In this blog post, I’ll share tips on crafting a self-introduction for general sales roles that goes beyond formulaic phrases, infusing it with your unique experiences and genuine sincerity.
My Growth Journey
“My growth was possible because of the people who always supported me.”
I was physically very frail from a young age. I was underweight at birth and had a congenital weak immune system. Throughout my school years, I suffered from numerous chronic illnesses, both major and minor, which often kept me away from school. During my growth, I had to undergo several surgeries. Each time, there were people by my side offering help. Before surgeries, I was fortunate to meet excellent doctors who referred me to other hospitals for more specialized care. There were also people who meticulously checked every single procedure carried out at the hospital.
My parents always paid close attention to ensure I didn’t fall behind in school. Although I often had to miss classes, they arranged private tutoring to keep me on track academically. Thanks to that, I was able to keep up with schoolwork by studying with a private tutor. Furthermore, whenever I couldn’t attend school, friends would visit me in the hospital or copy and hand me their class notes to support me. The reason I can maintain a positive mindset in life today is probably due to the warm people who were by my side back then.
The helping hands continued during my college application process. I always loved English and never missed an English class, even when I was sick. My English teacher, who recognized this, provided invaluable assistance with my admissions. Not only did she recommend the university and department she had attended, but she also generously shared all the necessary information for entering that department. Thanks to her, I was able to confirm my career path relatively early and steadily move toward my goal. I diligently prepared with the goal of entering the English Language and Literature Department, and as a result, I was accepted through the early admissions process and even received a scholarship, allowing me to begin my university life.
Looking back, at every important moment in my life, there were people who cared deeply for me and reached out a helping hand. Without their help and encouragement, I wouldn’t be who I am today. Moving forward, I want to remember the warmth I received then and become someone who can be a source of strength for others.
Strengths and Weaknesses of Personality
“Optimistic and Positive Mindset”
I spent much of my childhood in poor health, spending significant time in hospitals. It wasn’t until I was an adult, after several surgeries and long treatment processes, that I could finally live a normal life. It wasn’t until I became a university student that I could actively engage in studies and social activities without physical discomfort. However, this didn’t make me grow up with a dark personality. On the contrary, I was naturally cheerful and affectionate towards those around me, so I always lived surrounded by help and encouragement. Thanks to that, even while going through difficult times, I was able to cultivate an even brighter and more positive personality.
Because I experienced being very sick, I don’t get easily shaken by minor setbacks. I live my life grateful for the circumstances I’ve been given. The ability to study, to eat healthily and exercise—all of these are dreams and blessings to me. That’s why, from the moment I open my eyes in the morning, simply starting the day feels like happiness. I don’t have to force myself to be positive; every moment in daily life naturally brings gratitude and joy. In this sense, I truly believe my optimistic nature is a great blessing in my life.
Of course, there are downsides too. Because I generally prioritize having leeway, I can be somewhat lazy. I tend to schedule with extra time and proceed slowly rather than using time efficiently. For example, when given an assignment, I start it later, thinking, ‘Let’s wait a bit longer,’ rather than tackling it immediately. While this keeps my mind at ease and prevents rushing, it also increases the risk of missing deadlines. This tendency can be problematic, especially when working at a company. Therefore, I consistently train myself to strictly adhere to time commitments. I make it a principle to complete work perfectly within the allotted time, striving to ensure my optimistic nature functions solely as an advantage.
Ultimately, my strength is maintaining a positive and grateful mindset in any situation, while my weakness is that my tendency to take things easy can sometimes lead to lax time management. However, I am building a balanced life by leveraging my strengths and working on my weaknesses. Thanks to this optimistic disposition, which has been the foundation of my life, I am confident that I can continue to live joyfully with a grateful heart, no matter what challenges come my way.
Overseas Experience
“Determined to create unforgettable memories in Australia”
During my university years, I majored in English Language and Literature, which allowed me to study English to my heart’s content. I focused particularly on conversation practice to improve my speaking skills. During this process, I took a class taught by a native speaker, where I met a friend who became a great partner for my English conversation practice. He was an exchange student from Australia, and we quickly became close through our conversations in English. I taught him Korean whenever I could and helped him with any difficulties he faced in school life.
One day during vacation, as my friend was temporarily returning to Australia, he made me a proposal: “How about coming to Australia during the break and living together?” I accepted without hesitation and poured all the money I’d saved from part-time jobs into a plane ticket. Truthfully, I hadn’t had many diverse experiences during my school years and had never been abroad. So this trip to Australia was my first overseas journey and a major challenge toward a new world. With the determination to “definitely create unforgettable memories in Australia,” my friend and I explored every corner.
The vast fields, endless ranches, and breathtakingly beautiful natural landscapes still vividly come to mind. Beyond simply enjoying nature, strolling through the vibrant city center was also a delightful experience. Above all, the connections I made with diverse people during the trip brought me immense joy. I met the kind parents of a friend and received their warm hospitality, mingled with American peers staying at the same hotel, and even encountered other Korean travelers by chance on the road, spending time together.
Through this cycle of chance encounters and bittersweet farewells, I set a new goal: to travel the world, meet more people, and make friends from diverse countries. My time in Australia was more than just a trip; it remains a precious experience that broadened my horizons. Even now, the landscapes, laughter, and heart-swelling moments from that time remain vividly etched in my heart.
Self-Development
“Sweeping Scholarships in the English Language and Literature Department”
When I entered university, I was admitted through the early admissions process and achieved outstanding grades sufficient to receive scholarships for all four years. However, receiving a scholarship once did not guarantee its automatic continuation. Maintaining a certain level of academic performance was required, and meeting that standard proved more challenging than anticipated. As I poured my passion into not only my major studies but also various extracurricular activities, my GPA began to slip. Eventually, my scholarship was discontinued. At that moment, the goal of regaining the scholarship became crystal clear.
Since one of the scholarship criteria for the English Language and Literature Department was external English test scores, I began preparing intensively for the TOEIC and TOEFL. For the TOEIC, I was already scoring in the high 800s based on my usual ability, but I wasn’t satisfied. I set the goal of ‘definitely surpassing the mid-900s’ and worked towards it by analyzing question types and repeatedly taking practice tests. Meanwhile, the TOEFL was an area I had been putting off, thinking ‘I should take it someday,’ so I decided to properly challenge it this time. I systematically worked through the TOEFL lectures I had previously registered for but never touched, building my fundamentals step by step.
After just one semester of focusing on self-improvement for the scholarship, I exceeded my TOEIC goal. The 950 score far surpassed the department scholarship requirement and was the fruit of my efforts. I achieved a similarly high score on the TOEFL, gaining official recognition of my English proficiency. This not only secured me the department scholarship again but also allowed me to simultaneously receive an external scholarship based on my test scores. Ultimately, I became what you might call a ‘scholarship sweep’ student, having experienced every type of scholarship available within the department.
This journey meant more than just studying to raise scores. Setting goals, devising strategies to meet them, and executing them through to the end taught me the power of self-management and immersion. More valuable than the joy of receiving scholarships was the pride of finally achieving the goals I had set for myself. This experience will form the foundation of unwavering confidence in my future life.
Post-Hire Aspirations
I majored in English Language and Literature during my university years, graduating with high honors. Since my school days, I have maintained a consistent interest in and study of the English education field. Notably, I even created my own English educational content during my studies, demonstrating my commitment to developing practical materials for real educational settings beyond mere academic interest. I understand that your company, as YBM Sisa Junior, specializes in developing English educational content for relatively young learners. Having participated in an online English education content production project during my university years, I believe I can quickly adapt to your company’s work environment and requirements, which is why I am applying for this position.
In the English education content development project, I fundamentally designed step-by-step learning plans based on educational engineering principles and devised specific learning activities to help learners naturally achieve their learning goals. For example, I once worked on a project to implement an English vocabulary learning process as an online program. This program was structured so that when a word was randomly presented, the learner would select its meaning, or conversely, when a meaning was given, the learner would find the appropriate word. To achieve this, I meticulously developed each item, including creating options individually and designing engaging incorrect answers to enhance learning effectiveness. Through these efforts, I successfully completed an interesting English vocabulary learning content that incorporated game elements, and it received positive feedback during actual demonstrations.
This experience confirmed that English educational content development aligns well with my aptitude. I realized I can fully immerse myself and enjoy the entire process, from planning to production. Moving forward, I aim to leverage my experience and capabilities at your company to develop diverse English educational content that captures learners’ interest and maximizes learning effectiveness. I am committed to contributing to enhancing both the quality of education and learner satisfaction.
