A Foreign SAP Consultant Shares His Journey: Overcoming Challenges and Building a Future Career in Japan

“I wanted to rebuild my career as an SAP consultant in Japan.”
With this strong determination, Palmiano, a consultant from the Philippines, took on the challenge of job hunting in Japan. How did he overcome language and cultural barriers, and what kind of future does he envision?

From SAP in the Philippines to Life in Japan: My Journey So Far

– To start, could you briefly tell us about your background?

My name is Palmiano, and I’m from the Philippines. After graduating with a degree in Computer Science from a university in the Philippines, I worked for about four years as an SAP consultant at a major consulting firm.
I then moved to Japan, which I had long been interested in, and studied Japanese at a language school for about six months. After that, I spent over two years working as an English teacher at a kindergarten and after-school program.
With the support of THE 和RKERS, I am now preparing to start a new chapter in my career this fall as an SAP consultant at a Japanese IT company.

– What made you decide to come to Japan?

The biggest reason is simply that I’ve always loved Japan. When I visited Japan on a trip about 10 years ago, I fell in love with the country so much that I didn’t want to leave.
Also, my mother has been living in Japan for some time, and that made me want to experience life here myself in the future.

– What kind of work were you doing in the Philippines?

I worked as an SAP consultant, supporting client companies with their SAP implementation projects.
My experience was primarily focused on modules such as MM, SCM, WM, and SD.

– Didn’t you consider working in SAP right away in Japan?

At the time I graduated from Japanese language school, my Japanese proficiency was still not very high, and I needed to find a job quickly. So, I explored various opportunities and ended up working as an English teacher at a kindergarten and after-school program until recently.

Returning to SAP: Preparing for a New Challenge in Japan

– Could you tell us why you decided to change jobs this time?

Well, my previous job as an English teacher at a kindergarten and after-school program was very fulfilling, and I really enjoyed it. However, I originally worked as an SAP consultant and have always had a passion for IT and technology.
That’s why I wanted to get back into the SAP field in Japan and continue building my career as an SAP consultant here.

– What made you decide to join the company you’ll be working for?

There are several reasons, but what attracted me the most was that this company handles many global SAP projects and is actively expanding overseas. Even though it’s a Japanese company, it has an international atmosphere, which I found very appealing.
On top of that, the company has strong technical capabilities and expertise in cutting-edge fields such as AI and IoT, which makes it a great place to learn and grow further.

– As a foreigner, receiving an offer as an SAP consultant in Japan must have been challenging. How did you prepare for the selection process?　In your case, Palmiano, you had work experience in Japan and were comfortable with everyday conversation, but your JLPT level was only up to N4, correct?

That’s right. For me, it was all about thorough preparation.
I knew my Japanese language skills were still limited, so I carefully organized what kind of questions might be asked in advance and prepared my answers.
Then I simulated the interviews over and over again until I could confidently respond.
Through that process, I was also able to clarify my own thoughts and career intentions, which made me realize just how important preparation really is.

– That level of dedication is truly one of your strengths, Palmiano.

Finding the Right Support: My Experience with THE 和RKERS

– Why did you decide to consult with THE 和RKERS?

I saw an ad on social media, and when I checked the website, I thought it was great that they specialize in supporting foreign IT professionals in their job search. That’s what made me reach out for help.

– After actually consulting with THE 和RKERS, what did you find most helpful about their service?

Honestly, everything. Yokomi-san’s support was incredibly thorough, and I always felt encouraged.
First of all, they introduced me to positions that I couldn’t find on typical large job sites, which was a big plus.
On top of that, they helped check the Japanese in my work history document, provided mock interview practice, and even handled communication and coordination with the companies on my behalf. That support was a huge help.

– On the other hand, is there anything you think could be improved to make the service even better?

Let’s see… I think right now you’re especially strong in introducing SAP consultant positions, but in the future, it would be even better if there were more opportunities for programmers and project managers as well.

– Thank you. We are also working to strengthen our offerings for software engineers and consultants in packages other than SAP, so we hope to support even more foreign IT professionals moving forward.

Looking Ahead: My Hopes for a Career in SAP

– Palmiano, how do you envision your future career?

Well, first of all, I want to strengthen my SAP knowledge and experience at the company I’ll be joining this fall, so that I can truly contribute to the company, the projects, and the clients.
I also want to focus on building strong, trusting relationships with my colleagues and managers.
In about three years, I hope to be leading smaller projects or modules as a team leader.
And in five years, my goal is to become a project manager capable of leading international projects.

– That’s an excellent career plan. The company you’ll be joining is a great environment, so I’m sure you’ll do well!