日本と海外のエンジニアに違いはある?異なる点や海外のメリット・デメリットを解説Are there differences between Japanese and overseas engineers? Explaining the differences and the advantages and disadvantages of overseas

Some people who work as engineers will hope to work overseas in the future. Also, there are probably some who work in Japan but dream of working on projects together with overseas engineers. 
For such people, it is important to "know the differences between Japan and overseas." There are big differences between Japanese engineers and overseas engineers, and if you do not understand these, you will not be able to work on projects smoothly. In this article, we will explain the differences between Japan and overseas for those who are thinking about working overseas or collaborating with overseas engineers.

When interacting with engineers overseas, unlike in Japan, it is necessary to be conscious of the language. First, let's understand what kind of communication is required.

The common language of engineers is English

English is a language that is widely used around the world, and this is no different in the world of engineers. If you interact with overseas engineers, you will be required to learn English. You will have to speak in English not only with engineers whose native language is English, but also with countries like Japan where languages ​​other than English are used. 
In fact, I have experienced various overseas projects, and almost all of them were conducted in English. For example, in projects involving members from the United States and Europe, everyone used English regardless of whether their native language was English or not. Not only email and chat interactions, but also meetings and face-to-face meetings must be conducted in English. 
However, not all overseas engineers are fluent in English. Like Japanese people, they have a different native language, and in many cases they learn English to communicate. In this case, the other party's English is also poor, so communication is often difficult. Unlike in Japan, communication costs should be considered higher. 
Even if someone can speak English well, there are big differences depending on the country of origin. In my experience, I have experienced things like "I can't understand German engineers because they speak English with a German accent," and "Indian engineers pronounce the R at the end of words, so I can hear words I don't know." If you don't understand these differences, it will be difficult to communicate smoothly as an engineer.

In some cases, you may need the local language

Companies that are expanding globally can basically communicate using English. Therefore, if you have mastered English, you can communicate well with overseas engineers. Depending on whether English is your native language, there may be some differences in the language ability of the other engineer, but you can avoid situations where you cannot communicate. However, you should be careful because in some cases you may need the local language. 
For example, in Vietnam, which is a popular offshore development destination, there are a certain number of engineers who can speak English. However, the people who can speak English are mainly "bridge SEs," and in most cases they are different from the engineers who actually develop the product. In development, if the bridge SE cannot pick up on the finer nuances, they must communicate directly in the local language, such as Vietnamese. This is just one example, but unlike in Japan, English is not necessarily the only foreign language that needs to be learned.

Values ​​regarding work can be fundamentally different between Japan and other countries. Let's first understand what the differences are.

Systems for wages and raises

Unlike Japan, many other countries do not adopt a seniority system. Therefore, there are big differences in the way wages and raises are considered. 
First of all, in Japan, regardless of the type of job, wages tend to increase as you get older. Also, if you continue to work and contribute to the same company, your wages will increase even if only a little. Ability also affects wages and raises, but systems such as "I've worked for more than 10 years, so my monthly salary is more than 300,000 yen" and "I'll be promoted to a managerial position after 15 years" tend to be adopted. 
However, unlike Japan, there is almost no concept of a seniority system overseas. Also, the length of time you work has only a limited effect on your salary and raises. Basically, wages are determined by the difficulty of the skills required for the work you are in charge of, and an evaluation is also carried out to see if you can get a raise.

How people think about and perceive time

How people think about and perceive time is very different from Japan. In Japan, many people are strict about time, while many people overseas are loose with time. It depends on the national character, but let's keep in mind that the way people perceive time is very different. 
For example, in India, people tend to prioritize their own comfort over being punctual. Therefore, even if there is work left with a deadline approaching, it is common to see people going home without working overtime. I have also witnessed people "leaving work at other companies before the regular time even if there is work left to do, so as not to waste time in the crowds on the way home." This is extreme, but unlike in Japan, they do not have the mindset of "working until the very last minute and then going home." 
However, I get the impression that Asian countries have a mindset similar to Japan. They don't seem to be as precise as in Japan, but it's safe to say that they place importance on working on time and meeting deadlines.

Division of roles between team and individual

Overseas, people tend to value individual achievements more than in Japan. For example, in Japan, the success of a project tends to be evaluated by the team, but overseas, people tend to evaluate individuals. Unlike in Japan, the evaluation is largely determined by how much an individual contributed to the results. 
For example, suppose a planning group at a supermarket considers introducing a new product and it sells explosively. In Japan, the group is evaluated, but overseas, the individual who proposed it is evaluated. This difference in thinking has a big impact on the job of an engineer, so it is important to understand it.

Work-life balance, including working on holidays

Overseas, unlike Japan, people rarely work on holidays and place great importance on work-life balance. In shift jobs, you have to work on Saturdays and Sundays, but there are very few cases where people work on holidays in other jobs. Basically, private life is more important, and holidays take priority even if there are problems at work. 
In addition, there are countries and regions where working on holidays is difficult in the first place. For example, in France, it is required by law that public transportation, hospitals, restaurants, and tourist areas must have Sundays off. This is an example of a legal restriction, but even if it is not, the national character of the country is not as hardworking as in Japan, and tends to respect holidays.

The importance of employee benefits

Many companies in Japan have employee benefit systems. However, employee benefit systems overseas are not as important as in Japan, and the way they are handled varies from company to company. For example, like in Japan, transportation expenses are paid in full, and financial support and vacation systems are provided to enjoy vacations. On the other hand, there are also companies that do not have any employee benefit systems at all, and expect employees to cover transportation expenses and other costs from their wages. 
 

The environment for engineers in Japan and overseas is very different, so I will pick out and explain six differences.

Differences in salary and compensation

The majority of countries have a different approach to salary and compensation than Japan. Basically, overseas, the amount of skill an individual has affects their salary and compensation. Unlike in Japan, age and the length of time they have worked have almost no effect. Jobs that anyone can do are low-paid regardless of age, while jobs that require specialized skills, such as engineering, tend to be higher. 
However, since it is purely skill-based, there will be no salary increase even if you work for the medium to long term unless your skills improve. In Japan, there are cases where you automatically get a salary increase depending on the number of years you have worked, but this is rarely the case overseas.

Differences in employment types

There are also big differences in employment types, and the idea of ​​lifetime employment is not assumed like in Japan. Therefore, there are many engineers who work part-time or as freelancers. It is no exaggeration to say that the way of working that focuses on full-time employment is unique to Japan. 
However, the fact that employment status affects wages and compensation is the same in Japan and overseas. For example, even if you are engaged in similar work, there is a difference in compensation between full-time employees and part-time employees. Although it is a world where ability is emphasized, it is similar in that full-time employees tend to be favored in every country.

Differences in working style

The basic idea is that you work when you want to work and don't work when you don't have to. Even if you have a period of not working, you are rarely criticized for a gap in your work history, as in Japan. Therefore, you can work as a busy engineer for about half a year, and minimize your work as an engineer for the remaining half a year. 
The background to the differences with Japan is the wages and compensation that emphasize skills, as well as the differences in employment status, as mentioned above. In Japan, age is taken into consideration, so people who have a gap in their work history and "have low skills for their age" tend to be avoided. However, overseas, age is not taken into consideration so it doesn't matter if you have a gap in your work history. 
In fact, there was an American engineer who was participating in one of my projects who said, "Once this project is over, I'll take three months off." There is a big difference in the way of working compared to Japan.

Differences in the work environment

In Japan, the work environment is well-established due to the establishment of the Labor Standards Act and other laws. However, this is not a given, and you must be careful because there are big differences in the environment surrounding engineers overseas. 
For example, in Asian and European countries, engineers tend to be provided with the equipment they need. They are provided with computers and smartphones and use them to work. In contrast, in the United States, computers are often provided, but individuals sometimes bring their own computers that are easy to use. 
In addition, differences in climate, etc., can greatly affect productivity, so you should be careful. For example, when I visited India, it was the rainy season and there were a lot of monsoons, so I had a hard time getting used to it. Because it was a short stay, I was not able to get used to it until the end, and the difference in the climate had a big impact on my life and productivity.

Differences in technical levels

For example, the United States is an advanced IT country, and the overall level of its engineers is high. There are many internationally renowned companies, and high-level engineers from all over the world gather there. If you do not have sufficient skills, you will not be valued just because you are a Japanese engineer. 
On the other hand, Japanese engineers are highly valued in regions that are not considered advanced IT countries. In fact, in a project in Cambodia in which I participated, I was treated well by local engineers. They want to learn technology from countries where IT is developed, such as Japan. 
Even in low-income developing countries like Vietnam, there are cases where the whole country is putting effort into training engineers. In my experience with offshore development projects, there are engineers with very high skills, so do not judge them based on their image alone.

Differences in career plans

It is common for career plans overseas to focus on developing your area of ​​expertise. Also, unlike in Japan, you are not presented with a career plan by the organization, but are expected to think for yourself. 
For example, in Japan, you work as an engineer for about 10 years after joining the company, and then your boss tends to force you to choose whether to aim to become a manager or continue as an engineer. However, overseas, you basically continue working as an engineer forever, and only aim to become a manager if you really want to. 
In addition, there is no concept like in Japan that "managers are important and engineers work under them." There are many engineers who earn more than managers, which is very different from the Japanese career plan that "you need to aim to become a manager in order to get a raise." 
 

There are many differences between the environments for engineers in Japan and overseas, so we will explain the advantages and disadvantages based on these.

Advantages of working overseas for Japanese engineers

We will explain the advantages of working overseas for Japanese engineers.

Easier evaluation of abilities

The advantage of working overseas is that your abilities are more easily evaluated than in Japan. Since the idea of ​​placing importance on skills is deeply rooted in many countries and regions, it is easier for highly skilled people to play an active role than in Japan. 
For example, in Japan, there is a tendency to evaluate the value of engineers based on their age. Therefore, young people may not be evaluated even if they are highly skilled. It is also possible that they will not be assigned to projects. However, such events are almost never the case overseas, and if you have the ability, you will be evaluated, and if you don't, you will be cut off.

There is a possibility that you can handle more advanced technology than in Japan

Depending on the working environment, there is a possibility that you can handle more advanced technology than in Japan. For example, if you work in the United States, you may be able to use the latest technology developed by companies in San Francisco or the technology of the open source community as soon as possible. Because they are more tolerant of the introduction of new technology than Japan, it is actively used. Japan tends to dislike new technology and ideas that are not adopted by major companies, so this should be considered a big difference. 
Also, many new technologies are developed overseas, such as in the United States, and they are translated into Japanese and used in Japan. There is a time lag between development and documentation, and in this respect, the latest technology is not easily introduced in Japan. 
 

Less overtime and more paid leave

Compared to Japan, the advantage is that there is less overtime and more paid leave. This is the same in every country and region, and is particularly noticeable in the United States, Europe, and Australia. Engineers in the United States and Europe leave work promptly at the regular time even if there is work left. In Japan, there are cases where managers work overtime until late, but overseas, it is characteristic that managers also leave work at the regular time. 
In addition, Europe tends to have more paid vacation days than Japan. In Japan, 20 days of paid vacation is considered a lot, but in Europe, 30 days of paid vacation days are often given and can be easily taken. This is also a big advantage, as it is easier to maintain a work-life balance if you have a lot of paid vacation days. 
In fact, at a German company where I was participating in a project, engineers were given about 30 days of paid vacation days. And perhaps because the hurdle for taking vacation days is low, they often took vacation days, which affected the progress of the project.

Disadvantages of Japanese engineers working overseas

We will also explain the disadvantages of Japanese engineers working overseas.

Responsible for all your mistakes

Since most overseas countries are individualistic, you have to take responsibility for any mistakes you make. For example, if an engineer stops the system due to a setting mistake, only that engineer's evaluation will be significantly lowered. In Japan, the whole team, including the team and superiors, is responsible, but overseas, individual responsibility is greater. 
Because you are personally responsible, this will have a significant impact on your evaluation of salary increases and promotions. The hurdle for demoting overseas is lower than in Japan, so it may lead to your position as an engineer being lowered. The advantage is that your abilities are easily evaluated, but on the other hand, the disadvantage is that even a small mistake can lead to you being deemed incompetent and being demoted or losing your job.

Concerns about public safety and medical care

Japan is considered to have good public safety and a well-developed medical system compared to other countries, but this is not necessarily the case overseas. 
First of all, in terms of public safety, Japan is ranked 7th in the world and has a good evaluation, according to the Institute for Economics and Peace's "2024 Global Peace Index." The United States is ranked 93rd, and European countries are around 20th, which makes me feel a little uneasy about the public safety aspect. In fact, when I worked on a project in France, a Japanese engineer on the same project was pickpocketed. The difference and disadvantage is that there are areas where even crimes that are rarely seen in Japan occur frequently. 
In addition, in terms of the medical system, Japan has a universal health insurance system, so you can basically visit a medical institution easily with only a partial payment. However, the United States and Europe do not have such a system, and it is not easy to visit a medical institution. For example, the medical system in the United States varies greatly from state to state, but it tends to cost a huge amount of money to visit a medical institution. It is an environment where you can potentially earn a lot more money than in Japan, but the fact that you are forced to spend a lot of money in the event of an emergency is a difference and risk from Japan. 
Reference: https://www.economicsandpeace.org/global-peace-index/

Administrative procedures such as tax payment tend to be complicated

If you work as an engineer overseas for the medium to long term, you may be busy with administrative procedures such as tax payment overseas. This does not apply if you belong to a Japanese company and your wages are paid in Japan, but you should be careful if your wages are paid locally. Tax and social insurance systems vary greatly from country to country, and so do the procedures that individuals must follow. 
A particular disadvantage is that, unlike in Japan, there are many things that engineers must do individually. In Japan, there are almost no procedures required unless you work as a freelancer. However, in my experience, I have seen company engineers working in Germany being swamped with administrative procedures. The disadvantage is that it involves a lot of hassle that would not occur in Japan.

We have explained the differences between Japan and other countries in the world of engineers. To begin with, there is a big difference in values regarding working styles between Japan and other countries, and this also affects the environment surrounding engineers. For example, in Japan, wages are often determined by a seniority system, including for engineers, but overseas, wages tend to be determined by skill alone, with age having no effect.
In the future, more than ever before, Japanese engineers will be working with overseas engineers to complete projects, or will be sent overseas from Japan. In this situation, it is very important to understand the differences between Japan and other countries. At the very least, you should understand the contents introduced here, and aim to become an engineer who can be active overseas as well.