I asked ChatGPT for 7 reasons software engineers should move to Japan.

Out of curiosity, I decided to ask ChatGPT to share some reasons why software engineers should move to Japan. It was a question asked in my live interview with LinkedIn, but I don’t think there is a good answer that works for a wide audience. In this blog entry, I will react to ChatGPT’s response.

Japan is known for its rich culture, beautiful landscapes, and innovative technology. As a software engineer, moving to Japan could be a great opportunity to immerse yourself in a new environment and enhance your career. Here are 7 reasons why you should consider moving to Japan as a software engineer:

1. Innovative Technology: Japan is known for being at the forefront of technological innovation, especially in areas such as robotics, artificial intelligence, and IoT. As a software engineer, you will have the opportunity to work on cutting-edge projects and collaborate with some of the most talented engineers in the world.
2. High Demand for Software Engineers: Japan has a growing demand for software engineers, with many companies actively seeking foreign talent to fill these roles. This means that you may be able to find a job relatively easily and potentially earn a higher salary than in your home country.
3. Strong Work Ethic: Japanese work culture is renowned for its strong work ethic and dedication to hard work. This can be a great environment for software engineers who are passionate about their work and want to be part of a team that is committed to achieving great results.
4. Excellent Quality of Life: Japan is consistently ranked as one of the safest and most livable countries in the world. With its clean cities, efficient public transportation, and vibrant culture, Japan is a great place to live and work.
5. Cultural Immersion: Moving to Japan will give you the opportunity to immerse yourself in a new culture and experience things that you may not have encountered before. From traditional Japanese festivals to modern pop culture, Japan offers a unique and exciting experience.
6. Language Learning Opportunities: Learning Japanese can be a great way to enhance your career as a software engineer, as it will give you access to a wider range of job opportunities and allow you to communicate more effectively with your colleagues. Living in Japan will give you the opportunity to learn the language more quickly and effectively.
7. Career Growth: Moving to Japan as a software engineer can be a great way to enhance your career and gain new skills. You will have the opportunity to work on a wide range of projects, collaborate with top engineers, and potentially advance your career in ways that may not be possible in your home country.

In summary, moving to Japan as a software engineer can be a great opportunity for personal and professional growth. From innovative technology to cultural immersion, there are many reasons to consider making the move to Japan.

Not a bad effort ChatGPT! If the candidate is from a certain place geographically and career wise, I could find myself agreeing somewhat with most of ChatGPT’s reasons. However, some things need clarification.

“High Demand” Is Confusing

Demand for software engineers in Japan is at an all-time high, despite the layoffs made famous in Big Tech. Depending on specific requirements (language skills, tech stack, location etc), the “candidates to vacancies” ratio is as acute as 1:7 up to 1:13. That is huge demand for and tiny supply of software engineers.

However, the catch is that the vast majority of those vacancies are only open to those in Japan eligible to work. 99.3% of tech vacancies across our combined businesses in Japan are not open to people overseas at all. The remaining 0.7% of vacancies are somewhat open to overseas applicants if the candidates are truly outstanding and local supply falls short.

Japan is a very popular location for those considering relocation from around the world. So, the supply-demand ratio on vacancies open to English speakers around the world is not favourable to candidates at all. Large ecommerce companies in Japan receive on average 300+ overseas applicants per vacancy per week. So, the ratio is completely reversed! From 1:13, to 300:1.

The demand for onshore “in Japan” software engineers is very high. However, the demand for those based overseas – and therefore “moving to Japan” – is a lot less than the big supply. Getting the first job to come to Japan from overseas is extremely difficult.

Salaries Are Not That Good (at first)

As you can imagine from the supply-demand dynamic, salaries for someone’s first job in Japan moving from overseas are going to be significantly lower than the in-Japan market average for that skillset. Given how many candidates apply for these roles, we can imagine tough negotiations and companies very happy to say “take it or leave it” with a big queue of others like us interested in taking our place if we reject.

The other factor is that overseas candidates come with start date, timeline, VISA, relocation and other uncertain challenges. All else being equal (or close enough to equal), hiring managers in Japan will happily pay more for an onshore engineer, and therefore looking to pay less for someone coming from overseas. Put simply, hiring managers expect a bargain if they’re “taking a risk” on an overseas candidate.

A lot of people without much experience working in Japan may also find that it takes longer for them to adjust and become highly productive. This is factored into salaries too. Overall, the first salary someone gets when relocating to Japan is typically right at the very bottom of the market rate for their skill set and experience. In time (salary reviews, perm conversion, changing companies, etc), the market dynamics pull people up into the proper bracket, however if you’re thinking about tech jobs in Japan, be ready for at least a year or two at the lower end of the salary bands.

Still Interested?

If we haven’t put you off with my myth-busting, please feel free to reach out. We have a special Tech Jobs In Japan free service, and can walk you through a proven path to a great career and life in Japan.