Japan boutique frontend engineer who joined Major Tom in Vancouver
From a small Japan web shop (WordPress/full delivery) through one year of ESL and college in Vancouver, Michinobu chose Major Tom after dual final-round offers.
フロントエンドデベロッパー · Vancouver · Major Tom
Profile
Michinobu is a frontend developer in Vancouver at design agency Major Tom (formerly Drive Digital). Attributes: prior experience; college route.
Current role
Frontend developer at Major Tom with broad, near full-stack delivery similar to Japan work; positive about culture and hours (e.g., 9–5). Aims for permanent residency.
Japan experience
Prior experience. University network-related major (HTML/CSS/PHP/jQuery; small CMS projects). Joined a ~5-person web production company as frontend engineer; handled WordPress themes, server setup, client direction, and often nearly everything except design. Planned a change after “about three years”; described extreme overtime (35-hour stretches referenced). Exact total years at the firm not stated beyond that planning horizon.
Path to Canada / North America
Consulted Frog around December 2014; chose Canada. Arrived with weak English (“This is a pen” level) but work skills and remaining working-holiday eligibility. One year language school focused on IELTS for college entry; then a community college (target school missed on score; chose a Frog acquaintance’s school). Class mix ~half experienced; added mobile coursework. Targeted design agencies in the job search (higher reply rates once focused).
Outcome
Reached final interviews at two companies, received offers from both, accepted the first (Major Tom / Drive Digital). Job-search length not stated.
Based on Frog’s Japanese-language interview. English summary for scanning. Original interview (Japanese)