Following a period of unpredictable economic fluctuations, experts predict the labor market this year is entering a new adjustment cycle. Recruitment is no longer a race to merely fill organizational charts; it has become a challenge to find individuals who genuinely align with a business's strategic goals.

According to Pham Thanh Hai, CEO of the JobsGO recruitment platform, the market is transitioning from a mindset of hiring "enough people" to hiring "the right people." This shift is creating a clear differentiation in capabilities among candidates.

Candidates receive recruitment advice at JobsGO. Photo: JobsGO

Hai noted that with rising operating costs and heavy pressure on profits, businesses are changing their approach to human resources. Instead of mass recruitment for contingency, many organizations are adopting a lean recruitment model. They focus on the immediate practical value each individual can contribute. This trend has led to a decline in positions for inexperienced individuals. Many businesses are quietly reducing internship programs and entry-level roles. Instead, they prioritize assigning short-term project-based work or using technological solutions to replace positions requiring less specialized expertise.

A recent study by Stanford University on the global labor market reveals a 16% decrease in jobs for young workers, aged 22-25, in professions with high AI exposure, such as programming and customer service. This highlights the impact of technological advancements on early-career opportunities.

In Vietnam, data from the JobsGO system shows this intense competition is particularly evident in the Information Technology sector. In 2025, over 51,000 applications were submitted for only about 3,600 job postings in programming and software development roles. An average ratio of 14 candidates competing for one position indicates that the level of competition for young professionals has reached its highest point in many years. Hai described this situation as a dilemma for recent graduates: "They need experience to get a job but need a job to gain experience."

Consultants from JobsGO share experience with candidates. Photo: JobsGO

As recruitment standards become increasingly higher, experts from JobsGO emphasize that experience alone is no longer sufficient. When businesses prioritize individuals who can generate immediate results, candidates must demonstrate their capabilities in groundbreaking ways. CVs that merely list tasks will struggle to stand out. Modern recruiters are more interested in specific evidence of problems a candidate has solved, the impact of those solutions, and the lessons learned. Hai stressed: "Therefore, in addition to optimizing CVs for conciseness and quantifiable evidence, candidates need to proactively build a professional portfolio to visually demonstrate actual products or projects they have undertaken."

The portfolio model, traditionally common in creative industries like design or architecture, is now spreading to other fields such as programming, marketing, and project management. For programmers, this could involve personal projects or publicly shared source code; for business professionals, it might be actual sales growth charts. According to Hai, in positions that highly value practical skills, a compelling portfolio provides a significant advantage, helping applications pass rigorous screening rounds. This also allows candidates to create their own experience when they lack formal work opportunities at large organizations.

Given this selective recruitment landscape, experts advise workers not to approach the market with old mindsets. Reviewing skill sets is a mandatory requirement, with a focus on skills that generate direct and quantifiable value. Experts emphasize that while the market this year offers opportunities, quality opportunities are reserved for those who are truly ready. Businesses are selecting more thoroughly, compelling workers to invest more seriously in both their professional competence and how they present their applications. Understanding job requirements and demonstrating specific personal value is the key to survival and growth.

Furthermore, the technology boom is making the recruitment process faster and more transparent, but simultaneously intensifying job competition. Technology helps recruiters screen candidates more accurately, meaning superficial or underdeveloped applications are eliminated from the first round.

Pham Thanh Hai asserts that the market will never close to those with genuine capabilities and adaptability. He believes the core issue is not the number of job postings, but candidates' readiness to prove their worth. Thorough preparation and a continuous commitment to updating one's skills with current trends will determine a worker's position in this new economic cycle.

(Source: JobsGO)