This blog post introduces how to effectively showcase global awareness and communication skills in a management resume, drawing from exchange student and translation work experience.

Growth Process

“Let’s start slowly from the foundation and complete the project!”
My family has a long tradition of working in the construction business, passed down through generations. My great-grandfather was a master carpenter with exceptional skill, and my grandfather worked as an architectural designer who personally designed and built traditional Korean houses (hanok). My father inherited my grandfather’s techniques and spirit, continuing to work on-site to this day, performing various roles in modern construction such as design, site management, and construction supervision. From a young age, my father naturally shared many stories about construction, along with the philosophy of life embedded within them. His words, “Foundation work is the most important,” left a particularly deep impression. The very first task in construction isn’t decorating the exterior, but digging the ground beneath the building, embedding steel rods and pillars to create a solid foundation. My father’s teaching that this isn’t merely a process of erecting a building, but that it is the very beginning and completion of architecture, became an important lesson for me in how to approach life.
Truthfully, I had a tendency to prioritize visible results over fundamentals. When studying, I thought getting good test scores was enough without solidifying the foundational theories. In daily life, I often neglected cleaning my room, focusing only on my appearance. Seeing this side of me, my father frequently gave me sharp reminders, emphasizing that growth achieved by ignoring the basics ultimately doesn’t last. Through my father’s scolding and several trials and errors, I gradually came to understand the ‘importance of fundamentals’ firsthand. After that, I focused on building long-term skills rather than short-term results, and I approached my studies diligently enough to feel satisfied each day. As a result, I was able to enter the business department of my desired university and continue my studies while receiving scholarships throughout all four years.
Now, I never forget that whatever I start must have a solid foundation. I learned that true growth comes from building a strong foundation in the unseen areas, rather than focusing on what looks impressive on the surface. My father’s words, “Start slowly with the foundation work and complete it thoroughly!” remain a guiding principle in my life today.

Personality and Life Philosophy

I possess an unusually strong curiosity about new things. When something unfamiliar and fresh appears before me, I instinctively feel a powerful urge to take an interest and learn about it. This is especially true for activities that can become part of my life, like hobbies or habits, not just people. Once something captures my interest, I have to experience it firsthand to feel satisfied.
Once, while walking down the street, I saw people busking. Watching them freely sing with their amplifiers turned on, I felt their youth and passion radiating from them, and I found myself inexplicably drawn to it. That’s how I decided, “I want to try busking too.” First, I figured I needed an amp, so I went to a music store and bought the equipment myself. Then, I recruited a friend to handle the guitar accompaniment. Simultaneously, I dove into vocal practice, consistently striving to develop a tone that complemented my friend’s playing.
With each practice session, I could feel my skills improving. Finally, one day, I mustered the courage to take to the streets of Hongdae and Insa-dong for my first busking performance. Singing in front of so many people was nerve-wracking at first, but as time passed, it became genuinely enjoyable. I even gained unexpected confidence, realizing it was “doable.” This shows I’m not hesitant to challenge myself in new areas, and I take pride in gaining so much from these endeavors.
Of course, there are downsides. My curiosity is so strong that sometimes my interest doesn’t last long. In fact, just six months after starting busking, my focus shifted to another hobby, and I drifted away from it for a while. However, music and singing remain my cherished hobbies, always ready for me to return. I plan to continue music through a workplace band during my future career and, to avoid giving up after just three days, I intend to take consistent private lessons to deepen my enjoyment of music as a hobby.
Learning and challenging myself with new things is a vital driving force in my life. The experiences and lessons gained through this process have become the foundation for my growth, and I will continue to challenge myself based on this attitude.

School Days

I majored in Global Business Management in college. During my undergraduate years, I focused on experiencing various foundational areas rather than delving deeply into business management, as it was a stage for grasping the overall fundamentals of the field and building a big-picture understanding of my major. Consequently, I naturally devoted more time outside my major to language study. Given the global nature of my major, I concentrated on improving my practical English skills.
To enhance my English proficiency, I consistently attended classes taught by native-speaking instructors on campus. I focused on developing natural communication skills through conversation-centered lessons. Simultaneously, I prepared for both the TOEFL and TEPS exams, striving to develop balanced proficiency across all areas: reading, writing, and speaking. Considering the reality that many students graduate without systematically developing their English skills before entering the workforce, I believe I made relatively solid, practical preparations.
After graduating from university, I felt some regret about my undergraduate business studies and decided to pursue a graduate degree to compensate. Although it was the same global business major, the master’s program demanded much more advanced content and the setting of specific research topics, which allowed me to deepen my academic thinking. Particularly during my master’s, English transcended mere language proficiency to become a tool for academic research. The English skills I built during my undergraduate years became a significant asset. I could grasp the content of papers and original texts without difficulty. In group assignments, I often took the lead as group leader, interpreting English source materials, organizing content, and guiding the team.
Later, when I entered the doctoral program, I began teaching courses based on my expertise in global management. Teaching became more than just knowledge transfer; it was an opportunity for my own growth through thorough preparation, deep reflection, and communication with students. Preparing for classes allowed me to reorganize my understanding of the major, study real-world cases, and experience significant academic growth.
Thus, the consistent effort dedicated to language and my major since my university days played a crucial role in solidifying my academic foundation. During my undergraduate years, I studied broadly; in graduate school and my doctoral program, I studied deeply, steadily building my own expertise step by step. This process is still ongoing. My experiences as a student formed the most fundamental groundwork for who I am today, and I intend to use those times as a springboard to continue developing myself constantly.

Hobbies or Special Skills

I first took on translation work while pursuing my master’s degree in graduate school. It began purely out of academic necessity. While personally translating specialized textbooks and original works to study, my advisor, who noticed my translation skills, started assigning me external translation work. Initially, it involved analyzing or summarizing short papers, but as trust grew, I was entrusted with more specialized content like business-related materials. Working on these external translation projects proved rewarding. Beyond the financial compensation, I found great satisfaction in the intellectual fulfillment and the joy of learning through translation.
As my experience grew and my capabilities were proven, I began receiving direct translation requests without the professor’s mediation. In fact, professional translators command high rates, so many companies actively sought out graduate students for translation work. I actively pursued these opportunities, consistently working as a part-time translator for companies. Thanks to this, translation became more than just a job for me; it evolved into a ‘hobby and specialty’ I could immerse myself in with genuine passion. To this day, I continue translating whenever I have free time, while also studying to enhance my expertise.
I believe that beyond simply translating well, truly understanding and conveying content appropriately within its context is the essence of a translator’s craft. In this regard, translation has always been a constant source of new learning for me and will remain an important part of my life going forward.

Motivation and Aspirations

Although I majored in Global Business Management in college, I had initially planned to attend a college of education. Becoming a teacher had been my long-held dream, and I had studied diligently to achieve it. However, during my senior year of high school, as I was contemplating my career path, my father cautiously suggested another direction. My father majored in architecture and dedicated his entire life to designing and constructing buildings. Watching him travel on business to various countries, including Europe and Australia, and attend global architecture seminars, I found my father truly impressive. He told me, “While teaching is certainly a meaningful profession, wouldn’t it be good to try working in a global field within a broader world?” That advice prompted me to deeply reconsider my career path.
Thus, I chose to major in ‘Global Business Administration’ to become a competitive individual in a broader world. To be honest, I initially entered the field without fully understanding what business administration entailed. However, as I took each course, I gradually developed an interest and became convinced this path suited my aptitude well. Above all, I felt my disposition—unhesitant to learn new things and enjoying challenges and growth—aligned perfectly with the academic characteristics of business studies.
During my university years, building on this inclination, I went on an exchange program to Australia to cultivate a genuine global perspective and traveled to Canada, striving to gain experience abroad. Particularly when overseas, I found myself drawn more to urban centers than to nature or open fields. Gazing at the towering buildings and the signs of major corporations and global companies lining every street, I nurtured the dream: ‘One day, I want to work inside one of those, put my own name on the line, and demonstrate my expertise.’ This naturally led me to set the goal of growing into a competitive business leader in a global environment.
In this way, I am a proactive individual who seeks growth through continuous self-development. And just as I initially aspired to attend a college of education, I believe I possess the attitude to share knowledge and experience, along with the mindset to become someone’s mentor. Rather than simply pursuing my own success, I have strived to become someone who can grow together and share value, and I will not lose that attitude going forward. I believe this growth-oriented attitude, broad perspective, and responsible mindset align well with your company’s ideal candidate profile. I wish to become a member of your company to continue pursuing greater challenges and growth.