IT's Recent Entry

The later

Happy New Year everyone!

Long time not to write down here. It was a long time since I wrote before. A half year and over has been past since got back to Japan from Canada as it was last May. I was really busy for a while so I feel it was a long time ago.

I was trying to get a work permit since the beginning when I arrived in Canada but now I am working for a company in Japan.

As I wrote here so far, the LMO which you need to apply if you want to get a work permit had been applied with ex-company at the end of year before last. And we got the LMO last May in safe. Basically, the LMO would be sent in 2-3months if no issue. In my case, it took for 6 months eventually. Then I got a time to apply my work permit finally but I was going back to Japan because my visitor visa has been expired last May and I was trying to seek a job in Japan. After that time, I got a job from one foreign company fortunately on the same time when the LMO was out. The company has some of branch in the world is from Israel. It was hard to make a decision to go back to Canada or catch the new offer in Japan as the job offer is a great which my experience in Canada is needed, English and Android skills, moreover my Web application skills are needed which I was doing in Japan before.

My decision was to work in Japan. Because the job offer was the one which I wanted to do at the time when I got back to Japan in the future though my mind was to get a work permit and to stay in Canada at least 2 years. Why at least 2 years was to improve my English skills. Another reason why I made the decision was that I thought I would be able to improve my English skills even in Japan although quality is not enough. And I felt to let the wave take me to work in Japan at this time.

On the way to get the LMO, I really appreciate many of people in Canada. Of course I feel to thank for the company which could apply my LMO and it it not easy to say how I am feeling to thank friends who helped a lot me as giving advices or cheering up. In spite of getting the LMO, I made a decision to work in Japan. Though it is really hard to say my mind, I would like to do the best on new place as the decision is a better choice to me.

I started to work for new company since last July. They would like me to show great performance as following my experience and more but I am doing fine as co-workers could help me to get better.

Last year, I went to Israel on business so I could have an experience which is business trip to another country though at new work place! As those experience,got to work at several development place of Japan/Canada/Israel. I believe IT is global. My boss is planning to take me to China office in this year. I am looking forward to seeing new development place! We need to release new product these days and we are crazy busy at work so I am not sure if my decision was better to coma back to Japan or go back to Canada. But one result may be out if the hard time is over.

Anyway, I have wrote some articles at this Blog for tow years. But I would like to close by this article. At the first, my theme which I want to write is to work in another company as IT engineer and I got new work place in Japan so it is not following the theme. It meant objective was done on this Blog.I don't think I was a good writer but I really appreciate that you read this so far. I got some comments to cheer me up. It was really helpful for me!

At the beginning, this Blog has four means as following.

-Report my status
-Improve my English
-Public my information of the challenge
-To get a job in Canada

Reporting my current status to my family or friends or improving my English by writing English articles or giving the information to people who has same object as working in another country and effect to get a job in Canada.If you write like this Blog, it may be easy to tell your self to English speakers even if you cannot use English very well. I thought the chance to get it may come to you. Actually, some recruiter contacted me to give an opportunity to work via this Blog. To write Blog by English helps to get a job and improve your English on my experience.

I am happy to close this Blog with the real result to work for Canadian company. It was good to report real information in Canada. I believe to have proved you can get a chance if you prepared enough to it and do fine.

Though my Blog is closing at this time, I have a lot of things I want to do or challenge on my life. I don't want to feel satisfy at all. And I would like to keep improving myself.

My current aim is "Going to Canada on the business"!

Thank you so much for your reading!

Just completed short term job a few days ago. I am on "vacation" again. I had three months when I don't have a job since this year started. So I became a person who really prefers long vacation lol Now, I would like to write down about a theme, "Seeking a Job", which is serious issue for "Seeker". My article will be for IT engineers mostly but I think concept, the way and mind, is almost same with others so I am glad that you read those things.

Resume
The first thing for seeking a job is to make your resume. It is like "Rirekisho" in Japan. But some of parts are difference. You don't have to put some information, your picture, birth of date and sex. As experience and record are more important than those information in Canada, you don't have to include on your resume. Here are required information.

Name, Address, Contacts(Tel/Mail)
Education(School name and Major)
Career Experience(Company name, Job tittle, Term, Summary)
Skills and Certification(Programming language, OS, Hardware, Software, Tools)
Your Targets in the future

That is resume which has those of information briefly in around 2 pages at most. Especially, they don't have a basic format so you can make it free. Of course, it not necessary to write by hand. In my opinion, to make simple is better than to make cool design. It is easy to read for interviewer on the interview.

It is real my resume which I had used on the time to seek. At the time, I asked my English teacher at Language school to review it.
Resume
View more documents from Shinya Hasegawa
Where? How?
There are some of ways, at web site, with agents and on newspaper, which is to seek a job in Canada. I think the part of difference from Japan is that you don't need to take a complicated process. You can apply to a job easily without making account on web site and just you can make a call in the newspaper case. Surely, they have a big web site like "Riku Navi" which is the most famous website in Japan. On the web site, needing to take a time to register to use. But most of web sites are providing the service which connect to Linkedin which is web site to seek a job so a little bit easy to make an account if you have an account on Linkedin. I would like to introduce the ways.

<On Web Site>


That are famous classifieds web site in North America. Not just seeking a job, you can do to rent a room, sale/buy and make a community on the site. Everyday, they are updating the information. You can send your resume to mail address is given on if you find good job tittle. I think there are variety of types of jobs from private like contract to permanent. On the jobs, it might be posted by small to medium size company mainly. In my opinion, craigslist has many information in comparing with Kijiji. I got a job offer from the company which I applied on craigslist actually.



Those of web sites are major in Canada like "Riku Navi" in Japan. You need to register your account to use. As wrote before, though it is going to be easy to register if you connect to your Likedin account, still hard. But it has some great jobs like bank and most of Canadian people are using it. I got a phone interview through it but I couldn't get well at the time because my English skill was not good :( Even major company, they gave the opportunity to have a phone interview so foreigners would be able to have a chance.

<On Web Site for Japanese>


That is a classified site for Japanese. It is like craigslist or Kijiji. It has many job information which are at Japanese restaurant for Japanese. There is not enough information for IT engineers. You can find short term opportunity to make web site or design web site sometime.

<With Recruiters>
Canada also has many recruiters to seek jobs. Though it was via Linkedin, some of recruiters contacted me since I got a job in Canada. In my case, they need to be a sponsorship to get a work permit and I was seeking a job with them while a short terms. The advantage of recruiters is that you don't need to choice from many job information as they can bring it which they already selected good one for me from their information. Also you can get an interview soon if it is possible so it might be closer way than by yourself.

<Newspaper>
You can find some job information on newspaper, Metro or JOB Classified.ca. It doesn't have many information for IT engineer but it might be useful for others. The way to apply is by phone mainly.

JOB Classified.ca
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<Introduce>
That is just my opinion, there is "Introduce". When I met new people, I was telling them that I am seeking a job and what I was doing in Japan during seeking. Then they can give good information to find a job which I didn't know also some of guys introduced a company which was hiring. As Canadian people are frank, they can listen to you warmly even if we just met at first time. The target which I can recommend is social place where many of middle and old ages are coming.

Hiring Process
Canadian hiring process has a phone interview, interview and technical test. For example, candidate's document review, phone interview, technical test and interview. As IT engineer, technical test was required. Whole of company gave some quiz about IT skills. I am going to write later.

<Phone Interview>
They will usually ask when you are available for the phone interview but just call you suddenly sometimes. They will give some easy questions about your career or your visa status. And they were asking about software development thing mostly. That questions depends on the position which you applied. It is like resolving when some trouble is happened or real programming thing.

<Interview>
The interviews were with person from Resource Department or senior engineer at first round. After that, you will have an interview with executives. I can recommend you can wear suit for your dress.  As doesn't matter for IT engineer, there are some guys whom looks are casual but it is better to wear suit basically. On the interview, you need to tell your experience and record briefly, your personal information, what you want to be and what your current interest or what skills you want to learn. Those of things are same with Japanese. They will give technical question as well. It is like how to develop easy software. As Canadian doesn't have a concept which is new graduation or not, the question should be on the interview to know your experience and record.

<Technical Test>
Technical test must be on hiring process. They will give before interview or on it. There were many algorithm questions as I had been applying for the position which is "Developer". You might need to take a time for 5 to 30min for one question to make an answer. For example, Please count number of existing of each character from "Shinya Hasegawa". There were variety of ways for answer like on  a piece of paper or on the white board. I think there were many question which are about actual programming rather than knowledge about development of Web site or Smartphone apps.

Intern
There are not many hiring information for new graduations. You can find it which is including "For New Graduations" sometimes but it is almost like X years or up experience for IT engineer. So new graduation will take a time to do "Intern". Intern means you work for company without salary like volunteer to make your career. New graduations who doesn't have a experience can be hired at same company or another company as permanent position through intern. Some of them makes their career as intern on summer break. I think you need to take for 3 months to 6 months to get a permanent position. As writing before, craigslist and Workopolis has many intern jobs as well as permanent jobs. Many company has an intern system as it is popular system in Canada if you compare with Japan. But you can hire someone without salary so there is a case which only hire without salary unfortunately.

Today, I wrote down about seeking a job in Canada. I just felt one of part of difference from Japan that they really want to know candidate's "experience" and "record" as resume, intern system and technical test. Therefore when you listen to others, in Canadian case, they say "I can do it!" but in Japanese case, "I might do it..." as no confidence. It is just cultural thing and hard to choose which one is better. You would be able to get a many chance to seek a job if you took Canadian case. And it is better to have your app or web site which you develop yourself as IT engineer. Technical test also works but most of important thing is to show your records which they can just see to prove what you can do. It can be proved your resume too. To make this web site also has the mean in my case. Canada is the country which is positive to hire foreigners for better or worse. You would be able to get a good chance easily if you have an experience and record.

I am saying experience and record but actual work is not hard. Co-workers can tell frankly and they don't have a mind like senior and junior which is like Asian culture so it means more frank. It feels easy if you compare with Japan. You can do well if you are doing the best with being honest and reliable. Don't be afraid!

Lastly...
As I told top of this article, I am on "vacation". Actually, I am in Toronto using this vacation! It has been for 2 months since I left. My mind has already gotten Japanese mind totally but I remembered Toronto life which I used to do now and having enjoy everyday. Anyway, my decision what to do with myself has already been set. Don't want to put on airs. I would like to write it later.

20120712.JPG

Talk to you soon!

I soon got used to living in Japan. Now, I had been working on software development project in short term which one company gave by today. I was busy recentry so it has been a long time since previous update. As I just came back from Canada, I am aware of some parts of difference of working space which is between Canada and Japan. Therefore, feeling it is new though I used to work a long time in Japanese working space. In this article, I would like to write down about topic what working space is different from Canada and Japan. This is the first article which theme is "Canada and Japan" as I told previous article. I am going to write about "Canada". But not sure that is totally Canada. Because I had worked for just one Canadian company. It would be just my opinion. Don't be bothering.

Welcome party within office hours
The thing which welcome party and farewell party are held on is same. In Canada, they also have some drinks at pub near office at the time. Just a part of differece, it is held on within office hours. In Japanese case, basically you have it around 7 or 8 PM at any pub. But it is basic way to have within office hours like around 3 PM in Canada. Even if you don't go to pub, they order pizza delivery and have lunch together. Anyone is there who start drinking even lunch because office is always suffering some beers in their fridge. The company which I was working has a good relationship with Canadian pizza chain so they have pizza lunch together a couple of time in a month even if there is no reason.

Easy friendship
There are some of relationship in world, Boss and assistants, senior and junior, client and vendor. In Japan, you need to use some way to be polite like respect words. But though I cannot say no manner, it is much frank to have a relationship if you compare with Japan. On the email, you don't have to use "Dear Mr. Shinya,". You can do "Hi Shinya," or "Hey Shinya," as the way to send to friends. Also they don't have a way which you need to make a bow so the first make shake hand or easy hug with lady. It is like same way with anybody. But I don't think there are no manner. It is hard to explain. They absolutely show their respecting mind with small behaviour as action or words. For example, when junior developer is asking something to senior developer, They show their respect mind in actual words as "I know you have many experience and high skills so my opinion might be wrong. But I think my way is better, don't you?". This is the thing which I can say any parts of culture, not just make to be polite. I think they don't make standard as "way" and they want to make polite with own way if they want to be polite for the person who should be . But it might be strict to act "lady fast".

Delayed certification
You need to show delayed certification when you are late for start time to work. In Japan, it is needed by big company, more and more bigger.  TTC which is subway in Toronto is going on and it is happened to be running late some times. But I have never seen that subway stuffs are giving a paper as delayed certification at any stations. Although it might be one reason the company is not big, they don't manage what time you come to office or leave. You can come by 11AM and if you are running late, it is better to tell them. As the thing, you can leave early if you come early.

Nomi-nication
It always comes topic up when you are talking about "Young people is ..." in Japan, "Nomi-nication". The word is created by Japanese people which means that it is connected "Nomu(Drinking in Japanese) "and "communication" as drinking and communicating. I guess that it means to hang out to drink with not like boss or co-workers as they are thinking of it badly. I don't think there is an opportunity to have some drinks with them a lot in Canada. As I did say before, they have relationship to frank so you are not forced to hang out with co-workers as don't have drink drinks with not like person on private. They have welcome party and farewell in office hours therefore it is not "force". Just work. Anyway, I really like to drink so I don't think that is forced if it might be forced lol But There weren't  no chance to drink with co-workers. We used to drink one time a week or two weeks after work or even weekend. Because there are many co-workers who much like to drink. That was good thing for me. Then I could learn about Canada and improve my English. In my opinion, welcome to me for "Nomi-nication".

Development Office
Our work space was the office which is easy to see with glass wall. My desk was much wide in comparing with Japanese one. You can have a seat with 2 or 3 people at two desks. It has many cushions which would be chairs and table tennis field, table hockey and Wii as TV game hard so exactly like foreigner office. I felt strange when we were playing "Mario Party" on Wii using big screen of office in Canada as we are playing it which I used to play Japanese game with many kind of national people. And The events which Apple or Google has are famous. We had watched on office's TV with all. I thinks it was excited in that to IT developer. Actually, some of co-workers was joining last WWDC in this year and you can feel much close to trend topics which is in IT industry.

Sports
The company has some of sports team and we are playing at team each seasons. On summer, beach valley and on winter, Ultimate Frisbee inside. Torontonian really likes to play sports like fitness. There are many chance to play some sports. Periodically, Some place, inside field or beach, provides sports leagues and you can join them easily. Also our company is joining it. They are playing every weeks after work. Of course, it feels free to join or not. As you wouldn't play "Ultimate Frisbee" which sound like playing football if you are in Japan, it was very worth experience. I could learn some of words in those experience. "Over", "I got it", "Good try" and "Good game".

Event
It might be special with the company which I had worked. There were many events. Especially, Halloween and Christmas. Both of events are much important in North America. We were enjoying at the time. At Halloween, they mentioned to need us to wear a fancy dress and it was held on party at their office. There was a guy who wear like Captain America which was famous in North America or who wear like Robbin Food so everyone have "fancy" then I could know how it is important thing for them. Basically, they decorate pumpkins. They are really fast to make decoration and I was interesting in the skill ti decorate punmpkins. At Christmas, we have a time to give gift for each other also have a holiday party as Christmas. We had a great dinner at Steak House like s little bit expensive. In other side, We went to night club which is in Hotel also they booked a booth for us and had a dancing with co-workers. I cannot expect that go to night club with whole of employees in Japan. "Big beer and fun for employees!", "Boss, Take care of employees!". That was a rule for the party.  So I had some of thing and they kicked me out from the hotel. But my boss brought me to my house... It is my memorial thing they called me "Mr. Holiday Party" later.

Also in Japan, I could see many offices because I used to change company to work on project. But I knew it is difference of atmosphere and environment at their office if county is different. Not sure, but I can say Family for Work in Japan", "Work for Family in Canada". It meant which one is important, work and family. I knew the thing and had some experience because of going abroad to Canada. Seeing is believing.

Talk to you soon!

iPhone in Canada

Toronto was getting snow a couple days ago. Aldo temperature is minus some
days so that thats is cold! I can keep body out very hard when I am outside.
You must have gloves or a muffler.

In the days when is getting cold more and more, hot news is coming.

The thing is "I got iPhone4S"!

photo1.jpg

I past for 10 months in Canada. I bought it at last. Though I was looking
to the time to buy, it has already past 10 months after I arrived. When I was
in Japan, I have used "two mobiles", normal cell phone and iPhone.
Because Japanese carrier which is providing iPhone has weak network to
call and connect data. And to have "two mobiles" is popular in Japan
unfortunately. In Canada, I am used to have "two mobiles", normal
cell phone and iPhone3GS which not SIM card installed as sim locked. 
Moreover for a period, I broke the iPhone so I was going with "three mobiles",
normal cellphone, iPod and electronic dictionary lol
I became "a mobile" finally!

SIM unlocked
SIM unlocked iPhones are sold by Apple store in Canada. "SIM unlocked"
means the specific model which you can use it with any carriers in the world.
I mention to Japanese case, You can use with docomo and softbank, they
are mobile carrier in Japan. I also bought a SIM unlocked model. The price
is regular if you buy at Apple store, not mobile carrier shop.
For the reason 64GB I bought was around $950. Although you can get
discount opportunity if you buy at mobile carrier shops, you need to have
contracts with carrier for 3 years. In this connection, almost major Canadian
mobile carrier companies is selling iPhone so that I think consumers for SIM
unlocked model are out of residences like tourists.

In addiction, you can do "Tethering" with a SIM unlocked model. "Tethering"
is the function you make iPhone to Wireless modem and you can connect
your PC with internet via your iPhone. You can use this function with 
softbank and au which are mobile carriers legally in Japan because they
is killing tethering function. In Canada, many coffee shops and restaurant
provide free Wi-Fi spot so that you don't need to use this function.
It is very useful in Japan where doesn't provide it enough.

photo2.PNG

Contract Plan
At the same time when I bought, I changed my contract plan with mobile
carrier. So far I have used Solo Mobile and not had data plan to connect
Internet. That's why I added the option you can use 500MB limited by
$25/month. It is $60/month I added the plan $35/month I already have had.
The feature of Canadian carrier is no plan with data unlimited. You need to
pay extra fee if you is using over 500MB. Fortunately, there is the function
to see usage of 3G network so you can check your usage.

photo3.PNG

My recommended apps
Relation to iPhone, I want to introduce good apps for living in Toronto.

You can see route maps of TTC.

That is official app of metro is free newspaper in Canada. You can read
articles of newspaper on the app. As you can use offline, save your
network usage if you download articles at home!

Official app of LCBO.  you can find place and information of shops
nearby! You can get alcoholic drinks anytime anywhere!

Official app of TD Canada Trust. You can get if you have Canadian Apple ID.
You can check your balance and make transfer on this app.
Except TD Canada Trust, there are bank's app.

Video Viewer app. You can put videos which is in PC to your iPhone
via Wi-Fi using wireless. You can watch with subtitles if you put it.
In my case, I am watching English dramas in the way to get office everyday!

Although I heard a rumour that docomo which is biggest mobile carrier
in Japan will start selling iPhone next year, I am wondering if they will
support "Tethering" if that is truth. So I can recommend to buy iPhone
which is SIM unlocked as a souvenir if you get Canada.

I wrote about iPhone as I was glad...
But I am an Android Developer!

Talk to you soon!

Make Application for LMO

I wrote about LMO is required to get a Work Permit at before article here.
That is "Labour Market Opinion" which is like a license to hire foreign employees.
You can't apply for a work permit unless your employer doesn't have it.
It is difficult to get LMO in Canada where is not good economy because
they need to secure labour market for their citizens. But I have to pass it
over to stay for second year and start getting LMO a few months ago.

I had a meeting about that issue with my employers some days ago and
they made a decision to apply it for me in this month! At the time, I knew
that they had applied it for another employee. But they failed unfortunately.
Moreover they are in process to apply again on second times right now.
It was easy to share about application for LMO because they have already
knew. But they also said "Getting LMO is difficult for us." so I need to brace.

They don't have result it yet which is in process even passed 2 months.
So it is hard for me who has a visa which will be expired on coming February.
I have no time enough to take. The process time to apply for LMO is 4-6 weeks
officially. I will be in trouble because I also have to take a time to apply
a work permit even though we have LMO fortunately...

For the limit issue, there is the way which you can extend your visa to extra
90 days if you are in process to apply LMO or Work Permit. It might help me out.

There are two essential points that are important to make application for LMO.

- To proof of it that employer put the offer of a job for Canadian citizens
exactly and could not hire.

-The foreign employee who has special skills which Canadian citizens
doesn't have enough. And how is important to keep your business.

The first, you need to proof of putting advertise of hiring to labour market using 
craigslist or monster etc which is hiring web site and not being able to hire
employee who has the skills. In our case, we would make something
documents of advertisement(hard copy?) to hire and list of applicants who
were not hire with the reason.

The second, it is evidence of that I have skills which Canadian citizens
doesn't have. For example, at the Japanese restaurant, it could be reason
for hiring Japanese people if you need to use Japanese and make sushi.
In my case, I am planning to focus to "Android Developer". There is not many
Android users in Canada where iPhone and BlackBerry are popular.
It is the reason why it is hard to hire Android Developers. Exactly, head hunters
contact even me via Linkedin or Monster. It seems that job seekers has
advantage. I hope I can be on this wave.

I guess that to get result to apply it is over this year. I have to be back to
Japan in less a month if I have no visa when next year is coming.  I can't
know what I do in even near future. I feel I am walking a tightrope in this
process. I am just wondering if I am getting well.

I will start making documents of application for LMO with my employers!
I know that is difficult.But no going, no application. Hang on!

Talk to you soon!

Debut to the client?

Being busy of late! I am working on multiple projects, fixing issues on
previous one and developing a new app in new project. In fixing issues,
I have to take immediately if there is something issues. About new one, 
deadline is coming on late in this month. That is multi-tasking so that it
seems to be getting more busy... I am wondering how the projects is because
I need to work even at my home sometimes.

In the situation which is in issues and development,
I went to the client office at the first time!

The client which I went is one of the greatest company in Canada.
The issues hasn't been settled easily on previous project so they held
the meeting including me, who is a developer, to share the design exactly.
The reason was like disgraceful? at the debut lol

I want to explain about the project a little. It is the development of software
for Android and our resources are two people, one project manager and
I of one developer, mainly. The other side, my employer and technical chief
support us about technical design. And the software has been delivered
to them and it is being tested by the client.

The day before to the client, the project manager said
"Shinya, We need to go to their office tomorrow."
And it was decided I also get them. At the meeting, I went with usual clothes
because he told me I didn't need to be care of my clothes.

The building where the office is in was big at middle of Toronto
as one of the greatest company in Canada.

In the taxi to the office,

"8 floor in the building is really awesome! There are many things like cafe
or magazines etc so everything is there!"

"But we will be just 9 floor!"

He explained lol

When I got there, I could make sure the building is so big even it has
a terminal for taxies as I expected. It has an automated gate at the entrance
as well as subway. It seems to be keeping high security. That is like Japanese
big company. The thing most of impression is about their office, the looks
was just the office we can see in the hollywood's movie. There are some private
rooms fitted with glass for executives and each employees were working
at the seat separated by partitions.

At the meeting, some employees joined from the client. That is exactly
their looks was casual. Moreover they talk to our project manager like
friends. I thought to seem that it is foreign countries.

Of course, they can speak English very well except me and it was so hard
to just understand what they discussed about... No, if anything, it was very
difficult to follow their conversation. So when they asked to me as a
developer, I passed to my project manager not to care them if I could
understand :) I chuckled if I thought about why I was here unexpectedly lol
Though the time was not really that I could think it...

Not just Japan, I made sure again the function design can't be made decision
unless we control them well(This is the opinion for developer. I think
there is also different opinion). The technic is important to make decision
about design which developers can make easy. The skill to explain "why"
is needed to realize it and I think I don't have the skill enough to explain
that in English. It taught me to have to fix a difficult issue :(

In this way, although I debut to the client as I didn't expected the case,
I am sure that my English is not really well... I could just go through at
the time because I joined as one of developer. But I must improve
for the near future...

I have to touch "English" rather than studying!

Talk to you soon!

GDD Phone

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This is GDD Phone! Two years ago, Google gave us it which is an Android
Develop Device, out of selling, when I joined Google Developer Day 2009.
I got from Japan hurriedly because I need to use it for my private use to
develop Android app.

Actually, when I got it, I haven't use smartphones and it felt me cool
after that my betrayal have me buy iPhone :P Since that I haven't used
this phone. Nowadays it is my proud of buddy like I can't be without it.

In this way, I have felt destiny that I use this in Canada.
The Google Developer Day, not hold in Canada, will be hold in Japan
on this year too.

Google Developer Day 2011 Japan

One of event in events Google hold and many developers will be come.
Everybody should be going to be getting excite if you are in IT industry.
This is a chance that You also ask any questions to Google Developers directly
or see the special products relate to Google! You might get something
if you join like me ;)

In this connection, last year I talked about my study in a few time lol


Talk to you soon!

It's getting there

It's past almost a half of a month since I work for Canadian company.
I am not fired barely and ending of my project will be come. A few days
ago, my apps, it's beta version, was checked out at Internal review.
Although there are a lot of task to get better, we can be on schedule.
It's getting there... But it's not safety yet so that I have some problem to fix.

At the beginning to join them, I was assigned to Android smartphone
application alone. I received so I confused. Because I received brief
documents only about application and I didn't have an experience to
develop Android. I though "this is the way of Canada!" so I was desperate
for success of this project. After that, I took for around 2 weeks, when
I was getting better about Android they gave more detail new documents
and asked when I will be able to complete. They didn't decided their
requirement and they discuss on this time so they provided me to learn
how to make Android application. At last, they requested me to make
architect diagram, class diagram and flow chart and I start to design
my application to develop. It is seems to implements in another country
because I make diagrams only, UML, even though I usually have made
documents using Word or Excel else.

There is like another country. They have each employee to need on software
development, Project Manager, Designer, Developer and Quality Assurance
even small company like around 20 employee. My project also have a plan
to be tested by QA.

I am modifying my application to fix on Internal review to face test right now.
On Internal review, I have a conduct if I have to say. I ask each function
like self-starter so I said "Is this OK?" every time. My English skill is not
good so they said "I can't understand" sometimes at the time. There are
3 people without me. As they are, someone could translate my words that
I wanted say from English to English :)


Though I am working on also making Android Tablet App else Smartphone
app. To information about Android Tablet App is hard on this project.
Difference of iPad, Android Tablets are not there enough so I couldn't
find information about how to make. I spend to try to find I want on
internet seriously or try to check out every day more than speak English.
I understand to have to talk with my co-workers more to study English
but I can do that very well. I take a time to listen conversation of each
co-workers secretly. There are many thing I can't understand. The
conversation of native English speakers is difficult.

Everyday, skills and English make me hard under the wire. I suppose
that there are not things make me hard in good means. It release my
mind a little if this project come the ending. Then I want to try to talk
with my co-workers.

Talk to you soon!

Front of application development

I am in three days' holiday. 23th(Mon) is holiday, Victoria Day. It is birthday
of before queen. I am enjoying something fully, having a dinner or playing
soccer etc. Exactly. It's holiday for a moment... After quit my job, I run to
the front of development at once and I take days to program everyday
though I had had blank for 4 months. It's shock therapy without term of
rehabilitation ^^; I feel exciting with having several means because they
give the project of developing Android Widget in relation to Java.
For around 2 weeks, I have faced to learn how to make Android Apps
with feeling cry a little bit and I just got better bit by bit. Although I had
been with Web development, Mobile Application differ. I have got to be
on my guard so I have things which I don't know so much. Even I am
described functional information, I can't image how to programming!
I haven't seen this situation since I was hired at a first company.

Development Mobile Application Company
I want to introduce the company , I work, again. The company, were
founded 3 years ago, develops mobile applications. They has around 17
employee. The office is at suite where you can get there by street car
from downtown and is in building which has shopping mall and offices.
Their main field was Web Application Development until a few months ago.
But they seemed to shift their field to Mobile Application Development.
They develop Mobile Application of iPhone, Android and BlackBerry.
Of course, they can also develop Web Application. The employee, is over
half of all, are developer. There are many Asian people in employees,
Korean, Chinese, India. Japanese is only me. Their running style is one
project manager has some of project and developer make applications
alone or with team. In this connection, all project is entrusted development
without outsourcing.

-Work hours : 9:30-10 to 18-18:30
-Vacation : 2 weeks(except holiday)
-No health benefits(*They are planning to roll it out soon. But I'm not sure.)

This is my offer. Work hours is like free though it is defined briefly. One 
co-worker come at 11AM. Another co-worker leave at 5PM. The result
is important, not time. Daily work description is not. And of course, dress
code is casual. They roughed me so I clothed suit on the first day :)

Setting environment
On the first day, I did "Setting environment", It is common in IT industry.
It is to set laptop they gave. The laptop is Windows 7 PC. I was given it
after making account on that laptop. Then my boss said...

"Please setup environment of developing for Android."

Just that.

There are no manual documents for setting, it's common in Japan.
I can and I could do that. But I didn't think I had to setup with no information.
So I said that I don't have an experience to develop Android Apps in
an interviews. However the manual documents mat not be necessary
because you can figure out anything by searching yourself in near years.
Even it was mede, It will be done away with because of no maintenance.

After that, as he said "I will give your mail address. Please setup it."
Then I waited for that with installing mail software. But they use Google Apps.
In addition, It is Free edition. Google Apps is groupware with using own
domain.Though they are one of company, using Free edition gave me
to feel like foreign company. I was surprised at that because the company
, I worked before, use it with Premier Edition to security running availability
etc when they introduced Google Apps. Although developer life in Canada
is begun with feeling speedy or different culture from first day like this,
I got a reliable friend.

Louis
He is a student of University of Toronto(U of T) who joined at same day
with me. He came in Toronto 5 years ago from China. He will graduate
this summer and joined this company on intern. U of T also is an university
which this company's employers graduated. The my seat is beside of him.
We have a lunch together and back to home together everyday. And he 
teach English to me in spare moments from his work. So He is a reliable
person for me. He care of me because when he came, he can't speak English
vert well then he spent hard time. We will have a time to play soccer
so he loves soccer too. He also try to learn how to develop iPhone Apps
hardly in iPhone Apps development team. I think we will have relation
for long time.

I spend to learn how to develop Android Apps only more than study English
right now. There are many thing I don't know like no time to chatting
with co-workers... Moreover I heard one of employee was fired, a few
days ago then the pressure was on. I asked another co-worker about to
fire employee. It is common in Canada. Employer can fire their employee
using some reason if it is during probationary period. I checked my contracts
again then my probationary period was 4 months.

I have to output the result steadily..... One will weep on tomorrow.

Talk to you soon!

The only successful example

The work was started from this week. I am in like the storm of English
and new technology everyday. I dive to Canadian development
workplace and I am surprised at several things of difference from Japan
so much. As the industry is trend because of mobile application, days
was through quickly. The first, although the term I worked was only one
week and there are many things I would like to write about, I would like
to write how to have been able to dive to the company in my case.

I applied this company's opportunity on craigslist. That is the biggest
classified site I introduced at before entry. The process I got was the
normal way to find out job in Canada. After sent e-mail on craigslist to
apply, I though two interviews and I got the offer to work. It was directly
interview without a phone interview.

The first interview
Interviewers were two people, a woman who is recruiter and a man who
is technical leader. On this interview, I began to apologize her for call "Mr."
on e-mail because I made mistake when I contacted her to arrange this
time :( I wrote questions which I was asked on this interview.

<Questions>
-Could you tell me your experience and your project which you have?
-How character do you have?
-Do you have an experience which you developed something using Mac?
-Do you have an experience which you developed something using
  HTML5 or CSS3? And What do you know about that?
-Do you have an experience which you developed something using
  iOS or Android SDK? And What do you know about that?
-Do you have an experience which you developed something using
  jQuery? And What do you know about that?
-How do you get information about information technology?
-How do you think about mobile application in the future?
-Could you tell me the programming processing which count each
  characters from this string "EASTERN EAST"?
  *The string is dummy. Actually the string was the company's name.

Exactly the questions were about iOS or android SDK so the company
develop mobile applications. As I understood, I talked about Java's
experiences, used on android or Blackberry, or GAE's experiences so
relate Google when I explained my experience. And last question was
about programming processing like developer. Although a man, technical
leader, could understand my answer fortunately, I answered using talking
in spite of giving a paper and a pen;) I explained the processing in mind
using "Map" with assumption of Java.

The result on first interview was appeared at the time and I was decided
to move on final interview. I remember that I struck a triumphant pose
on way to go home because I hadn't passed an interview. I sent e-mail
to her for thanks after that in not forgetting.

The final interview
Interviewers were two people, a woman who is President and a man who
is CEO. I thought the offer is almost decided in Japanese final interviews.
But it was different... This interview was more tough than the first
interview. So there are many technical questions.

<Questions>
-What is selector in CSS?
-How do you think about iOS? And what do you feel difficult?
-How did you use jQuery in your experience?
-How do you make code for care of a shortage of memory?
-How do you get current location using map system like Google Maps?
-How long time do you want to need to learn new technical skills?
-You might change project each 2 weeks in the minimum case.
  How do you think this situation?
-You might have extra working time or working on weekends when the
deadline is coming. How do you think this situation?
-How much salary do you hope?
-When are you available for working?
-When is your VISA expired?

I had to answer for hard technical questions even final interview. In the
question about dealing with map system, it had means if I could notice
cache extra information which you don't need to show. I felt like mobile
application from that question. And I hoped my salary is like new graduate
student in Canada for least.

For the result, I received this e-mail from a recruiter on the day and
I got the offer from CEO next day. "You did good on the interview. CEO
will contact you and will give you the offer." The recruiter sent.

Answer patterns
I got a job in this way. I made some answer patterns because of through
some interviews.

-When I am asked about a technical question that I have never done.
"I don't have the experience to develop using something. But I can do it
because almost developers have to search something they don't know."

-When I am asked about hard work in deadline of software development
is coming.
"Sure. I worked for Software companies in Japan for seven years. You know.
It is common in Japan. So I am Japanese and I finished marathon
then I run 42.195km. I am so tough!"

I got a job using answer patterns like this. This is the only successful my
example. It is important that you take many time for interview exactly.
The first I have many times I couldn't answer even a phone interview.
But I became to be able to expect what interviewer say even I can't listen
all through some interviews bit by bit. And although the words of question
is difference, I can answer smoothly so there are similar to questions.
But I had a time I couldn't understand questions sometimes. Then I talked
a lot of something and I talked about that topic especially if interviewer
got good reaction, nod ;)

The company I apply
And I changed which the company I apply little by little. In the begging,
I sent e-mail to almost company is hit by my search, using these
keyword "Java toronto" on craigslist. But I change the company I apply to
company is included these categories, "software / qa / dba" or
"web / info design", not use search so I want to include development of
Web sites not just Java in the latter. I noticed to be excluded jobs in
"GTA"(Great Toronto Area) if you search using "toronto" keyword. This
mean is downtown of Toronto. By the way, when you apply to a job on
e-mail, you should send cover-letter with your resume usually. Cover
letter is a part of explaining about your experience on body. The following
is my real mail body with cover-letter. My cover-letter is very simple.

===============================================
Hi, my name is Shinya Hasegawa, I am a Japanese Software Engineer living
in Toronto. I am enrolled at the XXXX Language School and will be a student
until April. I have a Working Holiday visa until Feb 2012. I am looking to find
a job in Toronto to use my English and professional skills and I am interested
in developing my skills with a Canadian company.

I am especially interested in your job. I have attached my resume to this email
and would love to speak further in an interview.

Thank you for your time and consideration in reading my email.
I look forward to hearing from your shortly.

Sincerely,
===============================================

On the interview, I often talk myself more good. I got a task to develop
android Widget alone, thank for that kk Moreover deadline is until this
month. I am challenging new technical skills, android, in English everyday.
The first month is important for anything. I will be member of this
company if I complete this task definitely. Do my best!

This picture is at near big park. I went there for "Hanami"(Japanese activity
to see cherry blossoms) with no alcohol.
P5082932.JPG

Talk to you soon!

 

PROFILE

Hi I'm Shinya Hasegawa
I was born in Kanagawa,
Japan and 30 years old.
I'm IT Engineer of year 8th.
I'm challenging globalize
by IT engineer.
I arrived in Canada on February 2011.
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