Toru — Frontend/web path via VanArts to Fuse (career change from network/server)
Three years network/server engineering in Japan; VanArts one-year program; working holiday local hire then move to Fuse as junior developer (~12 months to offer).
フロントエンドエンジニア · Vancouver · Fuse
Profile
Toru is a web/frontend-oriented developer in Vancouver who joined Fuse after an earlier contract web role. Attribute background is 未経験 for the web/creative track (prior network/server work). Age band 20s.
Current role
At Fuse: junior developer scope with design-to-backend ownership on real projects; working-holiday performance led to work-visa support discussion. Interested in growing toward UX design; considering PR application even if long-term Canada stay is undecided.
Japan experience
University graduate; joined a venture without intending IT, became **network/server engineer ~3 years**. Had vague interest in creative/web design during job hunt but took the offered path. Felt mismatch; discovered Frog/Senna and other web-creator resources. Chose Vancouver over Singapore on visa/PR realism. Attribute marks web career as 未経験 despite infrastructure engineering background.
Path to Canada / North America
VanArts (vs BCIT) for accessibility/English bar and curriculum balance across design, development, and marketing. No ESL; strong pre-arrival English study; continued daily English for ~6 months after arrival. Intense schedule (early English study + long school days). Class local-hire rate low (2/14 including Canadians). Extra activities (e.g. UBC web design contest, Meetups). First job search ~**70** applications; career-advisor help + Frog Timmy advice. First role: small Vancouver publishing company, contract in-house web for site renewal.
Outcome
Attribute monthsToOffer=12. Switched to working holiday then moved to Fuse as junior developer with ~6 months WH left; earned work-visa support. First role left due to post-renewal stagnation and weak PR/visa pathway as contract staff.
Based on Frog’s Japanese-language interview. English summary for scanning. Original interview (Japanese)
company=Fuse is second employer; first publishing employer unnamed.