National pride, desire to contribute motivate Vietnamese to return, work in homeland: Masan exec

National pride and desire to contribute to the nation’s development are key motivations for Vietnamese who have studied and worked abroad to return and work at home, says Nguyen Tam Thanh, chief human resources officer of Masan Group.

These factors influence the choices of those with high-paying jobs abroad to work for lower remuneration back home, she said Wednesday.

Thanh was speaking at The Makeover 2024, an event themed “Foster Green Dynamics” that was organized by Talentnet in Ho Chi Minh City.

At Masan, many employees understand that the KPIs (key performance indicators) for both domestic and international staff are high and closely aligned. Employees understand their responsibilities and the benefits they receive in return. The same applies to overseas Vietnamese; when they return to contribute to the country, they also need a clear, tailored work plan.

She identified two challenges that can arise when people return after a long stint abroad: language and culture. The former is easier to overcome, but cultural adaptation can prove more difficult for people used to very different ways of doing things.

Andree Mangels, deputy CEO and head of growth for Vietnam and international markets at Talentnet Group, also spoke about the importance of balancing the cultural fit with a candidate’s skills. While skills are essential, cultural fit was crucial, Mangels said.

An employee may have a decade of experience, but if they don’t align with the company’s culture, they won’t be hired. Skills can be developed, but cultural adaptability is more difficult to acquire.

Kunal Malhotra, country manager for LinkedIn in Vietnam and South Korea, agreed with this observation, emphasizing that while skills were advantageous, culture represented the core values of a business, necessitating that foreign employees adapt and fit in.

To make Vietnamese employees more attractive to foreign companies including multinational corporations, they must embrace a global mindset and understand the culture of the organizations they work for in order to adapt effectively, Thanh said.

According to a Talentnet report released Wednesday, 41% of Vietnamese businesses have started to transform themselves over the past three years, focusing on optimizing operational processes, strengthening human resources structure and improving customer experience.