The Not Your Sensei Podcast
Thinking about building a life in Japan, or wondering what comes after teaching English? Not Your Sensei is hosted by a long-term expat who came over as an English teacher with a general degree and no tech background. After more than 10 years working in tech in Japan, he shows you how to do the same, even if you have no background in the field.It wasn't a straight line. Teaching, a year in recruitment, a helpdesk job, and a lot of trial and error in between. Some of it went well, plenty of it didn't.Each episode talks through one...
What Some Recruiters See (That You Don't)
I spent a time as a recruiter in Japan, and watched people get skipped in about ten seconds. Not because they couldn't do the job, but because of how they showed up on paper.
In this episode:
The ten-second scan: what recruiters look for first on your CVJapanese CVs: the ๅฑฅๆญดๆธ (rirekisho) and ่ทๅ็ตๆญดๆธ (shokumu keirekisho)Where IT jobs are actually found: agencies, applying direct, and referralsWhy you have more power in the job hunt than you thinkGood recruiters vs. pushy ones, and why internal recruiters have been the most consistent for meInterview tips for Japanese and foreign companies"Two ye...Average Salary in Japan by Industry: Where the Money Really Is
IT isn't the best-paid industry in Japan. So why do I keep pushing it? And from October 1, 2026, staying here got a lot more expensive.
In this episode:
- Japan's average salary, and how pay compares across industries
- Why utilities and finance pay more, but are mostly closed to mid-career foreigners
- Why IT is the best-paying door that's actually open
- Renegotiating your salary, and what I learned doing it
- The new visa renewal and permanent residency fees, and what to do about them
<...Japanese or Tech Skills: What to Learn First for an IT Job in Japan
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...
Moving to Japan in 2026: What's Changed Since Season 1
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.
๐ 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 Exi...
Which IT Certifications to Get First (Part 2)
Where to study for CompTIA A+, Network+ and TCM's Practical Help Desk, and how to book the exams once you're ready.
๐ 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:
<...Which IT Certifications to Get First (Part 1)
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.
๐ 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
R...
No IT Degree? Why Certifications Level the Field in Japan
No degree or experience in IT? Certifications get you taken seriously. Why they work, what they build, and how they help you stand out.
๐ 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
<...Your First IT Job in Japan: Why to Start in User Support
Whatever you want to do in IT long term, user support is the best place to start. Here's why.
๐ 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: htt...
Stop Waiting: How to Actually Start Your Career Change in Japan
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.
๐ 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/too...
Do You Need Japanese to Work in IT in Japan?
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.
๐ 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): htt...
Stuck on the Help Desk? How IT Careers Grow in Japan
The common IT roles, how careers usually move past the help desk, and rough salary ranges in the US and Japan.
๐ 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: htt...
From a Rural JET School to an IT Career in Japan
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.
๐ 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 Lau...
From English Teacher to Network Engineer in Japan
Tired of teaching and not sure what's next in Japan? This is where the series starts: why IT is a realistic way out of the classroom whatever your background, and why now is as good a time as any to make the move.
๐ 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
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