Anna — Backend engineer in Vancouver (career change from graphic design)
4 years as a graphic designer in Japan; switched into backend engineering via Canadian college + intensive mentoring.
バックエンドエンジニア · Vancouver
Profile
Anna worked as a graphic designer in Japan, then became a backend engineer in Vancouver after studying at an IT-related school in Canada.
Current role
Backend engineer at the same company as her mentor (Miyoshi); started in January of the interview year, about 3 months before Co-op began.
Japan experience
About 4 years as a graphic designer at a small advertising agency in Japan (also video, promo songs/BGM). Entered design via an entry-level hiring path after freelancing/band work—not an engineering background. For engineering specifically she was a career changer (no prior web/dev experience in Japan; self-taught basics before/during study abroad planning).
Path to Canada / North America
Chose Vancouver with Frog support (vs language-only study elsewhere). Attended an IT-related school in Canada; treated school as a resource to use, not a guarantee. Built a blog/service motivation in PHP; received intensive backend mentoring from Miyoshi (field-based PHP) which she credits as decisive for getting hired.
Outcome
Landed backend work before Co-op started; planned to use remaining working-holiday time after the Co-op year. Exact current employer name is not emphasized in the article beyond working with her mentor’s company.
Based on Frog’s Japanese-language interview. English summary for scanning (partners / employers). Original interview (Japanese)
Attributes mark background=未経験 for engineering role; Japan design experience is substantial.