In this blog post, we’ll share the core elements of a cover letter that HR managers truly value when reviewing applications for trade and overseas sales positions, along with writing tips.
My Growth Process
As a child, my father, who frequently traveled abroad for work, felt like a stranger to me, sometimes even frightening. He was always busy and rarely came home. Even when he did return, it was only to sleep briefly or rest. Seeing him like this, I sometimes felt he wasn’t part of our family, but rather a stranger. The time I spent with him was short, and even during those brief moments, I found it difficult to talk to him, which made me increasingly wary. He was always exhausted, and even having a conversation with me seemed to drain him. Seeing him like that sometimes made me feel lonely. Of course, I understood that the reason he was away from home was his busy schedule, fulfilling his responsibilities as the head of the household for me and my mother. But for my young self, it was too difficult to truly grasp that fact. So, whenever my father returned from a business trip and tried to embrace me, I would instinctively push him away, sometimes hurting my parents’ feelings.
Concerned that the emotional distance would only deepen, my father sought a new way to connect with me. It was through consistent communication via letters and emails. The first time I found a letter he’d left by my pillow after leaving for work, I was somewhat flustered. I hesitated, unsure how to reply, and simply found it hard to fully grasp his feelings. Gradually, however, I found a way to calmly express what I wanted to say to him. Especially as communication with my father took place through the medium of letters, I was able to approach him with a more mature mindset. At home, I was often hesitant to speak to him, sometimes even giving up on trying to have a conversation. But through letters, I could take the time to organize my thoughts and then calmly convey my feelings.
Through exchanging letters, I learned about small gifts my father had chosen while thinking of me, or the stories behind those gifts, and my guard gradually lowered. The letters my father sent me weren’t just words; they were precious moments where I could feel his heart within them. Through the gifts and stories, I came to understand my father’s heart, and little by little, I began to feel the distance between us closing. This process became an opportunity for me to redefine my relationship with my father, and ultimately, it became a catalyst for me to genuinely understand and respect him.
Now, looking back on those memories, I realize how crucial communication is, and how meaningful it is to express our feelings to each other to prevent emotional rifts from deepening. While I sometimes miss the time spent with my father now, I learned a great deal through that period. Only now do I fully understand my father’s busy schedule back then and the effort he made to cherish each other despite it all. That’s why the letters and gifts exchanged with my father, and the feelings contained within them, remain precious memories to me even now.
School Days
During my school years, I realized that if we give up on communication because of real-world constraints, the distance between us inevitably grows. So, I made a personal effort to create spaces for genuine communication. As the saying goes, ‘Blood is thicker than water,’ but even blood ties will inevitably fray and drift apart without personal will. Then, I wondered how much easier it must be for friendships to go awry and become strained. At the time, I found it almost impossible to imagine. Watching friends around me, overwhelmed by busy work and daily routines, gradually drift apart from their children and create irreparable gaps, I deeply engraved my father’s words in my heart: “I don’t want our relationship to become that distant.” Recalling those words, I resolved that if I truly desired a deep, meaningful relationship, I must actively reach out myself.
In the past, I would often cut ties easily if I thought someone “didn’t mesh well with me,” based on momentary judgments or preconceptions. But after that, I decided not to give up on the people around me so readily and made a conscious effort to maintain friendships. As a result, I’ve been able to build more stable and profound friendships. Furthermore, I’ve come to believe that the core of genuine human relationships lies in correctly understanding the parts where people don’t quite fit or clash, and then finding balance through mutual agreement. In truth, in relationships with others, it’s rare to find a perfect soulmate connection where you feel, upon first meeting, “This is a relationship destined by heaven.” We all realized that only by adjusting to each other’s demands and needs, and exploring what brings us joy together, can we truly maintain harmonious friendships. I came to understand that the effort to adjust and align these mismatched parts or gaps is ultimately the essence of human relationships.
Thus, I have pursued better communication and balance in my relationships with various people over the years, and I intend to continue living without forgetting the importance of relationships. This is because I deeply feel how crucial it is to build genuine closeness and friendship through acknowledging each other’s differences, respecting each other’s needs, and gradually adjusting and aligning ourselves.
Personality Strengths and Weaknesses
I have a personality that doesn’t easily give up on challenges, no matter how difficult they seem, and pushes through to the end to achieve them. To maintain this trait, I simulate situations in my mind before taking action. In that simulation, I often recall various biases or anticipated difficulties, but I strive to prevent those thoughts from leading to negative emotions like “This is going to be hard after all” or “This is too much for me.” As with everything in life, it’s impossible for humans to arrive at a perfect answer in one go. While we can predict or imagine situations to some extent, we can never accurately simulate success or failure. Therefore, no one can offer certainty about whether a challenge will succeed or fail, and predicting the outcome is extremely difficult. Ultimately, I understand well that even for the same challenge, the probability of success varies depending on the mindset with which the challenger approaches it.
In that regard, I possess the will to strengthen my spirit when my body is struggling, striving to maintain balance. That will has always allowed me to respond unwaveringly to the countless challenges I’ve faced in my life. There were times when I faced criticism, being called ‘reckless’ or accused of ‘taking on challenges without properly understanding reality.’ Yet, I remained unshaken by such opinions. Of course, I possess the discernment to avoid truly reckless challenges—those impossible endeavors akin to smashing an egg against a rock. Instead, I strive to confront the world’s hardships with greater fortitude, always moving forward one step at a time.
Thus, whenever I face a challenge, I maintain an attitude of holding onto hope and keeping myself grounded, even in difficult situations. I suppress negative thoughts about the trials the world throws at me and live by overcoming them with a consistently positive mindset. That path may sometimes be arduous, and I might face skeptical glances from those around me, but I always believe. That if I persevere without giving up, even in difficult situations, I will ultimately reap the fruits of my efforts.
Values
I believe life becomes richer precisely because the world is filled with diverse beings who don’t perfectly match me. Today, we are accustomed to systems that cultivate crops and fruits by selecting varieties resistant to pests and diseases, suited for large-scale agriculture. Such systems can be highly efficient and ideal when aiming for mass production. However, it’s easy to overlook that this approach may have limitations when it comes to pursuing flavor diversity or the ecological balance of multiple varieties. For example, if pests or diseases strike the specific variety we’ve chosen for large-scale production, the entire agricultural system reliant on that single variety becomes helplessly vulnerable to collapse.
Similarly, concentrating all resources on one method deemed ‘optimal’ inevitably leads to a lack of diversity needed to respond swiftly when that method faces crisis. Ultimately, we must remember that insufficient preparation considering diverse possibilities inevitably leads to unexpected blows. Despite this, many people pursue only similar forms and try to depend solely on one method. However, we must also pay attention to mutations, irregular forms, and beings with traits different from others. This ‘difference’ can ultimately add new possibilities to our world and become the driving force for bearing richer fruit.
What we must focus on is not merely current ‘efficiency’. Just as grafting new branches and acknowledging diverse traits cultivates a stronger, more abundant tree, respecting and supporting diversity in life is crucial. Sometimes, surprising changes and innovations emerge from unexpected paths, revealing values we must not overlook in the process. Therefore, we must always strive to see broader possibilities with an open mind and diverse perspectives.
Motivation for Application and Future Aspirations
During my childhood, I felt somewhat distant from my father, who frequently traveled abroad for work. Time passed without me even attempting to bridge that gap, leaving a lingering sense of regret in my heart. Then one day, my father began using written notes to communicate with me and frequently gave me small gifts. His approach showed me that even after a busy schedule, he valued our relationship and made an effort. That moment taught me that what truly matters in conveying sincerity isn’t the form or method, but approaching others with genuine heart. This experience taught me that sincere communication is paramount in human relationships. I feel this aligns strongly with your company’s philosophy of “actively expressing intentions and building friendly relationships,” which is why I am applying to join your organization.
If given the opportunity to work at your company, I will embrace new environments and tasks not with fear or anxiety, but as opportunities for adventure and exploration. I will not be held back by vague fears of the unknown, but will actively challenge such situations and engage more vigorously. I promise not to be prematurely intimidated by unfamiliar tasks, but to give my absolute best as a dedicated individual entrusted with the work. Above all, I will strive relentlessly to prove my capabilities quickly and grow into someone who can fully fulfill my role. Throughout this process, I aim to constantly improve myself, filling any gaps and evolving into a more developed individual who can contribute to your company.
