Digital transformation (DX) has altered the competitive landscape of organizations in Japan. By leveraging the right combination of technologies, companies can enhance traditional roles such as sales, marketing, and finance, and create new business processes that ease their operations.However, with the explosion of AI systems and IoT devices, challenges are bound to arise. As more companies integrate these technologies, IT consulting services are needed more than ever to improve business operations and production with digitalization. Discover their responsibilities and what makes this career so attractive to IT professionals.Role of an IT ConsultantFor IT engineers looking for more challenges and are tired of the slow-moving operations of large companies, an IT consulting career will introduce a wide range of processes and technologies that will help you grow as an IT professional.As an IT consultant, clients will be looking for your guidance. You will be exposed to various industries, technical environments, and people with high expectations from your performance. The responsibilities of an IT consultant can be divided into three.AnalystIT consultants are responsible for problem and risk analysis, which involves operation verification and conducting tests. Design, development, and task management skills are required to fulfill this role. They prioritize the problems based on the magnitude of their risks and examine the system’s issues to avoid recurrence.ConsultantExperience in system and operations maintenance is a must for IT consultants since they conduct asset evaluation during company mergers. They are also responsible for IT infrastructure decision-making, such as applying a new system or enhancing an existing technology.As a consultant, they provide DX solutions and proposals to improve business competitiveness by utilizing AI and IoT technology. With the introduction of digital technologies, designing a training framework to enhance employees’ IT skills is also part of their task.ManagerAs a manager, IT consultants monitor the projects’ progress to check for delays or problems to fix. Moreover, they are tasked with quality control, creating work plans, and scheduling coordination with other parties.IT consultants deal with high-level management support. More people will be involved as the projects grow. Therefore, management skills are required to ensure the quality and timeliness of a project.Qualifications of an IT Consultant in JapanBeing an IT consultant is a compelling choice for IT engineers willing to take the challenges involved in providing DX solutions. Moreover, this profession is among the highest paid in Japan, having an average annual income of over 9 million yen. Since IT consultants require high skills and knowledge regarding new IT technologies, they also have to undergo tests to qualify for the job.IT Strategist ExamIT consultants deal with making proposals to integrate DX in reforming business operations. To formulate the best strategies, they must possess high-level knowledge about IT and the recent technological trends. This national qualification exam will prove your skills and gain the trust of your employers.IT Project Management ExamThe IT Project Management Exam is one of the most sought after qualifications of many aspiring IT consultants and employers. The scope of technology spans across several businesses and industries. Thus, projects can be large-scale and complex. Once you have passed this exam, it proves that you are capable of managing rapid technological upgrades and version changes, and the challenges with handling tools and aligning skills to complete a project.Becoming a Successful IT Consultant in JapanThe increasing demand for DX has transformed the way organizations use technology in their business strategies and opened several opportunities for IT consultants in Japan. Here are some tips to ensure your career’s success in Japan.1. Build RelationshipsStarting as an IT consultant and getting your name and expertise recognized can be a challenge. Begin building relationships with your new clients or to whoever you will be reporting to. They can be managers, executives, or even employers with good influence in the company. Always provide the best solutions to your new clients and communicate with them properly.2. Always Pay Attention and Keep an Open MindPart of being an IT consultant is identifying the problems and points to enhance the IT infrastructure of companies. However, the proposals may not be up to the client’s ideas, or sometimes, the budget may be an issue. You may end up redrafting your plan to suit your client’s resources and needs.3. Keep a ChecklistAn IT consultant’s job handles several projects and sub-tasks that must be accomplished on a specific timeline. A newbie in this position may find it challenging to keep tabs on the progress of each project. Therefore, having a checklist or a to-do list can help you monitor the progress every day and solve issues quickly.4. Always Ask for HelpYou might get overwhelmed with the load of work you will be handling. Always remember that your consulting company is willing to help you and give you the best advice. Furthermore, know your fellow consultants. You can ask them for ideas on how to create better DX proposals.5. Learn How to Review Client ContractsProject contracts should cover costs, hours, deadlines, milestones, and more. Learning how to review a client contract and confidentiality agreements can be stressful and time-consuming for those who are unfamiliar with administrative processes. Coordinate with fellow IT consultants and reach out to the best firms that will check these contracts.6. Focus on a Few IndustriesIT consulting covers all industries in need of DX solutions. Early in the consulting career, focus on particular sectors, and gain lots of experience. Clients appreciate IT consultants with in-depth industry-specific insights you bring to the table. When you find the industry the best suits your expertise, seek out assignments to improve your current skills.7. Develop Communication SkillsAs an IT consultant, you will be interviewed by clients, depending on the business organization. As part of interviews, consultants must provide and eloquently describe the solutions they have for a company’s IT problems and inquiries. Developing your communication skill will help you clearly convey your previous experiences and skills, as well as the value that you will be bringing to the company.ConclusionShifting your career path to IT consulting requires you to upskill and be updated with the latest digital technologies and IT trends. The demand for their services in improving the business structure and operations is increasing, especially with the application of AI and IoT devices.So if you’re ready to face the challenges and career growth opportunities provided by this profession, you can start by studying for the qualification exams required by employers. Check our website for IT consulting jobs.Sources:https://www.cee-global.com/digital-transformation-dt-dx-consulting/#:~:text=DT%2FDX%20is%20the%20process,all%20aspects%20of%20an%20organization/https://www.bigdata-navi.com/aidrops/2902/https://aimconsulting.com/insights/what-to-consider-when-becoming-an-it-consultant/https://www.cio.com/article/3269852/the-7-fundamentals-of-it-consultant-success.html

When the World Health Organization officially declared the coronavirus or COVID-19 as a global pandemic on March 11, 2020, multiple countries immediately felt its impact. China, South Korea, Iran, and Italy were among the initial nations with the highest number of cases.Another country that was heavily affected by the worldwide health crisis early on was Japan. A month after COVID-19 was officially recognized as a pandemic, it already tallied close to 800 new infected cases.But amazingly, Japan managed to suppress the virus from spreading disastrously. Japan’s coronavirus peak happened on August 03, 2020, when they reached just two new cases shy of 2,000.That figure may seem worrisome when you consider that Japan is a first-world country, but it is relatively minuscule compared to their superpower counterparts. During the same period, the United States of America was fast approaching the 50,000 new active cases territory. India, another top nation, easily surpassed the 50k mark by that point.To further illustrate just how effective the Japanese government has been in managing the coronavirus ordeal, as of October 2020, the United Kingdom, which has a population of approximately 58 million people less than Japan, has 690,000 more total COVID-19 infections.The secret behind the country’s success in controlling the coronavirus is its excellent healthcare industry. Japan’s healthcare workforce, much like the rest of the world, consists of a collection of health and medical professionals, all working to improve the nation’s overall well-being and health service continuously.While these healthcare professionals undoubtedly deserve all of the praise and recognition they receive for their consistent brilliance, there are also other unsung heroes supporting the healthcare field who are worthy of acknowledgment. One of the most overlooked are IT engineers.In this article, we’ll cover the roles of IT engineers in Japan’s healthcare industry amid COVID-19.Japan’s Healthcare IndustryTo fully understand IT engineers’ and professionals’ roles in Japan’s healthcare system, we must first overview the industry itself.In terms of healthcare, Japan is considered to be among the world’s very best. For starters, healthcare is inexpensive, virtually free, and it covers everyone living within the country’s borders. This includes Japanese citizens and naturalized expats. Even foreigners can avail of free healthcare, granted that they stay for more than a year.Because their world-renowned healthcare system is affordable, the country has always maintained a high life expectancy. Japan is currently ranked 2nd in the entire world with an 85.03 years old average lifespan, only being surpassed by Hong Kong’s 85.29.Their high-quality healthcare industry also boasts over 8,300 medical facilities scattered across the island country to accommodate the 126 million population. Additionally, the government has prepared 13 hospital beds for every 1000 citizens, which is well above the global average.Although Japan is currently enjoying an excellent and organized medical system, its government administration and healthcare industry face a unique challenge, with ramifications soon to be felt.As of now, 28% of Japan are aged 65 and older. That figure is expected to skyrocket to 35% or over a third of the entire population by 2040. This means that the number of senior citizens who need medical attention will easily outnumber the healthcare workers supposed to take care of them.Japan is now trying to make up for the nation’s rapidly aging population and a potential insufficient number of healthcare workers by investing in state-of-the-art medical technology. But the types of machinery and equipment are not only expected to help in Japan’s aging dilemma; they are also meant to prevent, manage, and combat situations such as pandemics in the caliber of COVID-19.Roles of IT Engineers in HealthcareIT engineers’ mastery of artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, software, programming, etc. has made them some of the most versatile and reliable medical technology experts. Their knowledge and experience in the field have helped Japan’s healthcare industry to be leaps and bounds ahead of other first-world nations.Amid COVID-19, IT engineers have showcased how medicine can be made more convenient and accessible through AI. Artificial intelligence has helped medical professionals and experts conduct virtual checkups, treat patients, do extensive research, and control the infection’s spread.IT engineers also have their hands full in areas such as data storage. Data storage is a major strand in the fight against the pandemic. Keeping, supplying, and retrieving critical information that includes medical and travel histories, symptom monitoring, and close contact tracing can ultimately help flatten the curve.The Japanese government and its health experts also rely on IT engineers for data collection and analysis. These types of information can help the government enact the proper laws necessary for facing the current health crisis and be of much help for possible future ones. Health experts also use the data to better comprehend the virus, which will guide the process of coming up with solutions.Outside of COVID-19 management, IT engineers will also be of service to other essential healthcare technologies like medical devices and materials, clinical laboratory testing, healthcare ICT, assistive technologies, and infrastructure.Qualifications of an AI Engineer in Japan’s Healthcare IndustryEven before the coronavirus crisis, artificial intelligence had been a driving force for Japan’s healthcare industry. In 2019, Tokyo Women’s Medical University–Waseda University Joint Institute for Advanced Biomedical Sciences had successfully performed a brain surgery that treated a patient’s essential tremor with a cutting-edge robot.Smart Cyber Operating Theater or SCOT, which was part AI, part robotics, led the groundbreaking surgery. The machine instructed the surgeons on which parts of the brain should be prioritized, what types of incisions should be executed, and even conducted surgical prognosis and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as the surgery was on-going.With AI gaining more traction in the healthcare field and advances being more prevalent, it is no wonder why more and more IT professionals have now taken their talents to be AI engineers in Japan’s healthcare industry. And many economic experts believe that this is the ideal career move for IT engineers, as the country’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry are in need of 120,000 AI specialists by 2030.AI engineers working in Japan will generally spearhead AI research and development in the healthcare industry. So, most medical employers will be seeking the best and most knowledgeable in C #, C ++, and Python. Moreover, they’ll also be looking for candidates who are proficient in the internet of things (IoT) and big data.Because of their artificial intelligence expertise, IT engineers have become some of the most sought-after professionals in Japan’s campaign against COVID-19.SummaryJapan’s healthcare industry is among the best in the world. Their world class healthcare amidst the COVID-19 crisis can be attributed to medical institutions fast-forwarding technological applications to their operations and diagnostics, with the help of IT engineers.IT engineers play a significant role in Japan’s medical initiatives and the overall success in the coronavirus age. The impact and value of their knowledge and expertise in medical technology could likely be one reason why this pandemic will be no more shortly.Sources:https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/coronavirus-us-cases.htmlhttps://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-53981828https://github.com/CSSEGISandData/COVID-19https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/japan-population/#:~:text=Japan%202020%20population%20is%20estimated,of%20the%20total%20world%20populationhttps://ccchclinic.com/importance-benefits-primary-health-care/https://opentoexport.com/article/healthcare-and-medical-sector-in-japan/https://www.eu-gateway.eu/news/healthcare-medical-technologies-japan-trends-and-opportunities-0https://www.eubusinessinjapan.eu/library/publication/report-developments-in-the-japanese-healthcare-industryhttps://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190625005862/en/The-11.9-Trillion-Global-Healthcare-Market-Key-Opportunities-Strategies-2014-2022—ResearchAndMarkets.comhttps://jintensivecare.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40560-020-00452-5https://japantoday.com/category/features/health/how-artificial-intelligence-is-transforming-medicine

In this article, we will provide information for “Ryugakusei” international students who are looking for a job in Japan based on data on the job offer rate for international students as of July 2021. Also, we would like to introduce the impact of the new coronavirus on the job hunting activities of international students and information on employment agencies that support international students in their job hunting activities.Job Hunting Situation for International Students Graduating on 2021Due to the impact of the new coronavirus, this year (2020) has been more challenging than ever for students who are looking for a job. Many companies have reduced the number of recruits or postponed the hiring process, making it difficult to find a job.In this section, we will take a closer look at the job hunting situation for international students graduating in 2021, based on the results of a survey to international students graduating in 2021 released by DISCO Corporation on August 26, 2020.The Impact of the New Coronavirus on Getting a Job OfferLooking at the bar graphs of foreign students and domestic students as of July this year and for the past two years, it shows that although the domestic offer rate is lower than usual, 70% of the students have job offers. On the other hand, the number of international students has decreased by about 10% compared to the previous year, and about 30% of them have job offers.Compared to last year, there was a slight impact, but companies have resumed hiring new graduates since May, and web-based interviews and other recruiting activities have been conducted on a shorter schedule than usual.However, this is only the number of students who hold job offers, so it is unclear whether they are really getting job offers from the employer of their choice.Source：Disco Coporation/外国人留学生の就職活動状況Graph 1 「7月時点の内定率(経年)」: Job Offer Rate up to July (Within 3 years)Graph 2 「7月時点の内定率(分離別)」: Job Offer Rate up to July (Humanities and Science)Graph 3 「7月時点の就職活動状況」: Job Hunting Status up to JulyCurrent Job Hunting Situation for International StudentsDue to the effects of the new coronavirus, many companies have either stopped hiring new graduates or reduced the number of jobs they had planned to hire. In addition, schedules were pushed back, which is thought to have led to a decrease in the job offer rate for 2021 graduates.Also, due to the inability to get a feel for the corporate atmosphere at web briefings and interviews, and because of concerns about the deteriorating economic environment due to the effects of Covid-19, applications were attracted and gathered by large and stable companies that had an easy to understand corporate atmosphere, so it is unclear whether they were able to obtain job offers from their preferred employers.In addition, although the number of international students finding jobs in Japan is gradually increasing every year, compared to Japanese students, 70% of international students had no job offers as of July. This is probably due to the fact that even if the skills of foreign talent are the same as those of Japanese students, there are few companies that will accept them unless their Japanese language skills are at least at a business level.Of course, it is important for foreign students who want to work in Japan to improve their Japanese language skills, but Japanese companies, which make decisions based on the ability to communicate in Japanese rather than on skills, may be responsible in no small part for this.However, an increasing number of Japanese companies are creating an environment in which Japanese language communication is necessary through English education for Japanese employees and global business development. In addition, the number of companies that are introducing Business Japanese learning services for foreigners is gradually increasing, so although it may take some time, the percentage of international student job offers is likely to rise little by little every year.Employment Agencies and WebsitesEmployment Agencies and Websites for International StudentsFrom now on, we would like to introduce specialized job-hunting support services for international students who are recent graduates and want to find a job in Japan.Global Leader  www.globalleadernavi.comグローバルリーダー：外国人留学生・海外大生の就職活動をサポートhttps://www.globalleadernavi.comグローバルリーダーは、外国人留学生・留学生・海外大生・外国人のための就職情報サイト。求人情報・就活マニュアル・就職イベント・就職セミナー・就活講座などたくさんの就活情報をご用意し、あなたの就職活動をサポートします！  This is an employment agency for international students that handles a wide range of jobs from major Japanese companies to hot start-up companies.They also offer free lectures on Japanese job-hunting etiquette and job hunting schedules.Ryukatsu  www.ryugakusei.com 2 pockets【日本で働きたい留学生の就職支援】リュウカツhttps://www.ryugakusei.com   This is an employment agency for new graduates that only gathers companies that want to hire international students and it provides job information. At weekly seminars, consultants provide information on visas and job hunting tips.Agent neo  就職エージェントneo 187 tweets13 users8 pockets就職エージェントneohttps://www.s-agent.jp新卒就職相談(就活)・内定獲得支援  Neo Career is a major company in the human resources industry, is an employment agency for international students. They provide one-on-one job-hunting consultations and advice on interviews and resumes for the companies they introduce, and even if the interview fails, they provide solid feedback as a measure to prepare for the next interview.ConclusionThere are still many international students who have not yet received any job offers. Although the job hunting situation continues to be difficult for students due to the impact of Covid-19, if you conduct a thorough self-analysis and industry research, and implement a screening strategy, we believe you will eventually get a good result.If you are a foreign student thinking about finding a job in Japan and would like to work as an IT engineer, please register to G Talent, a recruitment agency specializing in foreign IT engineers. Our professional consultants will support you in your job search for free.

Developing successful software is one of the most challenging but rewarding feats to accomplish in the ever-evolving technological field. Factors such as rapid technological advancement, increasing customer demands, limited resources, and time limitations are enormous hurdles for development teams to overcome.For brand new software to be realized, the entire development staff must be knowledgeable about essential aspects such as programming, programming languages, frameworks, and APIs.The launching of successful software is also difficult without the perfect collection of individuals and programming experts dedicated to completing the same mission. A development team needs to secure the right project sponsor, product owner, project manager, subject matter experts (SMEs), software developers, technical lead, user acceptance testers, and software testers.Software testers play a pivotal role in development companies; that’s why they are in high demand in a country like Japan. High-quality products, superb services, and technological innovations and breakthroughs from companies are anticipated in the country.But what qualifications do employers in Japan require from aspiring software testers? Discover the prerequisites needed from software testers and the types of responsibilities they’ll have once they join the Japanese workforce.What is a Software Tester?Software testers are some of the essential individuals in software development, as they ensure the overall quality of the products before being introduced in the market. They will inspect the software of any errors, defects, and bugs.During the planning and preparation stages, software testers will review and contribute test plans. Aside from this, they will also handle the assessment, review, and analysis of technical requirements and design specifications.Software testers also play a hand in identifying test conditions. They are crucial in creating test designs, test cases, test procedure specifications, and test data. Plus, they also automate or help in automating the tests.Software testers also assist in development by setting up test environments or support system administration and network management staff in completing this step. They administer the tests and oversee the test environment.Testers are also responsible for documenting the tests, evaluating results, and identifying issues. Throughout the entire process, they will review everything plus write an account of defects and test outcomes.About JSTQB (Certification)Japan Software Testing Qualifications Board (JSTQB), which operates under the rules of the International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB), is a qualification system that was created to examine and improve software engineers’ capabilities in testing. These qualification systems were first implemented in partnership with the Japan Science and Technology Federation. For software engineers and testers to work in Japan, they must obtain the JSTQB test engineer qualification certificates.The JSTQB certification test will only be available in Japanese. So, if foreign software testers want to take the exam in a foreign language, they are advised to take it under an “outside company” that conducts the same tests. Foreigners are reminded to check if these exams are administered by a certified company that is also a registered member of ISTQB and complies with ISTQB standards. The tests done by outside companies do not follow the regular JSTQB schedule.JSTQB has 3 types of tests: the Foundation Level, Advanced Level Test Manager, and Advanced Level Test Analyst. Applicants need to have the foundation level certificate and 3 years of work experience to take the two advanced level tests. Foundation level exams are held once every 6 months (mid-February to late August), and the advanced ones don’t have a definite schedule.Both foundation and advanced levels have a multiple-choice format questionnaire. But some items may prove to be tricky, as some questions will require examinees to choose multiple correct answers.Foundation level exams have a time limit of 60 minutes while advanced level exams end after 180 minutes. Examinees can finish the foundation level and leave the examination area for as early as 30 minutes, and advanced level takers can leave after 60. But JSTQB imposes strict guidelines and will not allow the examinees to re-enter the premises after submitting their exams.JSTQB is adamant in keeping the questions a secret, so applicants will have to rely on their overall knowledge, study approach, and work ethic to prepare for the certification exams. Luckily for software testing aspirants, ISTQB publishes the exam’s syllabus on their website.Foundation level takers can check the syllabus here: https://www.istqb.org/downloads/syllabi/foundation-level-syllabus.htmlWhile advanced level applicants can check the syllabi here:https://www.istqb.org/downloads/syllabi/advanced-level-syllabus.htmlQualifications of a Software TesterJapanese application development companies want to ensure that they are hiring the best possible candidates for the job, as they want to compete with or prevail over other development companies. Aside from the JSTQB certification, companies also require software testers to meet additional standards.Companies in Japan are looking for software testers with the necessary educational background. So, software testers who have a bachelor’s degree in computer science, mathematics, or engineering will have the upper hand during the application process.Software testers also need to have the skills to back up their credentials. As mentioned before, testers need to monitor and document test plans and procedures, execute tests, review results, and document problems.They need to understand methodologies and software testing platforms or environments and be knowledgeable about testing tools. They need to master UNIX, Linux, and Windows and be familiar with scripting and command-line tools. Testers are required to be proficient in various programming languages, such as C# or C++, PHP, Java, JavaScript, Python, SQL, and Ruby on Rails.Software testers can improve their chances of employment by having some seminars and training under their belt. But seeing as the entire world is under the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, it would be hard for software testers to attend huge gatherings such as seminars. Fortunately, there are several excellent resources available online.You can attend seminars online (webinars) through the Association for Software Testing (AST)’s Youtube channel. Microsoft Virtual Academy also offers training such as Software Testing Fundamentals course and Live Unit Testing in Visual Studio course online.ConclusionSoftware testers are sought after by companies developing innovative software, as their expertise brings a lot of value for their working and future projects. For an advanced country like Japan where technology companies are everywhere, opportunities for software testers are aplenty.You can apply for software testing jobs in Japan as soon as the COVID-19 crisis is over. Discover openings and useful tips on our website below. Good luck with your future endeavors, and we hope all of you stay safe!

In this article, we would like to briefly explain each type of job in the Japanese IT industry for foreigners who are interested in the Japanese IT industry and students who are about to start job hunting.If you want to understand the Japanese IT industry first, can check the article below explains the classification and structure of the Japanese IT Industry.Let’s Learn Easily About Japanese IT Industry Structure!Jobs Types in the Japanese IT IndustryAs is explained in the article above, in a survey conducted by Human Resociain March 2020 about the number of IT engineers around the globe, Japan was forth in it.IT engineers can be broadly divided into four categories: infrastructure engineers, system operations engineers, application engineers, and system consultants.From now we will briefly explain the occupations in each category.Infrastructure EngineerFirst of all, in the IT industry, infrastructure refers to the composite hardware, software, network resources and services required for the construction, design, operation, and management of an enterprise IT environment.An engineer who is responsible for “design,” “build,” “maintenance,” and “operation” of infrastructure is called an infrastructure engineer.An infrastructure engineer is made up of 5 types of engineers, which are server engineers, network engineers, storage engineers, database engineers, and cloud engineers.Server EngineerA server engineer is a technologist who designs and builds servers such as database server that stores information and internet server used generally internet.Network EngineerA network engineer is a technician who builds and maintains a computer network. Some specific tasks include designing network systems, building circuits and networks based on design documents, also managing and operating to maintain network systems.※Recently, server engineers and network engineers called totally as an infrastructure engineers.Storage EngineerStorage engineer is literally an engineer who manages storage.With the advancement that IT technology has made in these days, data maintenance becomes a very important task. Depending on how the data is handled, it can be probably lead to serious troubles. One of the roles of a storage engineer is to prevent these cases. Also, when a company handles a large amount of data, it is the job of the storage engineer to make the data available in an efficient way.DataBase EngineerDatabase engineers mainly develop and create databases using MySQL, Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, based on customer needs and opinions.After developing the database, its management and operation is also part of their work.Cloud EngineerCurrently, the operation of services and data on the cloud is becoming mainstream. A cloud engineer is an engineer who develops a system for designing, building, operating and maintenance all on the cloud.Since most web applications started using cloud computing systems, the demand for cloud engineers will increase further in the future.System Operations EnigennerThere are two types of system operations engineers, one is called DevOps engineer and the other one is SRE engineer.DevOps EngineerFirst of all, DevOps is a technical term created based on the idea that developers and operators work together to develop faster.Being a DevOps engineer means creat and operate infrastructure environments like the cloud or modifying applications to improve development and operations. Unlike the infrastructure engineer, the DevOps engineer has the feature that when something goes wrong, he or she can take actions such as modifying the application by himself.Site Reliability Engineer (SRE)The SRE is an engineer who aims to improve the performance, availability, expandability, security to secure the reliability of the IT system.Some works carried out by a SRE Engineer are:Design and Construction of an Infrastructure (Server or Network)Monitoring and alert designationTroubleshootingOperations AutomationApplication EngineerApplication engineer is involved in the development of the system and applications on the PC that we normally use. When people generally talk about IT engineers, what people tend to imagine is an application engineer. However, the skills required for application engineers differ depending on the purpose, so this time we would like to introduce four types of application engineers.Embedded EngineerAn embedded engineer is an engineer who creates programs used for familiar products such as automobiles and home appliances.Packaging EngineerA package software is a software developed by a software company for use by many customers. Engineers who are responsible for the additional development and maintenance of such packages (antivirus software, etc.) are called packaging engineers.Front-end EngineerBefore we start talking about front-end engineers, let us explain what’s front-end means.The front-end is the part that operates on the client-side (where the user can interact with the product directly).Front-end engineers are engineers who design and implement front-end parts with using HTML, CSS, JavaScript (jQuery) according to the design created by web designer.Back-end EngineerFirstly, back-end means the part that operates on the server-side (where the client can not interact with the product directly).A back-end engineer is an engineer who performs coding of server-side in the building of Web services, EC sites, and also the construction of a database system on the back-end side. Furthermore, a back-end engineer is responsible for defining, designing, and constructing requirements for server-side processing such as Web services and EC sites.IT ConsaltantIT consultant is someone who proposes a system to solve the problems that a company has after understanding the current situation of the client and carrying out an analysis on it.ConclusionWe hope that this article will give international students and new graduates who are starting job hunting in Japan a better understanding of the types of jobs in the IT industry in Japan.

Digital marketing has become one of the most promising and most profitable ways of advertising in recent years. Globally, the majority of the biggest companies now pin their hopes on digital marketing to effectively reach key audiences and demographics. The digital marketing industry’s global value has reached a staggering USD 322.5 billion, showing how much brands trust online advertising.Furthermore, the reliance of brands on digital marketing can also be attributed to the consistent annual growth of internet users worldwide. The number of internet users far exceeds television viewers, radio listeners, and newspaper readers, which means a broader reach for brands with the digital marketing approach.For a nation such as Japan, where the e-commerce market comprises 92% of its 127 million population, digital marketing is the ideal approach for advertising. Add on to the fact that more people have now taken to online shopping services, as the COVID-19 crisis has prompted everyone to stay home and avoid public places such as markets, malls, grocery stores, and brick and mortar businesses in general.Some of the people behind the success of the digital marketing industry in the country are IT engineers. Companies need IT engineers, as they provide a lot of experience and expertise to the proverbial table. But what exactly do they do, and what duties do they have to fulfill? In this article, we’ll discuss the roles and responsibilities of IT engineers in Japanese digital marketing companies.Social Media MarketingSocial media marketing has become more prevalent in the last few years. Brands are aware that most of the online market dedicate much of their time to sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Line, Snapchat, Instagram, LinkedIn, Youtube, Tiktok, etc.On social media websites, IT engineers help brands advertise their products and services to users. They use attention-grabbing images, fun videos or vlogs, substantial blogs, exciting podcasts, viral memes, and even simple posts that utilize internet humor.These strategies are guaranteed ways for companies to promote their business, generate interest, increase brand awareness, and improve customer engagement. These campaigns are designed to bring in potential customers and maintain strong relationships with long-time patrons.IT engineers offer much-needed help in the social media marketing process. IT engineers are versatile enough to create strategies, publish content, engage with users, perform analytics, and advertise products and the brand’s culture.Additionally, IT engineers also ensure that all devices used in social media marketing campaigns are updated and have no issues whatsoever. These devices include personal computers, laptops, tabs, and smartphones, all used to manage social media accounts and create the content.Search Engine OptimizationSearch Engine Optimization, or SEO, is a digital marketing technique that allows websites to increase or improve their presence on search engines such as Google, Bing, Yahoo, Baidu, AOL, to name a few.IT engineers use SEO, as it is an excellent foundation for digital marketing companies to generate traffic to their websites. During the SEO process, companies will find out what users are searching for, which target keywords work best, how accessible their website is, and how successful their SEO campaign has been.For search engine optimization, IT engineers ensure that search engines can reach and index the brand’s content. They also see to it that content addresses the user/searchers’ questions. Moreover, they make sure that keywords are optimized, the user experience is top-notch, the content is worthwhile, the click-through rate is high, and the content attracts the most attention in search engine results pages.Web DevelopmentIn the web development process, IT engineers prioritize creating and maintaining websites. These tasks are mostly non-design, including writing markup and web scripts in languages like PHP, HTML, CSS, Java, JavaScript, and ASP.IT engineers also utilize content management systems (CMS) during web development, which makes content changes more convenient as it can be managed with basic technical skills.For overall web development, IT engineers’ duties include web publishing, web programming, web engineering, web content development, client liaison, e-commerce development, server-side scripting, database management, and web server configuration.Aside from these, IT engineers also have their fingerprints on web development aspects such as web design, mobile responsiveness, software testing, web usability, web accessibility, search engine optimization, information technology security, and information architecture.IT engineers also help in web content creation. They do some copywriting, copyediting, and even update blogs. They also spend a lot of time on content management systems like Drupal, WordPress, and Joomla.Web DesigningIn web design, IT engineers are involved in the creation of the website concept. IT engineers offer their expertise in deciding the website’s overall theme, layout, color schemes, fonts, shapes, spacing, images, icons, and the types of content that should be the main selling point or which ones should be primarily displayed.IT engineers also help in creating the website’s logos, making informational infographics, and creative videos. Moreover, IT engineers will help instruct where these content should be ideally placed on the website.IT engineers are also responsible for the website’s user navigation, user interaction, site structure, loading speed, and animations. They also ensure that the website will run smoothly across any device and any browser.To make the web design process more convenient for the development team, IT engineers will follow a few key steps. They will first determine the website’s purpose, study the latest web design trends, decide on the perfect branding, and analyze which aspects or areas need improvement.ConclusionThe digital marketing industry’s growth has not been a surprise, as businesses are now more geared towards focusing their advertising campaigns on the internet. The overwhelming reliance, usage, and trust of digital marketing strategies are thanks in part to hardworking IT engineers’ dedication and expertise.IT engineers are pivotal to digital marketing companies’ success, as they play a huge part in social media marketing, search engine optimization, web development, and web design. As the internet continues to evolve, so will digital marketing, and so will the roles and responsibilities of IT engineers.Sources:https://buffer.com/social-media-marketinghttps://neilpatel.com/what-is-social-media-marketing/https://moz.com/beginners-guide-to-seohttps://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2015/04/30/seo-basicshttps://techterms.com/definition/web_developmenthttps://www.bitdegree.org/tutorials/what-is-a-web-developer/https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/01/10-principles-of-effective-web-design/https://www.pagecloud.com/blog/web-design-guide

GTalent, which supports the employment and job changes of foreigners living in Japan, has summarized the common questions and anxiety in the Q & A format when foreigners are going to work or change jobs in Japan. If you are considering to find a job in Japan, please feel free to refer to it!FAQ for Job Hunting in Japan! 14 Questions and AnxietiesQ1. How many foreigners work in Japan?A. 1,658,804 foreign workers are working in Japan as of the end of October 2019（“The employment status about foreigner in Japan” by Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare）.It has increased by about 200,000 foreign workers compared to the previous year. In Japan, there is a shortage of labor force due to issues such as population decline and aging society, so various industries are actively accepting foreign labor force.Since there are about 60 million employees in Japan (As of March 2020, “Labor Survey” by Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications), about 2.7 out of every 100 are foreign workers.Q2. What do I need to work in Japan?A. To work in Japan, you need a workable visa. Working hours will vary depending on the type of visa, so it is recommended to check the visa type in advance on the website of TOKYO EMPLOYMENT SERVICE CENTER FOR FOREIGNERS.If you are a foreigner working as a regular employee in Japan, a representative working visa is a status of residence for “ENGINEER / SPECIALIST IN HUMANITIES / INTERNATIONAL SERVICES “.You can work in Japan without obtaining a working visa, if you need some residence visas like “Permanent Resident”, “Japanese spouse”, “Permanent spouse” or “Long term residence” so on.Q3. In which fields do foreigners most work in Japan?A. As of the end of October 2019, the percentage of manufacturing industry was the highest at 29.1%. Next are the service industry at 16.1% and retail / wholesale industry at12.8%（“The employment status about foreigner in Japan” by Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare）.In recent years, as the number of foreign tourists visiting Japan has increased, the number of foreigners working for sales and tourism is increasing. also, there is a shortage of IT engineers in Japan, and the number of foreigners working as IT engineers has been increasing significantly recently.Q4. From what countries are the employees working in japan?A: As of the end of October 2019, the countries of origin of foreign workers are China 418,000 (25.2%), Vietnam 401,000 (24.2%) and Philippines 179,000 (10.8%). In recent years, the number of people from Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam has been increasing especially（“The employment status about foreigner in Japan” by Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare）.Q5. In which city of Japan are foreigners working?A: As of the end of October 2019, the percentage of cities in Japan where foreigners are working is 26.6% in Tokyo, 8.0% in Aichi, and 7.3% in Osaka（“The employment status about foreigner in Japan” by Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare）.After all, there are a lot of foreigners working in the capital, Tokyo.Q6. Are there some difference between Japanese and foreigner when working in Japan?A. First of all, Japanese law prohibits to discriminate working benefits based on nationality.If you have the same occupation and position as a Japanese worker, your salary is basically the same as a Japanese worker. And also, when applying for a working visa, it is necessary that the salary is equivalent with Japanese in the same positions except for some cases.Q7. How much Japanese language skills do I need to work in Japan?A. The Japanese language skills required vary depending on the job type, but generally, business level Japanese ability (JLPT N2 or higher) is required. However, there are foreigners who are employed as English teachers or engineers of some IT companies even if they cannot speak Japanese.Q8. When working at a Japanese company, is it difficult to take a major position unless you are Japanese, as the word “glass ceiling” means?A. Japanese companies that have a long history and old ideas tend to have such ideas. However, there are many cases in which foreigners are playing a major position in companies that are expanding globally in emerging IT companies.Removing the “glass ceiling” has become a challenge for all Japanese companies promoting global and diversity. In addition, since the number of foreign workers has increased in the past few years, it is expected that foreigners will play an important role in many companies in the future.Q9. What is the flow of hiring for Japanese companies?A: The flow of hiring Japanese companies is not much different from other countries. In general, documents screening → interview (2 to 3 times) → offer. In some cases, some companies carry out pre-employment aptitude tests.Q10. Can I find a job in Japan while I am overseas?A: It is possible to have a job interview with a Japanese company while living overseas. Especially nowdays, the number of Japanese companies that complete the selection online is increasing. However, many Japanese companies place importance on not only skills and experience but also “personality”, so there are cases where the first interview is conducted by video call, but in the end, the applicant go to Japan and have a finally job interview. It is a common case. Therefore, if you are looking for a job in Japan, it would be easier to find it if you come to Japan.Q11. Is a Japanese resume absolutely necessary when applying for a Japanese company?A: It depends on the company you applied for. For jobs offers that do not require Japanese ability, Japanese resumes are often unnecessary when applying. However, in most cases, Japanese resumes are required when applying for jobs that require Japanese ability.Q12. I often see “regular employees”(Sei Shain) and “contract employees”(Keiyaku Shain) when Japanese companies are hiring. What is the difference?A: The main difference is the employment period. Full-time employees (Sei-Shain) have a fixed-term employment style with no fixed working period, and contract employees (Keiyaku-Shain) have a fixed-term employment style with a fixed working period. If you are hired as a full-time employee, you don’t have to worry about being dismissed unless there are major problems with the company’s situation or working style.Q13.What kind of methods are available for finding a job after coming to Japan?A: If you are a foreigner looking for a job in Japan, the job advertisement site is most often used. For IT engineers and professionals with management skills, they often use recruitment agencies. If you are looking for a job in Japan, please refer to the following articles for reference. Although it is for IT engineers, it will be useful for other occupations as well.How to Search Jobs for Software Engineers in Japan!Q14. What happens to the work visa procedure if I come to Japan on a working holiday and work as a full-time employee?A: To switch from a working holiday to a workable visa, you will need to apply for a new status of residence. Therefore, it is highly possible that you will temporarily return to your home country for the procedure. (The information is at the end of May 2020).ConclusionFor those who are thinking of finding a job or changing jobs in Japan for the first time, please use the “FAQ” described above. If you are an IT engineer looking for a job in Japan, please register with GTalent, a recruitment agency specializing in foreign IT engineers. A professional consultant will support you in changing jobs for free.

In the previous article, Common Japanese Job Interview Questions and Best Answers!」, we explained to foreigners abou how to prepare for Japanese job interviews.This time, I would like to explain more details, “Reason for changing/leaving a job” that is absolutely asked during jobs interviews at Japanese companies and how to answer it properly.From the viewpoint of a foreigner who’s changing jobs in Japan, it might seems not very important, but for Japanese companies who want to hire personnel to work with for a long term, the reason for changing jobs or leaving job would be one of the most important questions in job interviews.As understanding what Japanese companies judge based on reasons for changing jobs, make sure that you can answer successfully the questions about job changes/leaving that you will be asked during Japanese companies jobs interviews.What Japanese companies are checking through the reasons for changing/leaving jobsFirst of all, let’s understand why Japanese companies are so concerned about the reasons for changing/leaving jobs and what Japanese companies are seeing through reasons for changing jobs (leaving jobs). There are 3 main points that Japanese companies see through reasons for changing/leaving jobs.Does the applicant work with us for a long term? (Does he/she quit immediately after joining the company?)Can the applicant be highly motivated while working together?Does the applicant take serious your career and growth?We’ll explain these points in detail.1.Does the applicant work with us for a long term?For the first question, “Does the applicant work with us for a long term? (Does he/she quit immediately after joining the company?)”, most of Japanese companies want the people who they hire to work with them for a long period.By listening to the reasons why applicants change their jobs, “If the applicants face something don’t like, will they leave our company?“Will they quite our company for the same reason with their previous company?” are checked.Therefore, in the job interview, it is necessary to answer to satisfy the company that you are willing to work with them for a long period.2.Can the applicant be highly motivated while working together?For the second question, “Can the applicant be highly motivated while working together?”, Japanese companies are checking if the reason of changing/leaving jobs at the current company is firmly resolved and you can work without dissatisfaction or anxiety.Motivation is a very important factor for work performance. If you feel dissatisfied or anxious about the company you work for, you may find it difficult to increase your motivation.When you’re thinking the reasons for changing/leaving jobs, it’s important to realize if changing jobs to the Japanese company you’re applying would solve the reasons and factors that made you decided to leave your current or past job.3.Does the applicant take serious your career and growth?Regarding the third question, “Does the applicant take serious your career and growth?”, Japanese companies are checking whether you quit immediately due to a low awareness of your career and growth regardless of the company you’ve worked for.Poor awareness of careers and growth can be seen as less aggressive and willing to work. I recommend you to think seriously about your future goals and how you want to improve your carrier when you think of the reason of changing/leaving jobs.Key points to answer for reasons of “changing/leaving jobs “You could understand what Japanese companies are checking through reasons of changing/leaving jobs. Next we’ll explain the points you must consider to make a solid reason of changing/leaving jobs based on what Japanese companies are checking through.There are 4 main key points to think about changing/leaving jobs reasons.Always tell the truth!Think positively, job change is an act to improve the current situation!Thinking based on specific cases!Don’t say bad things about your current company (or your previous company)!We’ll explain these 4 key points in details.1.Always tell the truth!The purpose of looking for a new job is “Improve the current situation”. It’s not just about finding a job.If you can’t solve the reason why you want to leave the current company, there would be no reason to change it.Even if you have already quit a job, it wouldn’t mean that you should choose whatever you can work. If you don’t get a job that resolves the reason you left your ex-company, you might quit a job with the same reason.When you tell the truth to the company you apply, you might think that the reason would be negative. However, you can express positively the reason of changing job regardless of whatever reason, if you regard the purpose of changing job as what make you improve better.2.Think positively, job change is an act to improve the current situation!As we mentioned earlier, the purpose of looking for a new job is to improve your current situation. A lot of people only focus into the “occurrences” and “triggers” when they consider the reason of changing/leaving jobs.Instead, when you should think about how the occurrences and triggers for changing jobs can be “improved”.For example, if you’re thinking in change or leave your job because you don’t have a good relation with your boss and you’re not evaluated enough, the reason may be negative in job interviews.In such cases, you can think as followings first.Factor(Why it’s happening?)Improvement measures(How to improve it.)Regarding “Factor”, it would be followings in case of the example(bad relationship with your boss, not evaluated enough). The result of the job your boss wants is different from the result of the job you want(The boss evaluates the process, but you evaluate the results,etc)As I have to do everything exactly as the boss directed, actually I want to work with a certain own discretion.And so on.And then, let’s try to think improvement measures for the factors above in terms of changing job.Hope to grow myself through many chance in working environment on the result basis.Want to get many experiences and make my skills better through a working environment where I can have a certain own discretion. It would make me grow further.These improvement measures above become reasons changing/quitting job.3.Thinking based on specific cases!Using concrete examples is more persuasive when explaining something to people, not just when telling the reason for changing jobs.For example, if you’re looking for a job because of less promotion and low salary due to seniority system in your current job, if you tell as it is in a job interview, the interviewer may think that the causation is due to your low performance.Instead, by telling that even seniors who are active and highly evaluated have few opportunities to get promotion or raise their salaries, it would be more persuasive for the interviewer to understand your situation.When you think your reasons for changing/leaving jobs, Using concrete examples would be more persuasive in job interviews.4.Don’t say bad things about your current company (or your previous company)!Even if you had a bad treatment in your current company or previous company, should avoid saying badly about the company in job interviews. The complaints would make you impress negatively in the interviews.And also, the company which you have the job interview with might be concerned about that you criticize the company as well when leaving.The person who can connect anything to growth will take higher evaluation in terms of honesty and willingness to grow.A case of that you changed or leaved jobs within a short period of timeIn case you changed or leaved a job in a short period of time, there is a possibility that you will be seen as a person who will immediately quit a job anytime when you have something uncomfortable. Let’s keep the following two points in mind when giving reasons for changing jobs in order for you not to be regarded as such a person.Make decisions after considering the risk of leaving in a short period of time.Rather, it’s good for you and the company that hired you to leave in a shorter period.When you leaved a job in a short period of time, most of them are large image gaps before joining the company and after joining the company. When that happens, it’s important to think about whether the image gap can really be resolved, rather than changing jobs or leaving the company immediately.For example, you can talk with the joined company about resolving the image gap, and can think about whether there is a gap that can be resolved by continuing to work.As a result, if the image gap cannot be resolved, it is better for you and your company to change jobs in a short period of time.And if you want to change or leave a job in a short period of time, it is important to keep the above points in mind and tell the reason for changing jobs in job interviews that you will join.ConclusionEven if we look around the world, Japanese company that values reasons for changing jobs or leaving a job in job interviews would be rare. As we explained, it’s due to the Japanese company’s approach to human resources.Even if there are applicants who have great skills and careers, there are some people who will lose the interview because of the reason for changing or leaving their jobs. Therefore, be sure to consider the reasons for changing or leaving a job before going to a job interview.If you would like to learn not only about the reasons for changing jobs but also about how to generally treat Japanese job interview, please see the following articles.Common Japanese Job Interview Questions and Best Answers!If you are an IT engineer looking to change your job and want to take a job interview after taking appropriate advices about job interviews, please register with G Talent, a Japanese recruitment agency specialized in IT engineers. A professional consultant will support you in changing jobs for free.

Japan’s manufacturing technology is well known in the world, but how much do you know about the Japanese IT industry? In this article, for foreigners who are interested in the Japanese IT industry, we would like to explain the structure of the Japanese IT industry with well-known companies in each field making it easy-to-understand.Basic Information about Japanese IT IndustryBefore classifying the IT industry, we would like to explain some basic information about the Japanese IT market.Market Size of Japanese IT Industry(2019): 12,493 billion yenReference: Forecasting calculation conducted by Yano Research Institute LtdGrowth rate of Japanese IT Industry: 2018 increased 2.8%、2019 increased 3.4%、2020 increased 1.6%Reference: Forecasting calculation conducted by Yano Research Institute LtdAreas where IT Investment will increase in the next 3 years in Japan: No.1 ERP, No.2 Security-related Software, No.3 SFA (SalesForce Automation) Reference: Questionnaire survey for corporates conducted by Yano Research Institute LtdNumber of IT engineers in the World and Japan: Japan ranks 4th in the world with an approx of 1.09 million engineers※1st USA with 4.77 million, 2nd China with 2.72 million, 3rd India with 2.12 million engineers.Reference:Human Resocia/Number of IT engineers around the world (North & South America)Human Resocia/Number of IT engineers around the world (Asia & Oceania)Details are summarized in this article, so please have a look when you have some time.Japanese IT Industry Market Size Compared to the WorldJapanese IT Industry StructureFrom now on, we would like to explain the structure of the Japanese IT industry.The Japanese IT industry is generally divided into the 4 categories below.Internet/Web IndustryInformation Processing/Information and Communication Service IndustrySoftware IndustryHardware IndustryNow, we would like to explain about these four industries with their representative companies.Internet / Web IndustryThe Internet / WEB industry includes B2B companies that provide services for companies such as network construction, website production, Internet advertising, and B2C companies that provide services for individuals such as SNS, portal sites, and EC.We are going to explain below the 5 types of services in this industry.Web PortalThe web portal serves as an entrance to the Internet and is a multi-purpose website that has varied services and useful pages for users such as obtaining online information, news, auctions, and shopping.Well-known Companies GoogleYahoo！JAPAN, etcSNSSNS (Social Networking Service) is a service that allows you to build relationships and share information over the Internet. It is one of the typical services that has expanded with the spread of smartphones.Well-known Companies FacebookLINELinkedIn, etcE-CommerceE-Commerce, also known as electronic commerce or internet commerce, is a service which allows you to shop online. Some representative e-commerce services easily to recognize are the web sites we use while online shopping, but e-commerce is more than “online shopping”. In addition to business-to-consumer transactions, it also includes business-to-business transactions, customer-to-customer transactions such as auctions and flea market sites.Well-known Companies AmazonRakutenMercari, etcWeb AdsAll services that provide agencies and systems that handle advertising on the Internet belongs to the WEB advertising industry. There are many types of ads, such as “listing ads”, “ad network ads”, “SNS ads”, “article ads”, “banner ads”, etc.Well-known Companies Cyber AgentOPTAdways, etcCuration siteA curation site is a site that collects the necessary information and puts it together in an easy-to-read manner.Well-known Companies GunosySmart News, etc Information Processing / Information and Communication Service IndustryInformation Processing IndustryA company of information processing services is responsible for the development and operation of information systems in a company and services used on the cloud, which is generally called “System Integrator (SIer)”.SIer receives an order from a customer, hears the customer’s needs, considers how to realize those needs as an information system, and outsources the system development and operation to　cooperative enterprises. Also, there are cases when the SIer should advice client companies on how to use IT to do a better performance, working as a consultant too.Well-known Companies FujitsuNTTDataSCSK, etcInformation and Communication Service IndustryThis industry is divided into two categories, “fixed communication” and, “mobile communication services”.Fixed communication is a communication service in fixed environments such as fixed-line phones, IP phones, and public phones.Mobile communication means a communication service represented by mobile phones.Well-known Companies NTTKDDISoft Bank, etcSoftware IndustryThis industry is to develop ​​a software such as application software and operating system. And also engineers can also play an active role with wide range in the industry from the software package to the system construction that manages the infrastructure.Well-known Companies Oracle JapanMicrosoftCybozu, etcHardware IndustryHardware means “machine, device, equipment”. This refers to physical objects such as electronic circuits and peripheral　equipment that make up a computer, such as servers, storage, and mobile phones.Well-known Companies AppleNECSony, etcConclusionIn this article, we explained the main structure of the IT industry in Japan, but in the next article, we would like to explain the occupations in the IT industry in Japan.

Nowadays, the words “Telework”, “Zaitaku-kinmu”, and “remote work” have become popular all over Japan due to the influence of coronavirus. At GTalent, a recruitment agency for foreigners, there is an increasing need for registrants to work in telework.In this article, We would like to introduce you to what kind of work you can do　in telework or working from home in Japan. If you are a foreigner who wants to work from home or other teleowork in Japan, please use this article as a reference.What is “Telework” or “Zaitaku-kinmu” in JapanCurrently, it is a word that is often used in news and SNS, but what is “telework”? Let us explain it first. “Telework” by the Japan Telework Association is made up of a combination of two English words, “Tele” and “work”.It means working from a place other than the office such as a home, cafe, or a rental space using information and communication technology.Reference – Japan Telework Association/Meaning of TeleworkAlso, it is sometimes called “remote work” instead of “telework”, but there is no significant difference in meaning. In Japan, the word telework is the word that has been used by governments since ancient times.The word “Zaitaku-kinmu” means working from home, so it is included in “telework”.Telework situation in Japan and OverseasTelewrok situation in JapanWe will inform you of the situation of telework in Japan based on a survey by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.Reference:Survery results on the introduction and effects of teleworkIn Japan, Telework is being introduced depending on the industry, but according to the results of these surveys, the number of companies that have introduced telework in Japan from 2013 to 2019 has increased from 9.3% to 19.1%.How much has the impact of the coronavirus increased?Due to the spread of coronavirus infection, the declaration of emergency was announced in April 2020, and the number of companies whose employees stop working in an office has increased significantly since then.According to a survey conducted by the Persol Institute, the number of companies conducting telework in early April increased to 27.9%.Reference:Survey conducted by Persol InstituteTelework situation at OverseasAccording to the report from MIC of Japan, the penetration rate of telework overseas is high in North America (such as the United States and Canada) and is still in the process of developing in Asia.Reference:Telework overseas diffusion trends/MICIn the United States and other countries where telework was introduced at an early stage, working at home has become a common practice.Conditions for jobs that are suitable for telework and that are notSubtable jobs for teleworkIn recent years, the number of companies introducing telework is increasing in Japan, but not all companies can introduce telework. In general, telework can be introduced if the job meets the following conditions.Jobs that can be completed on a computerJobs that can be completed by one personSecurity background is arranged or security-safe jobsFewer opportunities to interact with external customersJobs not suitable for teleworkOn the other hand, the conditions of work that do not apply to the introduction of telework are as follows.Jobs that are done by multiple peopleJobs that requires a specific machineJobs that require face-to-face communication with customersFor example, sales, hospitality business, medical care/welfare business, etc., which have many opportunities to interact with customers, so these jobs would be difficult to introduce a telework. Also, it is considered difficult to perform telework in the manufacturing industry, which uses specialized machines.What kind of jobs can we work in telework and working from home?We would like to introduce a lot of telework jobs in Japan from now.IT related jobsTelework is the most pervasive industry for IT industry. Telework has been introduced in several jobs, but the typical jobs are as follows.System engineersMost of the work of a system engineer goes to a computer by himself, and most of the work can be managed and performed online. we can say this is a typical job proper for telework because internal meetings and client needs are completed by video conferencing.Web designerAs with system engineers, WEB designers mainly work on PCs. It is a job to build a website, etc. We can say it is proper for telework because customer requests and consultations can be handled by video conferencing.Sales related jobsWe can say that sales-related jobs are the jobs that telework is increasing most. So far, sales jobs had been a style of visiting customers, but many companies are updating the style of sales, and telework is the most common in the following two jobs.Inside salesLately, the number of cases where the sales organization is divided into outside sales and inside sales is increasing in Japanese companies. The purpose of inside sales is mainly to develop new customers by phone or email and connect them to outside sales. It is proper for telework because the basic work is to make calls, emails, inputting customer information into the system etc.Customer supportIn customer support, the job is to follow up with customers who already have a contract, and most of the time it is done through telephone or email rather than face-to-face communication. There is some customer support that need to go to the customer’s office, but in most cases, this is a work that can be done at home if you have a computer, telephone, and internet connection.Creative related JobsWhen it comes to creative-related jobs, it can be said that there are many cases where you can work from telework originally. It can be said that the style of working at home and a cafe rather than the office is major in creative related jobs such as writers, designers, and producers. It causes of that there are many outsourced jobs which not need an office.Clerical-related JobsIt can be said that most of the clerical work is suitable for telework because it is often done by one person in a computer. However, about clerical work, there are many companies have not yet introduced telework. Since uch companies may still have paper documents, you should work at office in the case. Also, since general affairs and others need to receive postal items, there are cases where they have to come to the office, so you must be careful in advance when looking for a telework job related to clerical work.OthersIn addition to the IT-related, sales-related, creative-related, and clerical-related jobs that have been introduced so far, the introduction of telework is rising for the following jobs.TeacherSpeaking of teachers, the image of teaching directly to students is strong, but since the number of online learning services such as English conversation has increased in recent years, the number of cases where people can work from home is increasing.Planning / Management OperationsTelework is also expanding in planning and management operations due to the penetration of communication tools and business-IT tools. In general image, management positions have to go to the office because they are responsible for the organization, but recently, in order to spread the telework for staffs, the number of cases in which managers take the lead in telework is increasing.ConclusionCompared to a few years ago, more and more companies have introduced telework in Japan. For companies, by introducing telework, it is possible to hire human resources who can only work at home and to improve the efficient work style and work-life balance of employees, which will reduce the turnover rate.If you are a foreigner who is interested in a company that has introduced telework at this opportunity in IT-related jobs in Japan, please register with GTalent, a recruitment agency specializing in foreign IT engineers. A professional consultant will support you in changing jobs for free.