During the official internship period of the academic year 2024–2025, VNUK students overcame multiple rigorous selection rounds to become interns at prestigious companies and organizations such as Zauberberg Lab, Wyndham Danang Golden Bay, Premier Village Resort Phu Quoc, Four Seasons The Nam Hai, VNUK, and many others.

Let’s listen to the authentic stories from Nguyễn Trần Anh Thư, Trương Ý Nguyên, Nguyễn Khánh Quỳnh, Trần Kim Dung, and Võ Long – five students who went through challenging but invaluable internships.

Nguyễn Trần Anh Thư – Intern at Wyndham Danang Golden Bay

Starting her internship at Wyndham Danang Golden Bay as a FO Intern (Front Office Intern), Anh Thư had thoroughly prepared herself before stepping into the real working environment.

She shared: “First, I prepared my CV for the position I wanted to apply for, then searched for opportunities through the job postings of hotels. I sent my CV via email and waited for a response. Luckily, I got a response the following day, and about 3-4 days later, I was contacted by the HR department for an interview. The interview took place with the department head and HR, and we had an open discussion about mutual expectations throughout the internship. On 09/09/2024, I officially onboarded.”

In addition to technical knowledge, Anh Thư learned professional communication, handling customer complaints, and being more proactive in her work. “VNUK equipped me with a solid foundation in English, teamwork skills, office software, and professionalism in customer service.”

To conclude her memorable journey, Thư shared: “Be confident in showing your personality and opinions. Be proactive in your work and always be ready to help colleagues. Communication is the key to opening many opportunities. And the most important thing is: ‘Don’t just think, do!’”

Trương Ý Nguyên – Internship Journey at Zauberberg Lab: Combining Passion, Capability, and Global Thinking

A loyal user of CollaNote – a globally popular note-taking app – for three years, Ý Nguyên was thrilled to learn that the app was developed by a Vietnamese student in Germany and is now based in Da Nang. This became the motivation for her to apply for an internship at Zauberberg Lab.

Thanks to her marketing internship experience from her freshman year and teamwork skills gained through numerous projects at VNUK, Nguyên confidently entered the recruitment process, which included two rounds: an online interview and an in-person interview. In the final round, she had the opportunity to meet the founder of CollaNote and showcase her adaptability, trend-awareness, English proficiency, and team-working mindset.

Nguyên shared: “The biggest challenge was the fast-paced work environment and high standards in the software industry. To keep up, I had to learn time management, prioritize tasks, and maintain steady performance.”

Simultaneously, she took on tasks such as supporting customers and building the CollaNote brand – work that required analytical thinking and understanding user needs. The professional environment helped Nguyên develop openness, adaptability, and proactive communication skills.

From class to the workplace – a solid foundation from VNUK. “The program at VNUK provided me with a great foundation in data analysis, consumer behavior research, and marketing planning. These skills helped me implement effective campaigns in real life.”

Ý Nguyên also shared this advice with her peers:
“Start building your professional network as early as possible. Take advantage of internship opportunities from your first year to understand what kind of job suits you and don’t forget to hone practical skills like data analysis and report writing. Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”

Nguyễn Khánh Quỳnh – Growing Through Encounters and Real-Life Experiences

The Early Days – When Everything Felt Unclear
“In the first month, I was quite confused. The 8-hour office work environment, how the departments operated, the company culture – everything was new. On top of that, I still had to study and prepare for my defense, so it was impossible to avoid pressure and stress.”

But those challenging early days became the stepping stones for Quỳnh to go further. Through events like weddings, parties, and birthday celebrations organized at the company, Quỳnh gradually became familiar with event planning processes and connected with different departments.

“From restaurant staff to directors and suppliers, everyone was willing to help me. Their enthusiasm made me feel lucky and incredibly grateful. Thanks to them, I learned more about event operations and how to handle real-life situations.” Quỳnh shared that persistence, a growth mindset, and an open attitude helped her overcome the initial difficulties and quickly adapt to the new environment.

Quỳnh added: “Keep sharpening your soft skills, especially communication and software proficiency. Be prepared and don’t shy away from challenges – every experience is a valuable lesson. It’s your choice, so prove it’s the right one!”

Trần Kim Dung – Dare to Dream Big – Dare to Test Yourself

“My application process felt like destiny” – that’s how VNUK student Trần Kim Dung began her internship story at a hotel. Initially, Dung never thought she would enter the service industry, but the opportunity at the Job Fair opened up an unexpected and inspiring journey. After submitting her application, she was contacted for an interview. “Four rounds of interviews – neither too easy nor too difficult” – but with persistence and a willingness to learn, Dung passed all the rounds and officially received the internship offer.

Having worked in both PR and F&B departments while completing a research report for school, Dung shared that there were times she felt overwhelmed. However, instead of giving up, she learned how to adjust: “I created a proper schedule, prioritized based on urgency and deadlines. Time and health management were the most important – I made sure to be strict about my sleep to recharge for each new workday.”

Dung further shared: “If you have a dream, dream big. Start from the lowest point and steadily move toward where you want to go. The journey may have tears and challenges, but don’t let fear decide your fate. Just ‘dare to do!’”

Hoàng Bá Bảo Long – When Luck Is Created by Yourself

After passing three tough selection rounds – CV screening, answering a set of questions + a self-introduction video, and finally a one-on-one interview with the CEO, VNUK student Hoàng Bá Bảo Long officially became an intern at a promising company.

Long shared that the challenge wasn’t the workload but organizing it. He said: “The biggest challenge for me was selecting and prioritizing tasks. In the first month, I often felt overwhelmed as I was doing many things at once without knowing which task should be done first. Fortunately, I had a dedicated mentor who helped me analyze and set priorities. From there, I started working more efficiently and systematically.”

What VNUK taught wasn’t just theory but real-life preparation to help students adapt and showcase their abilities in the workplace. “Thanks to the soft skills I developed at VNUK, such as critical thinking, situation handling, communication, and presentation skills, along with a solid command of English and knowledge in market research and analysis, I didn’t take long to adapt to the real-world working environment.”

Internship experiences not only help VNUKers discover themselves and familiarize themselves with professional environments but also cultivate perseverance, proactivity, and confidence. From the first interviews, the initial struggles, to confidently handling tasks – each student has made remarkable progress.

Although each journey has its own story, what they share is the spirit of daring to think – daring to do – daring to step out of their comfort zone. With a foundation of knowledge and skills prepared from VNUK, they are ready to face new challenges in the future.

And surely, this journey will continue – at higher positions, with bigger challenges, and with a more mature version of themselves.