[Vnbiz] Education and Job for the Youth

[Tran Dinh Hoanh]

Dear chi Thanh Thanh & CACC,

Thanh Thanh talks about the college generation's concern about poor
education quality and job.  Yes, these are very serious concerns.  We are
talking about education reform and I have faith in the new leadership.  We
will continue to bring our input into the education reform process. But it
will take some time to really turn the education system around.

Job is the immediate concern for every student and it is a big issue for the
country.  We have a very young population.  That means a very promising
labor force.  It also means that the pressure to find job for everyone is
horrendous.  How do we manage the country in a way that we can generate lots
of new jobs for the students who are entering the job market?  This is no
easy task, and a slow down in the economy may result in tremendous social
pressure from job shortage.  Unemployed youth is always a time bomb waiting
to explode. So let's pay serious attention to this issue.

1.  The number-one source of job generation is investment, both domestic and
foreign.  To continue encouraging investment, we will have to continue
improve the investment environment:  Streamlining procedures, reducing red
tapes, clean and transparent governance, tax breaks, simplifying labor
regulations, simplifying residency requirements and rent regulations
for foreign companies  and expats, maintaining the country's political and
military stability and security.  We need to have a reputation in the world
that Vietnam is a good place to invest, to work and to live.

Please note, people have to live where they work.  If business regulation is
simple but it is hard to do your visa, difficult to rent a place at
reasonable price, hard to find good school, hard to find good hospital, hard
to find good church, hard to hire an oshin, etc,. then it is not a good
environment to live.

We have to work hard to bring to the world the new image of Vietnam.
Vietnam is no longer a war but a place where you will enjoy a good vacation,
will be happy to put in a new plant, a  beautiful, gentle, friendly,
energetic, profitable place.  A place where you want to work and live and
raise a family.

2.  The government should have a special policy to encourage companies to
employ students (part time) while they are still in school.   The policy can
be done in some form of tax cut to the company, for example.  Working part
time with a company is usually the road for a full time position after
graduation.  Also, it helps the students build experience while still in
school.

3.  Each school should have a "job placement" office to deal with companies
to find jobs for students.

As to the students, here are my suggestion:

1.  Work, work, work while you are in school.  If there is no paying
job, find ways to volunteer your service without pay.  Some non-paying job
is even more important than paying job, because it gives you the kind of
experience and connection you cannot find.  (I volunteered to clerk for a
judge without pay while I was in law school).

2.  Work on your English.  The better your English is, the better
opportunity you will have,   We have decided to use English as the major
language in this forum just for you guys.  Write to your friends in
English,  Post your messages in this forum.  I have a million grammatical
mistakes in each of my messages.  You can afford to have even more mistakes
than I do.  Also, there may be a way for us to organize "English
conversation session" via audio conference weekly so that you guys can have
a way to practice talking.  If you like this idea, please tell me.

3.  Try to be outgoing and active.  The more activities you are involved in,
the more people you know, the more energetic you are, the better job you
will have.

(Coffee shops are number-one killer in Vietnam for the guys.  Instead of
spending hours in coffee shop each day and staying very passive, use your
time wisely.  Volunteer your service to some charitable organization.  I did
sit in coffee shop for hours each day when I was younger in Saigon, so I
know what I am talking about.  Hey, doesn't that sound familiar?  The adults
enjoyed all the wrong things when they were young.  Later they tell the kids
not to enjoy those things because those were "wrong."  That's how life
works, guys.  Don't complain!  You pay your due through life, so when you
get to be older, you're entitled to BS here and there.  Just do what I say,
don't do what I did, you hear?)

4.  Most important of all, make sure you have the reputation of"being
reliable" with EVERYONE around you, from your parents, brothers, sisters, to
friends, teachers, etc.  After many years in business I realize that
"Reliability" is the most important and rarest commodity.  If you have a
reputation of being "reliable," you will have good job.  Good jobs have a
way of looking for good people.

Thanh Thanh, I think the issue of job for the young is so important that you
guys and gals should start to generate some movement in that direction.  For
example, Thanh Doan should have a major project pushing this issue.
Students at universities should start to ban together in teams to do
projects to push for "job for youth."

Get out and do something. Every time we think about an important issue, try
as much as we can to really do something about it.  That is how we will move
our nation forward at great speed.

And if anyone wants to create some project, s/he can always use our forum
for support, in thinking and brainstorming and for contacts.

Let me just stop here for now.  Please chip in,  Keep my brain working.

Have a great day, Thanh Thanh and all.

Hoanh
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