Dr. Le Huynh Phuong Thuc (left) and Ms. Luu Thanh Huyen share information about the program that sends students to intern at businesses starting from their first year.
PHOTO: NGOC LONG
Solving the problem of a workforce lacking "interaction"
Specifically, the program runs for 2-4 weeks, allowing first-year students to perform standardized tasks based on real business processes, comprising two main activity groups: surveying customer experiences and observing and supporting sales activation activities. After the internship, students will present a report, receive feedback from management, and be graded on their performance.
Before participating in the program, students also receive additional training from university lecturers and experts on work ethics, standards in businesses, and related skills.
The program, jointly implemented by the Talent Connect Plus platform, the non-profit VOCO Center project, and the UEH.ISB Talent School (University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City), will begin in 2026 and is expected to attract 1,000 students in Ho Chi Minh City. Participating businesses that recruit students are among the top 100 best workplaces in Vietnam, according to the annual list published by Anphabe.
Among the businesses participating in the program are many familiar names such as L'Oréal, La Vie, Guardian, and Central Retail - the group that owns the GO! and Tops Market (formerly Big C) supermarket chains.
"Each student has a clear 'work shift,' targets, supervisors, and a final report, no different from a probationary employee," Ms. Luu Thanh Huyen, founder of VOCO Center, shared at the program's launch event last week. "One of the biggest weaknesses of recent graduates is that they have never taken full responsibility for a real outcome. In a traditional university environment, they rarely have this opportunity," she added.
Meanwhile, Dr. Le Huynh Phuong Thuc, founder and CEO of Talent Connect Plus, believes this is an opportunity for businesses to expand their pool of potential candidates for business and management internship programs, as well as enhance their social responsibility activities. This also helps address the difficult problem many businesses are facing: students possess knowledge but lack skills, thus increasing training costs.
As one of the participating units in the program, Mr. Huynh Quang Hien, Director of Operations for Ho Chi Minh City at Central Retail, affirmed: "Students can come here and we are ready to hire them. The only thing we fear is that they will be reluctant to work, especially on small tasks."
Students attend a recent career guidance program organized in Ho Chi Minh City.
PHOTO: INDEPENDENT
What should you keep in mind when interning and starting a job in the AI era?
Another noteworthy point is that today's students will be doing internships and working in a context where artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly permeating various fields. Speaking with Thanh Nien newspaper on December 15th, a representative from L'Oréal Vietnam stated that they have begun applying some AI tools in the resume screening stage. This aims to increase the speed and accuracy of comparing CVs (application documents) with job requirements.
"However, AI only plays a supporting role. All recruitment decisions are still made by the recruitment and management team and are based on direct assessments of the candidate's abilities, potential, and cultural fit," shared Ms. Nguyen Ha Trang, Human Resources Director of L'Oréal Vietnam.
Ms. Trang added that in the age of AI, her company is looking for candidates with a future-ready mindset. Simultaneously, the company values young people who can intelligently and responsibly integrate technology, such as AI, into their work while maintaining critical thinking, business acumen, and personal ethical values.
Meanwhile, Associate Professor Tran Ha Minh Quan, Rector of UEH.ISB's School for Talented Students, stated that AI has now become a mandatory competency for students. It can guide students on how to start a job or how to solve tasks assigned by their superiors. However, it cannot replace real-world experience and requires students to carefully consider its application before working to avoid risks, Professor Quan emphasized.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/co-hoi-thuc-tap-o-doanh-nghiep-top-100-viet-nam-tu-nam-nhat-185251216201227725.htm
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