Ralph 「ラフ」
Senior Engineer - Structural Design
System Building Section
Question 1: What are five words that best describe you?
Work in progress, collaborative, learner, appreciative, and committed.
Question 2: If you still remember, can you share the reason why you chose this company before?
I wanted to learn the culture and language of Japan. What better to do that than to work in a Japanese company.
Question 3: What are the things you like about working here?
In our department specifically, my seniors/senpai are very accommodating with questions and concerns. Our department feels like more of a support system than competition.
Question 4: What does it mean for you to be a recipient of the Best Engineer award?
It means that all my hard works, those late night working hours just to be able to submit data and my dedication to be the best have been acknowledged and I'm thankful that I have made a significant contribution to our department and earned this recognition from my 先輩(senpai).
Question 5: Did you expect to receive this award?
Yes and no. Yes, because after my training in Japan, I became much more confident in my skills as a Designer. No, because there are a lot of deserving people in our department to receive this award.
Question 6: Looking back at your first day working at YTP, did this award cross your mind?
No, because I saw how good my seniors/senpai are in the Design department. I thought that it was impossible for me to get this award even after years of experience. I think it took me at least three years to think that I would one day receive this award.
Question 7: How do you find your job?
Challenging and fulfilling at the same time.
Question 8: What's next for you? What are your plans?
I hope that I will be able to return to Japan and have much more training because I think 6 months was a very short amount of time.
Question 9: Share some thoughts with aspiring engineers who want to follow in your footsteps.
Never doubt yourself. It may sound cliché but always believe that you can even when others don't.
Question 10: Since you are working in a Japanese company, do you have any favorite Japanese words/phrases?
- 生きがい(ikigai)
- 紅葉狩り(momojigari)
- 冬(fuyu)
- 頑張って(ganbatte)
- 初めまして(hajimemashite)
Question 11: If you could travel back in time, specifically on your first day of work here, what would you say to your younger self?
Don't be afraid to commit mistakes. They are opportunities to learn and grow. It will be hard and some days it will cross your mind to quit but hang in there! You might not believe it now, but you'll become the best engineer someday! 頑張りましょう！
