VietNamNet Bridge - A young man, introducing himself as a new university graduate and a young father who needs money to buy milk for child, was seen standing on a Hanoi street with a board in his hands, showing that he wanted a job.

“Toi vua tot nghiep. Toi da la bo. Toi can mot cong viec de mua sua cho con” (I have just graduated from a university. I am a father. I need a job so that I can earn money to buy milk for my child), the board said.

The young man’s behavior has raised controversy among the public. Some netizens commented on an education forum that this was ‘absolutely shameful behavior” which university graduates, or people with a higher education level, should not have.

An article about the man published on an online newspaper started with the title “Cam bien dung giua duong xin viec: Nhuc nha thay cho mot cu nhan” (Standing on median to beg for a job – it’s quite disgraceful behavior).

However, while many young people harshly criticized the man for his action of standing on streets and asking for a job, older people showed sympathy towards the man. 

“I do not think this is a disgraceful attitude to ask for a job to earn an honest penny,” said Nguyen Thanh Ha, 56, an official at a state agency, who has two children.

Ha thinks the young man might fail to catch the attention from some employers and he had to do this as a last resort. 

“New school graduates may find it difficult to apply for jobs, because employers tend to look for experienced candidates,” he explained, adding that if a man stands on streets and ask for help, his dignity will not be affected.

“You and I, every of us, can have the right to ask for the help from the community when we meet difficulties,” he added.

Meanwhile, job consultants said behavior like this may catch people’s attention and raise their compassion, but this will not help the man find a job.

“By doing this, the man may make people feel sympathy towards him, but he cannot prove his ability – the thing that all employers want to see from him,” said Pham Van Thanh from the Youth Union’s Job Center.

The director of a Hanoi-based trading company also said that candidates need to show their capabilities rather than call for pity from employers.

Ngo Hoang Minh, the coordinator of YTIC Project, commented that it is not a good idea to look for a job by acting like this. 

“You need to take initiative when looking for jobs. You need to know what jobs you want and where you should apply,” he said.

CV