Experienced iOS developer: language school plus working holiday to Picnnic in Vancouver
Brought Japan iOS experience, used tourist entry and ~4 months of language school, switched to working holiday, and hired at Picnnic in about a month—later moving onto a work permit and BC PNP permanent-residence process.
iOSデベロッパー · Vancouver · Picnnic
Profile
Yuki is in his 30s in Vancouver as an iOS developer at Picnnic. Attributes: experienced engineer, working-holiday route, ~5 months to offer.
Current role
iOS developer at Picnnic (startup environment; flatter collaboration than his Japan workplaces; flexible ~8-hour days). At interview he was on a path from working holiday → employer-supported 2-year work permit → BC PNP PR application (~1–1.5 years expected for PR after WP).
Japan experience
Worked as an iOS developer in Japan (exact years not stated). Prepared for roughly half a year before Vancouver (online English via RareJob while not employed). Notes Japanese workplaces as more approval-heavy and hierarchical versus his Canadian startup.
Path to Canada / North America
Initially applied for working holiday from Japan before knowing Frog, assuming WH was required to enter. Entered on tourist status, attended language school ~4 months (placed mid-level; later shifted toward IELTS with PR in mind), then switched to WH and job-hunted under time pressure. Interview mix included phone screens and onsite; algorithm-on-paper failure on at least one process. Built portfolio with Frog feedback before/while preparing.
Outcome
Hired at Picnnic about one month into WH job search (overall path recorded as ~5 months to offer). Later obtained a 2-year work permit when remaining WH time was too short for PR filing; subsequently filed BC PNP. Regrets delaying PR and compensation conversations with the employer.
Based on Frog’s Japanese-language interview. English summary for scanning (partners / employers). Original interview (Japanese)
Exact Japan iOS tenure years not stated—left as not stated.