This blog post introduces how computer science applicants can effectively convey responsibility and problem-solving skills demonstrated through team project leadership experience in their cover letters.

My Background

My father worked in the metal industry, and my mother was an insurance agent. Growing up, our family wasn’t well-off, so we lived in a small basement apartment of about 12 pyeong. My father left for work very early every morning, so we didn’t see him much. My mother cut my siblings’ and my hair herself to save on barber costs.
When my siblings and I entered elementary school, my mother sought employment to help with the household finances. Leaving early each morning made it difficult for her to prepare elaborate packed lunches, so kimbap or rice balls became our main lunches. Despite this, my siblings and I took care of household chores and meals ourselves to avoid burdening our parents. We would wait up late into the night for our parents to return home, and only after seeing them would we finally go to bed.
Our parents were deeply pleased to see us young children take charge of household chores and cleaning without a single complaint. Through this process, our entire family grew closer and more united. Overcoming these difficult circumstances instilled in me the life principle: ‘Do your best in whatever circumstances you are given.’ Thanks to this principle, even during my military service, I could perform my duties diligently without shirking difficult or unpleasant tasks.
Now, having completed my military service and become a civilian, I strive not to forget that mindset. Even if the conditions given aren’t perfect, I will continue to work steadily to become someone who finds satisfaction within them and does their best.

School Days

During my time as a cadet in the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), I participated in the ceremonial escort unit and performed wedding escort duties at seniors’ weddings. I was particularly tasked with making the guests laugh by delivering humorous remarks when the bride and groom entered. In my senior year, as the leader of the escort unit, I prepared wedding escorts with juniors and peers. Having previously heard feedback from discharged seniors that the escorts felt somewhat stale, we decided to try a new format with special remarks. Coincidentally, I witnessed a professional wedding ceremony team in action. Their precise rituals, the assistant instructor’s demonstration, and their distinct approach—different from the military academy’s style—made a strong impression, so I decided to benchmark it. Afterward, I searched for videos of other military academy ceremony teams and professional companies to gather reference material. Applying these insights, I designed a new ceremony program.
However, since it was a different approach from the traditional one, organizing and applying the material took a significant amount of time. Furthermore, since we weren’t preparing alone but with peers and juniors who also had to learn unfamiliar scripts and protocols, the preparation process became even longer. Nevertheless, we encouraged each other, driven by the belief that “standing before the guests with a polished performance would be rewarding,” and dedicated ourselves to the preparation. As a result, the newly structured ceremony elicited great laughter and enthusiastic responses from the guests and concluded so successfully that even our senior discharged officers praised it.
Through this experience, I realized how challenging yet crucial it is to gather information, apply it creatively, and synchronize efforts with teammates. I also learned that breaking existing frameworks and constantly innovating, rather than settling for the status quo, is what truly inspires. Building on these lessons, I will continuously seek ways to innovate and deliver satisfaction from the customer’s perspective after joining the company.

Strengths and Weaknesses

My greatest strength is my ability to build harmonious relationships across the board without favoring any one side. During my military service, conflicts often arose due to internal politics between departments. However, instead of siding with a particular group, I strove to maintain a neutral stance and observe the situation objectively. Whenever friction arose between departments, I listened to both sides and took on a mediating role to help them understand each other’s positions. Thanks to these efforts, I was recognized by fellow non-commissioned officers not as an adversary but as a colleague who fostered harmony. This experience deeply instilled in me the importance of cooperation and balance within an organization. Moving forward, I will strive to ensure smooth and efficient collaboration with all team members in my work.
On the other hand, my weakness is a lack of flexibility. I lived by the motto, “Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today,” and had a strong tendency to hold onto and complete assigned tasks to the very end. Because of this personality trait, I often ended up working late into the night with my squad members. However, as time passed, my colleagues’ fatigue and frustrations grew, and I too began to feel that a better approach was needed. After that, I focused on reducing overtime and improving work processes. As a result, the number of overtime sessions decreased significantly, while work efficiency actually improved. Through this process, I realized that the notion “overtime equals results” is a flawed stereotype. I learned that a work approach combining speed and planning creates healthier, more sustainable results. Moving forward, I will continue to develop efficient and well-planned work execution based on this experience.

Career Experience (or experiences demonstrating work capabilities)

I served as an ‘Operations Officer’ in the 1st Signal Company of the 70th Signal Operations Battalion, Republic of Korea Army Command and Control Communications Command. My primary duties involved inspecting the operational status of communication networks within the Army Headquarters Communications Office and supervising network construction projects to ensure seamless communication support within Gyeryongdae.
A particularly memorable experience occurred during the 20XX winter training exercise. As the overall network operations manager for the 1st Communications Squadron, I prepared for the exercise alongside staff officers and squad leaders. However, I had only been assigned as Operations Officer for two months, and sudden severe weather forced urgent schedule changes, leaving us with extremely limited preparation time. While applying the previous year’s communication network operation plan could have saved time, following the battalion commander’s directive to “always innovate and advance,” we decided to establish a new plan from scratch.
To compensate for my lack of experience, I studied various communication network operation methods—systems, temporary installations, radio, acoustics, and cryptography—late into the night. I worked through the night drafting the communications network plan to ensure comprehensive utilization of all systems, refining it based on feedback from the company commander. I also closely coordinated with the battalion’s planning and support sections to finalize the campsite layout, food distribution, and communications network operation plan. I created a custom checklist to continuously monitor the training readiness status.
Of course, the communications section leaders also faced difficulties due to time constraints during the preparation process, but I encouraged them to push a little harder by reminding them of the moment when we would successfully complete the training. As a result, during the cold weather training, we were able to provide immediate support whenever communication needs arose, and food and supplies were delivered smoothly. In particular, the communications network diagram I created received praise from the battalion commander and was later used as reference material by other companies for future training.
This experience became a valuable asset in my military career and deeply instilled the lesson that ‘with teamwork and passion, any problem can be solved.’ Moving forward, I will leverage the experience and attitude gained in the military to tackle challenges in my field with pride, passion, and collaboration, striving to achieve better results.

Motivation for Application and Aspirations

I believe the greatest strength of ○○○○ Corporation lies in its advanced construction capabilities, recognized as the best in Korea, built upon expertise and technological prowess. To contribute to the continued growth of ○○○○ Corporation, I am applying to effectively manage and operate the ERP system and website, leveraging my major-specific knowledge.
While majoring in Computer Science at
University, I focused on studying core software development technologies, including Java and database (DB) utilization. This experience solidified my foundational ability to lead program development. I acquired and practiced various programming languages, including Java, C++, and DB, deepening my major knowledge. As a team leader in a departmental project, I successfully developed a course registration program integrating C language and databases through collaboration with team members. This experience honed not only my problem-solving skills but also my collaboration and leadership capabilities.
Building on these strengths, I am confident in my ability to operate ○○○○’s ERP system and electronic payment system stably and efficiently. While architectural and civil engineering development capabilities were the core competitive edge in the construction industry over the past decade, I firmly believe that over the next decade, management support capabilities based on a robust IT management system will become the center of corporate competitiveness. As the IT manager at ○○○○ Co., Ltd., I will dedicate my utmost effort to help the company leap forward amidst this wave of change. I will grow alongside the company, grounded in professionalism and integrity, striving to become a talent who makes tangible contributions to the company’s development.