The Not Your Sensei Podcast

Every few weeks, someone asks how to get an IT job in Japan. Usually they have no Japanese and no IT skills yet. That's fine, but there's a step before the job hunt.

In this episode:

- Why you need one of two "weapons" to get started: Japanese or tech

- What each one opens up, and why having both makes you rare

- Which to start with, depending on whether you're already in Japan or abroad

- A realistic first year: one beginner cert plus steady study toward JLPT N3

- Where CCNA fits if you're heading into networking

- What having N2 actually did for me at helpdesk

Not sure which to start with? Take the quiz: https://notyoursensei.com/#path-quiz

Mentioned in this episode:

- Episode 9, "Which IT Certifications to Get First (Part 2)": where to study for CompTIA A+ and how to book the exams

- Episode 4, "Do You Need Japanese to Work in IT in Japan?": how good your Japanese really needs to be, and the JLPT

- Episode 6, "Your First IT Job in Japan": why user support is the best place to start

- CompTIA A+: https://www.comptia.org/en

- Cisco CCNA: https://www.cisco.com/site/us/en/learn/training-certifications/exams/ccna.html

- Professor Messer (free A+ training): https://www.professormesser.com

Free 15-min call: https://cal.com/notyoursensei

Instagram: @notyoursensei1

Music:

Opening/Ending: "Lost" by Hunter Milo

Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 (CC BY 3.0): https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Download / stream: https://www.audiolibrary.com.co/hunter-milo/lost

Music promoted by Audio Library

Background: "Marshmallow" by Lukrembo

Back after a break. Three things that changed about getting into Japan: the working holiday visa (32 countries, and some now allow a second stay), using teaching as a way in, and how much Japanese you really need.

🎁 From October 4th, the next 5 people get a free Recon call in exchange for an honest review. Email [email protected] with "free session" in the subject.

Links:

- Take the quiz: https://notyoursensei.com/#path-quiz

- Working holiday guide: https://notyoursensei.com/working-holiday-japan-eligibility.html

- Tools (Working Holiday Launch Kit, Teacher's Exit Kit, IT Offer Check): https://notyoursensei.com/tools.html

Sources:

- MOFA, Working Holiday Programmes in Japan: https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/w_holiday/index.html

Free 15-min call: https://cal.com/notyoursensei

Instagram: @notyoursensei1

Music:

Opening/Ending: "Lost" by Hunter Milo

Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 (CC BY 3.0): https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Download / stream: https://www.audiolibrary.com.co/hunter-milo/lost

Music promoted by Audio Library

Background: "Marshmallow" by Lukrembo

Source: https://freetouse.com/music/lukrembo/marshmallow

Where to study for CompTIA A+, Network+ and TCM's Practical Help Desk, and how to book the exams once you're ready.

🎁 From October 4th, the next 5 people get a free Recon call in exchange for an honest review. Email [email protected] with "free session" in the subject.

Links:

- Take the quiz: https://notyoursensei.com/#path-quiz

- Jobs open to foreigners in Japan: https://notyoursensei.com/japan-jobs-guide.html

- Tools (Working Holiday Launch Kit, Teacher's Exit Kit, IT Offer Check): https://notyoursensei.com/tools.html

Resources:

- Professor Messer: https://www.professormesser.com

- CompTIA: https://www.comptia.org/en

- TCM Practical Help Desk: https://certifications.tcm-sec.com/phda

Free 15-min call: https://cal.com/notyoursensei

Instagram: @notyoursensei1

Music:

Opening/Ending: "Lost" by Hunter Milo

Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 (CC BY 3.0): https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Download / stream: https://www.audiolibrary.com.co/hunter-milo/lost

Music promoted by Audio Library

Background: "Marshmallow" by Lukrembo

Source: https://freetouse.com/music/lukrembo/marshmallow

What CompTIA A+ and Network+ are worth for entry-level IT jobs, and how TCM's Practical Help Desk course helps close the experience gap.

🎁 From October 4th, the next 5 people get a free Recon call in exchange for an honest review. Email [email protected] with "free session" in the subject.

Links:

- Take the quiz: https://notyoursensei.com/#path-quiz

- Jobs open to foreigners in Japan: https://notyoursensei.com/japan-jobs-guide.html

- Tools (Working Holiday Launch Kit, Teacher's Exit Kit, IT Offer Check): https://notyoursensei.com/tools.html

Resources:

- CompTIA A+: https://www.comptia.org/en/certifications/a/

- CompTIA Network+: https://www.comptia.org/en/certifications/network/

- TCM Practical Help Desk: https://academy.tcm-sec.com/p/practical-help-desk

Free 15-min call: https://cal.com/notyoursensei

Instagram: @notyoursensei1

Music:

Opening/Ending: "Lost" by Hunter Milo

Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 (CC BY 3.0): https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Download / stream: https://www.audiolibrary.com.co/hunter-milo/lost

Music promoted by Audio Library

Background: "Marshmallow" by Lukrembo

Source: https://freetouse.com/music/lukrembo/marshmallow

No degree or experience in IT? Certifications get you taken seriously. Why they work, what they build, and how they help you stand out.

🎁 From October 4th, the next 5 people get a free Recon call in exchange for an honest review. Email [email protected] with "free session" in the subject.

Links:

- Take the quiz: https://notyoursensei.com/#path-quiz

- Jobs open to foreigners in Japan: https://notyoursensei.com/japan-jobs-guide.html

- Tools (Working Holiday Launch Kit, Teacher's Exit Kit, IT Offer Check): https://notyoursensei.com/tools.html

Free 15-min call: https://cal.com/notyoursensei

Instagram: @notyoursensei1

Music:

Opening/Ending: "Lost" by Hunter Milo

Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 (CC BY 3.0): https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Download / stream: https://www.audiolibrary.com.co/hunter-milo/lost

Music promoted by Audio Library

Background: "Marshmallow" by Lukrembo

Source: https://freetouse.com/music/lukrembo/marshmallow

Whatever you want to do in IT long term, user support is the best place to start. Here's why.

🎁 From October 4th, the next 5 people get a free Recon call in exchange for an honest review. Email [email protected] with "free session" in the subject.

Links:

- Take the quiz: https://notyoursensei.com/#path-quiz

- Jobs open to foreigners in Japan: https://notyoursensei.com/japan-jobs-guide.html

- Tools (Working Holiday Launch Kit, Teacher's Exit Kit, IT Offer Check): https://notyoursensei.com/tools.html

Free 15-min call: https://cal.com/notyoursensei

Instagram: @notyoursensei1

Music:

Opening/Ending: "Lost" by Hunter Milo

Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 (CC BY 3.0): https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Download / stream: https://www.audiolibrary.com.co/hunter-milo/lost

Music promoted by Audio Library

Background: "Marshmallow" by Lukrembo

Source: https://freetouse.com/music/lukrembo/marshmallow

Four books that changed how I think and helped me stop putting off my own career change in Japan, and what you can take from them.

🎁 From October 4th, the next 5 people get a free Recon call in exchange for an honest review. Email [email protected] with "free session" in the subject.

Links:

- Take the quiz: https://notyoursensei.com/#path-quiz

- Stay, pivot or go home guide: https://notyoursensei.com/stay-or-leave-teaching-japan.html

- Tools (Working Holiday Launch Kit, Teacher's Exit Kit, IT Offer Check): https://notyoursensei.com/tools.html

Free 15-min call: https://cal.com/notyoursensei

Instagram: @notyoursensei1

Music:

Opening/Ending: "Lost" by Hunter Milo

Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 (CC BY 3.0): https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Download / stream: https://www.audiolibrary.com.co/hunter-milo/lost

Music promoted by Audio Library

Background: "Marshmallow" by Lukrembo

Source: https://freetouse.com/music/lukrembo/marshmallow

You can't skip the language if you want to work here. Why Japanese matters, a quick intro to the JLPT, and how good your Japanese really needs to be.

🎁 From October 4th, the next 5 people get a free Recon call in exchange for an honest review. Email [email protected] with "free session" in the subject.

Links:

- Take the quiz: https://notyoursensei.com/#path-quiz

- Jobs open to foreigners in Japan: https://notyoursensei.com/japan-jobs-guide.html

- Tools (Working Holiday Launch Kit, Teacher's Exit Kit, IT Offer Check): https://notyoursensei.com/tools.html

Free 15-min call: https://cal.com/notyoursensei

Instagram: @notyoursensei1

Music:

Opening/Ending: "Lost" by Hunter Milo

Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 (CC BY 3.0): https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Download / stream: https://www.audiolibrary.com.co/hunter-milo/lost

Music promoted by Audio Library

Background: "Marshmallow" by Lukrembo

Source: https://freetouse.com/music/lukrembo/marshmallow

The common IT roles, how careers usually move past the help desk, and rough salary ranges in the US and Japan.

🎁 From October 4th, the next 5 people get a free Recon call in exchange for an honest review. Email [email protected] with "free session" in the subject.

Links:

- Take the quiz: https://notyoursensei.com/#path-quiz

- Japan IT salary guide: https://notyoursensei.com/japan-it-salary-guide.html

- Tools (Working Holiday Launch Kit, Teacher's Exit Kit, IT Offer Check): https://notyoursensei.com/tools.html

Free 15-min call: https://cal.com/notyoursensei

Instagram: @notyoursensei1

Music:

Opening/Ending: "Lost" by Hunter Milo

Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 (CC BY 3.0): https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Download / stream: https://www.audiolibrary.com.co/hunter-milo/lost

Music promoted by Audio Library

Background: "Marshmallow" by Lukrembo

Source: https://freetouse.com/music/lukrembo/marshmallow

How I went from teaching in the countryside to recruitment and then into IT, what I learned from the people I've coached along the way, and why now might be the time to look beyond the classroom.

🎁 From October 4th, the next 5 people get a free Recon call in exchange for an honest review. Email [email protected] with "free session" in the subject.

Links:

- Take the quiz: https://notyoursensei.com/#path-quiz

- Stay, pivot or go home guide: https://notyoursensei.com/stay-or-leave-teaching-japan.html

- Tools (Working Holiday Launch Kit, Teacher's Exit Kit, IT Offer Check): https://notyoursensei.com/tools.html

Free 15-min call: https://cal.com/notyoursensei

Instagram: @notyoursensei1

Music:

Opening/Ending: "Lost" by Hunter Milo

Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 (CC BY 3.0): https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Download / stream: https://www.audiolibrary.com.co/hunter-milo/lost

Music promoted by Audio Library

Background: "Marshmallow" by Lukrembo

Source: https://freetouse.com/music/lukrembo/marshmallow