IT Career Consulting: The IT job market
- by the Editors -
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Computing Japan recently spoke with Colin Silvester, the international division leader of recruitment consultancy JAC Japan. We asked him about opportunities for foreigners in the IT job market..
Q: Are there good opportunities in Japan for non-Japanese IT specialists? A: The short answer is, "Yes, there are." The IT (information technology) industry is still growing at a fair pace across the globe, and Japan is no exception. The Japanese economy may not be in great shape right now, but of all industries, IT seems to be weathering the storm better than most. In fact, although the Japanese economy is still in a recession, this has been countered by the move towards "internationalization." Communications, business, and IT are increasingly using English as a prime language, and this, coupled with the growing influence of foreign companies within Japan, is increasing the need for English-speaking IT professionals. It is perhaps true to say that, despite the fragility of the economy, there are more opportunities within IT for non-Japanese speaking foreigners than in any other profession except teaching English.
Q: Does an ability to speak Japanese increase the scope of job opportunities? A: Yes, certainly. The ability to write in Japanese is perhaps not so significant, but the customer base here is mostly Japanese, a good level of spoken Japanese (especially the ability to use keigo) is essential for sales and support staff. However, just being able to speak the language is not enough; you must also have a confident manner and a professional attitude.
Q: In terms of career opportunities (i.e., jobs that offer company benefits, genuine responsibilities, and future prospects), is it better to work at a
Japanese or a foreign company? A: I think it is still fairly safe to say that, for non-Japanese, there are more opportunities in non-Japanese companies, since internal communications are often conducted in English and there is a high level of contact with the company's offices outside Japan. In addition, regretfully, I still hear stories of non-Japanese staff being used as "flower pots" in some of the more traditional Japanese companies: simply wheeled out for special occasions, just to prove that the company is "international" and moving into the 21st century!
Q: How about the choice between an IT and a non-IT company? A: Companies such as Microsoft and PTC have relatively large operations in Japan, as do Goldman Sachs and Ford. These latter companies have specific needs for computing resources, and therefore for related professional IT staff. The former, because they are in the IT business, have a broader spectrum of opportunities. Many of the largest non-Japanese software and hardware manufactures, however, do not do any designing or manufacturing in Japan; they sell, support, and localize, but do most of their creative work outside of Japan. But the non-IT companies are constantly upgrading their systems and designing new software, with much of this is being conducted on a local basis. It should be obvious, though, that in a non-IT company, future career prospects for IT staff will be limited to service functions within the bounds of the company.
Q: What are the main growth areas for IT professionals in Japan?
A: The growth areas are the same here as elsewhere. The information industry (companies supplying information as a product) is growing quickly, as is the software industry. Also, non-Japanese financial companies have been moving into Japan rapidly, and will continue to do so (though maybe at a calmer pace); their need for English-speaking IT staff is great, since the financial world is almost completely run in English, and their systems are large and complex. The Y2K problem is also generating new opportunities, both within and outside of IT-related companies. And the growth of the Internet and e-commerce is generating a demand for IT staff.
Career consulting is a new column in Computing Japan, in which we will offer advice and guidance to those working in the technology sector. You can also check out job listings for positions in Japan at http://www.computingjapan.com/resources/classifieds/employment.html.
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