This blog post introduces how to strategically interpret experiences gained in daily life and effectively incorporate them into your resume when applying for marketing positions.
Growth Process
My father runs a food factory. While not very large, it operates stably as a partner company to a fairly well-known enterprise in the food industry. My father always prioritized the well-being of his employees and the quality of his products above all else, striving to keep the factory in top condition at all times. Perhaps that is the secret to how he has been able to run the factory consistently for so many years. And there was one thing my father always emphasized to me: “Always maintain a consistent mindset.”
When I was in elementary school, Father always stressed the importance of studying, saying, “To see the world broadly, you must know much.” I responded to that in my own way, often demanding rewards from Father based on the idea that ‘getting good grades would let me get what I wanted.’ In fact, once when I ranked first in my class, Father bought me the bag I’d wanted for a long time. Back then, I probably thought simply that ‘studying only needs to be done hard when you feel like it.’ After that, I became busier playing than studying, and my grades gradually declined.
One day, when my father asked why I wasn’t studying, I think I answered, “I can raise my grades again anytime I set my mind to it.” In that moment, my father, unlike usual, became very angry and scolded me, saying, “Why don’t you have the will to make consistent effort?” I had never seen my father so angry before and was flustered, eventually bursting into tears. Later, my mother quietly explained to me. She said my father wanted me to always stay focused and approach my studies diligently.
I rebelled, asking my mother, “If I want to, I can study anytime and improve my grades. Why must I be consistent?” She listened silently. My father said I needed a scolding to snap out of it and told her to leave me be. After that, my stubbornness and pride pushed me further away from studying, and my grades plummeted endlessly. I ended up at the bottom of the class, and only then did I resolve to “try for first place again.”
Entering sixth grade, I truly refocused on my studies. I ranked 20th on the first midterm, 15th on the final exam, and 10th on the last test. Although I didn’t achieve my goal of first place, I found hope in the fact that I was steadily improving. However, I was also frustrated that my results didn’t match my efforts, and I felt unfairly treated. The thought, ‘I worked so hard, why isn’t it working?’, tormented me.
Even after entering middle school, my first grade was 20th. Despite this, I never gave up. I kept striving, and finally, in my first exam of ninth grade, I achieved first place. It took a full three years to climb back from last place to the top spot. And then, I finally understood. I resolved, ‘I must work hard to ensure my grades never slip again,’ and vowed not to start off laxly like before.
Only then did I fully understand my father’s words. A person’s heart can change at any moment, but keeping that resolve over the long term is never easy. What matters more than momentary passion is how long you can sustain it. Since then, I’ve lived by making promises to myself to see through what I set my mind to, striving to keep those commitments.
School Days
Looking back on my school days, middle school was a time focused on catching up on studies I had neglected, while high school was a period of broadening my horizons through diverse experiences. Even as a high school student, I felt firsthand how difficult it was to consistently maintain academic results, yet I always approached my studies with diligence. Simultaneously, I sought balance in my life by engaging in diverse activities I had missed while focused on studies. So, I consistently jogged every morning to strengthen my body and mind, and based on that experience, I began participating in annual marathons. I also frequently volunteered at places like daycare centers and nursing homes for the elderly. Of course, these volunteer activities and various external engagements weren’t simply about ‘having fun’. I approached that time as a healing period for my own heart. Rather than thinking I was helping others, I participated with the mindset that spending time with them actually brought me greater comfort and learning.
Furthermore, during high school, I learned to start my day early by delivering milk, and after entering university, I experienced various aspects of society firsthand through part-time jobs at gas stations and convenience stores. Through these experiences, I realized that studying alone was not the entirety of my life. I learned how to connect and collaborate with diverse people, becoming one with them. It was a living education, distinct from learning seated at a desk. Looking back, this period was not merely preparation for the future, but also a process to better understand and grow myself. Those times, which shaped who I am today, remain a precious foundation in my life.
Regarding Strengths and Weaknesses of My Personality
The greatest strength of my personality is my consistent effort to maintain a steadfast heart. This is something I often heard from my father since childhood, and it remains a core belief I hold most dear in life. Regardless of the situation, whether anyone is watching or not, I strive to act with the same integrity. One experience clearly exemplified this conviction.
During my university days, I worked part-time at a convenience store. The owner placed the utmost importance on cleanliness, so I diligently cleaned the floors, organized the display shelves, and kept the ramen broth containers and trash bins spotless. Then, the owner began managing another store and hired a new employee to work alongside me. The owner started being away more often, leaving the two of us to run the store together more frequently.
We divided the tasks: I handled inventory checks, stocking shelves, and cashier duties, while the new employee was mainly responsible for cleaning. However, that employee didn’t properly do the cleaning tasks I assigned. I spoke to him about it several times, but he would say things like, “What difference does it make if I clean once an hour or once every two hours?” and “Let’s not work ourselves too hard.” I felt this attitude was detrimental to running the convenience store and told him that working with a consistent mindset and a sense of responsibility was crucial.
Eventually, our relationship grew increasingly distant, and he finally told the owner that working because of me was too difficult and he wanted to quit. At the time, I felt wronged, but the owner actually understood my perspective. He already knew that the cleaning was terrible on the days I wasn’t working and acknowledged my diligence, saying, “When you weren’t there, the cleaning wasn’t done at all.” After that, I continued to run the convenience store without change, and the results remained as clean and stable as before.
Through this experience, I once again deeply realized the importance of ‘consistent dedication’. No matter how small the task, one’s attitude towards it will inevitably show later. Whether anyone is watching or not, I believe that consistently acting with a sincere heart ultimately builds trust in people and makes me stronger.
Reasons for Applying and Aspirations
My primary reason for applying to your company stems from a strong desire to learn the ins and outs of my father’s work from the ground up, having been involved in it since the beginning. My goal extends beyond simply carrying on the family business; I aspire to master the work through my own efforts and grow to the point where I can one day take responsibility for running a company. This aspiration stems from witnessing my father’s steadfast dedication to his work over the years. I deeply understand how challenging it is to maintain consistent commitment to one’s duties for such a long time. This is precisely why I respect that value even more and wish to overcome those difficulties myself, proving my own growth.
Should I join your company, I pledge unwavering dedication and responsibility. I will demonstrate through my actions that “consistency” is not mere rhetoric. I will be a person who maintains steadfastness in every aspect: my attitude toward work, my approach to people, and the skills I build daily. And throughout this journey, I will prove how sincerely I approach this work through tangible results.
