Planning Your IT Career Path
There is no single road to becoming an IT engineer. This illustrated guide explains 5 steps you can take right now—from middle school through university and vocational school.
IT Certifications & Careers Articles
20 articles · in orderHow to Become an IT Engineer
A concrete roadmap to becoming an IT engineer. Illustrated guide to the skills, paths, and first steps you need—with real examples.
IT Certifications You Can Earn
IT certifications sorted by difficulty, study time, and usefulness for upper-elementary through high school. Covers IT Passport, FE, MOS, CCNA, and more.
What Is the IT Passport?
The IT Passport is a national certification covering IT fundamentals broadly. This article explains the exam content, study time, and study methods suited to students.
What Is the FE Exam?
The FE (Fundamental Information Technology Engineer) exam is the gateway certification for engineers. Exam format, pass rates, Subject A/B, and study hours explained with diagrams.
Study Strategies for Joho I
Joho I (Japanese high school information curriculum) and the new University Entrance Common Test subject explained: exam scope, tough spots, and efficient study methods .
Can Humanities Students Become IT Engineers?
There is a path to IT engineering from a humanities background. Explains the preparation needed and the fields where humanities strengths are an asset—for upper-elementary through high school.
Is Not Being STEM a Disadvantage?
The STEM vs humanities divide is fading in IT. Explains the skills actually tested, where the differences matter, and study approaches that work for everyone.
10 IT Job Types Explained
Explore 10 key IT job types — from frontend and backend to AI, cloud, and security — with real salary data and tips for upper-elementary through high school.
How to Become an AI Engineer
Learn what AI engineers do, what skills they need, typical salaries, and a clear learning roadmap for upper-elementary through high school.
How to Become a Security Engineer
Learn what security engineers do, their key skill areas, major certifications, and a learning roadmap for upper-elementary through high school.
How to Become a Network Engineer
Learn what network engineers do, the skills required, key certifications like CCNA, and a learning roadmap for upper-elementary through high school.
How to Become a Cloud Engineer
Learn what cloud engineers do, required skills, AWS/Azure/GCP certifications, and a learning roadmap for upper-elementary through high school.
How to Become a Web Engineer
Learn about the 3 types of web engineers — frontend, backend, and full-stack — with skill breakdowns and a learning roadmap for upper-elementary through high school.
High-Salary IT Job Rankings
Rankings of the highest-paying IT jobs in Japan — AI, security, IT consultant, full-stack, SRE — with key traits and how to prepare from school.
Hackathons & Contests You Can Enter
A guide to hackathons and programming contests open to students — U-22, SECCON Beginners, Mitou Junior, and more — with benefits explained.
University or Vocational School — Which Is Better?
Comparing university and vocational school paths if you are aiming for an IT career: tuition, duration, graduation destinations, and which suits your goals.
What Do IT Companies Look For?
5 things IT company recruiters look for in new grads and young hires — GitHub, portfolio, communication, and more. Everything you can start building now.
What Is a Portfolio?
What a portfolio means in the IT industry, what to include, how to use GitHub, and project examples you can build right now.
The IT Talent Digital Kodomo BASE Wants to Nurture
The final article in Kids IT Lab. The vision of IT talent Digital Kodomo BASE cares about, and a wrap-up of everything the series has conveyed.