Young Vietnamese Job Seekers Need to Step Out of Comfort Zones, Say Experts

Young Vietnamese individuals are increasingly hesitant to step out of their comfort zones to seize career opportunities, with many viewing potential jobs through an overly optimistic lens. At the Hanoi Employment Service Center, a significant number of people were present to claim unemployment benefits, but few were actively seeking new employment. Even at company recruitment booths, interest from young job seekers was notably low.

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When I proactively approached and inquired, most said they didn't want to work right away or wanted to start their own businesses. Their mindset is that they don't really need a job yet.

Human resources professionals observe that many young graduates or those with a few years of experience tend to focus on salary and working hours rather than the core responsibilities of a job. They often lack long-term career goals, prioritizing immediate gains such as an appealing job or a high salary. This leads some to pursue online sales or manage spas, jobs they view as temporary before reassessing their future.

Experts note that the transition from academic life to the professional world can be jarring for young people. The realities of workplace pressure, company culture, and productivity demands often differ significantly from their expectations. This "cultural shock" can lead to disillusionment and frequent job changes shortly after starting.

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Previously, employees might accept a low salary and gradually work their way up from staff to team leader, manager, following a clear career path. But now, many are not interested in the promotion path, and don't even need to reach management positions, as long as the job is easy and the salary is high.

To address these challenges, the National Center for Employment Services, under the Ministry of Home Affairs, is building a unified national job exchange platform. This platform aims to improve the connection between labor supply and demand. It will be integrated with four foundational databases covering employees, foreign workers, labor disputes, and accidents, and will also link to social security and population data. The platform will eventually incorporate vocational education institutions, creating a one-stop shop for job seekers.

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Many young people see jobs through rose-tinted glasses. When unexpected difficulties arise, they easily become hesitant, even quitting after a short period.