Hungry for success

Hungry for success

Honors students attend a graduation ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City last month.
Many among Vietnam’s young workforce say they’re eager to begin rewarding careers but are stymied by poor working conditions and low wages in the public sector. After graduating with top marks from the Hanoi University of Technology’s information technology department, Tuyen’s teacher recommended him for a job at a government-level agency. Accepting the prestigious position was viewed as a good career move by Tuyen’s family and friends. For the first three months, Tuyen had to work as an unpaid apprentice and relied on his parents for financial support. He was then put on a three-month probation at a salary of VND1.2 million (US$73.25). Like many new graduates, Tuyen accepted the low wages viewing it as a temporary hardship on the way to gaining more experience and a brighter future. But the financial struggle was harder than Tuyen had anticipated. Rent, food and petrol cost him nearly VND2 million ($122) per month. Not wanting to ask for more money from his parents, the young graduate took a second job as a part-time tutor. After two years, Tuyen’s monthly salary was increased to a mere VND1.8 million (around $110), despite the fact that he was considered a model employee and an asset to the department. It was at that point Tuyen finally decided to quit, knowing he simply couldn’t afford to live on his wages. He applied for work at a foreign information technology company and was offered a starting wage of VND9.93 million ($600) a month.
In Vietnam’s newly flourishing economy, many domestic and foreign enterprises are willing to pay tens ofmillions of dong to keep good staff. Vietnam’s governmental agencies, however, are seemingly unable to retain good talent due to a pay scale that doesn’t allow for the basic necessities of life.

Quantity over quality

After graduating with honors from Hanoi’s Institute for International Relations (now the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam), Quynh, who speaks two foreign languages, applied to a ministry-level office. In the beginning, she was paid VND1.2 million ($73.25) per month. Like Tuyen, Quynh said the salary was not as important as the experience she thought she would gain. But Quynh’s expectations of improving her skill set and advancing her knowledge in a professional environment were soon dashed, she said. In the morning, most staff would arrive on time to avoid being entered into the latecomer list, Quynh said. But they would then gather around and chat idly instead of beginning their daily tasks. Most employees would work from 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. and then break for a two-and-a-half-hour lunch and nap. After returning, most would not begin working again until 3 p.m. and would leave promptly at 5 p.m., Quynh said. The sluggish work environment led Quynh to feel she wasn’t learning or growing and moreover, the low pay wasn’t enough to justify staying in the position. Eventually, Quynh quit the job she had initially been so eager to start. “If governmental agencies don’t change their unproductive and bureaucratic working method, and continue to appraise staff by length of service rather than by their ability and achievements, they will not be able to attract talented individuals and will also lose youths’ faith in the state sector," Quynh said.

Work ethic and nepotism

Thanh, another recent university graduate with dreams of developing a rewarding career, applied to a local research institute. The interview process was intense, she said.
Thanh was made to take several tests in English and had to demonstrate proficiency in translating and essay-writing. Despite the stress of the testing, the rigorous process led Thanh to believe the institute highly valued skills and ability from its employees – a work environment she wanted to be a part of. But when Thanh began working at the agency, she soon realized that she seemed to be the only one made to conform to its high standards. According to Thanh, the institute’s director had appointed several positions to family members, whether they were qualified or not. People’s work ethic was poor and many staff members in high-ranking positions didn’t even speak English, she said.

"It’s not that Vietnamese youth have no spirit of sacrifice but they have [nothing to show] for their contribution," said a former employee of a governmental agency.

Reported by Lan Tuong*

*The writer is a consultant for the Hanoi-based Consultancy on Development Institute, which works to enhance cooperation between public and civil sectors through lobbying policies.