In this blog post, we will provide specific advice on how to highlight your experiences and strengths in your self-introduction letter when applying for a position in landscape design.
Growing up
When I was a child, I would visit my grandparents’ house every vacation, and the most vivid memory I have is of their beautiful garden filled with all kinds of trees, flowers, and even a pond. Having grown up in an apartment in the city where it was difficult to see open land, I still vividly remember running around and playing happily in my grandfather’s mountain and spacious yard. My parents laughed and said I was like a puppy who loved the yard, but to me, the wildflowers and trees that I rarely saw in the city were as enchanting and beautiful as a fantasy world in a fairy tale. I remember standing in one spot for a long time, watching the flowers in the flower bed, hoping that a flower fairy would appear.
Even if I fell asleep while waiting, the soft texture of the soil and the warmth of the sunlight were so pleasant that my grandfather’s garden was a very fulfilling place for me. Even after I returned home, I wanted to feel the soft, fragrant soil instead of the hard asphalt roads and cement walls, so I brought a small potted plant to my veranda, but it felt too small, and I felt sad. Perhaps because he found his granddaughter, who always stayed in the yard whenever she visited the countryside, cute, my grandfather began to tell me in detail about the garden he had created with meticulous care, down to every stone and wildflower, as I grew older. I had always thought that trees and grass were simply beautiful when they grew naturally, so this was quite a new perspective for me. As I listened to him talk about every detail, from the distance and depth of the pond to the placement of the stones and the composition of the soil, I gradually came to see my grandfather’s garden as a work of art with a beauty that went beyond simple aesthetics. My sensitivity, which deepened as I played and enjoyed myself in that beautiful yard, was the result of my grandfather’s profound influence.
School days
I remember joining the gardening club at my school in the city because I wanted to be around as many plants and soil as possible. I felt that in order to one day create a work of art in nature that reflected my tastes and philosophy, like my grandfather’s garden, I needed to learn about the nature of plants, how to care for them, and the characteristics of each variety. On days when I learned about the differences between various species of trees that I had vaguely thought were similar, and gained new knowledge, I would enjoy imagining how I would incorporate those trees into my future plans. In addition, when I encountered plants that I had seen at my grandfather’s house, I felt even more familiar with them and took great care of them.
It is inevitable to achieve success quickly in a field that you are interested in and actively pursue, so I quickly absorbed knowledge related to landscaping and trees, not only through simple extracurricular activities but also through my personal hobbies, and reached a considerable level at a young age. It must have been quite unusual for a teenage girl, who should have been hanging out with friends or shopping for clothes on the weekends, to beg her father to take her to landscaping fairs and plant shops, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. Even now, I still smile when I think about it. My father, who thought my interest was just a passing fad, recognized my serious passion and began to actively support me with information and assistance, giving me his full support so that I could achieve my goals.
Strengths and weaknesses
When I become interested in something, I become completely absorbed in it. When I became interested in landscaping through my grandfather, I paid attention to plants, artificial rocks, and ponds wherever I went. Even now, when I encounter unfamiliar plants or beautifully designed environments, I quickly analyze them and store them in my mind. I want to create a dream garden that is a culmination of my tastes and knowledge, just like my grandfather did, so when I encounter something new that enhances my aesthetic sense and appreciation of beauty, I can’t help but remember it and want to incorporate it into my work later.
When I was in college, I accompanied my professor to his seminar, and when I saw a rare plant in the lobby, I was so fascinated that I spent several minutes asking the person in charge questions and observing it. Fortunately, my professor appreciated my enthusiasm, so I was able to get away with it, but sometimes I reflect on myself and wonder if I need to learn how to control my indiscriminate enthusiasm, which is often driven by my own interests.
Hobbies and special skills
In order to develop my aesthetic sense, I enjoy appreciating works of art and architecture, and I try to invest time in hiking and traveling to enjoy the natural beauty of nature. Since these hobbies are difficult to pursue while staying at home, I rarely stay at home during my free time and actively go out, regardless of the time or money required.
I am interested in training my eye to recognize beauty and in architecture to further develop my spatial perception and ability to arrange objects intentionally, but above all, my favorite hobby is viewing the natural artworks created by nature in various forms. When we encounter nature, which is greater and more magnificent than any landscape created by human calculation, which is inevitably limited by narrow thinking, we realize that we are only desperately trying to pursue beauty. However, humans are creatures that strive endlessly toward their limits, which is what makes us beautiful. Even if we cannot fully capture the great beauty of nature, I always strive to get as close to that level as possible.
Motivation for applying and aspirations after joining the company
Ever since I became interested in landscaping through my grandfather’s garden, I have been busy visiting various places to view landscaping works and refine my aesthetic sense, with the determination to create my own garden someday. When I learned that many of the works that I found particularly interesting and admired were created by your company, I became deeply interested in your company. I was attracted by your unique philosophy of landscaping, your fresh approach that does not settle for the classics, and your spirit of inquiry, and I hoped that one day I would be able to commission you to design my own garden. Now that I have joined the company, I am eager to experience it for myself.
I look forward to combining my aesthetic sense and knowledge, which I have cultivated since childhood, with your company’s expertise to achieve the best possible results. Since childhood, I have been viewing, exploring, and researching numerous landscape designs out of pure interest, not simply out of a sense of duty or responsibility, and I believe that this has given me a deep understanding of the field. I hope to develop my skills at the company that I once wanted to entrust with my own garden, and take my first steps with you into the realm of creation, rather than simply viewing designs.
