From freeter and hospitality plans to Generac software engineer via college co-op
Career changer: Japan freeter → WH/ESL/Starbucks → college mobile track + unpaid internship → FE path, now at Generac.
ソフトウェアエンジニア · Vancouver · Generac
Profile
Kei (20s) is a career-changer software engineer at Generac in Vancouver. He arrived without a tech plan, then pivoted after hospitality/ESL mismatch and service-industry work showed English alone was insufficient.
Current role
Software engineer at Generac (attributes). Earlier junior role found via college Slack/teacher referral; later switched to Generac with ~2 months of co-op left, then used a second working holiday while visa support was unclear. Company context includes energy/electrical product technology discussed in the interview.
Japan experience
Career changer: ~4–5 years freeter after high school; reception work at an English conversation school (lessons as benefit) sparked overseas interest. No Japan engineering experience stated.
Path to Canada / North America
UK working holiday ballot failed; US cost prohibitive; Canada by elimination, initially via another agency for ESL then Banff hospitality. Quit ESL after poor fit; multi-job period including Starbucks. Entered a mobile college track to learn with a favored instructor; unpaid startup mobile internship from day one of classes; Progate Java/JS prep. Only one co-op work year after prior WH use—tight timeline.
Outcome
Local engineering employment and work authorization despite constrained post-WH co-op window; later move to Generac. Months-to-offer not stated. Also referenced Canadian freelance work in the interview framing.
Based on Frog’s Japanese-language interview. English summary for scanning (partners / employers). Original interview (Japanese)
College name not explicitly confirmed in truncated excerpts; Generac from attributes.