This blog post introduces effective ways to highlight your strengths—such as practical experience, problem-solving skills, and diligence—when applying for a system development role.
Growth Journey
“My School Days: When I Wanted to Excel in My Studies”
During my school years, I wasn’t an exceptionally high-achieving student, but my desire to do well was stronger than anyone else’s. I tried various methods to improve my grades and went through many trials and errors in the process. At the time, my grades hovered around 10th place in my class, and my immediate goal was to break into the top 5. Because I was highly motivated to study, I proactively suggested attending cram school to my parents and enrolled in a comprehensive program covering all subjects, attending classes consistently. At school, I tried to build more systematic study habits by distributing my workload to efficiently use class time and self-study periods.
But despite my efforts, my grades barely improved. No matter how many methods I tried, I always hovered around 10th place, and I grew increasingly impatient. If I hadn’t been ambitious, I might have just settled for that position. But for me, who believed I was working hard in my own way, it was a frustrating and troubling situation. So, at some point, I started analytically re-examining my learning methods themselves, rather than just increasing study time. When I carefully looked at what was wrong and what habits didn’t suit me, the problems became clear.
My most frequent mistake was ‘making plans often but failing to follow through’. I frequently created neat study schedules and bought multiple workbooks, but I rarely stuck to those plans or finished the workbooks. My enthusiasm overflowed, but my actions didn’t match it. So I changed my mindset and focused on creating achievable plans. I halved the study load from my original schedule and selected only the ‘absolutely achievable portion’ to execute. Rather than aiming to jump into the top 5 all at once, I broke it down into smaller steps, like first targeting a rise from 10th to 7th place.
By steadily accomplishing these achievable goals one by one, surprisingly, gradual changes began to appear. My grades started improving, especially in math, where I had been weak, and gradually the average scores in other subjects also rose. By the time I graduated high school, I even achieved first place in my class. That moment wasn’t just about academic improvement; it was also a turning point where I gained confidence in myself.
This experience taught me a lesson far beyond just study techniques. Above all, I learned how crucial it is to ‘objectively reflect on one’s learning habits and adjust them to fit reality.’ Effort is important, but without correcting the direction, that effort can lead to futile results. This experience from my school days influenced my attitude toward life afterward and taught me firsthand that any goal requires a feasible plan and sincere practice to be achieved.
Strengths and Weaknesses of My Personality – My Own Routine, Forged by Diligence
“The early bird catches the worm.”
This saying best describes my personality. Diligence and quick action have been habits and tendencies ingrained in me since childhood. I always woke up at 7 a.m. and consistently carried out my planned activities—whether studying or hobbies—dividing my time between morning and afternoon. During my school years, I voluntarily attended after-school classes to supplement subjects I struggled with. I even actively participated in self-improvement activities like yoga classes before school started. Thanks to these habits, my nickname among friends was ‘Lark’.
The nickname ‘Lark’ carried two meanings. One was literally that I woke up early like a bird that heralds the morning, starting my day diligently. The other was that I was talkative and lively. Indeed, I was as talkative as I was diligent. In class, I would raise my hand to speak even without being called on, enjoying the process of expressing my thoughts rather than focusing on whether they were right or wrong. When working on group assignments, I often volunteered to present. I believe this stems from my confidence in presentations and my ability to clearly articulate my opinions.
My diligence extended beyond mere habit, positively impacting various aspects of my life. Investing more time in subjects I was passionate about allowed me to study them more deeply than others, ultimately helping me achieve better results. During my university years, while friends would rest or pass time during breaks, I would sit in the library, seeking out and reading books related to my major, making the most of my time. My routine was to focus intensely on reading and assignments in the morning, complete planned activities in the afternoon, and then go to bed early. This regular pattern of life became more than just a habit; it became the foundation of my life, and I continue to maintain it consistently to this day.
This diligent and systematic lifestyle is one of my greatest strengths. My ability to adapt quickly to new tasks and fulfill responsibilities conscientiously will yield positive results in any future work environment. I am confident that at your company, I can demonstrate a diligent work ethic grounded in consistency and responsibility.
Career Experience
“Analysis of existing systems and improvement tasks”
While working at ○○ Networks, which develops network-based customer management programs, my primary responsibilities included analyzing and improving existing systems, as well as proposing ideas during the planning stages of new business ventures.
This was the first company where I began my professional career. As a new employee, I was able to participate relatively freely and actively in areas where a ‘fresh perspective and innovative thinking’ were expected. Particularly during the process of launching a new webhard business, I proposed a new approach for the development direction of the management system. I also performed the role of analyzing the existing system and pinpointing specific areas requiring practical improvement.
Because of this attitude and participation style, I earned the nickname ‘bold rookie’ within the company. Of course, this nickname carried more positive than negative connotations; it reflected the impression that I was someone who confidently voiced my thoughts without hesitation when ideas were needed. In fact, multiple departments sought my opinions, and I freely shared ideas, even those that might seem a bit outlandish, not limiting myself to just ideas that fit the task at hand. Senior colleagues and managers took my suggestions seriously, and I often received feedback that they were genuinely helpful, which was deeply rewarding.
Building on that experience, when our company was later selected as the lead developer for a project with an external client, I was recognized and rewarded for an idea I provided that played a crucial role. In this way, I aimed to contribute to my work by not fearing new attempts and by analyzing existing systems to derive realistic improvements. Just as the nickname ‘bold rookie’ was given to me, I am someone who doesn’t hesitate to think of ideas and has always strived to propose them in a feasible direction. This experience was a valuable time that solidified my work style, and even now, I strive to integrate new ideas into my practical work based on that foundation.
Motto
“Be an unshakable person.”
The most important value I learned while working in one field for 10 years was to be someone who ‘properly fulfills their role’ wherever they are. Particularly in system development, professional expertise equated to trust, and I came to understand that this expertise must be built through consistent self-improvement and practice. While this applies to other roles too, if you can reliably deliver on your tasks, you can stand tall without being overly swayed by other factors. That’s why I’ve always strived to acquire new knowledge, hone my skills, and build capabilities I can be proud of anywhere. In my work, I always aspired to be a ‘sharp and decisive person,’ and in meetings, I wanted to be remembered as someone rich in ideas and full of things to learn from.
By focusing on myself and persevering in this way, I gradually became someone who remained ‘unshakable.’ In organizational life, problems big and small inevitably arise. No matter how thoroughly I planned and prepared, unexpected variables would cause difficulties, and working with diverse people inevitably led to competition or conflict. However, whenever I faced such situations, I tried not to attach too much significance to them. I approached them with the understanding that some discomfort was bound to arise when interacting with others, and I also tried as much as possible not to let my emotions get involved in emotional issues.
By keeping my focus centered on myself, I became less swayed by external conflicts or changes. I often felt I didn’t have enough time to concentrate on my own work and fulfill my responsibilities. Therefore, spending time on others’ work, emotions, or comparisons felt like a waste to me. As I walked this path, disciplining myself, I gradually came to be seen as someone unshakable by those around me. Within the organization, I established myself as a trusted member.
I often share this experience as advice with juniors or others walking a similar path. Especially to those struggling in organizational life, I say, “Become someone with a clear sense of self-centeredness.” If you start leaning on external circumstances or constantly comparing yourself to others, your resolve often wavers depending on the situation or people around you. Of course, as social creatures, we can’t be completely unaffected by people or our environment. But I believe that simply adopting an attitude to minimize that influence can make life far more efficient and resilient.
While I haven’t experienced every possible situation myself, my experience has taught me one thing for certain: wherever you are, a person with a solid sense of self-centeredness can walk their path without wavering and can even become someone who positively influences those around them. My personal motto, to become an unshakable person, is gradually being realized in my life, work, and relationships, one step at a time.
