Job-search, interview and salary tips

1. Where to look

• Job and internship posts checked by the university on the portal’s Jobs and internships page (filter by major).
• The company where you did your internship or company semester – many students are kept on afterwards.
• University job fairs and recruitment events; referrals from lecturers and alumni.
• Be wary of ads that ask for fees or deposits, keep your original documents or promise unusually high pay.

2. Prepare your application

• A one-page CV tailored to the role; see the CV guide by major.
• A short cover letter: why you fit and what you can contribute.
• Transcript, language and IT certificates; real projects or products (if any).

3. Interviews

• Research the company: products, customers and working culture.
• Prepare 3–5 key experiences using Situation – Task – Action – Result (STAR).
• Arrive 10–15 minutes early, dress for the field and bring a printed CV.
• Prepare 2–3 questions for the employer (training path, how probation is assessed).
• Send a short thank-you message the same day.

4. Discussing pay

• Check salaries in ads for the same role and area and ask lecturers and alumni; give a range rather than a single number.
• Let the employer name a figure first if possible; when asked, give your range with reasons (skills, certificates, internship experience).
• Look at the whole package: probation pay (at least 85% of the full salary under the Labour Code), insurance, allowances, training and pay progression.
• Read the employment contract carefully before signing; never sign blank documents.

5. By field

• Technology and engineering (IT, Automotive, Electrical and Electronics): expect a technical test or hands-on task; bring evidence of projects; know workplace safety rules.
• Business and law (Accounting, Business Administration, Office Administration, Law): review core procedures and office and accounting software; for Law, practise short legal case analyses.
• Languages, tourism and education (English, Chinese, Hotel Management, Vietnamese Studies, Education): interviews often include a foreign-language part, customer scenarios or a trial lesson; have your language certificates ready.
• Health (Pharmacy, Nursing): know practice regulations, licensing and professional rules; prepare for scenario questions on patient safety and medication advice.

For more advice, leave your details on the Jobs and internships page.