(2015-11-30, 6:02 pm)vix86 Wrote:(2015-11-30, 6:33 am)pm215 Wrote: I'm reminded again of just how wide a field software engineering is these days -- the average skillset these startups seem to want is miles away from what I do (systems-level coding in C, mostly). Incidentally, I didn't see anything on that site about visa sponsorship -- do you know if the typical startup is (or is not) willing to arrange/sponsor the necessary visa for foreign applicants? (I'd guess at least the ones with English versions of their ads probably are.)
There's really no way to know. Honestly with these sites that tend to be aimed at domestic Japanese, the thing you have to do is just apply and then if you make it to the interview stage, ask them about visa sponsorship. Its not super difficult, but it probably requires a little legal counsel to help draw up the documents.
And ya, startups are usually not in the system level stuff unless their product involves some kind of low level stuff.
angelneko Wrote:Hmm... I didnt know small companies / start-ups could sponsor visas. They certainly can't in America (unless they have significant revenue)Ya, Japan doesn't have a H1B system like the US does. As far as I know, there isn't any kind of quota for the number of work permits that can be handed out to immigrants. The most limiting factor is usually that people have no idea how to go about applying for a Visa (Certificate of Eligibility). You can probably consult immigration and they'll tell you what you need, but that doesn't really cover the internal checkboxes you would need to check for immigration to grant you the Visa/CoE. Visa lawyers are more versed in that.
The startup I work at in America just sponsored someone. We're a startup but growing fast and received 80 million in funding over the past year. Needless to say we're probably an exception. That being said I became more open to working at startups, but I'm not explicitly tied to the environment.
In contrast to you, angelneko, I'm very happy where I'm at. But I'm also decently young and want to enjoy the possibility of a future working in Japan. The two don't have to be mutually exclusive, I just have to accept a risk. As stated my bosses know very much I'd like to go to Japan. Even if they start sending me for work purposes, I'd be open to that to begin. I can say with complete confidence I'll be taking serious steps to live there in the next several months. It's just a matter of how.