Lee Yoonyoung

Could you please describe your main responsibilities and the specific workflow you follow?

For the first 18 months after joining the company in 2018, I worked on advertising business projects, mainly in the development of ad placement features. Then, I was transferred to the search division where I spent two years working on business tools used for search service development. However, since I had always been interested in working with logs, I consulted with my supervisor at the time and began studying about logs in 2021.

Currently, I am developing tools and aggregating logs for service analysis and evaluation to improve search services. Specifically, the tool I develop aggregates the logs that track user behavior on Yahoo! JAPAN services and provides numerical metrics, such as impressions and CTR (Click Through Rate).

Please share your experiences of what has been interesting or challenging in your field of work.

I have always loved tackling and solving challenging problems, which is why I enjoy taking on new tasks at work and successfully completing them by deepening my understanding.

 At Yahoo Japan Corporation, new challenges are constantly emerging. I believe that at this company, everyone is always thinking about how to create better solutions and continuously striving for improvement. As I overcome challenges, I can really feel myself growing, and that's what makes the work fulfilling.

Yahoo Japan Corporation has a friendly atmosphere where I can easily chat and consult with my supervisor and colleagues, even about things outside of work, and I feel as though everyone is my friend.

 I came from South Korea to work in Japan. So, initially I didn't have any acquaintances here. But, I quickly bonded with people at work and made friends, which helped me smoothly adjust to life in Japan and prevented any stress from building up at work. Because of this, I feel that both my technical and Japanese language skills have significantly improved.

Please tell us the reasons why you applied

Since my days in South Korea, I have always been drawn to the idea of working abroad. One day, a friend who had studied in Japan suggested that my personality might be a good fit for Japan. This prompted me to participate in various engineering interviews held in South Korea.

I received offers from Yahoo Japan Corporation and two other companies. I chose Yahoo Japan Corporation because I wanted to work for a company with the largest user base in Japan. Additionally, since I have a child, the fact that Yahoo Japan Corporation offers a good work-life balance is also a decisive factor.

Language can inevitably be a barrier when working abroad, but I was fortunate to feel comfortable with daily conversations because I already enjoyed watching Japanese TV dramas.

What do you keep in mind at work?

Gaining a thorough understanding is my top priority. This is because if I don't understand what I've done, I won't be able to grow over time. I make it a habit to research things I don't understand and try them out on my own first.

Personally, I don’t like working without fully understanding things. When I can't fully grasp technical details, I first try to figure things out on my own. Then, I consult with my manager or colleagues to ensure I have a good understanding of the overall concept.

Please tell us about the company systems you frequently use and find helpful.

Since I am raising a child, having a flexible work schedule and access to child care leaves is extremely helpful. I can leave for personal errands during work hours, which allows me to pick up my child from daycare. I can also look after my child when they are unwell without having to use my paid leaves. Additionally, I have access to a program that provides financial assistance for babysitter costs. If I had been at Yahoo Japan Corporation when my child was younger, I definitely would have used it.

Additionally, the company has "Dokodemo Office (Office Anywhere) " policy, which allows me to work not just from home but from other locations as well, and I find that really convenient. Working from home all the time can sometimes make it hard to stay focused, so I like to meet up with colleagues and work together at a satellite office for a change of pace.

Example of a Daily Schedule

• 9:40 am 

  Start work

  Check emails, Slack, and the internal company website.

• 10:30 am 

  Go over previous day's work and check review comments

• 11:15 am

  Team Meeting

  Report and discuss the previous day's progress and the tasks planned for the day.

• 12:00 pm

  Lunch

• 1:00 pm

  Create SQL queries, aggregate logs, or develop tools

  Consult with colleagues over Zoom for development when unsure.

• 3:00 pm

  Department Meeting

  Share updates on work in department, progress, and tool usage.

• 4:00 pｍ 

  Check metrics

  Check aggregation results for any issues.

• 4:45 pm

  Briefly step out to pick up my child

• 5:15 pm

  Fix issues found during metric checks or tool development

• 7:00 pm

  End of work

For my well being, I often go to a gym after work.

What are your future goals?

I want to contribute even more to the team than I do now.
Specifically, I aim to deepen my understanding of metrics and learn the appropriate methods for aggregating logs to provide users with the necessary information.
Since joining my current department, I have realized how important logs are. One of my immediate goals is to continue studying logs so that I can answer any log-related questions.

Eventually, I would also like to develop management skills. As more junior colleagues are joining, I want to become a mentor who can successfully lead them.

I also want to be someone who can thoughtfully respond when juniors seek advice not just about work, but also about personal matters and the experience of working abroad.

Please share a message to our readers

LY Corporation has a culture where everyone is happy to answer questions even if you don't understand something. Even though I usually wasn’t one to ask many questions, having trustworthy people around me encouraged me to ask a lot of questions.

 The sense of security the company offers allows me to work calmly, and I'm also making significant progress in learning Japanese. I truly feel that I have grown a lot since I started working.

The company has people of various nationalities, including those from South Korea, China, and India. Therefore, I don't feel any language barriers, nor do I feel lonely.
If you are a foreign national interested in working in Japan or looking to enhance your technical skills, please consider applying to LY Corporation.

• Engineer
• New Graduate