This blog post introduces how to effectively incorporate contest winning experience into a media sales cover letter, connecting it to tangible competencies rather than simply listing it as part of your resume.
My Upbringing
Parents who taught me responsibility through “Do your own work yourself”
Thanks to my dual-income parents, I naturally developed independence from a young age. While a distant aunt helped with household chores and looked after my sibling and me, my parents weren’t always home. This meant I had to take care of my own tasks, and over time, caring for my younger sibling also became my responsibility.
My parents always said, “When we’re not home, you are your brother’s guardian.” This went beyond a simple request; it naturally instilled in me the value of responsibility. Growing up in that environment, I internalized the attitude that “I should take initiative rather than wait for someone else to do it.”
From putting away my shoes when I came home to tidying my room, my parents always emphasized, “Clean up after yourself wherever you go, and handle your own responsibilities.” And from a young age, they made it clear that they would only cover my first semester’s tuition when I went to college; after that, I would be solely responsible for everything.
Perhaps that’s why. Even as a child, I naturally came to think, ‘Going to college means becoming a real adult,’ and sure enough, I started working part-time immediately after being admitted. Right after the entrance exams ended, I began earning not only my own spending money but also my tuition, learning to take responsibility for my own life.
This growth process became the most crucial foundation for who I am today. The sense of responsibility that I must fulfill my own duties without being told, and the self-reliance that I can overcome difficult situations—these are the invaluable assets my parents passed on to me during that time. And I still live my life upholding those values.
Two keywords that describe me during my school days
“Someone who makes others happy and finds joy in doing so”
One of the joys of school life for me was ‘making children laugh’. Back then, whenever I saw a funny scene or amusing gesture on a comedy show, I’d spend that night practicing in front of the mirror. The next morning, reenacting that scene for my friends became routine. Sometimes I’d even sit my younger sibling in front of me and earnestly ask for feedback on whether the scene I’d prepared was actually funny or not.
As these activities accumulated, friends naturally began gathering around me. At school, I was known as the ‘fun and popular kid,’ allowing me to enjoy my school days. Especially during various school events and functions, I gained enough confidence to speak in front of people that I was often asked to emcee. These experiences led to improved presentation skills, which eventually became one of my unique strengths.
This tendency continued after entering university. I participated in numerous presentation competitions and achieved meaningful results, including winning awards. Speaking in front of people no longer frightened me; instead, it became a time I could feel enjoyment and a sense of accomplishment.
“Someone who knows how to invest in valuable time”
As someone who enjoys people and isn’t hesitant about new encounters, I quickly joined various club activities right after entering university. Most of my time outside of classes and part-time work was spent attending regular club meetings. Initially, mingling with new people was fun and energizing, but as time passed, friendships maintained without a clear purpose began to feel increasingly hollow.
Around that time, I resolved to “spend my time on something more valuable.” I ultimately decided to keep only one club focused on volunteer work and boldly quit all the others. In the volunteer club I chose, I was assigned to ‘youth education volunteering,’ helping with after-school tutoring for teenagers in areas with poor educational resources.
Above all, the children who came there often showed a strong will to study themselves. It was deeply impressive to see them holding onto their dreams and striving hard despite their economically difficult circumstances. I, too, felt a profound sense of fulfillment knowing I was able to help them, even just a little.
Among the students I taught, some later entered the same university through special admissions and became my juniors. I still share school life worries and cheer each other on with these friends, maintaining a warm relationship. That period was more than just volunteering; it was a precious time that made me reflect on the direction of my life and the meaning of relationships.
Strengths and Weaknesses of Personality
“Bright face, always greeting first”
I always try to greet people first and approach them with a bright expression. Because of this, I often hear comments like, “You’re such a nice person,” or “You always give off positive energy.” Hearing these things makes me think I am a good person, and naturally, I strive harder to be that kind of person.
However, acquaintances who have known me for a long time often worry that this trait could be stressful for me, saying things like, “I’ve never seen you get angry.” Honestly, I’ve sometimes wondered if I might have something like a ‘good person complex’.
There have been times when I was clearly angry or needed to express that emotion, but I held it back thinking, ‘Still, shouldn’t I be a good person?’ or brushed it off with, “Well, it’s better to be nice.” Doing this led to a point where people started perceiving me as someone who “has no likes or dislikes and never gets angry.”
After realizing this, I too have been trying to distinguish between “moments when I should get angry” and “moments when I shouldn’t,” and to clearly express my position when necessary, rather than suppressing my emotions.
Of course, maintaining a positive image and attitude remains a core value for me. But within that, I aim to be someone who doesn’t deny or suppress my feelings, but knows how to express them in a healthy way. I’m realizing that a truly ‘good person’ isn’t someone who always wears a smile, but someone who can express their emotions honestly and in a balanced way.
Career Experience (or experience demonstrating work capabilities)
“A Mind Unafraid of Challenges”
While searching for part-time work to utilize the time between completing my military service and returning to school, I learned that a shop I had previously worked at was being sold under favorable conditions. After discussing it with my parents, I decided to take over the shop and subsequently managed it directly for about two years.
The shop had always been a thriving business, so during the first year, I worked harder than anyone to capitalize on that opportunity. I focused on boosting profits by paying attention to the menu, operational methods, customer service, and overall management, and these efforts led to noticeable results.
However, after returning to school, difficulties gradually began to arise as I juggled my studies with running the shop. The limitations of time management and the physical strain took their toll, leading to decreased operational efficiency. Ultimately, I concluded I had gained valuable experience and decided to close the shop. Fortunately, I was able to close it without any losses and even made a small profit. This process allowed me to directly experience various aspects of business and self-employment.
After returning to school, I focused on my studies and graduation preparations. During this time, I naturally became interested in online media advertising through a study group I joined, and that interest soon led to action. I entered a new media promotion contest that was underway at the time and, working in sync with outstanding teammates, produced meaningful results.
In that contest, I was responsible for the SNS promotion strategy based on new media. I planned an expansion strategy based on my past experience running portal blogs and cafes, and my recently acquired Twitter skills, which I had grown quite fond of. This part, in particular, received a lot of positive feedback.
This brief yet intense experience in self-employment, coupled with the tangible results from my online promotional activities, reminded me how valuable an ‘attitude unafraid of challenges’ truly is. Moving forward, I aim to build on this experience and become someone who sees possibilities before fear in new challenges.
Hobbies and Other Interests
During high school, I developed a connection with music through my school band activities. Though I wasn’t an exceptionally skilled player, I was captivated by the bass’s uniquely deep and stable tone. This naturally led me to develop an interest in various genres of music and cultivate my own musical understanding. Particularly, the active exchanges with other schools enabled me to plan and organize numerous joint performances, which I believe was a major driving force behind my ability to consistently continue band activities.
Looking back now, high school was a time when sheer guts got us on stage. We had the courage and confidence to take the stage without hesitation, even when practice was insufficient. Now, however, stepping on stage unprepared often feels embarrassing. So these days, I’m content to perform only once or twice a year, after thorough practice and preparation. That time remains a very special moment in my life.
Music is truly fascinating because, no matter how different people’s tastes are or how drastically their favorite genres diverge, it brings them together under the common denominator of ‘music’. Even with someone I’ve just met, the moment we start talking about music, I feel a strange bond and sense of kinship. And the thrill of creating music together in a band is incomparable to practicing an instrument alone—it’s so profound it’s hard to put into words. The very process of completing a song is also about synchronizing our breathing, so it feels like we share a deeper connection than just music.
Perhaps that’s why. I may not know much else, but I consider this band activity one of the most precious things in my life that I absolutely don’t want to miss out on. If I ever start a family, my own little dream and hope is for all of us to take on our own parts and form a band together. A family that plays instruments, synchronizes their breathing, and understands and communicates with each other in a different way through music. Doesn’t that sound warm and wonderful just imagining it?
Music always gives me new energy. And that energy proves useful in every moment of life. Moving forward, I want to live alongside music, steadily preserving my own unique color, even if it’s a bit slower.
Motivation for Application and Aspirations
I’ve always enjoyed people and tend to maintain harmonious relationships, so I often hear from others that I’d be well-suited for a sales role. Perhaps because of this, I’ve always held a vague admiration and interest in the field of sales. While participating in a contest, I developed a focused interest in the online and new media sectors and discovered that sales roles exist within this domain.
Advertising and new media, in particular, are promising fields expected to see significant growth in the future. I found this deeply appealing, especially since it connects closely with the SNS area I’ve consistently explored out of personal interest. I concluded that building knowledge across digital platforms, including SNS, and using that understanding to plan and sell advertising products is an ideal field where my interests and capabilities can naturally converge.
During this process, I learned about ○○ Media. Through industry seniors, I heard repeatedly that it is a company rapidly expanding its business in the new media advertising market and leading the industry. Building on my accumulated experience, interests, and the confidence gained from communicating with people, I aspire to be a small but sure driving force in ○○ Media’s continued growth. I will do my utmost to become a member who actively contributes to creating change and growth.
Thank you for reading to the end. I sincerely hope you will keep an eye on me and watch my growth.
