In this blog post, I will share a sample self-introduction letter that I wrote while preparing to apply for a position at a credit card company, in which I candidly describe my personal experiences.
Growth
Be open to everyone without preconceptions or prejudices. This is a lesson I learned from my dear childhood friend. When I was young, I was very timid and had a hard time talking to strangers, so I tended to have preconceived notions about others. I thought that older people would dislike children, that the office worker over there would be too busy, and that the woman behind me would be naggy and wouldn’t answer my questions. My preconceptions, which began to accumulate as a way to rationalize my personality that made it difficult for me to approach others, eventually reached the point where I would judge people’s personalities based on their faces and outward behavior without even trying to have a proper conversation with them. I was a child who stood still and was caught up in my personal prejudices, without even trying to approach people to find out who they really were.
However, my best friend was a child full of positivity, believing that the world was bright and warm, and that everyone was kind to others, so he didn’t hesitate to approach people. Sometimes people responded with curt words or a bad attitude, but he didn’t let that bother him. When I told my friend that the person who rejected me didn’t seem very friendly and probably didn’t have any friends, he would shake his head and say that the person probably had a bad day. And just as my friend said, most of the negative images and preconceptions I had about people were wrong, and many people treated us with unexpected kindness. Through his actions, my friend helped me realize that it was wrong to judge people based on my imagination. Even now, when I find myself judging someone based on their appearance or other superficial factors, I always try to believe in the various possibilities of the world that I have yet to discover and approach people with an open mind.
School days
It was a fun time when I was able to meet various friends who were not influenced by their parents’ occupations, grades, or personalities. Personally, I think school days are the time when encounters between people can be the most pure. Once you enter society, you inevitably take on responsibilities and various social roles, so there are many more restrictions than when you were free from any social obligations.
My father, who had long-lasting friendships with his school friends, often told me to cherish the time I had with them and to make friends with as many people as possible, regardless of their background or social status. Among them were children who had no interest in studying and were a headache for their teachers, and children who had set their sights on prestigious universities early on and were working hard toward their goals. However, I aimed to spend my childhood playing together with all of them, without worrying about their positions or differences in grades. I also remember often experiencing impulsive trips and events that bordered on deviant behavior, which can only be enjoyed during one’s school days. It was a time when I may have caused my parents some concern, but I remember my father’s warm response when I told him about the things I wanted to experience and the lessons I learned from them, and he accepted my choices.
Strengths and weaknesses
I want to open up possibilities for everyone. I respect diversity and aim to adapt to as many people as possible. We often tend to stereotype each other, saying things like “history repeats itself,” “people these days are generally like this,” or “the older generation always has the same image of the younger generation.” However, I think that our daily lives are too colorful to be squeezed into such stereotypes.
Scholars who have to look at the history of humanity and summarize it in a thesis or a book have no choice but to bury the diversity and potential of people, but as individuals living among diverse people, I don’t think we need to categorize the people around us with such bleak sentences. When you look at a forest as a whole, all the trees look similar, but when you start looking closely, you can find a great deal of diversity. Therefore, even though I can organize patterns on how to accommodate and respond to various people, I believe that it is not a good habit to define the patterns of people I do not yet know well. I will continue to make constant efforts to value diversity and provide colorful services that cater to the specific needs of each individual as much as possible.
Values
I aim to have an open mind and not build walls between people. Although it is possible to accumulate knowledge and experience, I believe it is wrong to apply a single standard to everyone based on the assumption that the same patterns will apply to everyone. In such cases, we believe that data such as “this person had this reaction or personality” should be considered in the context of the overall trend, rather than being applied to each individual. There are results derived from the average and general choices of people, but there are many individuals in the world who make choices that are completely opposite to those results.
Furthermore, even if a person shows a pattern that matches common preconceptions, I believe that this should only be recognized and accepted after coming into contact with them. The image we have of a person is like a blank sheet of paper. If we start with a blank slate, we can fill it in neatly with images we have gained through experience. However, if we sketch a preconception that differs from that person’s actual personality, even if we erase it several times, traces of that preconception will remain and stick to that person like a label.
Reason for applying
Taking on new challenges without being bound by preconceptions is something I have always strived for in my life. Your company’s youthful and fresh image and its commitment to responding flexibly to changing market conditions have become my strongest motivation for dedicating my youth to your company. The positive image of your company’s services that I gained from actually creating and using a card to experience the nature of your work firsthand also encouraged me in my decision.
Aspirations after joining the company
I will value the diversity of our customers by providing services tailored to each individual, without being bound by preconceptions. I will prioritize the information I have gathered through my own experiences over preconceived notions, and I will devote myself to providing services that make each and every customer feel respected through my constant efforts. I look forward to meeting the many valuable customers I will encounter after joining your company.
