As a 35-year-old IT engineer currently employed by a foreign company with a competitive salary and excellent benefits, I have observed some troubling contradictions in Vietnam’s IT industry.
Firstly, IT professionals over 35 are frequently criticized as being old and lacking creativity. However, this perception is far from reality. Vietnamese companies often use these claims as justifications to let go of seasoned employees with higher salaries in an effort to cut operational costs. Evidently, these same professionals often excel when working in developed countries such as the U.S., South Korea, Japan, and in Europe, meeting or even surpassing high-performance standards.
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A man working on his codes. Illustration from Pexels |
Many actively work to improve themselves and adapt to the fast-paced evolution of technology, challenging stereotypes that label them as lazy, passive, outdated, or slow to pick things up. The primary barrier for Vietnamese IT engineers working abroad tends to be second-language proficiency. In terms of skill and expertise, I firmly believe Vietnamese IT professionals are on par with their international peers.
Secondly, IT professionals in Vietnam often face pressure to transition into management roles once they reach the age of 35, if they wish to stay on the same career path and avoid being laid off. However, being technically skilled does not necessarily translate to being a good manager, creating a paradox where companies lose valuable technical experts while gaining ineffective managers.
As someone who was born in the 1980s, I personally experienced this situation when I turned down a team leader role after a trial period. I found no interest in the responsibilities of managing people, such as balancing different personalities, assigning tasks, tracking progress, and addressing employees’ needs. It left me with little time for my own technical work. Unless someone has a passion or talent for management, they are better off continuing in their specialized field.
Thirdly, the trend of laying off employees over 35 is not limited to the IT industry but extends to most professions in Vietnam. The main reasons can be attributed to a surplus of young labor combined with a shortage of suitable specialized jobs.
However, I believe this situation won’t last much longer, as the population growth rate is beginning to slow down. With fewer young workers entering the labor force, the job market balance will shift, similar to what is happening now in countries like South Korea, Japan, and those in Europe.
What are your thoughts on this matter?
*This opinion was translated into English with the assistance of AI. Readers’ views are personal and do not necessarily match VnExpress’ viewpoints.
