This blog post guides you through effective writing methods, using concrete examples, on what experiences to emphasize in your application essay when applying for new hire positions in the HR team.
Growth Journey
“Frequent moves and constant discord—that forged the resilient person I am today.”
It’s a bit embarrassing, but I was raised alone by my mother. My father left home early to start another family, leaving me to grow up on my own while caring for my younger sibling in an environment marked by poverty and a lack of care. Due to our difficult circumstances, we moved frequently. My mother worked day in and day out just to make ends meet, leaving little time to care for me directly. As a result, I often ended up staying with my grandmother or other relatives.
Even at a young age, a child vaguely understands their circumstances. In a situation where no one fully looked after me, I naturally became timid. But in that moment, I instinctively realized: if I crumbled from timidity, there would be no one left to care for my younger sibling. So, I resolved that the harder the situation, the more confidently and diligently I must live. I took on household chores myself, managed my schoolwork independently, and even helped my younger sibling with their homework.
Even when faced with yet another move, rather than feeling defeated or complaining, I quietly swallowed the sadness of parting with friends and silently accepted the new environment. That’s how I learned to build myself up, gaining diverse experiences across various regions and within difficult circumstances. The world often reveals its true nature more readily before those with little. I witnessed this not infrequently, but rather than hating or fearing people, I strove to find ways to survive within it and to get along well with them.
Looking back, hardship actually shaped who I am today. Thanks to it, I can understand diverse people and live accepting their actions as they are, rather than simply condemning them. The countless situations and people I encountered along life’s journey became a mirror for me, teaching me both resilience and flexibility. This is the very strength that sustains me now and the lamp illuminating my path forward.
Internal and External Activities – Hosting a Startup Competition
The keyword of our times is ‘my own business’ rather than ‘a stable job’. Whether joining a major corporation or choosing an alternative path, ‘startups’ – pioneering new fields and building one’s own business – have become a central theme. Amid this trend, I participated in the ‘One-Person Creative Enterprise Journalist Corps,’ covering startup scenes, studying relevant knowledge, and writing articles. The culmination and greatest challenge of this activity was organizing a ‘Startup Competition’ myself.
While article writing and content posting were hosted and supported by the Small and Medium Business Administration, the startup competition itself had to be prepared entirely by our own efforts. The most difficult aspect of this process was undoubtedly ‘promotion’. The success of the competition hinged on promotion; to secure enough participants and collect participation fees to cover operational costs, it was essential to make the competition known to as many people as possible. However, being our first attempt, we hit a wall right from the start. Nevertheless, we didn’t give up. We divided into online and offline promotion teams and began moving strategically.
Offline, we took to the streets with posters we made ourselves, handing them out to people. We also appointed promotion representatives at each university to actively spread the word both on and off campus. Online, we reached diverse audiences by posting on Facebook, Twitter, and specialized lecture promotion sites. Securing speakers was entirely my responsibility, and I personally handled all operational details, from processing participant applications to determining prize amounts.
As a result, despite being the inaugural event, over 100 attendees filled the lecture hall, and through booth operations, we successfully introduced the concept of ‘one-person creative enterprises’ to many people. The difficulties and trial-and-error during preparation were significant, but the rewards were equally great. Above all, the fact that an event I planned and executed myself could connect with so many people and achieve results gave me tremendous confidence. This experience became a valuable stepping stone, instilling the belief that ‘nothing is impossible’ for any future challenge.
Personality Strengths and Weaknesses – “A Non-Avoiding Personality”
My greatest strength is my “non-avoidant personality.” Whether dealing with people or tasks, I never shirk responsibility or evade situations. When conflict arises, rather than stepping back, I sit down directly with the other person to discuss things, listen to each other’s perspectives, and then make a decision. When working on tasks, I prefer to try first and report the results later, rather than saying “I can’t do it” upfront. This tendency has allowed me to accumulate diverse experiences and form broad relationships, as I don’t judge people by appearances or first impressions. Even when abroad, I naturally made foreign friends. I gained valuable memories and lessons through various part-time jobs, from selling ice cream to modeling for portraits.
Of course, this personality isn’t always an advantage. Sometimes I’m told I’m “too assertive.” However, I possess the ability to listen attentively to others, coordinate opinions, and guide conversations appropriately for the situation. Therefore, I’m always careful to ensure my strengths don’t become weaknesses. Moving forward, to become a more efficient communicator, I will cultivate the habit of deeply considering and carefully delivering every word. I will continue striving to ensure my unavoidable nature becomes a strength that builds trust and expands relationships, rather than mere stubbornness.
Career Experience
Recognized for my ability to successfully host a startup competition, I joined the Startup Technology Institute to assist the HR team. Though the team was small, our core mission was to place the right talent in the right roles, continuously acquire new startup-related technologies, and provide education to people based on this foundation. Additionally, a crucial role involved evaluating the capabilities of aspiring entrepreneurs for startups established by the team, introducing them to suitable teams, and fostering connections.
Working as an assistant within this environment, I learned that, above all, assessing future potential based on a person’s past experiences is vital. And I realized that, beyond that judgment, ‘trusting people’ is even more important. Everyone is bound to be clumsy when starting something new. However, I believed the true role of an HR manager is to trust, wait, and help them grow through education and experience.
If I were to join CJ’s HR team, I would need to manage significantly more people responsibly and utilize diverse talents more flexibly than before. Above all, grounded in CJ’s core values, I will be an HR professional who remains uninfluenced by personal feelings, looks far ahead with a long-term perspective rather than a short-sighted view, and constantly moves in a direction that provides tangible benefit to the company. On the journey ahead, I will grow alongside CJ and create positive change for both people and the organization. I look forward to working with you.
