In this blog post, we explore what competencies are truly essential for advertising and PR roles beyond sensational expressions, and how to effectively convey them in your self-introduction.
Growth Process
“Learning Economic Principles and Discovering the Joy of Giving”
From a young age, my parents instilled in me independence and a sense of responsibility. They willingly supported my pursuits, but I had to bear the consequences of my choices. They never granted my every whim; I learned to think before acting. My parents saved diligently for years, starting from renting to eventually buying an apartment. This naturally taught me the value of money and financial awareness.
As a child, I received more allowance than my peers, but it wasn’t money I could spend freely. If I squandered my allowance, I might not even have enough for necessary school supplies, so I developed habits of planned spending and saving early on. When I wanted something, I would first tell my parents and get their permission, then contribute my own allowance to buy it. No matter how much money I saved myself, the rule was always to get my parents’ permission before spending it. They emphasized, “If you get into the habit of spending large sums easily, you won’t understand the gravity of money later in life.” Thanks to this, I naturally developed a sense of caution about money.
After entering middle school, I began earning extra allowance by helping with chores like polishing shoes, washing dishes, watering plants, and vacuuming. The money I earned this way felt more precious, carrying the pride of being “money I earned myself,” and it naturally led to saving. My parents emphasized saving but didn’t force me to be frugal. Having lost his parents early and grown up without parental guidance, my father would prepare gifts for the elderly at the neighborhood senior center every Parents’ Day. Starting with household appliances like fans and expanding to massage chairs in recent years, I learned the true meaning of generosity by watching him carefully select essential items and increase the budget slightly each year.
Thanks to my parents’ guidance in understanding money’s value and cultivating thrift, I developed a rational approach to spending and learned the joy of sharing saved money with those in need. I believe ‘financial sense’ isn’t merely a skill for saving money, but a life attitude and philosophy. The greatest legacy I received from my parents is precisely this way of life, which became the most precious foundation shaping who I am today.
Strengths and Weaknesses of My Personality
I possess a strong sense of independence and a proactive personality. When faced with any problem, rather than being intimidated, I tend to think deeply and research to find solutions myself. When I set a goal, I don’t just stop at thinking ‘I want to achieve this’; I create a concrete, realistic plan and execute it step by step. Even if unexpected variables arise during the process, I respond flexibly, adjusting my plan as needed, and ultimately achieve the desired outcome. This personality trait enabled me to consistently give my best effort to assignments during my university years, resulting in strong academic performance.
Another strength is my meticulous and responsible approach to tasks, never overlooking even minor details. I tackle every assignment with the mindset that “integrity and accountability are fundamental,” striving to execute plans systematically. During my part-time job, I routinely checked the store’s cleanliness twice daily and frequently monitored stock levels of popular items. If supplies were low, I proactively informed management to prevent customer inconvenience. Hearing that these small efforts contributed to the store’s operations gave me great satisfaction.
I am also highly competitive and persistent. My life principle is to never give up and complete anything I set my mind to. In middle school, my inflexibility made dance class a constant struggle. Honestly, it was so difficult I wanted to avoid it, but I had to overcome it because of the practical exam. Lacking flexibility, I practiced three or four times harder than others, investing significantly more time and effort. During the midterm practical exam, my clumsy movements made me the laughingstock of my classmates. However, I focused even harder afterward. As a result, I scored 18 out of 20 on the final practical exam, surprising both my teacher and classmates. This experience solidified my belief that ‘effort never betrays you.’
Thus, I possess a character that confronts challenges rather than fearing them, performs assigned tasks responsibly, and persists tenaciously without giving up until the very end. I believe this character will be a great asset to me in whatever I do in the future.
School Life
“Advertising and Marketing, Deeply and Thoroughly”
While majoring in Public Relations and Journalism, my dream since my freshman year was ‘advertising’. I was captivated by the art of capturing people’s attention within just 15 seconds and the power of storytelling that stirs emotions.
Fortunately, my department had an advertising club, and I joined without hesitation as soon as I became a freshman. This club focused on practical advertising video production and was so skilled that it even ran a separate ‘Advertising Festival’ during the department’s academic festival. Through club activities, I gained opportunities to challenge myself in university advertising competitions and gradually accumulated hands-on experience.
My departmental courses also fueled my passion for advertising. I never missed lectures on marketing strategy development or online marketing. I believed this was crucial because advertising, being the most commercial form of communication, requires a strategic approach.
Recently, advertising has expanded beyond simple broadcast commercials to diverse platforms. Consequently, I have studied and developed a deep interest in the effective use of mobile-based advertising media and digital marketing strategies. The dynamic nature of digital marketing, particularly the ability to analyze consumer reactions in real-time and adjust strategies based on data, has fascinated me greatly.
During my university years, there was also a meaningful activity I participated in without fail every year. Though not an official school event, it was the ‘24-Hour Hunger Experience’ planned and run by an international NGO. This activity began when I started sponsoring an overseas child during my freshman year. I participated because I wanted to personally experience how immense the suffering of ‘hunger’ truly is, and that experience left an unforgettable resonance within me.
That impact was too profound to keep to myself. So, starting the following year, I began participating with my parents, and it naturally became an annual family event. It’s a precious time that goes beyond a simple experience, prompting us to reflect on the things we take for granted.
In this way, throughout my university years, I constantly learned, navigating both the theory and practice of advertising and marketing, while also wholeheartedly participating in activities that put social value into action. Moving forward, I aspire to be an advertiser who ponders content that moves people’s hearts, never losing that warm perspective.
Reasons for Applying and Aspirations
“J.ESTINA in the World”
While preparing to take my first step into society, I asked myself countless times, ‘Just how far does perfect preparation go?’ But as time passed, I realized that just as there are no perfect people, there is no such thing as perfect preparation. I came to believe that what truly matters is the attitude and mindset of continuously striving to improve oneself, even amidst imperfections.
Like many aspiring professionals, I have built foundational skills in computer proficiency and English. However, I firmly believe that what is truly essential in advertising and PR goes beyond mere credentials. It requires a spirit of challenge and confidence to embrace and lead change in an ever-evolving world, and above all, a creative sensibility.
Based on this mindset, I have developed strategic thinking that incorporates marketing elements. Through this process, I deeply realized how crucial communication is—communication that goes beyond simple information delivery to elevate brand value and connect emotionally with consumers.
Moving forward, I aspire to authentically convey the beauty and philosophy pursued by J.ESTINA and contribute to establishing it as a brand that shines even brighter on the global stage.
With passion, creativity, and strategic thinking, I will lead the way in making ‘J.ESTINA, the world’s most beautiful jewelry brand’ widely known globally.
