This blog post introduces practical skills required for trade administration roles and how to naturally weave a genuine, people-centered attitude into your resume.

Growth Process and School Days

I’ve disliked losing to others since childhood. I was always highly competitive, likely because I harbored a lot of ambition. During elementary school, I attended piano academy and participated in numerous competitions. Just hearing the word ‘competition’ made me think ‘I absolutely must win,’ so I practiced harder than anyone else. I was completely absorbed in piano, both at the academy and at home. That passion sometimes led to practicing late into the night, and eventually, a neighbor complained, asking for some sleep at night. After that incident, I resented that neighbor intensely. Because they stopped me from practicing enough. In the end, I won the silver medal at that competition, and that day, I cried bitterly. That incident shattered my obsession with piano competitions in an instant. After that, using my poor performance as an excuse, I quit piano, claiming that “people around me were jealous of my talent.”
After that, I turned my attention to competing in other areas, and naturally, academics became my priority. My mother’s passion for my studies was particularly intense, and thanks to that, academics were the perfect target to fuel my competitive spirit. Until middle school, I rarely fell behind academically. I consistently ranked near the top of my class, and that became a kind of pride for me.
However, entering high school brought gradual changes. My passion for academics remained intense, and I still pursued perfection. Yet, simultaneously, I developed interests outside school, particularly drawn to volunteer work. Even when I first participated in volunteering with the elderly, I was still gripped by that competitive spirit. Driven by the mindset of ‘I must work harder than anyone else to earn praise,’ I took charge of everything from helping with bathing and trimming nails to serving meals. Beyond my assigned tasks, I volunteered for anything I could possibly do.
A friend who had been observing me closely remarked, “If you want to do it that much, go volunteer somewhere else.” At first, I thought he said that because he didn’t want to lose to me. So I began observing that friend closely. I thought that to win a competition, you had to understand your opponent well. But surprisingly, that friend did less than a fifth of what I did and was actually three times slower than me. Yet, laughter always filled the space around that friend, and many people gathered there. I couldn’t understand it at all. Why? What was the secret?
I finally approached him and asked for his secret. On the way home, he quietly told me, “This isn’t a game about who wins or loses; it’s about how you treat people.” He explained that he lived with his grandmother, who had a disability, and that when he came here, he naturally treated the elderly the same way he treated his grandmother. He said that, in contrast, I treated the elderly too formally, as if I were just processing tasks.
After hearing that, I asked myself a profound question: ‘Was I truly treating people with sincerity?’ I asked my mother, and I reflected on my late grandmother to refocus my heart. ‘If these were my grandmother, how would I have treated them?’ Changing my mindset like this naturally changed my actions. I gradually grew closer to the elderly, feeling a warmth as if I had gained many new grandmothers. Only then did I truly understand what it means to treat people with sincerity.
Since then, while I still approach work with competitiveness, I’ve learned to engage with people from the heart. Not with an attitude to defeat someone, but by thinking from their perspective, empathizing, and sharing feelings—I realized that is the true beginning of a genuine relationship. This experience changed my attitude toward life, and I believe it will serve as an important guiding principle for me, no matter which path I take in the future.

Strengths and Weaknesses of My Personality

I believe the greatest strength of my personality is my ‘competitiveness’. I have a tendency to dislike losing more than anyone else, and I have always given my best effort to win at anything. This trait isn’t mere selfishness; it manifests as a commitment to taking full responsibility for tasks assigned to me and an unwavering determination to achieve my goals.
In fact, I set clear objectives and prepared intensively for my university entrance exams. After enrolling in the Business Administration program, I consistently worked hard to keep pace academically. In collaborative projects like group assignments or presentations, I always took on the role of team leader or coordinator, guiding the team and consistently delivering strong results. I didn’t just fulfill the assigned role; I strove to provide direction and fulfill my responsibilities so that the entire team could grow and succeed together.
Of course, some might say that this fixation on ‘winning’ could be seen as a weakness. However, the victory I pursue doesn’t simply mean the outcome. I also value the process, and I believe the learning and growth within that process are also ‘true victories’. Therefore, I would describe myself not as someone solely fixated on results, but as someone who strives to achieve meaningful accomplishments in both the process and the outcome.
In this regard, I feel my personality has more strengths than weaknesses. While every personality has its light and shadow sides, I choose to see my traits positively because I constantly discipline myself to move in a better direction through them.

Career Experience (or experience demonstrating work capabilities)

At my first job, I was assigned import/export duties for the first time. I identified domestic and international clients through online and offline channels, drafted contracts based on finalized agreements, and personally negotiated transaction terms. I also confirmed product delivery schedules and handled various other practical tasks related to import/export.
As this was my first exposure to the role, I primarily assisted senior colleagues rather than independently managing the entire process. However, this provided invaluable experience, allowing me to develop practical instincts and gain firsthand understanding of the entire import/export workflow. Observing the entire process—from contract signing to delivery and post-delivery management—up close became a crucial foundation for building my professional capabilities.
Although I started with a small role initially, directly witnessing and experiencing diverse situations allowed me to develop practical business acumen. This helped solidify my fundamentals and confidence in import/export operations. Looking back, I believe the experiences from this period formed a crucial foundation for shaping my professional capabilities.

Motivation for Application and Aspirations

While I do not yet possess extensive experience, I believe my background provides a solid foundation of fundamental understanding and knowledge in this field. I mention this not to emphasize my career length, but to convey that I have consistently approached work with a prepared mindset. Reflecting on myself, I possess the core qualities and competencies your company seeks, which is the primary reason I am applying for this position.
After joining, I will dedicate my utmost effort to make tangible contributions to the team and company’s growth, leveraging the knowledge and diverse practical experience I have accumulated thus far. Simultaneously, I will not neglect developing my own capabilities, approaching my work with a constant willingness to learn. I will not fear change or development, and I will strive consistently to be recognized as the top talent in my assigned field.
Moving forward, I will continuously grow to become a trusted member within the organization, maintaining a responsible and sincere attitude.