UEF Accounting, Auditing and FinTech Students Equipped for Their Upcoming Internships

Ahead of the October internship period, students were equipped with practical career preparation

Accompanying the students at the workshop were Ms. Le Nguyen Thuy Mai - Senior Recruitment Manager at KPMG Vietnam, and Dr. Nguyen Phuc Quynh Nhu - lecturer at the UEF Faculty of Finance and Accounting, who served as the moderator and facilitator. The programme was also attended by M.A. Nguyen Thanh Lam - Vice Dean of the Faculty of Finance and Accounting, and M.A. Nguyen Thi Kim Loan - Deputy Director of the Center of Corporate Relations.

Drawing on her own career journey at one of the Big Four auditing firms, the speaker offered students a realistic perspective on their first steps into the labour market, the process of adapting to a professional working environment, and how to build a strong foundation for long-term career development.

Representatives of the Organising Committee expressed their appreciation for the speaker’s participation

According to the corporate representative, students have an advantage when they are equipped with a solid academic foundation at university. This provides an important basis for them to approach real-world work with confidence and gradually meet employers’ expectations. In particular, KPMG’s internship recruitment programmes not only allow students to experience a professional working environment but also provide opportunities to progress into full-time positions across various areas such as accounting, tax advisory, and the KPMG Delivery Center. An internship can therefore serve as an important stepping stone for students to demonstrate their capabilities and pursue career opportunities after graduation.

From an employer’s perspective, organisations also invest considerable resources in interns, including costs, equipment, and time for training and guidance. Students should therefore proactively use their internships to gain “real experience” by directly participating in tasks and projects and becoming familiar with actual operational processes, rather than merely observing or carrying out superficial assignments. In formal internship programmes, students may be assigned professional tasks, work with a variety of clients, and experience responsibilities similar to those of regular employees. Through these experiences, they can strengthen their professional knowledge, develop workplace skills and professional conduct, and gain a clearer understanding of the requirements of the positions they aim to pursue.

According to the speaker, students should build on their academic knowledge by using their internships to gain hands-on experience and seize career opportunities

One skill particularly emphasised by speaker Le Nguyen Thuy Mai was the ability to observe. According to her, interns in a corporate environment learn not only from the tasks assigned to them but can also gain extensive knowledge by observing how colleagues handle their work, communicate, collaborate, and respond to situations as they arise. Knowing how to observe, ask questions at the right time, and proactively learn from mentors and colleagues can help young people quickly develop a better understanding of both their work and the organisation’s culture. This is also a skill that students need to continue strengthening throughout their studies and professional careers.

In addition to practical experience, the speaker also highlighted the importance of application documents. A CV is often the first point of contact through which recruiters form an impression of a candidate, so students should invest effort in preparing a polished, clear, and accurate profile that reflects their capabilities. Beyond academic achievements and certifications, experiences gained through extracurricular activities, clubs, part-time jobs, and projects can also help recruiters better understand a candidate’s skills and development journey. For recent graduates in particular, employers may not necessarily place heavy emphasis on previous work experience, but instead pay closer attention to how candidates have learned, gained experience, and developed through activities undertaken during their university years.

The corporate representative noted that interns will receive training in professional knowledge, regulations, and working procedures before beginning their assignments. However, to adapt effectively to a real working environment, students need to prepare themselves physically and mentally, proactively expand their knowledge, confidently ask questions, and maintain an active learning mindset. A professional attitude and a willingness to improve will provide an important foundation for students’ development during their internships and throughout their long-term careers.

The speaker advised students not to overuse AI when preparing their CVs, emphasising that each application should be based on the applicant’s genuine experiences

Alongside insights from the corporate representative, the workshop also provided students with important information related to the internship process at UEF. M.A. Nguyen Thi Kim Loan - Deputy Director of the Center of Corporate Relations, shared key points that students need to keep in mind during their internships, helping them prepare proactively and comply with the requirements of the course. Meanwhile, M.A. Nguyen Thanh Lam - Vice Dean of the Faculty of Finance and Accounting, provided guidance on completing the graduation project and internship report, helping final-year students prepare early in terms of planning, timelines, and the tasks that need to be completed during the final stage of their studies.

Lecturers reminded students about the schedule, regulations, and requirements of the internship period

As the first activity organised by the Faculty of Finance and Accounting at the beginning of the 2026 - 2027 academic year, the workshop “Internship Preparation and Essential Notes for Students” provided a practical start by connecting classroom knowledge with the expectations of the labour market. Through career stories, recruitment perspectives, and specific guidance from lecturers, third- and fourth-year students majoring in Accounting, Auditing, and Financial Technology gained additional preparation to proactively strengthen their professional knowledge, skills, and workplace conduct, enabling them to turn their internships into meaningful professional experiences and an important stepping stone towards their post-graduation careers.

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