Thousands of students who are completing their high school education attended a jobs fair in the capital city yesterday, March 18, to help them make up their minds on . . .

Local students attend a jobs fair in Ha Noi yesterday.

“My parents, as teachers, want me to follow in their footsteps, but I’ve always wanted to study economics so this fair will help me decide if that’s a realistic option for me.”

Deputy chairman of Ha Noi’s People’s Committee Dao Van Binh said the jobs fair, held by the city’s departments of Education and Training and Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, provides the chance for guidance to more than 45,000 students.

“It’s a chance to get guidance on careers, the education system and the current labour market from education experts, psychologists and representatives of more than 100 universities, vocational training schools and enterprises,” said Binh.

He said the fair also gave universities and schools a chance to get information on demand on courses from students.

Education psychologist Nguyen Thu Lan said students had to realise that they each had a certain advantage in some field.

“The problem is how to identify that advantage, how to explore it and choose a suitable job,” said Lan, adding that questionnaires help psychologists give guidance on career paths.

Duong Hai Minh, an officer from Ha Noi’s Department of Education and Training, said students should study their options carefully after narrowing down their career paths to one or two fields.

Nguyen The Hung, deputy director of the city’s Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, said that while some students could not get into university, there was no reason for them not to pursue some form of further training.

“It would be better for them to get useful skills and knowledge at vocational training schools,” said Hung.

“Students can become skillful workers with monthly salaries of up to VND4-6 million (US$210-315).”

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News