As the world of work becomes increasingly borderless, mastering foreign languages has emerged as a strategic advantage. English, in particular, stands out as a top choice for many. However, with the widespread proficiency in English, a pressing concern emerges for English majors: Is proficiency in English alone sufficient to secure a job and thrive in today's competitive job market? How can they distinguish themselves and compete effectively?
2025 Hiring Trends: Skills, Flexibility & Sustainability
At a skill training workshop hosted by Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HUTECH), Ms. Thuy Vo, Regional Manager-South, Permanent Recruitment & Consulting Services, ManpowerGroup Vietnam highlighted 3 key hiring trends for 2025.
Skill-Based Hiring: Data found that 76% of companies prioritized skills in their hiring processes in 2024, with 55% designing tailored skill assessments for specific roles. This trend is gaining traction in Vietnam, and job seekers are expected to demonstrate specific skills and competencies in their CVs and during interviews.
Flexible Workforce: With the rise of agile operations, businesses are turning to contingent workforce solutions—like gig workers, freelancers, and temporary staff—to adapt to shifting market demands. As revealed in ManpowerGroup latest Global Workforce Trends Report, the gig economy now accounts for 12% of the global labor force, reflecting a shift toward more adaptable employment structures. This trend presents both opportunities and challenges, as more flexible, temporary positions become available.
Green Jobs & Green Skills: With growing pressure from consumers, investors, and policymakers to address climate change, businesses are transitioning toward sustainable practices. According to ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey For APAC Q1 2025, green transformation could create up to 30 million new jobs by 2030, and over 57% of current job skills will need to be updated to meet sustainable standards.
Rising Demand for Multilingual Candidates in the Job Market
Despite concerns from young job seekers, Thuy Vo highlighted that language majors hold significant potential in today's job market. Employers across various industries in Vietnam, from retail, manufacturing, to energy and logistics, are now actively seeking candidates with strong language skills. However, with the emergence of AI and evolving market challenges, workers need more than just language proficiency to excel in their roles. The demand for a diverse skill set is growing, making continuous learning and adaptability crucial for career success.
The ManpowerGroup expert advises students to plan their career paths early, ideally in their first or second year, and to gain diverse work experience to grow their skills well before their final-year internships. Students can also use tools like ManpowerGroup’s SkillsInsight to align their skills with industry demands.
Mastering Behavior-Based Interview Questions
As skill-based hiring becomes more prevalent, behavior-based questions are increasingly common in recruitment interviews. These questions help employers evaluate your skills and potential. During the mock interview session between ManpowerGroup recruiters and HUTECH students, Ms. Thuy Vo noted that while being proficient in communicating in English, English-majored students should work on boosting their confidence and presentation skills for interviews.
She suggested employing the SAO (Situation, Action, Outcome) framework when responding to behavior-based interview questions. For example, when discussing how you handle pressure, your response should clearly describe a time when you were under pressure (situation), what you did to overcome it (action), and how things turned out (outcome). This method ensures a comprehensive and compelling response that minimizes the need for further probing by interviewers.
Conclusion
Strong English skill is a valuable asset, but becoming truly employable and advancing professionally requires a broader skill set. In addition to improving your language abilities, it's important to practice practical CV and interview tips in the short term and engage in proactive career planning for long-term success. Embracing these diverse strategies will enhance your marketability and pave the way for continuous personal and professional development.
Watch video recap for the skill-training workshop for English-majored students HERE.
This activity is part of ManpowerGroup Vietnam’s Career Development Program and underscores our ongoing dedication to the strategic MOU with the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, initiated in 2008, as well as ManpowerGroup Global’s sustainability efforts.
