Working outside the industry, accepting low salaries
Not finding jobs in the right field, many students are forced to accept working in the wrong field or temporary jobs to earn income. Recorded in industrial parks and commercial centers, it is not difficult to encounter university graduates working as sales staff, service staff, warehouse staff, delivery staff... Many students graduating from top universities are also in difficult circumstances.
Ms. Le Thi Hong Van (22 years old, Cau Giay ward, Hanoi) graduated with a degree in International Relations from the Diplomatic Academy. Ms. Van once expected to find a job in the right major she had been trained in, but the reality of the current labor market made her realize that qualifications are only a very small part to get a job.
After graduating, I chose to work in the field of event organization - a major that is completely different from the major I studied but suitable for my current skills and real opportunities. My main job is event organization, I work for music events. I think that it is difficult for graduates to find jobs because the gap between training and business requirements is still quite large. We are equipped with many theories but lack practical skills and the ability to adapt quickly to the working environment. When interviewing, recruiters often prioritize people who can work immediately instead of training from the beginning," Ms. Van said.
Ms. Trinh Ngoc Anh (22 years old, Cau Giay district, Hanoi) shared about her journey to find a job that was both convenient and challenging.
Thanks to good academic results, internship and teaching experience accumulated early, I easily found jobs at reputable English centers. However, the job search process required me to go through many rounds of interviews and in-depth tutoring. While waiting for the official decision from the center currently, I had to participate in summer camp programs to maintain income. I had to take advantage of the time to study further, to answer myself the question of what I really suit. It was a journey of confusion, confusion and pressure, but thanks to that, I was better prepared and found my favorite job," Ms. Anh recounted.
Not as lucky as Ms. Van and Ms. Anh, Mr. Hoang Duc Anh graduated in economics, after nearly 1 year of not finding a job, Mr. Duc Anh is currently working as a sales staff at a electronics supermarket in Ha Dong ward (Hanoi). Unfavorable job, low salary, no future, Mr. Duc Anh said he will resign immediately after receiving the Lunar New Year bonus.
I don't know what I will do. If I continue to not be able to find a job, I will study for a master's degree in both studying and working, then find a job to earn an income," Mr. Duc Anh shared.
Employers "close the door", students lack advantages
According to records, new graduates are the group under the greatest competitive pressure in the labor market. Not only having to compete with each other, they also have to "confront" experienced labor force, in the context of many businesses tightening recruitment, cutting personnel or improving input criteria.
Mr. Vu Quang Thanh - Deputy Director of Hanoi Employment Service Center said that in the context of economic fluctuations, many businesses are forced to restructure operations and reduce personnel costs. This leads to a clear decrease in recruitment targets compared to previous years, while the number of graduates each year is still high. Notably, employers are increasingly prioritizing experienced workers who can "start working immediately", instead of spending time and costs on retraining.
Many recruitment notices require new graduates to have 1-2 years of experience, proficient in many soft skills, foreign languages, informatics, and even management skills. Meanwhile, most new graduates lack the factors that businesses need. The study process is heavily theoretical, with little practical impact, and limited working skills, which makes many students, even with degrees, still assessed as not meeting the requirements," Mr. Vu Quang Thanh said.
Ms. Tran Thuy Anh - head of human resources department of a company specializing in consumer goods production in Phuong Liet ward (Hanoi) said that one of the core reasons why new graduates find it difficult to find jobs is the large gap between the training program and the actual needs of the labor market. Many training industries are rampant, supply exceeds demand, while the fields businesses need lack suitable human resources.
Besides, soft skills, teamwork skills, problem-solving thinking - key factors when going to work - have not been given due attention in the lecture hall environment. Graduates lack preparation in mindset, industrial style and quick adaptability to the working environment," Ms. Thuy Anh said.
