Advice corner · 就活ガイド
A practical guide in English to Japanese job hunting for engineers: how to prepare, how 就活 works, what to expect at 説明会, the SPI, entry sheets, the interview flow, and how to write a 履歴書 and 職務経歴書.
01 Which path are you on?
Japan hires in two very different ways. Find yours first, because the timing, documents and tests all depend on it.
University, graduate school or 専門学校
Companies hire whole cohorts at once (新卒一括採用) on a fixed yearly calendar, with everyone starting on April 1. They judge potential more than skills, so the SPI, entry sheets and interviews matter a lot. International students in Japan use this path too.
You already have work experience
Hiring happens all year for specific positions. Companies judge what you have done: your 職務経歴書, technical interviews and coding tests. Recruitment agents and scouting sites are common.
About 1–3 years after graduating
Many companies welcome people who left their first job early. You are judged a bit like a new graduate (potential) and a bit like mid-career (what you learned).
New to software
Possible, but you need proof: projects, a portfolio and basic certifications. Many entry roles are at SES companies (engineers placed at client sites). Understand that model before you sign.
02 Prepare: best practices
At most Japanese-speaking companies, JLPT N2 is the usual minimum and N1 helps a lot, especially for client-facing work or Bridge SE roles. Some international tech companies work in English, but there are fewer of them and competition is strong. The JLPT tests reading and listening, so also practice speaking and writing in 敬語 (polite language): interviews and entry sheets need it.
"IT" is too broad. Decide whether you want frontend, backend, infrastructure, data, QA, Bridge SE and so on, and what kind of company: 自社開発 (in-house products), 受託開発/SIer (building systems for clients) or SES (placement at client sites). Job titles in Japan are not standardized, so always read the 仕事内容 (job duties) and required skills.
Projects matter more than ever. A good project shows what problem you solved, how you built it (and how you used AI tools), and what happened. Keep your GitHub tidy, write a short README in English and, if you can, Japanese. A blog or short write-ups help interviewers understand how you think.
IPA's national exams are widely recognized: ITパスポート (IT basics), 基本情報技術者 (FE, the classic engineer entry exam) and 応用情報技術者 (AP). They show Japanese technical vocabulary as well as knowledge. For the AP exam, I keep an English vocabulary guide on GitHub.
Most developers work on the 技術・人文知識・国際業務 ("Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services") status. In general it requires a degree or Japanese 専門学校 diploma related to the job, or enough years of relevant work experience; certain IT exams such as the IPA exams can also count in some cases. Requirements are detailed and change, so confirm with the Immigration Services Agency or your employer's HR.
Your LinkedIn, GitHub, portfolio and 履歴書 should agree: same dates, same titles, same story about what you do. Recruiters compare them. Then network with intention: communities, meetups and referrals build trust faster than cold applications.
| Japanese title | Role | What they do |
|---|---|---|
| フロントエンドエンジニア | Frontend Engineer | Web interfaces and user experience (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, Vue, TypeScript). |
| バックエンドエンジニア | Backend Engineer | Server-side logic, APIs and databases (Python, Java, Node.js). |
| フルスタックエンジニア | Full-Stack Engineer | Both frontend and backend; some companies also expect network knowledge. |
| インフラエンジニア | Infrastructure Engineer | Servers, networks and IT infrastructure (Linux, Nginx, networking). |
| クラウドエンジニア | Cloud Engineer | Cloud architecture and automation (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud). |
| DevOpsエンジニア | DevOps Engineer | CI/CD, monitoring and infrastructure as code (Docker, Kubernetes, Terraform). |
| 組み込みエンジニア | Embedded Engineer | Software for vehicles, industrial equipment and IoT (C/C++, RTOS). |
| 社内SE | Internal Systems Engineer | Internal IT systems, employee support and vendors. Some roles include development, some don't. |
| ブリッジSE | Bridge SE (BrSE) | Connects Japanese clients and offshore teams: clarifies requirements and coordinates projects. |
| システムエンジニア（SE） | Systems Engineer | Requirements, system design, documentation and coordinating development. |
| QAエンジニア | QA Engineer | Test planning and execution, test automation (Selenium, Playwright). |
| SRE | Site Reliability Engineer | Reliability through monitoring, incident response and automation. |
03 The new-graduate 就活 timeline
For a 4-year university, job hunting starts in your 3rd year, about 18 months before you start work. On a 2-year 専門学校 course, it all happens in your first year, so start early. The official schedule below is the government-requested guideline; many companies, especially IT, foreign-owned and start-up companies, move earlier.
Months are approximate and vary by company.
3rd year · spring–summer
Self-analysis (strengths, values, episodes) and industry research. Apply for summer internships (applications around April–June, held around August–September). Internships increasingly lead directly into selection.
3rd year · autumn–winter
More internships, OB/OG visits (talking to alumni at companies) and early selection at IT, foreign-owned and start-up companies. Start SPI practice now.
March 1 · 1 year before graduating
Companies officially open recruiting on job sites. 説明会 season begins, and you submit entries and entry sheets.
March–May
Entry sheets, aptitude tests (SPI etc.), group discussions and first-round interviews. Many students already have 内々定 (informal offers) before June.
June 1
The official start of interviews and offers. Final interviews and 内々定 peak around now.
October 1
The formal offer ceremony. International students: plan the change of residence status with the company (see section 09).
April 1
Everyone starts together, usually with several weeks or months of new-graduate training.
04 説明会: company info sessions
A 説明会 is where a company explains its business, work and hiring process. It can feel like a formality, but it is often the first step of selection: some companies only open entry or skip a step for people who attended.
05 Entry sheets & the SPI
An ES is a company-specific application form with short essay questions, usually 200–400 Japanese characters each. Interviewers read it and ask about it, so keep a copy of everything you submit.
What you worked hard on as a student
One episode: the situation, your goal, the problem, what you did, and the result with numbers. Clubs, part-time jobs, research and personal projects all count. A coding project is a strong choice for engineers.
Your strength
Name one strength, prove it with an episode, then explain how it helps in this job. Being bilingual is good, but show what you did with it, such as bridging two teams.
Why this company
Why this industry, why this company (not its competitors), and what you want to do there. Use what you learned at 説明会 and on the website.
結論 私が学生時代に力を入れたことは、〇〇です。
状況・課題 当時、〇〇という課題がありました。
行動 そこで私は、〇〇を提案し、〇〇に取り組みました。
結果 その結果、〇〇が〇％改善しました。
学び・活かし方 この経験から〇〇を学び、貴社でも〇〇に活かしたいと考えています。
Many companies use an aptitude test to filter applicants early. The most common is Recruit's SPI. It isn't hard, but it is fast, so practice is what makes the difference.
| Part | What it tests | Tips |
|---|---|---|
| 言語 Verbal | Word relationships, meanings, sentence order, reading comprehension | The hardest part for non-native speakers. Learn the common question types and practice reading quickly. |
| 非言語 Non-verbal | Junior-high-level math: logic (推論), probability, profit and loss, speed, tables | Your best place to score. Learn the patterns from a prep book and practice with a timer. |
| 性格検査 Personality | Work style and personality | Answer honestly and consistently. Similar questions repeat to check consistency. |
| English / 構造的把握力 | Optional sections some companies add | Check which sections your target companies use. |
06 The interview flow
A typical new-graduate flow is below. Mid-career is shorter and more technical (see section 08). Expect each step to take about a week or two.
07 Writing a 履歴書 & 職務経歴書
The 履歴書 is a standard-format personal history that every applicant submits. The 職務経歴書 is a free-format work history that mid-career applicants add. Follow each company's instructions first; these are the common conventions.
Usually A4, 1–3 pages. The most common layout lists jobs with the newest first (逆編年体) or the oldest first (編年体):
08 Mid-career & moving from abroad
Already on a work visa and changing employers? Generally you don't need a new visa for the same kind of work, but you must notify Immigration within 14 days. Check the official site for current rules.
09 After the offer
労働条件通知書
Check the annual salary breakdown, bonuses, 固定残業代/みなし残業 (overtime pay already included, and for how many hours), probation period, work location, remote-work rules and the job duties.
内定承諾
Reply by the deadline. If you need more time to decide, ask early and honestly. If you decline, do it quickly and politely; the Japanese tech community is smaller than you think.
在留資格
International students usually change from "Student" to a work status before the April start, with documents from the company. Start as soon as the company is ready. Keep part-time work within your permitted hours until then.
10 Checklist, glossary & resources
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One last thing You don't have to do everything. Pick your priorities, and keep going.