Full Careers
Moving to Japan--advice on career change?
We have lived in Japan twice 10 years ago both doing the JET program in turn. We now have 2 young children (Asian, adopted) and would love for them to have the opportunity to live abroad, go to an international school and live & travel in Asia. My husband has worked in product management/development for the past 10 years in Japanese companies and is in a career track to become a director at his current company. We loved living in Japan, as hard as it is, and have always dreamed of trying the ex-pat life there. The current position is a switch from Japanese manufacturing companies to working as a director for a US state office in Japan to bring Japanese companies to that state (& jobs for US workers). Idealistically we really like it and hope that long term, it will help my husband break into working for American companies in Japan. We wonder, though, if this kind of change in his resume (we plan to live there at least 3-5 years) would really set him back. Thanks!
Public Comments
- If Japan is where you want to be, and this job pays you enough to live happily in Japan, then it's a step forward.
- If stepping up the career is the first priority for you or your husband, my answer is don't. For Japanese corporations, US is not a very much attractive location to build a new factory instead they are looking for far south of boarder or of course neighbors. It might be rather tough to get something to add in his resume as a state rep in Japan. But at least one thing I can focus on that is while he is working in state office, he can have quite a lot of opportunity to meet Japanese business executives and can expand "kone" relationship which will be a key to develop his career if he keeps working at something Japanese place. Personally, I would like to say, if you love Japan and dream of living there, just go ahead. One life, live it.
