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Q7. Is it a big challenge for you
to work at Japanese company? Tell me about it.
A. YES. The work ethic
is very, very different from that in the US. Basically, they
pay half as much, give you half the freedom, and expect you
to work twice as hard. Since I've always had an especially
independent personality, this hasn't been easy to adjust to.
But I suppose the biggest challenge would have to be balancing
work with my personal life - because it starts to feel weird
leaving at the end of business hours when 99% of my Japanese
coworkers stay until 10pm or later every single day!
Q8. Any funny/horrible stories about
working at Japanese company?
A. The first thing that
pops into my head occurred shortly after I arrived, during
one of our morning progress meetings. Myself and 5 or 6 other
programmers gather around a table and discuss any issues that
we had on the previous day, or anything we might need help
with on the next. They usually last no more than 1 or 2 minutes.
So when this particular meeting was called, I headed over
and took a seat. Here's what happened:
Supervisor: 「立ってください」 （Please stand up）
Me: 「へぇ？何。。。？」 （Um, what?）
Supervisor: 「これは立つミーティングなので、立ってください。それは規則です。」
( This is a standing meeting, so please stand up. It's the
rules!)
So I stood back up, listened to him talk
for 30 seconds, the meeting ended, I walked over to my chair,
and sat back down.
A perfect example of cultural differences.
Even in a 1 minute meeting, if the rules say to stand, you'd
better make sure to stand!
Q9. Do you have any advice for foreigners
to get a job at a Japanese company?
A. Honestly it's difficult to say because
different people have such different personalities. I know
several foreigners who work at Japanese companies and love
every minute of it, while others just can't stand it. I guess
the most important thing, other than the obvious ''GET GOOD
AT JAPANESE,'' is to just be prepared for the unexpected.
Things that you take for granted or find perfectly natural
in your home country are likely to be quite different - if
not the complete opposite - over here.
Q10. What are your goals for future?
A. Ideally, I'd like to
land a well-paid contract programming job that lets me work
from my laptop, giving me the freedom to travel and work around
my own schedule while still being financially independent.
But in the long run, I'm thinking of going back to grad school
for my MBA because, well, I probably don't want to be a programmer
forever :)
I'd also like to pass the 1Q one of these
days...
Q11. What are your favorite Japanese
words?
Hmmm...kind of a dangerous question, hahaha.
I guess I'll go with a few safer ones:
1) 一生懸命 Because that's how I try to live
pretty much every aspect of my life: studying, lifting, partying,
whatever. If I decide to do something, I do it 100% or not
at all.
2) ろれつ Because it's awesome that there's
a word meaning ''to be inarticulate in speech due to intoxication
or excitement.''
3) マクる Because Japan turned the name ''McDonalds''
into a verb...and that's totally ridiculous!
Q12. Message to WhyNot!? users!
Whatever you do, kick ass at it and don't
settle for anything but the best. Don't resign yourself to
relying on English, or to taking a typical ''gaijin job''
if you've got the means to do otherwise. When I was here as
a student I thought it would be impossible to simultaneously
follow my career path as a game programmer and keep living
in Kyoto. But here I am. So why not you too? |
