Top 10 Best Tips for New Graduates

A CEO once shared: “In 2009, when I had just started my company and was about a year in, I met 5-6 fresh graduates in HCM who demanded a $900 salary. The only thing I noticed about them was their fluent English skills. At the time, my salary as CEO was only 7 million VND.”

Asking for a high salary is not wrong, but it shouldn’t be your top priority. In the early years, focus on learning, gaining knowledge, and exploring opportunities for growth. Don’t expect to get rich from your salary after three years. Instead, aim to become highly skilled and knowledgeable through the work you do.

Don’t waste your time on news about crime and violence, as it only consumes your time and brings negative energy. Instead, work on becoming a more well-rounded individual by reading and understanding various social and economic systems.

For example: Why is Bill Gates the richest person in the world, while Pham Nhật Vượng is the wealthiest in Vietnam? Why is New Zealand a global leader in agriculture? Why is Cuba so strong in sugar and cigars? Why does Bình Thuận produce such delicious dragon fruit? Why is Tản Lĩnh’s chicken considered the best? Why is Brazil a global football powerhouse, but China is not? Why does Silicon Valley produce so many successful startups that change the world…

You are a recent graduate, still lacking experience and professional skills, but you have the advantage of youth, energy, enthusiasm, and a willingness to learn. Don’t rush to find any job that might offer an income, especially if it’s not the right fit for you.

With patience and a commitment to continuous learning, you will eventually reap the rewards in your career. Success doesn’t come overnight; it’s a process of continuous self-improvement and gradual accumulation over time.

Many job openings aren’t advertised publicly because employers prefer to rely on referrals from trusted sources to find the right person for the job.

If you're a recent graduate seeking a role that fits your qualifications, why not expand your network and nurture existing relationships so that people will think of you first when a suitable opportunity arises?

You are young and full of energy, so follow the example of today’s youth. Many are willing to switch companies in search of a better environment, so don’t view your first job as your final destination. See it as an opportunity to learn and master new skills.

For recent graduates, salary shouldn’t be your top priority when looking for a job. You might accept a lower salary compared to your peers, but in return, you’ll gain valuable work experience, which will make future job challenges much easier to handle.

Many fresh graduates overestimate the power of their degree and refuse to accept a low salary. They demand a high salary simply because they graduated with honors, only to stumble when asked by potential employers, 'Why should we pay you that much?'

At different stages of your career, priorities shift. Right now, your main focus should be gaining experience, not just the salary you’re offered.

Many people in their 30s and 40s reflect and say: 'Looking back at myself and those around me, I realize that sometimes all the efforts and career successes can disappear in an instant due to changes related to a partner.' In our youth, we all experience passionate love, sometimes even trivial or fleeting. While these experiences are great for emotions and memories, wise people should have clearer, more rational goals to avoid complaining later on, 'That's just my luck, fate brought us together.' Love is not like a fairy tale. For example, it’s better to find someone in your city who shares your values, rather than someone who always wants to go home to their parents for the holidays. It’s better to find a partner with intelligence and ambition (like Đặng Lê Nguyên Vũ of Trung Nguyên), not someone rich because of inherited wealth.

Don’t hesitate or feel uncomfortable when asked to do tasks that seem beneath your capabilities. For example, you may be hired as a software engineer, but your colleague from accounting asks you to reconnect the network cables. Or you may join as a Content Marketing specialist, but your manager asks you to compile a list of car industry websites, a task that's simple but time-consuming.

Sometimes, these tasks help us develop patience and the practical skills of a craftsman. Later on, when you become a leader, you’ll realize how useful those skills are.

For example, buying a plane ticket, purchasing your own computer, or traveling abroad. Many young people believe that with their current salary, they’ll never afford a house, so they don’t bother saving. This is partly true, but not entirely. While it's true mathematically, you're missing the concept of compound interest and the increasing value over time. When you first start working, you can’t afford a house, but you can purchase simpler things if you plan and set realistic goals. By achieving small goals, your bigger ones will eventually fall into place.

The CEO of CleverAds shared: 'I remember my first small goal when I started earning money from tutoring was to save enough for a plane ticket to Singapore. Before 2004, I had never flown.'

Look around, many successful people are in fields completely unrelated to their degrees. Some are lucky enough to still be working in their trained field, but most are not. Taking on jobs outside your major gives you diverse experiences, broader knowledge, and a more versatile skill set. It helps you avoid being narrow-minded.

People who can succeed in unrelated jobs are highly adaptable and have stronger survival skills. These individuals are valued in many environments and are not afraid of change or challenges.