Opportunities and challenges for Humanities students when working in business

The event was accompanied by two speakers: Mr. Nguyen Duc Anh, Deputy General Director of Bao Tin Manh Hai Company) and Ms. Truong Bich Hanh (Permanent Deputy General Director of Tan A Dai Thanh Group), who have many years of experience in the fields of recruitment, management, human resource development, marketing, and strategy building.

With practical experience, as a person who has been trained in information technology, but is currently very successful in the business field, Mr. Nguyen Duc Anh shared: "Currently, in the current labor market trend, at the same time, training programs are increasingly interdisciplinary, it is very normal and quite common for students to graduate and do jobs that are not directly related to their major. If you think that after graduating from History, Philosophy, Literature... you can only teach, research, or work in a state agency directly related to the field you have been trained in, then you have missed many opportunities to find many interesting jobs with attractive income levels."
In an increasingly competitive labor market, students majoring in social sciences and humanities (S&H) often face many challenges when applying for jobs in businesses. Some of the biggest barriers are technology, foreign language skills, acumen and practical skills.
However, the opportunities are not small. Businesses today are increasingly interested in soft skills, communication and connection skills, critical thinking and deep understanding of society, people and culture - the typical strengths of students of Social Sciences and Humanities. Fields such as communications, human resources, marketing, public relations or project management are all very suitable for this group of majors. And in fact, many former students of Hanoi University of Humanities have become CEOs, successful entrepreneurs, managers, etc. in businesses in many different fields.
Ms. Truong Bich Hanh shared: “I graduated with a bachelor's degree in History from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, but then I decided to try my hand at a new field at large economic corporations such as Vingroup and Tan A Dai Thanh. But what I was trained in at the university equipped me with a foundation of social knowledge, logical thinking, the ability to connect, build relationships, etc. That is one of the important factors that helped me succeed.”

The secret to success

In the lively and open atmosphere of the talk show, the two speakers shared many valuable experiences to help students improve their competitiveness when applying for jobs and working successfully in the corporate environment.
Ms. Truong Bich Hanh said: “There is no formula for success that is right for everyone, but there will certainly be common factors that are decisive: knowledge, skills and attitude. If you are properly trained, have solid professional knowledge, rich soft skills, a spirit of continuous learning, open social relationships, plus a little luck, no matter what job you do in your field or in another field or at any enterprise, you will be successful. Social Sciences and Humanities students need to supplement practical skills: such as using digital tools, data analysis skills, foreign language proficiency and creative thinking. This not only helps them expand their career opportunities but also makes them stand out in the eyes of employers.”
According to Mr. Nguyen Duc Anh, in the current digital age, the labor market is always changing, no job position is "stable", especially in the corporate environment, constantly learning, updating new knowledge and adapting to trends is the key to help students of Social Sciences and Humanities succeed.
“First of all, you need to determine what job you want to do, your strengths, along with effort, perseverance, a progressive spirit, and readiness to accept challenges will help you make further progress in your career. Social relationships and practical experience are also plus points when you apply for jobs and are important factors in your career. Right from when you are still studying in the classroom, along with accumulating professional knowledge, students should actively participate in club events of the Union, professional seminars, talk shows, and at the same time find a part-time job with suitable hours, which will help students expand their connections, learn from their predecessors and access more job opportunities” – Deputy General Director of Bao Tin Company Manh Hai emphasized.         The talkshow has brought many practical perspectives and useful advice to students. With careful preparation (in terms of both knowledge and skills) and diligence, hard work and curiosity, students of Social Sciences and Humanities can completely affirm their position in the business environment and build a solid career in the future.