Sales-to-engineer pivot in Japan, then AWS support engineering in Toronto via CICCC
After four years in sales and two years in Japanese IT (QA then fullstack), Yano raised English quickly, studied at CICCC from 2023, and received an AWS offer about a year after arrival.
サポートエンジニア · Toronto · AWS
Profile
Yano is in his 20s in Toronto as a support engineer at AWS. Attributes: experienced engineer, college route, ~12 months to offer. Waseda University background (entered humanities track; finished in a more science-leaning major).
Current role
Support engineer at AWS (Toronto hub growth timing noted as relevant to hiring). He has also helped lead AWS information sessions for Frog members. QA background is described as useful in the current role.
Japan experience
Four years in sales for a cleaning-services company, then a complete career change into engineering via self-study and community—no bootcamp. IT path: ~1 year mainly as a tester, then ~1 year fullstack at a product company (2 years IT total before Canada). Frog inquiry April 2022 with TOEIC 575; raised to 870 in about five months of focused study.
Path to Canada / North America
Decided on Canada in a single day after a senior engineer (prior Frog advisee) shared a plan: CICCC Co-op for visa/English while job hunting, with a longer-term eye on US big-tech transfer. Rejected staying in Japan for an domestic foreign-affiliated path. Arrived 29 March 2023 after ~1 year prep. Started applying almost immediately in a recession market; early Canadian experience via CICCC career-support connection (project ended in ~3 months) and a later Frog Slack contract project (Ruby; Japan/Vancouver company).
Outcome
AWS offer roughly one year after arrival (aligned with monthsToOffer=12). Had another startup offer in play that became uncertain; chose AWS. Continues a global-career framing beyond the first Canadian role.
Based on Frog’s Japanese-language interview. English summary for scanning (partners / employers). Original interview (Japanese)