According to Duong Van Linh, who successfully applied to the world’s largest auditing firms, and is now a career consultant in the US, Vietnamese parents pay about $200,000-400,000 (VND5-10 billion) to fund their children’s study abroad. Returning home right after graduation, without maximizing the opportunities available in the host country, is too soon.

After 4-5 years of studying overseas, Vietnamese students have experience about foreign disciplinary and cultural environments, but students studying at international schools in Vietnam can also have such experiences. 

So, the biggest advantage of students studying abroad is not experience, but career development opportunities.

“After graduation, Vietnamese students can seek job opportunities at US multinationals and receive training in professional knowledge and working skills. It is the time when they can learn the ‘essence’ of the US economy,” he said.

That is why Linh believes that it would be better if Vietnamese students stayed and worked in the US for several years after graduation to accumulate knowledge and have more experience. 

This will give them more opportunities to find good jobs when returning to Vietnam. Also, knowledge in the sciences, technology and administration received from foreign schools and a foreign working environment will help better contribute to the country's development.

Linh’s advice for Vietnamese students overseas who plan to develop their career in Vietnam is to stay and work in the US for 2-3 years after graduation to gather experience. If they want to become specialists in certain fields, they should stay for 7-10 years.

How to seek a good job in US?

Linh said universities just provide academic knowledge in specific majors, and students still need professional skills which will be assessed by employers during interviews. 

For example, if someone wants to apply for a job at a technology firm, they might be required to solve algorithms and data structure problems during interviews. And the candidates for posts related to strategic consulting would be asked about solutions to a business question within 45 minutes.

In addition, candidates need to practice skills necessary for work and soft skills, such as communications, leadership and problem solving. That is why many students graduate from universities with distinction, but cannot find good jobs immediately. 

Moreover, candidates should stand out in their applications. Many candidates come from lesser-known schools but they demonstrate eagerness and a forward-thinking attitude. They are ready to learn new knowledge, develop critical thinking, and resiliency when facing challenges or failure.

Thuy Nga