Articles in English

Job Hunting Knowledge

FAQ for Job Seekers in Japan: How to Search Jobs?

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.

Job Hunting Knowledge

What Kind of Jobs Can We Work with Telework 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.

Job Hunting Knowledge

Online Job Interviews: Can You Get Job Offers from Overseas?

The spread of the coronavirus has led to changes in the methods of job hunting and job changing activities. A particularly big change is the rise in the number of online interviews.In this article, We would like to explain in detail the introduction status of online interviews in Japan, their impact on job hunting activities and job changing activities, and also introduce some representative companies which already incorporate online job interviews.The Status of Online Job Interviews in JapanDo you know how many companies currently offer online job interviews in Japan?Looking at the results of a survey conducted by Recruit Career in March 2020, 29.8% of the Japanese companies have already adopted online job interviews for mid-career hires or have already decided to adopt online job interviews. Besides, including companies that are considering introducing online interviews, more than half of all Japanese companies are already involved in this new trend.Therefore, if you are going to start job bunting or job changing activities soon, we could say that more than half of your job interviews may be conducted online.Resosrces:Recruit Career / Online Recruitment ActivityThe Status of online job interviews in the USAIt is said that the USA introduce the most online job interview in the hiring process in the world. What about the status of online job interviews in the USA when comparing the status of Japan?According to a survey by Ideal, a US provider of recruiting software found that 63% of HR managers in the United States use online video tools for job interviews.Resorces: The 38 Top Recruiting Software Tools Of 2020Japan still behind in the introduction rate of online job interviews compared to advanced countries, but the influence of the coronavirus will surely accelerate online recruitment activity, and the number of online job interviews will continue increasing.Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Jobs InterviewsSince the number of online job interviews still increasing, We would like to explain the advantages and disadvantages of online job interviews.Advantages of Online Jobs InerviewsSaving time and no need movingRelaxed environmentSaving time and no need movingSince the interview is conducted by online, it’s unnecessary to go to the office of the company you’re applying to, saving you the travel time and energy.As you can save time, it will be easier to adjust the schedule and you will be able to smoothly participate in the selection process of the companiesRelaxed environmentThere are a lot of people who can be relaxed when they meet with the interviewer and others who can not. When you go to a job interview while you are nervous, you may not be able to give the answers you want or you may even lose your chances.In the case of an online job interview, the environment will be easier to have a job interview without worrying about the ambiance of the place.Disadvantages of Online Jobs InterviewsWe would like to explain the disadvantages of online recruitment for job seekers below.The interviewer’s reactions are difficult to readHard to catch the atmosphere of the officeInternet connection troublesThe interviewer’s reactions are difficult to readIt’s hard to read the interviewer’s facial expression because you don’t meet him with face to face.In the case of an actual face-to-face interview, you can easily realize how the interviewer feel if see their reactions like nodding and facial expression. However, in the case of an online interview, it’s difficult to do that. And also it can be the same from the interviewer’s view.Especially, if the interviewer doesn’t understand how to deal with online job interviews, reading the reactions would be more difficult for you.Hard to catch the atmosphere of the officeOne of the major factors when you decide to join a company is the “office atmosphere”.In common hiring activities, the atmosphere of the company could be understood with the number of times the company is visited during job interviews.To change these disadvantages, some companies have been posting videos that show the atmosphere of the office so applicants could get it.Internet connection troublesIn the case of online job interviews, the internet network environment would be trouble well. If you may not be able to connect well, you couldn’t listen the questions and the interviewer couldn’t listen your answer well. In the worst case, the interview time may end as it is.Therefore, be sure to check the internet connection before an online job interview.In the unlikely case, if you have sudden disconnection, freezing of the video and so on, you don’t panic and call the recruitment counter of the company directly and explain the situation with calm.Also, some companies use software that needs to be installed in advance, we recommended to install it in advance.Major Japanese companies that have adopted Online RecruitmentWe would like to introduce major Japanese companies that have already included online interviews and AI systems.TOYOTA: Embeds online interviews in hiring new graduatesSoftbank: Incorporating AI into job interviews, the time required in the interviews was reduced by 75%Mitsubishi Corporation:80% of recruitment activities are done from home, only the last interview is conducted face-to-faceMitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co., Ltd. :All interviews are executed online until the official offer※All articles above are wrote in JapaneseEven major Japanese companies are actively engaging in online job interviews. Those who are looking for a job will be easier to apply for the job that are more interested than ever.ConclusionWhat did you think about the article on the state of online job interviews in Japan this time?Although there is still a huge difference in online recruitment activities between developed countries and Japan, the spread of the coronavirus has Japan to introduce online job interviews more than before.Even if you do not live in Japan, finding a job in Japan will be easier than ever.If you are an IT engineer looking for a job in Japan, please register with G Talent, a recruitment agency specializing in foreign IT engineers. A professional consultant will support you in changing jobs for free.

Job Hunting Knowledge

Recommended Destinations for IT Engineers

There are many reasons why Japan is one of the top choices for working foreigners who want a change of scene. The country’s rich culture, historical tourist attractions, delicious cuisine, excellent working environment, terrific people, and continued acceptance of outsiders have all persuaded foreigners to see how they would fare in the country.A large part of why many foreigners are interested in moving to Japan is because of the country’s national government exerting a lot of effort to bring in gaijin to join the workforce. One of the areas that the Japanese government is looking to fill in with foreigners is the IT engineer industry. By 2030, Japan is expected to have a massive software engineering deficit of close to 800,000.Japan’s need for foreign IT engineers has increased over the years, and the nation’s demand for these technology experts have somewhat been fulfilled. In fact, according to Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, there are approximately 30,000 non-Japanese IT engineers residing in the country today, which equates to about 3% of Japan’s IT engineer population.Foreign IT engineers are scattered all over the Land of the Rising Sun, but some locations have shown to be more inviting and alluring to these in-demand professionals. Here are some of the best-recommended destinations for IT engineers in Japan.TOKYOThis comes as no surprise, but Tokyo is perhaps the most popular choice for most non-Japanese professionals. The metropolis is known for its diverse international community, as Tokyo is currently the most populated area in the world. The opportunities for IT engineers in Tokyo are endless because most of Japan’s major tech companies are located in the area. As a matter of fact, 9 out of the 10 largest Japanese tech companies positioned their headquarters in Tokyo.Tokyo is filled with some of the world’s leading tech brands such as Softbank, NTT Docomo, NTT Data Corporation, Sony, KDDI, Recruit Co., Ltd, Canon, Hitachi, Mitsubishi Electronic, and many other internationally-recognized companies.The nation’s capital is also famous for its Akihabara district, which is filled with anime, electronics, manga, and video game companies heavily relying on the talents of IT and software engineers.OSAKAOsaka is perfect for IT professionals seeking high compensation but don’t want to deal with Tokyo’s busy atmosphere, crowdedness, and high living expenses. Osaka is home to globally-known tech brands including Panasonic, Sharp, and manufacturing giants such as Suntory and Nissin Food Products.Japan’s 3rd largest city is ideal for IT engineers who want to grow with their company. Currently, the city serves as the breeding ground for tech companies with over 1,000 developing startups. The famous British newspaper, The Guardian, referred to Osaka as Japan’s own Silicon Valley.Osaka even has a mall dedicated to newly-made technology. The Grand Front Osaka hosts programs that showcase developers and their high-tech inventions and innovations. Guests can try smartphone apps as it is being coded, operate drones, and use prototypes that are years from being released to the market.Aside from this, Osaka is also experiencing a surging development and tourism sector. So, apart from the opportunities available in tech and manufacturing companies, IT engineers can even venture into new fields and enhance their skills.KYOTO Kyoto has always been admired for its incredible manufacturing industry. With more factories adapting to the ever-developing times by embracing automation techniques and artificial intelligence, IT engineers have become some of the most sought-after talents on this side of Japan.Luckily for IT engineers who are fans of iconic video games such as Pokémon, Animal Crossing, The Legend of Zelda, and Super Mario, the Nintendo main headquarters is positioned in Kyoto. This opportunity is ideal for IT engineers who want to work for a major company while embracing the inner-child in them.Kyoto is also known for its excellent educational reputation provided by the Kyoto Institute of Technology (KIT). KIT is a superb place for IT engineers who want to expand their horizons and enhance their capabilities in new technology. Aside from the Kyoto Institute of Technology, there is also the Kyoto University, which has consistently ranked among the world’s best universities.What makes Japan’s historic capital unique from other technologically advanced locations is that it is known for its continued focus on the production of hardware technology, as opposed to the rest of the world’s fascination with software technology led by tech giants such as Google, Amazon, Uber, and several others.FUKUOKA One of Japan’s most promising IT engineering spots is the city of Fukuoka. Much like Osaka, a lot of IT startup companies establish their reputations here. This city is an excellent place for IT engineers who are at the beginning of their careers. Fukuoka, which has been dubbed “Japan’s most innovative city” by major news outlet BBC, made headlines for its mission of becoming Japan’s number 1 startup destination. Mayor Sōichirō Takashima is leading the way by requesting the national government to treat Fukuoka as a “national strategic special zone,” which cuts corporate taxes for tech companies and creates a special visa for non-Japanese entrepreneurs.Additionally, Fukuoka still maintains reasonable living expenses even though it has the country’s highest population growth and is also one of its many booming and developing technological cities.CONCLUSION Japan is one of the most technologically advanced countries on the planet and home to some of the most revered tech companies. With plenty of opportunities abound, IT engineers have no reason to worry about which companies they are potentially going to represent and lend their services to. In the Land of the Rising Sun, there are multiple alluring destinations where IT engineers could sharpen their skills, practice their expertise, and successfully continue their careers.If you seek great IT engineering opportunities and more employment tips, feel free to visit our website below. Good luck with your future endeavors! Sources:https://agency-star.co.jp/column/district-engineerhttps://www.atmarkit.co.jp/ait/articles/1803/12/news008_2.html

Job Hunting Knowledge

Let's Learn Easily About Japanese IT Industry Structure!

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.

Social insurance & Welfare

Housing and Rent Allowance at Japanese Companies

When a foreigner starts working in Japan, it is important the company they will work for. Then it comes another important point, that is the place where they will live. It is common to rent an apartment in places where you can easily go to work, but there are other options as well, and some companies can reduce the burden of housing costs with their peculiar welfare system.This time, we will explain what you should know about welfare-related housing allowance at Japanese companies if you live in Japan.Japan’s Housing Subsidy System that Reduces the Burden of Housing CostsHousing costs are a major part of living expenses. Foreigners living in Japan for the first time do not know the rent market, so various concerns will arise. For reference, we will introduce the rent market price in Tokyo.Rental market price in Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, ChibaAccording to the “2018 Survey of Housing and Land Statistics, Basic Tabulation on Houses and Households” (Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, September 30, 1980), “Rents / rents per month” for three prefectures in Tokyo are It is like.・ Tokyo: 81,001 yen・ Kanagawa Prefecture: 68,100 yen・ Saitama Prefecture: 59,358 yen・ Chiba: 57,421 yenThe Tokyo metropolitan area is out of the 80,000-yen range, the next highest is Kanagawa prefecture with about 68,000 yen, and the Saitama and Chiba prefectures are in a 50,000 yen range. Many companies are concentrated in Tokyo, so those who want to live close to work should be prepared for those rent expenses. Of course, there are many Japanese who live in Kanagawa, Saitama and Chiba and go to work in Tokyo. For foreigners who want to reduce their rent, or who want to prioritize the size and layout of their homes, one option is to find a home in one of the three neighboring prefectures.Work with peace of mind at a company with a housing allowance!Many Japanese companies have a housing subsidy program as part of their welfare. For example, “Company A with a monthly income of 300,000 yen and no housing subsidy” or “Company B with monthly income of 270,000 yen and half of rent as housing subsidy”, which is the most attractive company? From a medium- to long-term perspective, you may be able to judge that “it is better to choose Company B”. So, when choosing a company in Japan, be sure to judge not only the salary but also the availability and content of the housing allowance system.What Kind of Housing Allowance Systems Exist?In general, Japanese companies provide a certain amount of monthly payment to employees who meet the conditions stipulated by the company, but there are several other patterns. Let’s explain about the general housing assistance system.01: Rent subsidy (Housing allowance)The most common housing assistance system is rent subsidy (housing allowance). Rent subsidy is a welfare program in which the company pays a portion of the employee’s housing expenses as an allowance. It is provided for the purpose of subsidizing rent for employees living in rental housing and subsidizing mortgages for employees living in their own homes. Even if there is a rent subsidy system, the terms and conditions of payment vary depending on the company.02: Rented company houseBorrowed company housing is a system in which employees live in houses rented by the company. It is common for a company to rent a property and collect a portion of the rent from the resident employee. The benefit is that the company pays a fixed percentage of the rent, so it can be cheaper to live in there than renting it yourself. In the past, it was common for companies to lease entire buildings and lend each house to employees, but recently employees often search for properties within the conditions and rent them under the company name.In addition, in the case of the rent subsidy described above, since it is paid on top of the monthly salary, the tax burden and insurance premium burden on employees will increase accordingly. On the other hand, rented company housing means that employees pay a fixed rent to the company, so there is no increase in tax burden or insurance burden.03: Dormitory for employeesAn employee dormitory is a building owned by the company for the residence of employees. Some dormitories are furnished and provide a telephone line, and some are equipped with meals (meals are offered cheaply). When you move in, you pay a fixed amount of rent, but you can use it for a much lower price than renting a nearby property yourself.However, employee dormitories have been declining in recent years due to the increasing number of employees who do not use dormitories even if they have dormitories, and the fact that many buildings were built during the period of high economic growth and are aging. As a result, finding a company with a dormitory could be difficult.Examples of Japanese Companies Housing SubsidiesThe housing subsidy system is a non-statutory welfare that is provided by the company, so some companies do not have this system. According to the “Comprehensive Survey on Working Conditions in 2015” (Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare), 45.8% of all companies provide some housing allowance. By industry, IT and other information and communications businesses accounted for 56.0%, indicating that more than half of companies provided housing allowances.Of course, even if you have a housing subsidy system, the details will vary from company to company. For reference, examples of the conditions and amount of payment of the housing assistance system are explained below.Payment conditions for rent subsidies (Housing allowance)There are many cases where “distance” from the company is the condition for rent subsidy, such as ” ¥¥ monthly for employees living within ◯ km from the company.” The distance from the company varies depending on the company, such as 1.5 km, 2 km, 3 km, and 5 km. Some companies use the “number of stations” as a condition, such as “within ◯ stations from the nearest station to the company” instead of the distance.In addition, some companies provide rent subsidy after 3 years of joining the company, as a condition of rent subsidy regardless of where they live.Payment of rent subsidy (Housing allowance)According to the “2015 Survey on Working Conditions” (Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare), data indicate that the average amount of housing allowance per person is 17,000 yen. By industry, the information and communications industry, including IT, was ¥ 25,312, much higher than the average.The actual amount of payment is set widely by the company, such as 15,000-yen, 30,000 yen, and 50,000 yen. In addition, there are companies that define it as “50% of rent”. However, in this case, there is often a limit.Due to the shortage of human resources in the IT industry in recent years, more companies are introducing new rent subsidy systems or increasing the amount of rent subsidies to acquire excellent human resources.Size and layout of rented company house and employee dormitoriesThe size and layout of rented company house and employee dormitories may vary from company to company. It usually depends entirely on whether the resident is single or married.The company dormitories and employee dormitories where single employees are occupied generally are one-room size, 1K, or 1DK floor plans, with rooms ranging from 6 to 8 tatami mats (10 to 14 square meters). For rented company housing and employee dormitories where married employees are occupied by 3 to 4 family members, it is common to arrange a layout of about 2DK to 3LDK. The average goes from 19.4㎡ to 23.4㎡.ConclusionForeigners working in Japan for the first time want to keep their expenses as low as possible until work is on track and life is stable. In this regard, companies that have systems such as rent subsidies (housing allowances), rented company housing and employee dormitories can help reduce the rent burden. When researching Japanese companies, be sure to check if there is a housing subsidy in the benefits.If you have a rent subsidy (housing allowance), be sure to check the payment conditions. For example, if “3 years of service” is a condition, you will not be able to receive assistance for the time being. In some cases, it is not eligible for payment. Be sure to check with your HR representative if you have any questions.

Others

All About Side-Businesses for Foreigners Working in Japan!

The trend of side-jobs is getting hot in Japan now, so the number of foreign IT engineers who want to work side-jobs is also increasing.Did you know that foreign IT engineers are able to work side-jobs legally? Also, what are the conditions within the company and the residency status?Since there are detailed procedures to be done, the conditions and precautions that foreign IT engineers should follow in the case of working a side job are summarized and introduced in this article.1.Foreign IT Engineer’s Side-jobsThere are two obstacles when a foreign engineer tries to do a side job.・Does the company will allow it due to the company’s work rules?・Does the status of residence allows it?Each would be a problem.If these two obstacles can be overcame, foreign IT engineers will be able to work side-jobs, but we will explain the precautions and procedures related to employment rules and the status of residence.2.Are Side-jobs permitted under the Work regulations? Banned?Foreign IT engineers, have you ever confirmed if there are any provisions regarding side-jobs in the work regulations?Work regulations and the consequences of its violationsWork regulations are a rulebook for employees of the company, in which you can also find the provisions regarding side-jobs.Of course, it applies to employees of the company regardless of whether they are foreign nationals or not.Violations of work rules may result in disciplinary actions. Specifically, if you violate the rules of employment because you performed a side-job without authorization, disciplinary sanctions will be strictly enforced, which may go from penalty salary reduction to dismissal, which will be punished according to the degree of disruption of trust with the company. From strict caution to the reduction of wages and dismissal depending on the degree of disruption of the trust relationship with the company.Side jobs: they were mostly banned before, currently most of them are allowedTraditionally, the work regulations in Japan regarding side-jobs said that “employees were obliged to concentrate on their duties and must not do side jobs.” Thus, in some workplaces where the employment rules have not yet lifted the ban on side-jobs, to do side-jobs will be difficult.However, the work regulation that is increasing now is to “permit side-jobs that would be allowed by a permit system, under specified conditions”, and the number of cases where side-work is banned uniformly is gradually decreasing. The legal system has also been amended to make it easier to work side-jobs.Examples of what is defined in the work regulations as a condition for permitting side-jobsCommon examples of the conditions are as follows.For example, the conditions for side-jobs may be specified as follows:It is a Permission system, so you need to submit an application/Not to violate the prohibition to work for a competitor. (do not work side-jobs with companies that compete in business or markets that benefit from rivals)Not to make use of time that may affect your main job.Notify the company about what side-job you will do. The details of the report are determined, such as time and place of work, so be sure to follow them.Regularly report about the side-job.*The above contents are representative, please refer to the employment rules of the company where you are enrolled for specific contents.If the conditions about side-jobs are specified in the work rules, and if you do not meet all the conditions, the side-job will be a violation of the work rules and you will be subject to disciplinary sanctions.In particular, if you perform a side-job that favors a rival company you will destroy the relationship of trust with the company, so the disciplinary action can be as severe as being fired.3.Is It Permitted According to the Status of Residence to do Side-jobs?Foreign engineer’s side-job can be possible from the status of residence.Beware of non-qualified activitiesThe majority of foreign engineers have “technical status” as their “resident status.”Except in some cases where the status of residence doesn’t have any limitation to activities that can be performed in Japan, like the “Japanese spouse” status. Foreign engineers are, in principle, only allowed to work in their resident status. In addition, in general, if you are performing a side-job that is not a work within the qualification, you must apply for an activity outside the qualification.However, there are no restrictions on how many companies you can work with to or how long you work for a job within the status of residence. Besides, it is not necessarily prohibited to take other jobs within the scope of the “technical” status of residence.Therefore, please refer to the following examples of cases where a side-job is recognized as a job within the same qualification and cases where it is not recognized, and consider whether it is necessary to apply for “Permission to Engage in Activity other than that Permitted under the Status of Residence Previously Granted.”Examples of side jobs recognized by the status of residence “technology”・Engineers teaching programming once a week=>Employment within the scope of technical work so it is within the scope of the status of residence.・Engineers regularly contribute to the latest technical conditions.=>Accepted in the same way as the instructor, example above.・Engineer volunteers to assist an electronics workshop for children (free of charge)=>Free volunteer activities are recognized as qualifying activities.Examples of side jobs that are not recognized by the status of residence “technology”・Engineers starting their own businesses=>Starting a business is an activity recognized with a business management visa and is considered to be an activity outside the scope of the status of residence. Therefore, it is necessary to apply for permission to engage in an activity other than the permitted.・Engineers working a part-time job at a convenience store=>In principle, the simple labor of foreign nationals is prohibited, and the current status of residence is not permitted.In addition, if you stop working when you have obtained your status of residence, you should be re-employed within the same qualification within 3 months, and if you do not submit the notification within 14 days, your status of residence will be expired. You need to be careful. For this reason, when performing a side-job, it is necessary to maintain a position within the permitted status of residence.4.About the Application for Permission to Engage in an Activity Other than PermittedFor example, if an IT engineer gives a lecture at a language school, the language school lecturer is identified as “international business”, so if you apply for an activity outside the qualification, you can get permission.The following procedures are required to apply for permission to engage in an activity other than that permitted.A written application for permission to Engage in an Activity other than that PermittedPassportResidence cardYou can obtain the Application for Permission to Excluded Activities at the Immigration Bureau or download it from the Immigration Bureau website.Conditions may apply to the permission, like not quitting the main job when obtaining the permission to engage in an activity other than permitted.The conditions for permission to apply are the followings.Not to quit the original jobNot to obstruct the original jobTo do unskilled labor is prohibitedSummary of points where foreign engineers are allowed to work side-jobsFor a side job to be accepted, one of the following conditions must be met. Must be within the scope of the company’s working regulations and within the scope of the status of residence. (For employment outside of resident status, it is necessary to apply and obtain the permission.)Obtain permission for activities outside the status of residence. * Permitted if the following three conditions are satisfied.Not to quit the original jobNot to obstruct the original jobTo do unskilled labor is prohibited5.Foreign Engineer’s Side-jobs: What to Do in Case of a Problem?Even if you understand the above explanation, if the foreigners are not sure about the side-job, they want to start by themselves, consulting a person who knows the rules, an expert who knows the rules very well can save time and it can be a huge help.Accordingly, consult the following specialized departments and experts.For work rules, contact the human resources department of the company.Regarding the residence status and visas, contact a public official.Both the Human Resources Department and the public officials specializing in alien registration and visa, bilingual support is now available in many offices, which makes it easier for consultation.ConclusionAs explained above, if there are work regulations that allow side-jobs that do not affect your main job will likely be permitted. Of course, the status of residence is an issue, but if you are working within your current qualifications, or if the conditions of the application are met even if it is a non-qualified activity, you could use a permission.However, there are many procedures such as notification to the Human Resources Department of your company and notification to the Immigration Bureau.Notification to the Immigration Bureau is handled exclusively by the public official, as in the case of obtaining a status of residence, so if you do not have much time and want to reduce the office work, it may be a good idea to ask a public official regarding side-jobs.

Job Hunting Knowledge

How to Search Jobs for Software Engineers in Japan!

The article summarized how to search jobs for foreign Software engineer in Japan.We hope it’s useful for not only programmers working in Japan but also job seeker who search jobs in Japan from abroad.Job boards for Software engineers in JapanJob board is the most popular job search way in Japan. This part will introduce popular job boards for software engineers in Japan.Job boards with many IT jobs for foreignerDaijob.com  www.daijob.com 20 tweets148 users121 pockets外資系・グローバル企業の転職・求人サイト | [Daijob.com]https://www.daijob.com日本最大級バイリンガル人材向けの外資・グローバル転職サイト「ダイジョブ・ドットコム」。英語を活かせる仕事や海外求人も多数!過去51万人利用、延べ3000社掲載実績。外資系企業からスカウトが届く!  Daijob.com is the No.1 job boards that has the largest foreign register who want to change job in Japan. Their target is not only foreigner but also Japanese who can speak English.You can see posted jobs in both English and Japanese, and also there are many IT engineer jobs here. If you register their scout service, companies and recruitment agencies would contact you.CareerCross  キャリアクロス 1 tweet143 users31 pocketsグローバル求人多数https://www.careercross.com外資系への転職・就職なら「キャリアクロス」。英語求人満載!外資系・グローバル企業で働きたい方や、海外で就職したい方必見の満足度No.1バイリンガル向け転職サイト。  CareerCross is one of the biggest job boards for bilingual speaker in Japan as well as Daijob.com.They are a group of JAC Recruitment which is a famous recruitment agency for middle to higher class, so there are more middle and higher jobs than Daijob.com.You can search job in both English and Japanese on the website and get scout service.LinkedIn www.linkedin.com 28929 tweets881 users3641 pocketsWorld’s Largest Professional Network | LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com  As you know, LinkedIn is the largest business social networking service in the world. It’s not as major in Japan as other countries, but it’s used a lot when company hire foreigner in Japan.Therefore, there are many jobs targeting foreigner including IT engineer. Their jobs are written by either Japanese or English. The jobs written by Japanese would target foreign Japanese speakers.TalentHub  TalentHub(タレントハブ) 3 users1 pocket外国人エンジニア採用情報サイトhttps://talenthub.jpApply to jobs in Japan for foreigners, all online. Find work in Japan as a software developer, engineer, or in IT, animation and design.  TalentHub is a job boards for foreign IT engineers in Japan. They have many Vietnamese job seekers and have only IT engineer jobs for foreigner.However, As of March 2020, the number of jobs looks less than other job boards above.GaijinPot  GaijinPot Jobs 2 tweets2 users11 pocketsGaijinPot Jobshttps://jobs.gaijinpot.com/index/index/lang/ja日本最大の外国人向け総合求人サイトガイジンポットジョブズ英語、その他外国語での求人情報多数。英会話講師、通訳・翻訳など語学力を活かした求人情報から、外国人留学生やバイリンガルの日本人の方向けの転職情報まで、幅広い求人情報を網羅  GaijinPot is a famous Japanese web media for foreigner in Japan. Many jobs are on the website, but the most of them are English teacher jobs and IT jobs are no so many.Advantage of using job boardAdvantage of using job board is followings.Job search with your desired criteriaMany jobsA lot of information not only words but also photo and video etc.Disadvantage of using job board and cautionary pointsAs job boards are posted jobs directly by hiring companies, the information tends to be subjective. It might be different from what you expect, because it’s not objective.Therefore, you should ask questions in job interviews in order to confirm what you should know.< Company review websites >We can recommend you some company review websites that are used in Japan to check objective reputations reviewed by employees of the companies.However, any websites are written by Japanese.OpenWorkhttps://www.vorkers.com/転職会議(Tenshoku-kaigi)https://jobtalk.jp/Although there are some companies with few reviews, if the size of the company is bigger, there would be many reviews.However, it would be just information for you because the reviews may not be the fact.Recruitment AgencyRecruitment agency is used as the second biggest job search service in Japan.We’ll introduce some famous recruitment agencies supporting mainly foreign IT engineers in Japan.G Talenthttps://www.gtalent.jp/enOur service, G Talent, is a professional IT recruitment firm in Japan. It’s focused on foreign IT engineers in Japan.There are many IT jobs from global companies to start-up companies and you can get the support with 4 languages, English, Japanese, Chinese and Korean.Both those who have already been working in Japan and those who want to work in Japan from now on can get the service with free.You can apply suitable jobs to you, as there are more than several hundreds jobs recruiting foreign IT engineers in Japan on our website.Robert Half  www.roberthalf.jp 9 users25 pockets人材紹介のスペシャリスト | ロバート・ハーフhttps://www.roberthalf.jp/jaロバート・ハーフは、日本で専門性の高い人材の求人と求職サービスに特化しております。今すぐサービスの詳細をご覧ください。  Robert Half is one of the biggest recruiting firms in the world. They are supporting job search of bilingual Japanese and foreigners in Japan.RGF  www.rgf-professional.jp 8 tweets4 users9 pockets外資系・グローバル企業への転職ならhttps://www.rgf-professional.jp外資系への転職、グローバル企業への転職ならRECRUITのグローバルブランドRGFの日本拠点RGF Professional Recruitment Japanにご相談ください。グローバル人材の転職をチーム体制でサポート。正社員、派遣・契約社員の非公開求人、語学力を活かせる求人多数!  RGF is a group of Recruit Holdings which is the biggest recruiting firms in Japan. They have many jobs with using strong group network.As there are many recruitment companies in Japan other than above, you can use some suitable agencies with you.In case of recruitment agency, you can get many objective information about not only company but also working viza and living.OthersYou can do other job search as followings.Direct application on the company’s recruitment website.Referral through your friends.As there are some companies which doesn’t post jobs on job boards, you can apply to the jobs through the company’s recruitment website if you have a company which you are interested in.However, since company’s recruiting website doesn’t have generally less the information than other job boards, you need to collect information through the job interviews and internet.If you have some friends in Japan, you can rely on them to introduce some available jobs.Generally, it would be better to get deeply information about the company.However, it’s not necessary that the company your friends refer to you is better. In any case, you can proactively collect information on your own.ConclusionThere are other ways to search jobs than what we introduced this time.As we introduced some ways that are generally used well, please try the best way you are suitable as reference.Sincerely hope all foreign IT engineers in Japan can meet a comfortable and suitable working environment.

Social insurance & Welfare

What you need to know about social insurance system in Japan!

Foreigners working in Japan will be enrolled in the Japanese social insurance system. If you do not pay insurance premiums according to the law, you may suffer disadvantages like high treatment costs when you get sick. Also, foreigners who already work in Japan and are planning to change jobs should be careful. If you do not complete the procedure within the specified period, there is a risk of not being able to receive the coverage or losing money.This time, we will explain the Japanese social insurance system for foreigners who are looking to work in Japan and foreigners who are looking to change jobs in Japan.Do Foreigners Have to Join the Japanese Social Insurance?As a general rule, foreigners must join social insurance in Japan regardless of nationality. There are five types of social insurance in Japan: pension insurance, medical insurance (health insurance), worker’s accident insurance, unemployment insurance, and long-term care insurance.Pension insuranceAnnuity insurance is a mechanism in which the premiums paid by the working generation are paid to seniors aged 65 and over. There are two types of pension insurance in Japan: The National Pension and the Employees’ Pension. The national pension is obligatory for all people in Japan who are 20 to 60 years old, and foreigners are no exception. The Employees’ Pension is a pension that company employees and government employees join in addition to the national pension. Employees’ pension insurance is deducted from their monthly salary, but the company pays half.However, from the perspective of a foreign worker, there are some concerns like “Since I also have a pension in my home country, it is too expensive to also join insurance in Japan” or “What will happen to my paid insurance if I go back to my country?”. The Social Security Agreement and the lump-sum withdrawal system have been set up to solve such concerns of foreigners.What is a social security agreement?For foreigners who have a pension in their home country, having a pension in Japan means paying double premiums. Also, in order to receive a pension in Japan, you have to join the pension for a certain period, so there is a risk that insurance premiums won’t be refundable.The “Social Security Agreement” is established to avoid such disadvantages. The social security agreement is a system that allows foreigners from countries that have signed a social security agreement with Japan to join a pension in either Japan or their home country, depending on how long they work in Japan.>> Click here for details on social security agreementsWhat is lump-sum withdrawal?The lump-sum withdrawal is a system that allows a foreigner who has joined the Employees’ Pension and National Pension to receive a certain amount of money in case they return to their home country before they receive their pension.>> Click here for details of withdrawal lump sumMedical insurance (health insurance)Medical insurance (health insurance) is a system that supports the burden of medical expenses throughout society. By joining the medical insurance, the burden of medical expenses will be reduced when you get ill or injured or when you visit a medical institution.The term “health insurance” generally refers to the health insurance that employees join, and foreign workers are obliged to join as well as Japanese workers. Insurance premiums are deducted from the monthly salary, but the company pays half.On the other hand, “National Health Insurance” is for non-employees such as self-employed persons and full-time housewives. Foreigners also need to join the National Health Insurance if they stay in Japan for more than 3 months. Also, pay the full amount of the insurance premium, and the amount varies depending on the municipality where you live.Worker’s accident compensation insuranceWorker’s accident compensation insurance is a system in which an employee’s insurance benefits are paid if during work or commuting, a worker suffers injury, disease, disability or death resulting from employment-related cause.Foreign workers are required to join the work-related accident insurance as well as Japanese workers. There is no employee burden because the company bears the full amount of the insurance premium for the workers’ accident compensation insurance.Unemployment insuranceUnemployment insurance is a system that provides the benefits necessary to promote the reemployment of employees while stabilizing their lives in the event of unemployment. The so-called “unemployment allowance” is paid by the employment insurance.As long as the conditions of “a person who is expected to continue to be employed for 31 days or more” and “a prescribed working time of one week is 20 hours or more” are satisfied, foreign workers will be covered by employment insurance in the same way as Japanese workers. It is necessary to subscribe to. The insurance premium for employment insurance is deducted from the monthly salary, but the company pays part of it.Long-term care insuranceLong-term care insurance is a system that supports the elderly who need long-term care throughout society. Those who are 40 years old or older and under 65 years old and have medical insurance or 65 years old or older are obliged to join, and foreigners are no exception.Care insurance premiums must be paid from the age of 40 and are collected along with medical insurance (health insurance) premiums. If you are a company employee, you will be deducted from your monthly salary, but the company will pay half of it. Non-employees must be paid to the local government where they live together with the national health insurance premium.Social Insurance Procedures When Changing Jobs in JapanIf you are already working in Japan and wish to change jobs in Japan, you will need to apply for social insurance.If you have no retirement period and you work for a new job immediately, the job transfer will do most of the work for you. On the other hand, if there is a period of separation, you need to be careful as there are procedures that you must perform yourself.Procedures required for pension insuranceIn case you change jobs immediately, you only need to submit your pension handbook to your next employer. The person in charge will do the procedure.If case you leave or lose your job, you will need to switch from the Employees’ Pension to the National Pension. Within 14 days from the next day of retirement, please complete the procedure at the local municipal office (city / town / village office).Procedures required for medical insurance (health insurance)If you want to change jobs immediately, you will need to join a health insurance at the job change location, but the person in charge in your new company will do the procedure.If an unemployment period occurs, it is either “discretionary continuation” or “subscription to the National Health Insurance”. As a general rule, if you leave a company, you lose the insured certificate of the health insurance you were in that company, but if you meet certain conditions, you will join the same health insurance for two years after you leave the company. Can continue (optional continuation). The procedure for voluntary continuation is to be submitted to the health insurance association that you have joined within 20 days from the day after your retirement date.If you do not continue voluntarily, you will have to join National Health Insurance. Apply for National Health Insurance at the municipal office where you live within 14 days from the day following your retirement.Procedures required for worker’s accident compensation insuranceIf you want to change jobs immediately, you will have to join the worker’s accident compensation accident insurance at the job change destination, but the person in charge in your new company will do the procedure. Also, if you have a job separation period, you do not have to take any special procedures because you will not be enrolled in the workers’ compensation insurance during the job separation period.Procedures required for unemployment insuranceIf you want to change jobs immediately, just submit the employment insurance card and turnover slip you received from the company you quit to the new company. The person in charge will do the procedure.If there is a turnover period, you may be able to receive a so-called “unemployment allowance”. In that case, please contact Hello Work (a Japanese government employment agency) that has jurisdiction over the local government where you live.Procedures required for long-term care insuranceSince long-term care insurance is integrated with medical insurance (health insurance), it is OK if the necessary procedures for medical insurance (health insurance) are performed.ConclusionForeign workers are also covered by Japanese social insurance, so you can enjoy the benefits of social insurance in the same way as Japanese workers. Of course, this requires payment of insurance premiums. In order to work in Japan with peace of mind, make sure you understand the basic social insurance system and pay the insurance premium properly.Also, if a foreign worker who is already working in Japan quits the company and is leaving for a certain period of time, there are procedures to be performed by himself. Medical insurance (health insurance) and unemployment insurance (unemployment allowance) can make a big impact on your life while you are away from work, so be sure to the take steps to avoid any adverse situations.

Salary & Tax

Salary Level of IT Engineer's with Salary Market Trends in Japan

Companies recruiting foreign IT engineers are increasing due to the labor shortage in Japan.On the other hand, there are considerable differences between companies in terms of salary and treatment that can be provided that match the needs of foreigners.So, first of all, we will explain the results of a survey on IT engineers to find out what level of salary is satisfactory and what is the standard salary market trend in Japan. In addition, we will introduce the points you should be careful with in terms of treatment and to who consult when you are in doubt.1.1. Why is the salary market trend important? Isn’t your visa issued unless your salary is at least equal to the Japanese salary?What do you think is the motivation for companies to hire a foreigner?There are two main patterns.・ They wants to recruit talent that is not available in Japan・ They wants to recruit talent equivalent to JapanFirst one is those who have a great skills which Japanese don’t have and get enough treatment to cover everything from housing, meals and maids, all this as company expenses. However, there are few talents in reality.If you see this article and have a rare skill that can be useful in Japan, be bullish on salary and treatment. When negotiating, one of the tips is to negotiate through agents.On the other hand, the latter is the engineer whose salary market is a problem. However, in addition to economic benefits, knowing the Japanese market from the residency system is the key to changing jobs.Foreigners need a residence permit and work permit. So-called visa. In the case of Japan, a work permit will not be granted unless the salary is equivalent to that of a Japanese by a Ministry of Justice ordinance. Therefore, when you work in Japan, you should consider the “salary market of Japanese engineers” and “treatment unique to foreigners”.In addition, in order for foreign IT engineers to work in Japan, it is normal to work with a “technical” status of residence = workable visa. These visas are usually obtained with support from the company. Don’t take visa support as granted, and in case there is support available, ask your company how much support you can get from them.2.What is the salary market trend for foreign IT engineers? Let’s get to know the Japanese IT engineer’s salary market.Since salary is an important part for obtaining the status of residence, then what is the salary market for Japanese IT engineers? What we’ll say from now shows the average salary by occupational type, as surveyed by DODA who is one of the largest HR company in Japan and published on January 20, 2020.As the survey, it can be said that the income of IT engineers in the upstream process is higher and that the downstream is lower.However, considering the age, experienced IT engineers can expect an annual income of over 6 million yen downstream even after the age of 50, and it exceeds the 4.41 million yen which is the average salary of workers in Japan (FY2018, according to the National Tax Agency).In addition, the market of annual income for IT engineer is not only by occupation but also by industry or area.For example, as shown in the survey at this link (Heikinnensyu.jp), if you compare the same SE position, the industry with high technical requirements and high economic conditions, such as those found in financial SE and information and communication, has higher annual income.The average annual SE income by industry exceeds 16.6 million yen in the highest finance and insurance industries and 11.8 million yen in the information and communications industry, while the lowest in the transportation and postal industries has a wide range of 4.80 million yen.In our opinion, the finance and insurance industry and the information and communication industry are too high on the website, there might be some bias for the data. However, depending on which industry you choose and on your level of technological skills, these can be said that salary is likely to change greatly even for the same SE position.By the way, “The wall of 6 million yen” is often said for the annual salary of IT engineers. Because it is difficult to work with an annual income exceeding 6 million yen and salary satisfaction increases when it exceeds 6 million yen.Looking at the whole occupations in Japan, the occupations with an average annual income of more than 6 million yen are a small number of occupations in the upstream according to the survey results through all ages.However, as the age increases, the number of occupations whose average annual income exceeds 6 million yen will increase slightly. Beyond the age of 50, the average annual income for most occupations is over 6 million yen.For example, the debug tester’s annual income has also risen, with an average annual income of 6.61 million yen, far exceeding the average annual income of all office workers. It is a job that is said to be simple and steady, but considering that you will work for a long time in Japan, it will be considered as one of the more attractive jobs.In this way, it is necessary to consider whether the salary is an acceptable one, considering age and experience.3.What should foreign IT Engineers be aware of other than salary?It is not recommended to only consider salary market when considering the salary.For example, if you are wondering which company is better with the same 5.5-million-yen salary, it is important to consider the following factors.・ Overtime working hours・ Welfare・ Systems such as company training and mentors・ Support for family visa acquisitionIt is important to get to know the actual working style, such as whether the workplace is too hard together with overtime hours, judging from salary alone may even damage your health. So it is important to be careful with.Among benefits, other than special holidays, there are systems and health examinations that fit the sense of IT engineers who work hard, such as subsidized food and meals provided by the company, and that are economically beneficial. It is a good idea to pay particular attention to items that require a large amount of expenditure, such as whether they will bear the burden or reduce the burden at their own expense.As a foreigner living in Japan, the Japanese language is always needed to be improved. It would be better if the company has an educational program.Also, if you have family visa support, you can reduce your out-of-pocket expenses. It is important to make sure if your family will be supported.4.G Talent is the service that supports Foreign IT engineer decisions.For that reason, the salary of foreign IT engineers is also required when obtaining a visa, so let’s negotiate with the company to aim for a salary with the same market price as the Japanese occupation and industry.However, there are many other factors that actually affect salary, such as visa support, benefits and educational training programs, and negotiating these one by one is a difficult task. And, in the end, you’ll often find yourself worried about some of the several companies you’ve narrowed it down.In this regard, it is considered that using recruitment service agents specializing in foreigners has a great advantage.For example, with our G Talent’s service, you can get bilingual support expert on IT talent with free. It will help you bridge the gap between individuals and companies during negotiations. And you don’t need to worry about words.In addition, G Talent is a long-established English conversation school. The company also has know-how in training programs and is well-versed in the education and training programs of recruiting companies, providing objective advice and insights.Therefore, G Talent is well aware of the recruitment performance of bilingual global talent at each company. We have a lot of projects with companies with a proven track record, so if you are a candidate for a foreign IT engineer, your options will be expanded after receiving the GTalent service.G Talent – Professional IT Recruitmenthttps://www.gtalent.jp/ConlclusionThe salary market of foreign IT engineers is considered the same as the salary of Japanese IT engineers. Visa requirements also require a salary equivalent to Japanese by Japanese government.In general, the salary level of IT engineers is considered to be higher than the general office workers, but it does not seem to be an attractive salary for some young people in the downstream process.However, it is difficult for foreign engineers to understand the actual total amount of salary if they don’t look at the benefits, like training from the company, visa support, etc. We recommend you to seek the help of a professional advisor like G Talent and be sure to change jobs with a reasonable salary.