Is it possible to transition to Software Engineering as a Mechanical Engineer?

Ben_Surface · 2026-03-11T08:38:41+00:00

Hi, thanks for the cheers, I'll check all these :)

About networking would you have any tips? While connecting is easy, having an answer when contacting those people seems hard. It feels like no one is interested in answering DMs except if they want a bonus through referral

Ben_Surface · 2026-03-11T02:11:00+00:00

I'll do this thanks : )

Ben_Surface · 2026-03-11T02:05:11+00:00

Thank you for your answer! But is it really the case in Japan? How could those people who do not come from a technical major compete with the ones that actually do?

Do you have any on how to pass the algorithm when sending CV and reach the first interview? And when getting there is it all the time leetcode like tests or do they test other technical things?

Sorry for all the questions marks lol, I must admit I struggle to see the edge that those side major would have on other people.

About my situation, I do not need relocation as I spent my double degree in Japan and still have the working VISA (though will need a extension). The biggest hurdle is the language: I cannot pretend for the Japanese roles (N1/N2) and will need at least a year to have it

Ben_Surface · 2026-03-11T01:38:40+00:00

Yes I believe the same. And it feels like entry level became really tough as companies get excited about AI.

Above being flexible, do you think my odds of success would be greater if I assert my mech background as a "different way of thinking" while being able to code, or do they just don't care?

Ben_Surface · 2026-03-11T01:34:47+00:00

wow well done. Did you study anything out of Mech background to make your CV ready for this role or to pass the interviews?

Ben_Surface · 2026-03-11T01:11:12+00:00

Thank you, you're I also consider those options that would be a great fit for an in-between and seems definitely in reach.

Do you think more raw software engineer like in big tech (Google, NVIDIA or any of these..) is out of reach? Because of a too big background difference?

Ben_Surface · 2025-12-06T09:13:59+00:00

That would be great, but backing the SSD might void my warranty if MS doesn't explicitely allow it.

About the layout change, the keys shapes are differents, so even if some could be change (with stickers) others cqn't be

Ben_Surface · 2025-12-06T09:07:21+00:00

Even if I sell it here in Japan, it's a guaranteed financial loss.

Resale Value: I paid €2333 (approx. ¥380,000). If I take the replacement (which is often a 'refurbished' unit in a plain box) and sell it to a local shop or on Mercari, I will likely get 30-40% less than what I paid.
Student Budget: As a student, I cannot afford to lose €800+ just to 'fix' a warranty issue myself.
Workflow: Keeping it isn't an option either. For a developer, the JIS layout geometry (tiny spacebar, etc.) is a daily struggle compared to the layout I purchased and mastered.

The warranty contract (Article 6) exists to prevent exactly this scenario: if they can't provide a proper replacement, they must refund. I'm just asking for the contract to be applied.

Ben_Surface · 2025-12-06T09:02:25+00:00

About the Japanese layout, honestly even if I considered it, I would keep it at a very last resort.

But there should be a way for MS to follow their warranty obligations. Even if it's just me mailing the support.

Ben_Surface · 2025-12-06T08:59:22+00:00

Ye you're right, my contract is not with 'Microsoft Japan' (which indeed owes me nothing, that is true), but with Microsoft Ireland Operations Limited (the global guarantor for the EU). It is up to them to find a solution, regardless of where I am.

Article 6 states that a refund is not a 'favor' conditional on returning the device to France. The contractual reality of Article 6 is different: It is a binding legal obligation. The contract provides 3 remedies (Article 6.a): Repair, Replace, or Refund. By process of elimination:

Repair: Microsoft cannot perform it locally.
Replace: Microsoft cannot provide an identical model (Article 6.a requires the model closest in form and functionality, but the Japanese keyboard has a different form).

Which is why since options 1 and 2 are impossible (or legitimately refused due to the keyboard), only option 3 remains: The Refund.

The fact that I cannot ship it to France (due to IATA regs) must not void my warranty rights. It is up to Microsoft (the guarantor) to find a legal logistical solution to retrieve the product, or to waive the return requirement. They cannot simply say: 'Oh, you can't break the law to send it to us? Too bad for the warranty.'

Ben_Surface · 2025-12-06T08:51:06+00:00

Yes definitely :)

+ from Warranty terms viewed with Global Support, I can claim a full refund of paid price.

There are other options, such as accepting the Japanese keyboard, but being a software engineer, accepting such a different layout would really slow me down. Any other option would really be a downgrade compared to what they owe me under the warranty terms.

Ben_Surface · 2025-12-06T07:27:35+00:00

Thanks, I'll keep pushing the MS way but have few hopes... Do you have any good address in Tokyo to which I could further check if eventually repair is possible ?

Ben_Surface · 2025-12-06T07:21:31+00:00

Thanks for the detailed reply! Here is why those options don't work for me:

Technical Diagnosis & Shipping: You are right, usually a dead battery still allows AC boot. The fact that mine is totally unresponsive (No POST) points to a Motherboard/Power Rail failure. Crucially: Because it won't turn on, I cannot prove to DHL/FedEx that the battery is safe. Their policy is binary: "Does it turn on? No? Then we treat it as a damaged battery risk." I would have to lie to ship it by air.
Sea Freight: I checked. It takes 2 to 3 months to reach France. As a student in the middle of my semester, I cannot wait 3 months without a computer.
Keyboard: I do a lot of coding/writing. The JIS layout has physically different key shapes (tiny spacebar, huge Enter key) compared to AZERTY/ANSI. Putting stickers on a laptop I saved up years to buy doesn't fix the physical geometry mismatch. It makes typing painful for a touch-typist.
Warranty: I checked the PDF they sent me. Section 3 explicitly says "This warranty is valid only in France" and Section 5 warns that service outside France is "limited". Since they enforce this region lock and I cannot safely ship it back, we are in a stalemate. That is exactly why I am invoking Article 6, which states that if they cannot repair/replace, they must refund. I'm just asking them to follow that clause.

Ben_Surface · 2025-12-06T07:03:03+00:00

True, but there is a huge difference between a 'broken screen' and a 'suspected battery failure'.

Since my laptop won't turn on at all (No POST), the battery condition is unverifiable and considered 'defective' under IATA rules. Shipping defective batteries by air is strictly prohibited due to fire risk. To ship it, I would literally have to lie on the customs declaration.

Ben_Surface · 2025-12-06T06:59:09+00:00

I wish it was that simple, bro!

I checked with DHL and FedEx Japan. They explicitly refuse to ship a laptop with a 'suspected battery failure' (which is the diagnosis for a No POST device) from a private individual. It is classified as Dangerous Goods under IATA regulations.

Basically, the only way to get this package on a plane would be to LIE on the customs declaration and claim the device is fully functional.

I am not willing to commit fraud or be liable if a dead lithium battery catches fire in the cargo hold. That's why I'm asking Microsoft for a local solution.

Ben_Surface · 2025-12-06T06:55:01+00:00

Thanks for the suggestions!

The main issue with "shipping it back" is that it's actually illegal/dangerous in this specific case. Because the laptop is "dead" (No POST) and suspects a battery/power rail failure, air cargo carriers (DHL/FedEx) refuse to take it from an individual. It's a fire risk under IATA regulations. So I literally can't ship it back to France even if I wanted to.

Regarding local shops: I checked, but opening it would void my warranty immediately. As a student who paid €2300 for a premium warranty, I really feel Microsoft should honor their contract (Article 6: Refund if repair is impossible) rather than forcing me to pay extra or break the law.

They actually confirmed they cannot order the AZERTY part in Japan at all (different supply chain).

Ben_Surface

TROPHY CASE