Accumulating experience early
Right from her first year of university, Tran Thi Thuy Van - a 4th-year student at the Academy of Journalism and Propaganda - actively participated in clubs and sought practical experience opportunities.
According to Van, instead of just focusing on the knowledge in the lecture hall, she boldly tried her hand at many jobs related to the field she is studying such as journalism, media and event organization.
Through each experience, I gain more skills, get to touch the real environment and more importantly, understand clearly what I am suitable for, and want to develop in which direction" - Van shared.
Also actively working part-time since he was still in the lecture hall, Nguyen Duc Anh - a student at the Academy of Journalism and Propaganda - started working from his first year of university.
Duc Anh's part-time job at a coffee shop is not directly related to his major. However, the male student believes that this is still a valuable experience.
For me, compared to studying in the lecture hall, working part-time gives me more practical exposure to society, helping me to be more confident and ready for situations" - Duc Anh said.
According to the male student, working part-time not only helps earn extra income but also trains demeanor, proactiveness and ability to adapt to the working environment.
Real-world experience also helps Duc Anh realize the importance of balancing between studying and work, while setting a goal to improve his foreign language skills to expand career opportunities.
Practical experience becomes an advantage
From a business perspective, Mr. Nguyen Duy Manh Cuong - Director of Hoai Thi Fashion Joint Stock Company - said that degrees help businesses know what foundation candidates are trained on, but attitude and adaptability are important factors when starting a job.
When recruiting new graduates, I often pay attention to communication skills, learning spirit, proactiveness and how you solve a problem when you encounter difficulties. In particular, I appreciate those who dare to take on the job, dare to take responsibility and are not afraid to ask when they do not know" - Mr. Cuong said.
According to Mr. Cuong, the fact that students have worked part-time, interned or participated in a real project is a fairly clear advantage. These experiences help young people get acquainted with the working environment, from being punctual, coordinating with colleagues to handling pressure and solving problems.
Professional knowledge can continue to be trained, but working attitude and sense of responsibility are very difficult for a business to train from scratch" - Mr. Cuong assessed.
Businesses do not expect new graduates to have the same experience as people who have worked for many years. However, in the case of two candidates with equivalent abilities, candidates who have had practical encounters may be prioritized because their ability to keep up with the job is usually faster.
Mr. Cuong said that students do not necessarily have to wait until the final year to start accumulating experience. From the 2nd year, you can find part-time jobs, internships or participate in projects that suit your abilities.
The important thing, according to him, is not the number of activities listed in the job application, but what students have actually done and the results achieved.
A person who only has one internship but actually works, is assigned tasks and creates specific results is more valuable than a job application dossier recording many activities but when interviewed, they cannot say what they actually did" - Mr. Cuong said.
According to Mr. Cuong, students should not worry too much if they do not have much experience when entering the labor market. What businesses are more interested in is development potential, learning spirit and adaptability.
Don't wait until you feel good enough to start. Take the initiative to start, try and become better in the working process" - Mr. Cuong advised.
