This blog post introduces how to persuasively convey practical skills and adaptability in real office environments beyond simply holding an OA certification in your resume.
My Upbringing
My parents, who lived by the philosophy of “contributing to creating an environment where everyone can live with dignity,” practiced this belief daily while running their shop. When hiring part-time workers, they treated them not merely as extra hands but as individuals deserving of respect. Paying above the legally mandated minimum wage was standard practice. They made sure to give bonuses during holidays and always strove to treat everyone with dignity, never acting carelessly.
My parents always said, “If you want to hire someone, you must first treat them like a human being.”
They believed everyone needed a minimum foundation for life and that certain rights must be upheld in human relationships. Yet in reality, it was all too common to see labor conveniently exploited while the compensation and treatment given treated workers as if they had no feelings or dignity. My parents firmly stated they could never understand such contradictory behavior.
The background to my parents starting their shop lay in the hardships they endured in their youth and their urgent desire that ‘people should live like human beings.’ Because it was a shop run by such people, employees weren’t just workers; they were respected as ‘colleagues sharing life together’ and could work accordingly. Through the shop, my parents sought to heal the wounds they had suffered while simultaneously striving to positively impact the lives of others.
I grew up naturally immersed in my parents’ example and the shop’s atmosphere. Through this, I came to understand one thing clearly: regardless of position or role—whether employee, customer, or owner—everyone is an equal human being. I also deeply internalized that if you don’t want to be treated unfairly or have your rights denied, you must never look down on or mistreat others yourself. Unreasonable practices and structures don’t vanish overnight, so I sensed that breaking them ultimately begins with individual consciousness.
Most part-time employees who worked under my parents’ trust stayed for many years, unanimously praising them: “A boss like this is truly rare.” Beyond simply being given a job, they resolved to become better people through the experience of being respected as individuals. Many deeply resonated with my parents’ philosophy, vowing to become people who treat others ‘like human beings’ themselves. In this way, my parents’ way of thinking gradually spread beyond the confines of just one shop, permeating people’s lives.
Looking back, my parents’ way of life was the most valuable education I could learn up close, forming the foundation of my values. Whatever I do in the future, I want to live without forgetting that lesson: that protecting the respect and rights every person deserves is what truly makes people human.
Learning Character During School Days
During my school years, I learned important lessons not just about school life, but about human relationships in general. My parents treated not only their employees at work with dignity, but also treated me, their child, with respect, establishing a proper standard for life. They also constantly guided me to form positive and healthy relationships with the friends I associated with. Thanks to this, I was able to naturally develop friendships based on mutual consideration and respect.
One particularly memorable lesson was that even when in a position of advantage within a relationship, one must never compromise another’s dignity. My parents always emphasized that this is a virtue everyone should uphold—that no matter how close the relationship, one must never lose courtesy and must always respect each other’s character.
“The closer the relationship, the more you must observe basic etiquette. Be careful not to inadvertently damage someone’s dignity through careless mistakes.” While this advice felt somewhat difficult to grasp in my childhood, I gradually came to understand its meaning as I experienced diverse human relationships.
People inevitably live by forming various relationships within society. However, once you begin defining your position based on hierarchical relationships, you will inevitably face a situation where you become someone else’s ‘subordinate’. My parents always told me that in such relationships, the disrespect you show others will inevitably come back to you in the form of unfair treatment.
They said they experienced the sorrow and resentment of not receiving fair treatment when they first entered society more deeply than anyone. Yet, rather than repaying that pain to others, they held a strong conviction that the vicious cycle must be broken. Their sincere wish was to cultivate a healthy social environment where everyone could live with mutual respect.
Growing up under such beliefs, I naturally learned the mindset of being a ‘proper member of society’. Within the position and role given to me, I have constantly pondered how we can live while respecting one another. And I, too, have strived to carry on my parents’ wishes, hoping to make even a small contribution to creating a beautiful cycle of respect.
Looking back, my school days were meaningful times that went beyond simply studying and socializing with friends; they were times when I learned attitudes toward people and the values of life. My early awakening to the essence of human relationships was thanks to my parents’ profound teachings, which remain a vital guiding principle in my life to this day.
Personality Introduction
I am someone who values harmony—where everyone moves forward in step together—more than rushing ahead alone in pursuit of success. I consider mutual development a virtue in life and constantly strive to realize it.
Most roles people take on in society are typically within organizations or teams. If one tries to push ahead unilaterally at their own pace within such a group, discord inevitably arises.
Take music as an example: no matter how beautiful the middle melody is, if dissonance occurs in the introduction or conclusion, the overall quality of the piece inevitably suffers. That middle melody might not be fully appreciated and could even be drowned out and forgotten. Similarly, no matter how outstanding an individual’s abilities and passion may be, if they fail to synchronize with the team, they disrupt the overall flow and ultimately struggle to achieve the desired outcome.
Advancing at one’s own pace, like a two-person three-legged race that forgets the essence of cooperation, can lead to clumsy and comical situations. I believe true success stems not from individual solo efforts, but from the process of walking together in harmony.
Of course, in today’s era often called one of endless competition, there exists the perspective that one must stand above others and demonstrate their value to survive. But I think differently. I believe the process of everyone growing together and achieving balance is the core of sustainable development.
Therefore, I pursue not the dictatorship of ‘I’, but the unity of ‘we’ and the explosive synergy that emerges from it. I believe true achievement and joy arise from breathing together with teammates and leveraging each other’s strengths, and I constantly strive to cultivate the power of such collaboration.
Life Philosophy: The Destiny and Meaning of Humans Living Together
Humans are beings who must pool their strength within a group to survive. This characteristic is not a weakness unique to humans; rather, it is our most powerful survival strategy and way of life. We often perceive this human nature—the difficulty of living independently alone—as a physical weakness or an individual limitation, accepting it as a flaw. Yet, observing nature reveals that weaker beings tend to form groups to survive against predators. Humans are no different. Faced with the urgent task of survival, we naturally came to depend on each other to live.
Yet this cooperation was not merely a means of survival. Humanity drew the driving force of evolution from the power of “all minds working together.” Imagination and creativity may have begun within the individual mind, but their transformation into reality and civilization was made possible by cooperation and division of labor among members. This human characteristic—filling each other’s gaps, sharing roles, and collaborating—ultimately became the foundation of the civilization and life we enjoy today.
We must recognize that humans are inherently beings who cannot help but live together. And we must also reflect on the fact that it is thanks to this destiny that we have been able to enjoy dazzling progress and the richness of life. Furthermore, to pass this legacy on intact to the next generation, we too have a duty to faithfully fulfill our roles within the community and live with consideration for one another.
The existence called ‘I’ is never an isolated individual. We stand upon the accumulated legacy of life passed down from past generations, and simultaneously bear the responsibility to serve as a ‘bridge’ connecting this life to future generations. This is precisely why we need an attitude that embraces the essence of humans living together, finding meaning within it, and living accordingly.
Motivation for Application and Aspirations After Joining
I grew up deeply influenced by my parents, who personally demonstrated the virtues of living together within a community from my childhood. Thanks to them, I naturally came to understand that society is a tightly interconnected network where diverse individuals influence each other. This realization became the starting point for my interest in ‘connections between people’ and ‘information that impacts society as a whole’.
In particular, while contemplating the standards and indicators that guide people’s lives, I was deeply impressed by the existence of price information. Prices exert a profound influence on people’s lives, serving as tangible indicators that everyone can feel. Moreover, they act as signals that gauge broader socio-economic trends, making it impossible not to react sensitively to their changes and movements. Driven by a passion to contribute to conveying price information—so closely tied to people’s lives—more accurately and to communicate its value, I am applying for this position.
Should I have the opportunity to work with your company, I will focus on disseminating information that provides tangible assistance to people at the intersection of production and consumption. I aim to contribute to helping citizens make rational judgments by always paying attention to changing market trends and providing more accurate and reliable data. I will do my utmost to fulfill my role and responsibilities so that price information can function as a clear and concise social indicator.
Above all, I hold a deep affection for society itself, where people live together in harmony. I believe price information is one of the essential elements needed to maintain that society in a healthier state. Amidst an ever-changing economic environment, I will devote my utmost effort to delivering swift and accurate price information, enabling the public to continue stable and efficient economic activities.
