Cover Letter 101: Everything You Need to KnowThe importance of self-publicity (making your name and merits known to the world) is increasing day by day.  Some even say that we now live in a so-called “attention economy” - a new qualitative state - where people’s lives critically depend on the attention of others. In order to stand out fr|om the crowd, you need to demonstrate your own unique “values” that differentiate you fr|om others.    In an industrial society of the past, a cover letter was considered nothing more than a formality. However, in today’s information society, a cover letter has become indispensable, particularly as a means of self-expression for job seekers.  In today’s information age, companies look for good communicators who can create knowledge. That is why companies are frequently recruiting with a focus on people with experience.   Companies determine whether an applicant possesses the talents and values aligned with the company's needs as well as the passion and knowledge required for a particular position all through a cover letter. Therefore, a cover letter must be strategically written and well-thought-out fr|om the company’s point of view.   Your cover letter must highlight your experience and strengths.  Access the company’s official website and get to know the company before you start writing your cover letter and make sure to incorporate that knowledge into your cover letter. If you can demonstrate how the company’s vision aligns with your personal goals, that’s the icing on the cake. You can also make a good impression by suggesting your own ideas on how to improve the company’s management strategies.   Above all, you need to convince yourself.  Always keep in mind that “if you fail to convince yourself, you will never be able to convince others”. Your passion and aspirations must be genuine to be able to conduct a strong self-evaluation which will form the basis for creating strategies and tactics that can make your comparative advantages stand out.     Don’t make the mistake of thinking that the hiring manager or recruiters have a lot of time on their hands.  HR managers don't have time to pore through the countless cover letters. Don’t expect that they will have time to read your entire cover letter. Therefore, your first sentence must capture the attention of the reader. An unoriginal cover letter will get you nowhere. For example, a cliché opening such as "Born to loving parents as the eldest of two boys and one girl" is bound to make a bad impression.    *Source: Translated fr|om 한양대학교 교양국어교육위원회, 『글이 삶이다』, 한양대학교 출판부, 2017, 221~222쪽.

Types of Journal ArticlesA journal is a periodical publication in which research papers related to a particular academic discipline are published.  Scholars publish journal articles to showcase their research, get evaluations fr|om academic circles, and facilitate further discourse on the topic. As a platform for scholars to share and exchange knowledge, academic journals are treasure troves of in-depth knowledge ranging fr|om science to arts. Meticulous planning and writing can feel overwhelming when writing a journal article for the first time. However, this is a painful but rewarding process of training that everyone goes through as a scholar and in the end, the results of all your hard work are permanently recorded under your name.   Research articles, review articles, and commentary articles are the most common types of journal articles you will encounter.   Research Article A research article sets forth hypotheses and questions directly derived fr|om those hypotheses, describes the process of testing and finding answers to the research questions, and details research findings. Research articles are mainly published in scientific disciplines. They walk the reader through the author’s process of testing hypotheses and finding answers to research questions. The materials, tools, and methods employed in the study should be explained in detail. A research article chronicles research results and new findings, and discusses the implications thereof.   Review Articles Review articles describe various papers published in academic journals, and provide updates on recent developments and future prospects related to the particular academic discipline and topic. While review articles discuss recent developments and discoveries made by different scholars researching the subject, they also deal with controversies that have emerged, fields and topics that have yet to be studied, and new ideas.   Commentary Articles A commentary article is an article that expresses a personal opinion or point of view about a research paper written on a particular topic. Although journals that publish research articles reporting major findings rarely designate and commission authors with expertise, commentaries on recently published articles dealing with topics that may be of interest to multiple scholars are sometimes published in other academic journals.     Note Various academic journals fr|om different fields publish journal articles on a regular basis. Some academic journals publish research articles, review articles, and commentary articles, while some are dedicated only to review articles. Each journal publishes articles with different depths and ranges of research. In most cases, the required number of words, figures and tables, and references are determined according to the type of the article. In addition, each journal designates a specific bibliography format. Submissions are reviewed and commented on by two to four reviewers, who are scholars handpicked by editors who are experts in the field, and after that the author will revise his/her article. The editors carry out an exhaustive review of the content and decide whether or not to publish the article. During the revision process, scholars will often conduct additional research and add new findings, which means articles will often times be revised at least twice.