TABLE OF CONTENTS

Questions from your textbook (Chapters 7 & 8 of eBook)......................................................2

Q1:...........................................................................................................................................2
Q2............................................................................................................................................2
Five qualities that employers look for in an employee.............................................................2
Lecture Pods/Supplementary Videos:.......................................................................................3
Q3............................................................................................................................................3
Reading 5:.....................................................................................................................................5
Questions from your textbook (Chapters 7 & 8 of eBook)

Q1:

The hidden job market refers to job opportunities that are not publicly advertised
through online channels, such as LinkedIn or a company’s website. Instead, it is all
about internal recruitment, such as internal promotions, employee referrals, networking,
or recruiters contacting candidates directly.

Many companies prefer finding recruits through these channels as they trust the quality
of candidates, ensure a better cultural fit, and also save recruitment time and cost.

In the finance industry that I pursue, I know that this kind of hidden job market is
omnipresent in my field. A lot of positions in financial-related jobs, in banks, securities
firms, or investment funds, are filled internally, which can build crucial networks.

I believe I am gradually developing the qualities that recruiters in the finance industry
look for, such as attention to detail, analytical skills, communication abilities, and logical
thinking. However, I also recognize certain areas for improvement, especially in gaining
practical experience and deepening my understanding of the market. Therefore, my
strategy is to look for a job to gain experience.

Q2.

Five qualities that employers look for in an employee.

- Responsibility: Responsibility is essential in every job. Recruiters always highly

value individuals who take responsibility for their work, especially when they’ve
made mistakes

- Communication skills: This skill is not only crucial in the workplace, but also in
daily life. This can help employees to build connections with colleagues, or team
building.
 - Problem-solving skill: Not only in technical work, but also when a sudden
problem arises.

- Ability to learn: In every field, employee has to have the ability to learn as they
can be adaptable to change

- Teamwork: This skill enables employees to cooperate and support one another,
resulting in an efficient outcome.

Lecture Pods/Supplementary Videos:

Q3.

a.

The video explores the importance of understanding yourself, from identifying your
values, habits, and personality, to knowing how to align those with your career path.
When you know what you want and need, job searching and career development
become more effective. The lecture also analyses essential skills such as soft skills,
technical skills, adaptability, and transferable skills. Moreover, there are key factors in
expanding career opportunities: self-assessment, building professional relationships,
and developing a clear personal brand.

b.

The video emphasizes the role of networking in developing your career, especially when
80% of job opportunities are hidden and only come from relationships. Networking is not
just simply exchanging your business cards, but it is more about building valuable
relationships to have access to the hidden job market. To network effectively, it is
essential to utilize mentors, professional organizations, and online platforms like
LinkedIn. Furthermore, tools such as a personal business card, a confident handshake,
and an organized contact list can all contribute to more effective networking.

c. What is Employability?
The video highlights that employability is not just about the initial job skills, but includes
developing a strong professional identity (personal brand), leading to long-term success
in a career. Recruiters usually highly value candidates who are smart, adaptable, and
willing to challenge the status quo. Specifically, key qualities are effective
communication, strong organizational abilities, commercial awareness, and good
interpersonal skills. However, a good attitude is essential as it can help employers to
know which employees can grow and learn rather than employing full-set skills.
Moreover, it is important to build an online presence because it enhances employability.

d.

The video emphasizes that candidates working at a tech-driven organization like KPMG
require more than just technical skills, but also soft skills such as strong communication,
teamwork, and interpersonal skills. This is because KPMG highly values people who
can communicate ideas, be flexible in the face of change, and take initiative in a diverse
working environment. With more than 30% of employees coming from different
countries, KPMG always appreciates those who can contribute to enriching cultural
diversity while maintaining a connection to the core values of the organization.

e. Tips From Employers

The video shares insights from employers into the candidate selection process. Keynote
speakers Lauren Salter from REED and Joseph Campbell from BJSS highlight the
importance of attributes that graduates need, besides give some strategies for passing
the assessment round at recruitment centres. Moreover, employers are said to highly
value adaptability, good communication skills, and relevant experience.

f.

The video compares and contrasts two students' responses to a job fair, highlighting
effective and ineffective communication strategies. The first student, Sisa Wuri, lacked
confidence, did not maintain eye contact, and was not well prepared, which made her
fail to engage in a meaningful dialogue or demonstrate knowledge about the company.
In contrast, the second student was well prepared, clearly presented specific skills, and
asked insightful questions, creating a more effective conversation. Key
recommendations included: researching the company in advance, maintaining eye
contact, and creating a two-way conversation to make a good impression.

Reading 5:

1.

In the reading, the two concepts of human capital and social capital play a key role in
improving the employability of graduates.

- Human capital: includes the skills, knowledge, qualifications, and experience that
individuals accumulate through learning and practice. For example: university
degrees, professional certificates, internships, and technical skills related to your
profession. Although human capital is important for a new graduate, it does not
guarantee positive employment outcomes.
- Social capital: the relationships and professional networks that can open up
career opportunities, share experiences, and support your career development,
such as attending prestigious universities or having degrees in specific fields.
They are believed to have an easier time finding employment.

2.

Employability is a key factor that businesses consider when evaluating new graduates
during the recruitment process. This model focuses on the fundamental factors that
make up a student’s career capacity, while indicating the role of the individual and the
potential for cooperation between universities, employers, and related organizations.

Vietnam Economic News (Week 4)

At the Energy Asia 2025 conference held from 16–18 June in Kuala Lumpur, Asia was
positioned not only as a participant but also as a key driver of the global energy
transition. The event with the theme “Advancing Asia’s Energy Transition” highlighted
practical, equitable, and inclusive solutions, especially for developing economies.
Despite accounting for a large share of global energy demand and emissions, the
ASEAN region attracted only 2% of global clean energy investment in 2023. Therefore,
Mr. Anwar highlighted the region’s untapped potential, such as wind power in Vietnam,
hydropower in Laos, solar power in Malaysia, and geothermal in Indonesia, which are
strengths that need to be incorporated into global solutions.

Reflections

From videos and articles, I’ve learn that "employability" is not only based on
qualifications (human capital) but also depends a lot on relationships and professional
networks (social capital). In the financial industry I am pursuing, the hidden job market is
very popular, so I need to proactively build a network through LinkedIn, career events
and find a mentor.