Nguyen Thi Thu, vice rector of Nguyen Tat Thanh High School for the Gifted in Yen Bai province, told VietNamNet at ‘Effective Career Guidance Triangle 2023’, an event for high school students held several days ago, that many 12th graders still don’t know what they want to do after finishing general education.

A high school teacher in Hanoi said students are not sure about continuing to study at university or going to work. In many cases, students want to continue in higher education as requested by their parents, but they don’t know what majors they should choose.

Thu, who has been working as a career counselor for high school students for tens of years, said that career guidance given to students when they enter high school is too late.

“Career guidance should be given as soon as possible. It would be better to be implemented from preschool through introductions about the jobs of parents or people around children,” she said.

When students enter secondary school, they need to be given opportunities to have experiences about different careers to help them discover their abilities. This can be done through exchange activities with experts. Students should be encouraged to go to universities and visit enterprises to have occupational experiences.

If students understand their abilities and hobbies, have certain knowledge about the career they want, and receive useful advice from parents and teachers, they will be able to make the best choices for themselves.

The choices need to satisfy three factors: their passions; their abilities and hobbies; and careers that are growing in accordance with trends in society.

According to Thu, if someone makes a wrong choice, they can correct this and choose another job. However, with the financial capability of many families, it would be costly and time consuming, and students may miss many years of their youth.

Dr Nguyen Phu Khanh, vice rector of Phenikaa, believes that if children at preschools begin learning about the careers of people around them and at secondary school, they can find the careers they like the most, though the careers may not actually fit them. For example, children may want to become pilots or doctors.

He stressed that career guidance should be given early so that students have time to learn which professions are most suited to their abilities and wishes.

Thuy Nga