[Research Contribution] 10 Global Career Trends Shaping the Super Intelligence 5.0 Era – Episode 2

7 July, 2025

In the era of super intelligence 5.0, where technology, data and automation are reshaping the global labor market, young people need to understand not only themselves – but also the market. In episode 2 of the Live Talk “10 global career trends shaping the era of super intelligence 5.0 – episode 2 – part 2”, experts continue to accompany parents and students on the journey to identify suitable career options, through practical perspectives: from working at multinational companies or technology startups, to sustainable career trends, the role of deep expertise and co-creation thinking with AI.

The Live Talk Sustainable Career Orientation 5.0 of University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) has the participation of speakers and leading experts in the field of career orientation and labor market including: Assoc.Prof.Dr. Bui Quang Hung – Vice President of UEH; Senior HR expert Pham Thi My Le, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of L&A Holdings and MC Tuyen Tang.

Multinational company or tech startup? Which is the best choice?

MC Tuyen Tang: Speaking of making career choices in a rapidly changing world with many opportunities and challenges, there is a topic that is receiving a lot of attention and debate from students,parents and schools. That is, after graduating from university, should you choose to work at multinational companies or join technology startups?

Expert Pham Thi My Le: I think this is a very good and practical question. Personally, I hope that young people, as well as parents, can shape a long-term vision of at least 5 to 7 years when making decisions related to their field of study and career orientation. You should choose a career field, then equip yourself with more knowledge and professional skills to be able to enter your career journey firmly and proactively.

If we are weighing the pros and cons of working for a multinational company or joining a tech startup, we need to thoroughly analyze both the benefits and drawbacks of each model.

Multinational companies have strong financial resources, a systematic management system and a modern technology platform. Working here, you will have the opportunity to participate in large-scale, specialized projects, access a professional working environment and learn from international colleagues. High specialization is also a strength, helping you accumulate in-depth knowledge in the field you are pursuing.

On the contrary, when working in a startup environment, especially a technology startup in Vietnam, you will face many challenges that require agility, flexibility and high adaptability. Due to limited resources, startup people often have to take on many different roles, thereby forming a set of outstanding multitasking skills. This is a suitable environment for those who want to develop their capacity comprehensively and quickly. It can be said that a staff working at a startup will be like a “versatile warrior”, possessing a very strong ability to survive and adapt.

However, the important thing is not to choose between a multinational company or a startup, but to base on which principles to make the most suitable choice for yourself. I completely agree with Prof. Hung that it is necessary to consider three important factors:

Future career trends – will the industry still exist and thrive in the upcoming years?
Personal passion – does the work really inspire and energize you?
Intrinsic competencies – do you possess the core qualities and natural advantages to pursue that field?

When these three factors intersect – that is, when you find the intersection between your passion, your personal abilities , and your career trends – you have found the “sweet spot” – one of the most suitable choices for your long-term development path.

However, I understand that young people often find it difficult to accurately measure their own passions and abilities. Many confuse “what they like” with “what they can do well”, or confuse temporary interests with true passion. That is why we have developed a completely free assessment tool for high school and university students. This tool will help determine which of the six main career groups your “sweet spot” is, and from there suggest a list of dozens of specific related jobs. This is a social activity that we carry out to support young people to have a more accurate and personalized view when orienting their careers.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Quang Hung: At University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, we have deployed a career orientation support tool for students right from high school, especially from grade 10. This tool is called “Understanding You”, built on two prestigious testing systems, MBTI and Holland. You can access it via the link https://hieuveban.ueh.edu.vn/ to experience it. This is a useful tool to help you better identify your interests and personality, and from there, make a career orientation that is suitable for you.

One job well done is better than nine jobs – How to understand it correctly?

MC Tuyen Tang: Our grandparents often say: “One job well done is better than nine jobs”. However, in the current context where everything is changing at a dizzying speed, from human resource needs to market trends, is that saying still valid? Or do we need to reconsider and broaden our approach to maximize its practical application?

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Quang Hung: In my opinion, that folk proverb still has a guiding nature, but we need to apply it in a new context.

“One job well done” means that we must truly master the profession, must have in-depth knowledge in the field we choose. This comes from a systematic learning process at quality training institutions, guidance from dedicated and experienced lecturers, and especially the constant efforts of each individual.

Meanwhile, “nine jobs” does not necessarily mean embracing many fields at the same time, but should be understood as a sensitivity and flexible adaptation in a career environment that is changing every day. With this approach, we need a comprehensive educational foundation that not only equips professional knowledge but also trains soft skills, transferable skills, and lifelong learning skills.

We will need to constantly update our knowledge, technology and new career trends. So the saying “One job well done is better than nine jobs” does not lose its value – it is a reminder that we need to specialize in our chosen field, but at the same time be dynamic, adaptable and innovate ourselves in an era of constant change.

MC Tuyen Tang: Folk proverb has never been outdated, it is just that in each different historical period, we will have more flexible approaches and applications. It can be said that, in the new era, we have the right to experiment and experience many different types of work. However, a solid knowledge base, choosing a reputable training institution, and a spirit of lifelong learning are the key factors that create sustainability in a career journey.

So why in a rapidly changing context like today and in the near future, is specialization still a priority and focus?

Expert Pham Thi My Le: I think that to understand the story of the “super intelligent world”, we must look at it from the perspective of each individual in that world.

Today, every morning when AI wakes up, it has learned millions of new data units, things that might take humans years to accumulate. So the question is: what makes humans still maintain their unique role, not completely replaced by AI?

In my opinion, it is the ability to solve problems – a core skill that humans always excel at compared to AI. AI can synthesize data faster, analyze logic better, but the ability to make judgments in complex contexts, handle situations flexibly, empathize and be creative – that is something AI cannot do yet .

The problem is, today’s young people lack experience, so when they receive results from AI, they easily consider it the truth. But they do not know that the results are directly affected by the prompt they set. An experienced person will ask deeper questions, leading to answers that are many times better quality.

Therefore, what we need to build is a mindset of co-creation with AI, instead of passive acceptance. At that time, AI was not just a tool, but a partner that helps improve the quality of work and increase personal productivity. Like myself, since applying AI, I can complete the KPI system for a position in just 2 minutes – something that used to take a whole day.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Quang Hung: I completely agree with Ms. Le. AI is not a competitor, but a powerful assistant. But to lead AI, humans need deep knowledge and solid critical thinking.

Skills students need to practice in the digital age

MC Tuyen Tang: In today’s dialogue, we have reviewed many important keywords – indispensable provisions for students, teachers and parents in the journey of sustainable career orientation. That is a solid knowledge foundation, a spirit of lifelong learning, and especially a group of soft skills, in which problem-solving skills stand out, an essential capacity to adapt and develop in a volatile labor market.

And Prof. Hung, in addition to the skills mentioned, could you share more about which groups of competencies that, in your opinion, the younger generation needs to pay special attention to cultivating in the current context?

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Quang Hung: Besides IQ or digital technology skills, which are often emphasized, in my opinion, one of the increasingly important skills is emotional intelligence (EQ). This factor reflects the ability to empathize, share and connect between people in life and work.

We are entering an era that requires a combination of professional knowledge, technological adaptability, and especially humanistic competence. Being trained in an environment that promotes comprehensiveness where knowledge, art, and emotion are effectively integrated will help learners not only succeed in their careers but also live responsibly, contributing positive values to society.

MC Tuyen Tang: In today’s era, besides knowledge, an individual who knows how to connect multi-dimensionally through soft skills will have outstanding adaptability to the constantly changing learning and working environment.

So how have universities, especially in Vietnam, changed to effectively update and adapt to the new practical requirements of the labor market?

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Quang Hung: In the context of a constantly changing market, especially under the impact of digital transformation, climate change and sustainable development requirements, higher education institutions are forced to restructure and reshape their training programs in a flexible and proactive manner. A training program must be built on the synthesis of many factors, such as in-depth knowledge in the field, digital technology capacity and emotional factors .

At the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, the training program is updated regularly every year and is comprehensively restructured after every 3 to 4 year cycle. All are aimed at the ultimate goal: to train learners comprehensively, proactively, creatively and sustainably.

In particular, the element of education for sustainable development is now being “embedded” deeply into the entire subject system to help students not only become global citizens but also know how to act for the community and the environment right in their locality.

The Live Talk ended with the second keyword in the journey of Understanding – “Understanding the market”. In the era of super intelligence 5.0, where the labor market is constantly moving and reshaping, understanding yourself, grasping career trends, and at the same time correctly recognizing the role of university education is not only the foundation for wise choices, but also the compass for each young person to be thoroughly prepared in terms of basic knowledge, along with a diverse set of skills, to confidently step into the future.

This article is part of the series spreading research and applied knowledge from UEH with the message “Research Contribution For All – Research for the Community”. UEH cordially invites readers to the next UEH Research Insights newsletter.

___________________________

The Sustainable Career Orientation 5.0 Live Talk Series “Empowering Tomorrow” organized by University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City – UEH, broadcast on UEH and VnExpress is a project that accompanies parents and students through connecting 3 aspects in the career selection journey of the young generation: (1) Understanding personal career inclinations; (2) Understanding future trends in the 5.0 era; (3) Understanding educational trends of the 5.0 world. With the 3 “Understandings”, students will be able to choose the right major and be “satisfied with their choice”.

News and photos: UEH Department of Communications and Partnerships