UEF English Students' Preparation for the Job Market Before Internships

In the context of a labor market that increasingly demands professional competence, skills, and career resilience, preparing for internships has become a vital foundation for students to effectively adapt to real working environments.

With this orientation, on the afternoon of January 14, the Faculty of English, in collaboration with the Business Cooperation Center, organized a workshop titled “Penetration into the World of Work: Skill-Building for English Language Students” as part of the internship preparation series for students of the T04.2026 cohort.

The workshop attracted many students from the English program, eager to prepare for their upcoming internships.

Attending the workshop were Associate Professor Dr. Pham Huy Cuong, Head of the English Department, and Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Loan, Deputy Director of the Business Cooperation Center. The workshop featured Ms. Quynh Quoc Minh Chau, Human Resources Director at New Horizon Education Joint Stock Company, as the speaker. With years of experience in recruitment, training, and personnel management, she provided a candid and practical perspective on how employers evaluate interns and young professionals today. The content shared was not merely theoretical but closely tied to professional experiences, helping students gain a clearer understanding of the requirements and challenges they would face.

In her opening remarks, the speaker emphasized that to confidently "penetrate" the job market, students need to build a solid foundation that includes knowledge, skills, attitudes, and practical experiences. Knowledge must encompass not only academic accumulation but also the effective application in the workplace. For English language students, English should go beyond grammar and vocabulary to become a flexible communication tool that enables learners to express themselves fluently, comprehend specialized materials deeply, and write clearly and persuasively across various professional contexts.

Alongside language proficiency, having specialized knowledge in English is seen as a significant competitive advantage. Whether students aim to work in business, education, tourism, or other fields, actively equipping and updating their specialized knowledge in English will expand career opportunities and enhance their value in the eyes of employers.

The speaker highlighted the importance of specialized knowledge, soft skills, and work attitudes in entering the job market. She dedicated significant time to analyzing the role of soft skills, particularly the 4Cs model: Critical Thinking, Creativity, Collaboration, and Communication. These have been regarded as the "keys" to help students excel in their assigned tasks and develop sustainably in a professional environment.

The workshop particularly emphasized that attitude is one of the determining factors for sustainable success. A receptive attitude, willingness to learn, proactive feedback-seeking, and the courage to acknowledge and correct mistakes will help students turn challenges into opportunities for growth. According to the speaker, a positive attitude and a spirit of continuous learning are what make employers willing to offer more chances to interns, even when they lack perfect skills.

Beyond theory, the program also presented various practical case studies related to the recruitment, evaluation, and development of young personnel, helping students better understand the criteria that employers are always looking for. This was also an opportunity for them to reflect on themselves, identify their strengths and areas for improvement, and prepare better for their upcoming internships.

During the program, representatives from the Faculty of English and the Business Cooperation Center also provided detailed information about the requirements and important notes related to the T04.2026 internship. This information helped UEF students grasp the process, set clear goals, and adequately prepare for an effective internship experience, aligned with the spirit of learning and professional development.

Concluding the workshop, the program left behind many practical values, reinforcing the readiness of UEF English students as they approach their careers. It is believed that this will serve as a stepping stone, enabling them to confidently enter the real working environment equipped with appropriate knowledge, skills, and attitude, aiming for an effective internship and sustainable development in the future.