This blog post introduces how to effectively showcase practical skills in a food & beverage resume, based on field communication abilities and operational understanding gained through a franchise management internship.
Growth Background
“A down-to-earth person who loves food”
I grew up in a rural village that could literally be called a ‘backwater’ during my childhood. It was a remote neighborhood deep within the countryside, accessible only after venturing further in. Consequently, the village was mostly populated by elderly residents, with young couples or children being a rare sight. Naturally, I had almost no peers my age. I had to commute to the nearby town for elementary school, and upon entering middle school, I enrolled in a boarding school because there were no schools near the village.
As a child, I didn’t know as much as I do now, so I truly loved the village where I lived. There were no large supermarkets or amusement facilities, but the simple daily life felt warm and comforting. Memories of playing with my few friends, dipping our feet in the stream by the riverbank, and running and playing in the mountains, embracing nature as our companion, remain vivid even now. In spring, we’d pick wild mugwort blooming in the fields; in summer, we’d pick and eat fruits ripening on trees. It was truly a childhood spent freely and purely within nature.
Back then, I lived contentedly, satisfied with a life of ‘eating delicious food until I was full,’ without any other desires. I loved that neighborhood, abundant with food, and my parents, who prepared meals with such care. I like to describe myself as a “simple child who loved to eat.”
Even as a middle and high school student, my interest in food and ingredients remained stronger than my interest in studying. So naturally, my career path also steered toward the food industry, and I went to college to major in Food Distribution. I attended a university in Seoul, which became an opportunity for me, born and raised in the countryside, to live in the city and gain diverse experiences.
During my university years, I gradually began to take an interest in studying, something I hadn’t focused on much before. I participated in liberal arts lectures, psychology courses, and reading workshops, striving to broaden my knowledge and general education. At the same time, I concentrated on my major studies, steadily preparing to become an expert in the field of food distribution.
Looking back now, my childhood was a time spent with nature, cultivating simple yet honest senses. The question of ‘what to eat well and how to feed well’ had unconsciously taken root in me since childhood. And that innocent heart continues to be the driving force behind me even now.
Strengths and Weaknesses of Personality
“Think simply, decide easily.”
I have made ‘think simply’ my life motto. This ‘simplicity’ signifies a commitment to avoid burdening myself with complex, unnecessary worries. Many people navigating modern life push themselves relentlessly amidst an overflow of information and excessive stress. Observing how they pursue perfection in every aspect—work, relationships, self-improvement—and race without pause, I sometimes think the term ‘stress addiction’ didn’t arise without reason.
However, I believe living so complexly actually sickens life. The compulsion to excel at everything and the habit of digging too deeply into every matter ultimately exhausts oneself. That’s why I choose to think as simply as possible and make quick decisions at every moment of choice in daily life.
For example, when deciding on college, I received much advice to meticulously consider various factors like aptitude, career path, and job prospects. But rather than overcomplicating things, I centered my own interests and passions. I’d always been fascinated by food, and I had an intuition that managing and distributing ingredients would be enjoyable. So I naturally applied to related departments, and I’ve never regretted that choice.
Some worry that making important decisions this simply will lead to regret later. But for me, it was the opposite. Because it was a decision driven by my inner interest and enjoyment, I was able to genuinely enjoy my major studies throughout my entire university life. Even when preparing for exams or facing job hunting, I chose to focus on what was truly needed in practical work rather than frantically building up credentials.
In this way, I have made ‘thinking simply, deciding easily, and acting clearly’ a principle of my life. This disposition has allowed me to live more flexibly, accepting situations as they come without being swayed by unnecessary stress.
Of course, simplicity can have its drawbacks. There were times when I didn’t deliberate enough on problems that required a more meticulous approach. But overall, I believe this ‘simplicity’ has been the force that keeps me healthier and moving forward steadily.
Moving forward, I intend to uphold this principle of ‘thinking simply’ as my life standard. At every crucial moment of choice, I will listen to my inner voice and walk steadfastly without wavering.
School Life
“Turning Ideas into Reality in the Startup Club”
During my college years, I was active in the venture startup club established within my department. While I had considered working for a food distribution company, my greater ambition was to eventually start my own business in this field. To turn this ‘vague dream’ into reality, I joined the venture startup club and began gaining experience by concretely developing the business ideas I had envisioned.
The activity that consumed the most time during club meetings was discussions. It went beyond simple discussions; it was a process of sharing each member’s ideas, giving and receiving feedback, and gradually developing them into realistic business models. These meetings transcended mere idea sharing; they involved building on each other’s thoughts, refining them, and ultimately leading to the creation of actual business plans.
What struck me was how ideas that felt utterly unrealistic when pondered alone gradually transformed into concrete, actionable forms when shared and discussed together. For instance, since I enjoy eating fruit regularly, I naturally came up with the business idea of selling vegetable juice. Taking it a step further, I began considering a structure for efficiently trading with produce distributors. Discussing this aspect with colleagues during the meetings helped me gradually flesh out the details.
My simple idea was strengthened by the creative input of various colleagues, making the business plan more robust. Based on this, we embarked on an actual startup project. Of course, we couldn’t immediately execute the business with just an idea. Various elements were needed, such as basic funding, manpower, and time. Therefore, we systematically organized and refined our business plan, deciding to participate in a startup competition based on it.
Startup competitions often target not only youth but also university students, and we selected one such event. We compiled and submitted our business plan and supporting materials. Fortunately, our idea received positive evaluations from the judges, and we were ultimately selected, securing funding and support for our actual startup.
This experience meant more than just completing a single project. It was a valuable time where we personally experienced the entire startup process: turning an idea into reality, solving problems through teamwork, and establishing strategies for execution. Above all, it was an especially valuable experience because we directly felt that an idea we might have only imagined alone could become reality when working with colleagues.
Job Handling Ability
“Managing Merchant Accounts at a Credit Card Company”
While majoring in Food Distribution at university, I interned at ○○ Card Company during my vacation period. For three months, I handled merchant management duties, gaining invaluable hands-on experience in the field.
Merchant management went beyond simple administrative tasks. It involved directly investigating and analyzing the operational status of merchants for various companies, including food companies, franchise headquarters, and large café brands. I identified ongoing systems and events at each franchise location, collecting and digitizing any noteworthy elements within their marketing strategies. This data was then compared and analyzed against the card company’s existing marketing strategies and events. Applicable insights were incorporated into actual strategies, with modifications and enhancements made as needed.
Additionally, a role requiring creativity and drive was ‘new franchisee contracting’. This involved discovering new franchise opportunities, analyzing their potential, developing strategies, and ultimately securing actual contracts. This went beyond simply compiling a list of potential franchisees; it demanded comprehensive judgment considering our card company’s brand image, advertising direction, and the characteristics of our customer base.
This process was particularly team-based, making smooth communication with team members paramount. Coordinating individual opinions and collaborating to move toward a unified direction naturally enhanced my communication skills, and I truly grasped their importance in practical work.
Experiencing the entire process—from merchant discovery to contract signing and management—allowed me to develop not only practical skills but also problem-solving abilities, teamwork, and a strong sense of responsibility. My work performance was recognized, leading me to decide to extend my leave of absence after the break ended. I worked for over three additional months, gaining deeper hands-on experience.
This experience meant far more to me than a simple internship. It allowed me to understand firsthand what competencies the industry demands and how to address them, instilling confidence in my practical abilities.
Motivation for Application and Aspirations
“I aspire to become a leader in shaping global organizational culture.”
Your company has established itself as a trusted enterprise through its systematic customer management system and consistent corporate social responsibility initiatives. Cheonho Foods, in particular, possesses differentiated competitiveness in advertising strategy and brand image building, demonstrating a unique presence within the domestic food industry.
I am well aware of how your brand has become familiar to customers over the long term and have learned about your systematic customer management system through various channels. This deepened my resonance with your customer-centric management philosophy and corporate culture, naturally leading me to apply for this position.
While your company currently focuses its sales activities on the domestic market, I firmly believe it has significant potential to grow into a highly competitive brand in the global market over the medium to long term. Therefore, I am prepared to take the lead in establishing a global organizational culture as a talent capable of spearheading future change and expansion.
I aim to be a proactive team member who not only develops personal capabilities but also fosters a positive atmosphere within the team and drives collaboration. Furthermore, I will spare no effort in making diverse attempts to inject vitality throughout the organization and ensure your corporate culture is applicable in the global market.
Specifically, leveraging my global customer management capabilities, I wish to take on the role of maintaining and managing close relationships with franchisees and partners, particularly within the food distribution sector. Through this, I aim to make tangible contributions enabling your company to establish a stable foothold in new markets.
I respectfully request your trust and investment in my plans and proactive attitude. I sincerely look forward to designing your company’s future together. Thank you.
