Chee
Bachelor of International Professional Development
Joined in 2018
UX Strategist
UX Strategy & Planning Section
Creative Design Strategy Department
What are your current responsibilities?
My mission is to maximize the appeal of Rakuten Group's brand and business through the lens of customer experience and to encourage more people to become Rakuten fans. I belong to a cross-sectional team that doesn’t offer any services to customers directly, but carries out projects in cooperation with members of our other businesses. For example, in a project to develop the Rakuten Illustration System, after identifying the issues to be addressed, we planned a road map and cooperated with various teams, including those in illustration, system development and system testing. This type of working environment – in which we transcend our specific fields and become “One Team” to realize our mission – is unique to the Rakuten Group. I really enjoy being able to promote various projects every day.
What do you find challenging and exciting about your job?
The interesting thing about this job is that no two projects are ever the same. Sometimes, I am involved in projects completely different from my profession, with different members, services, challenges, etc. Some projects are top-down, and some are bottom-up. For example, I am involved in a variety of projects that range from straightforward tasks like supporting UI/UX improvements for service apps and websites to more complex ones, such as developing and implementing solutions for Rakuten Group issues or organizing workshops to improve the mindset and skills of our designers. “What can we do to make it better?” “What is the fundamental issue?” I ask myself these questions every day. I feel a great sense of accomplishment when I successfully complete a project after working on it with my team members to find the right path forward, even if we make mistakes along the way.
Why did you join Rakuten?
I work for Rakuten Group because of the people here. “Diversity” is one of Rakuten Group’s key words. I feel that each and every one of us from various backgrounds is able to work together as a team, demonstrating our abilities to the fullest. My greatest asset is that I have met so many people who are role models for me in each field. Whenever I have a problem at work, I try to remember and imitate how positive-minded people I’ve met at Rakuten Group work and think. Before long, I’m able to incorporate these into my own life, and there have been many times this has helped me overcome worries or problems. “Learn from others' strengths and make them your own” – this is a phrase that a senior colleague taught me during my first year with the company.
Message to students
Rakuten Group has professionals from various backgrounds and we have an environment where we can help each other grow while working together. I do not have a background in design, but I stepped into the world of design and UX after being assigned to it. In my first project, I was tasked with facilitating a workshop on improving the product experience. Although my knowledge and experience were limited, I studied hard with advice from my senior colleagues to get the project done in a professional manner.
Some of you may be considering taking on a challenge in a field different from your current major. Think thoroughly about what you want to do and why you want to do it, then forge ahead and take on the challenge without any regrets!
SCHEDULE
- 09:30
- Arrive at work, check tasks in the management tool. Start with high-priority jobs.
- 10:00
- Create planning materials. Share project objectives, issues, schedules, etc., with team members.
- 12:00
- Lunch at the cafeteria with colleagues. When I'm alone, I’ll eat while listening to various podcasts or checking the latest news.
- 13:00
- Meeting with the team. Check each other's task progress and any issues that have arisen.
- 14:00
- 1-on-1 meeting with supervisor. Sometimes, this takes as long as an hour as we discuss the project, my career, skills, and so on.
- 15:00
- Coffee time. Share work status updates with colleagues and senior members of other teams. Often the chit-chat leads to projects.
- 18:30
- Organize the next day's schedule and leave the office. On days off, I do household chores while listening to podcasts and like to visit museums, parks, etc., with friends. In the evening, we explore some restaurants. I love going out to eat Japanese BBQ, followed by a trip to a public bath.
*This article is based on information provided at the time of the interview.
RECRUITING INFORMATION
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For those who want to deepen their understanding of the entire Rakuten Group and aim for versatile career development.
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For those who aspire to become world-class engineers.
- Applications Engineer
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- Information Security / Privacy Governance Specialist
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- Applications Engineer
- Infrastructure Engineer
- Data Scientist / Researcher
- Security Engineer
- Information Security / Privacy Governance Specialist
- Technology Management
- Product Management
- Development Support（Q&A, etc.)