Autobiography and Statement of Purpose

1. Autobiography Opening: Interesting and to the point;

2. Autobiography conclusion: summary needed.

3. Autobiography: not a life story!

4. Autobiography: story-telling

5. Statement of Purpose: Where’s the beef?

6. Interview Preparation

Autobiography: opening

Interesting and to the point. e.g. “My name is . . . I was born . . ..” Is this

necessary? Alternative: My friends usually call me Kat

e. I like it, because it sounds more mature than Katie and more determinate, efficient and resolute than Katherine.

Autobiography openingapplying for insurance agency

In 1980, I, Emily, was born in Tainan, living there until I was eighteen, when I moved to Taipei for university. So far, I am a junior mastering in English in Fu Jen Catholic University at the age of twenty-one. During the golden period in university, I started to plan my life seriously. Hence, in order not to waste my life, in summer vacation, I would find jobs which interest me to devote myself to. Luckily, in 2001, I had the chance to go to an insurance company to understand what insurance really is and to put the theory into practice. In the work, I got experience of insurance and merge interest in it.

My personality was formed in Tainan, a friendly city where I lived for 18 years with my grandparents. Immersed in grandparents’ love and affection, I learned to take care of others and what they need. Having all of my worries and questions answered by them, I also listen to others’ misgivings and complaints with patience and readiness to help. In college activities and especially through a part-time job at an insurance company, I got to be more confirmed of my personality and its suitability for being an insurance agent.

Followed by

1. description of school activities and the job.

2. Then move on the abilities:

1. Being organized and Making plans,

2. Analytic skills and understanding of people

3. Language skills

Autobiography: openingapplying for 國貿人員、業務助理

I am now a senior in English Department and a minor of Business Management in Fu Jen Catholic University. The reason I choose English as my major is that I have always been interested in English since I fist learned it. In addition, English is the international language which could be a beneficial tool for me in my future life. Being an English major is just what I want. However, merely equipping the tool is not enough. I need to gain more knowledge about the field of my interested future career which is about international trading. Therefore, I decided to become a minor in Business Management Department.

It is no exaggeration to say that I am outspoken, organized and fluent in English. Besides my lifelong interest in English, in the English Department at Fu Jen we have been required to speak out in all the classes and make various written reports, public speeches and group presentations. However, I am not satisfied with just being equipped with good English abilities. I knew I needed to know more about international trade, my career goal, so I became a minor in Business Management Department.

What follows:

1. What she learned in the English department and Business Management; (Don’t just list the course titles)

2. The management and interpersonal skills she acquired from extra-curricular activities and part-time job.

Autobiography (2) OpeningWhat are the problems?

Clever, intelligent, adorable, excellent which are the good adjectives I can describe the famous female journalist - Lee yan qui (李豔秋 ). Frankly speaking, she is not my idol, but her good qualities and career are what I want to chase for in my life. Besides, according to the personalities of my horoscope – Leo, I believe I have the potential to dig out these elements within myself. Therefore, to be a journalist can be the best way to challenge myself, and this is also what encouraged me to prepare myself in my college life.

Autobiography: OpeningWhat are the problems?

I’m Lucille. In 1979, I was born in Taipei on May 9th. And in 2002, I graduated from English Department of Fu Jen University, and during the golden four years, I had a number of experiences to be an English tutor to teach kids and junior high students English. The purpose that I had those part-time jobs was not only to earn money but also to learn social experiences. As the matter of fact, there are several reasons for me to choose English as my major. Firstly, of course, English has been my favorite course since I started to learn it. Secondly, when I was a kid, my father always told me that English is very important, particularly, when having a job.

Autobiography: conclusionapplying for 國貿人員、業務助理

With the knowledge I acquired in the four-yeartraining in both English and Business Management Departments, and the skills I learned from the extracurricular activities and my working experiences, I believe now I am prepared to enter the field of international trading. I believe the working opportunity you offered would be an excellent chance for me to put what I learned into practice.

Autobiography

2. Not a life story! No need to start with the moment you decided

your direction unless it does show your strength. If you do, make it short and don’t just focus on that singular event.

Remember to focus on and specify your strengths and preparation.

Not a life story! Example. Job: document secretary in charge of translation, editing and proofreading.

It was two long hours for a bunch of young learners of age ten to twelve who had no experience of English before. They watched their foreign teacher talking in a language that they had no idea of at all. . . . Two hours passed, parents took the confused learners home. However, not all of them felt it was two long hours. A girl told her mother that she wished the class would be longer. To her mother’s surprise, she loved the class and wanted to learn more.  

This is the scene that kept coming back to my mind as I grew up. I, the little girl, was attracted to the language

Not a life story! Example. Job: document secretary in 留學公司

What more to include:

-- What computer skills?

-- What filing and editing work you did.

-- Experience of studying abroad.

-- Understanding of foreign cultures.

Showing of strength in a story-telling mode

“Liz, you have the making for being a secretary!” After I transferred to Fu Jen Catholic University, I have been told about this for several times because I usually play the role as a reminder among classmates. Disliking forgetting things in daily life, I always have the habit of writing things down. Whenever I review my own schedule, I habitually remind the classmates who have to meet the same deadlines as I do.

Showing of strength in a story-telling mode (2)

One of my foreign friends argued about “pledge” with me once. He could never persuade me to believe in pledge. I do not believe in vows because a lot of people can hardly keep their words. I consider myself to be the kind of person who would rather take actions than making empty or grand promises. Before I can be sure about how my own limit and ability, I prefer doing things silently.

Statement of Purpose: Where’s the beef?

Job experience is good, especially with a pertinent analysis of the skills and issues involved.

But you have to include 1) your academic training; 2) a study plan (possibly including the courses you’d like to take).

E.g. Hotel management –training of: English abilities; understanding of various cultures.

Comparative Religion

In Christianity, God is everlasting, self-causing, and self-evident, and in Buddhism, Buddha nature (the possession by sentient beings of the innate Buddha-mind, which is, prior to the full attainment of Buddhahood) is also everlasting, neither arising nor ceasing. I think there are some similarities between them. It is the most impressive part of religious study for me. My assumption is that they are almost the same, but represented in different forms.

Comparative Religion

Every religion is in the pursuit of the extreme origin of the world or the universe (not human beings?). Maybe the origins provided by some religions are the same. Of course, on the other hand, the differences between the two different concepts are to be respected and studied. In the graduate program, therefore, I want to study the traditions of Christianity and Buddhism to understand their similarities and differences especially in terms of their concept of God/Buddha nature.

Interview Preparation Re-read your resume and remember the skills you

listed there. Bring with you examples of your work and evidence

of your awards. Dress properly. Get to know the company as much as possible.

Bring with you its complete address and contact phone no. just in case you cannot find it on the day of the interview. Better go there earlier.

Prepare the answers for the possible questions they may ask.

Be prepared with some proper questions about the job or the company to ask the interviewer.

At the Interview

Do not sit down before you are asked to. Remember the basic greeting manners. (Nice to meet you, …”)

Use the questions to show and elaborate on your strengths. Do not just answer yes or no.

On the other hand, do not talk on and on so that you monopolize the interview.

Don't feel frustrated when they ask you something you do not know. However, try to direct the discussion to something you know.