Common English Mistakes in Personal Statements by Korean Speakers

This page focuses on errors typically made by native Korean speakers from South Korea when writing a Personal Statement in English.

Mistake Example #1

Incorrect word order in complex sentences

As a dedicated and passionate individual, I am applying for the marketing position because I believe that my skills, which I have developed through various experiences, are well-suited for this role. In my previous job, I led a teamsuccessfullyled a team to increase sales by 20%,. wThichs was a challengingtask, but rewardingtask. My ability to learn fast andapt quicklyadapt to new environmentsand learn fast, I think, will be beneficial to your company.

Text corrected by:
Jennifer, Detroit, Michigan USA

"I changed some of the word order to make the English sound more natural. I also made some stylistic improvements."

As a dedicated and passionate individual, I am applying for the marketing position because I believe that my skills, which I have developed through various experiences, are well-suited for this role. In my previous job, I successfully led a team to increase sales by 20%. This was a challenging, but rewarding task. My ability to learn fast and quickly adapt to new environments will be beneficial to your company.

As a dedicated and passionate individual, I am applying for the marketing position because I believe that my skills, which I have developed through various experiences, are well-suited for this role. In my previous job, I led a team successfully to increase sales by 20%, which was a challenging task but rewarding. My ability to adapt quickly to new environments and learn fast, I think, will be beneficial to your company.

Mistake Example #2

Omitting articles ('a', 'an', 'the')

I am applying forthe position of software engineer at your esteemed company. I havea strong background in computer science and have worked on various projects that improved theefficiency of systems. My goal is to contribute tothe development of innovative solutions and be part of adynamic team.

Text corrected by:
Michele A., Boston, Massachusetts; United States

"I added articles before some of the nouns according to proper English grammar."

I am applying for the position of software engineer at your esteemed company. I have a strong background in computer science and have worked on various projects that improved the efficiency of systems. My goal is to contribute to the development of innovative solutions and be part of a dynamic team.

I am applying for position of software engineer at your esteemed company. I have strong background in computer science and have worked on various projects that improved efficiency of systems. My goal is to contribute to development of innovative solutions and be part of dynamic team.

Mistake Example #3

Confusion with prepositions ('in', 'on', 'at')

I am writing to express my interest in the marketing position at your company. I havegraduated infrom Seoul National University with a degree in Business Administration. I have worked on a marketing team at a leading firm in Seoul, where I gained valuable experience in developing strategies and campaigns. I am confident that my skills and experiences will be beneficial into your team.

Text corrected by:
Camille, Maryland, USA

"I've just corrected a few prepositions. Otherwise, this looks very good. "

I am writing to express my interest in the marketing position at your company. I graduated from Seoul National University with a degree in Business Administration. I have worked on a marketing team at a leading firm in Seoul, where I gained valuable experience in developing strategies and campaigns. I am confident that my skills and experiences will be beneficial to your team.

I am writing to express my interest in the marketing position at your company. I have graduated in Seoul National University with a degree in Business Administration. I have worked on a marketing team at a leading firm in Seoul, where I gained valuable experience in developing strategies and campaigns. I am confident that my skills and experiences will be beneficial in your team.