreigners. Such as computer repair (both Hardware and software) and stuff around that... and how much do they usually on average make?

thanks for reading. waits for reply.

 

[Grandpa Frank]

Language !

I think it would all come down to your proficiency in speaking Japanese. Imagine if your house had a complicated problem with the circuit breakers. You call the electrician and the person who answers speaks Polish; you somehow get them to find and come to your house, and the guy who shows up speaks Swahili. Soooo, getting a job there will depend on your speaking ability so your customers can communicate well with you.

Uncle Frank

☝

 

[Ewok85]

I think it would all come down to your proficiency in speaking Japanese.

Correct. Theres no real job in the market as "computer repair", but working on a help desk would be close. You would need to have a few years experience too. I'd say starting wages is around 4mill/year.

 

[Dark Pontiac]

Well if i do decide to move, i will be learning the language ahead of time. At least enough to hold a decent conversation but still learn more.

 

[Tim33]

I think it would all come down to your proficiency in speaking Japanese. Imagine if your house had a complicated problem with the circuit breakers. You call the electrician and the person who answers speaks Polish; you somehow get them to find and come to your house, and the guy who shows up speaks Swahili.
☝

Well thats what happens here in England.

 

[GaijinPunch]

You can make well over 4 mil a year after you've had some experience IN the country... and you're going for jobs aimed at foreigners (not Japanese). Your most likely to get hired on hourly first though. Decent wages. If they work you to death like they're liable to do, you'll be rewarded for it. I'm not sure what a college grad would do coming over here though... unless you're some kind of rock star. I actually worked w/ a guy they called Doogie Howser b/c he was so young. He made mad bank and was like 23. But, yeah, he had all sorts of grades & certifications to prove it.

Japanese always helps. My first job I had absolutely zero experience, but I had JLPT 2 (and could talk fairly fluently) which landed me the job.

 

[Glenski]

As I always say, what can you do that a local Japanese cannot? Repair computers? Dime a dozen at the nearest Yamada Denki.

Program? They are hiring a lot from India these days.

Speaking a modicum of Japanese conversation won't cut it. How are you going to read manuals or memos, answer the phone (with keigo, not casual Japanese), or deal with meetings and customers?

 

[aokami]

A way to get around this might be to look into working for a company large enough to have international offices. A friend of mine works at a place that does network support for business networks, and they have offices in Japan, Israel, France etc. and encourage employees who are knowledgeable in what they do to transfer and help train the local staff at their various locations. The language barrier is assumed, but you suddenly find yourself in a position where it becomes a business expense rather than a personal hobby. The key point I am trying to make is if you are dang good at what you do, rack up your certifications and make yourself available the road to working in Japan may make itself more apparent through a less conventional method.

 

[Ewok85]

You can make well over 4 mil a year after you've had some experience IN the country...

And you can make that being an English teacher. PC repair pays little more than washing dishes at Matsuya - I kid you not.

The money starts when you have a speciality - be it server administration, Unix, scriping languages, databasing, or exceptional skill in a specific area.

See my age? I'm just going into my 2nd job in Japan, which will be full time, working for a company that has its own *huge* building in the middle of Tokyo. The money isn't amazing, but it does scale decently, and having language skills and experience is a must. More than anything being able to deal with people is the most important thing.

 

[Glenski]

Ewok,
Are you the same Ewok as on Gaijinpot? If so, I think your circumstances are pretty unique and may not apply to many others here.

aokami,
Yes, an intra-company transfer is very possible, but to get the visa for that, one must have at least a year with the company. I used to work in the biotech industry. My company needed us in Tokyo to set up the branch office, but they were in such a hurry that those of us who were qualified had still not put in more than a few months with the company, so we couldn't work here on such a visa. We did so...uhhh... under the table, I'm sad to say, and although that may prove to some that it can be done, I'd just like to add that it was 20 years ago, and immigration has clamped down a lot since then.

 

[Ewok85]

Same Ewok as used to be on GP I wouldn't call them unique, just that I've thought things out for a long time, read what needs to be read, and done the hard work where it needed to be done.

 

[ET_Fukuoka]

If you have something Japan needs you can get a job easily. I would try to work on my coding if I were you. As usual it's not a bad idea to start as a teacher and then start looking for a job in your field of interest.

 

[Glenski]

Same Ewok as used to be on GP I wouldn't call them unique, just that I've thought things out for a long time, read what needs to be read, and done the hard work where it needed to be done.

Ewok,
That's as unique as it gets for foreigners, or hadn't you notice on GP?

 

[Ewok85]

Ewok,
That's as unique as it gets for foreigners, or hadn't you notice on GP?

Thinking is unique? There is some amazing people on GP none the less, people like homesweethome and KenElwood always have some interesting things to share.