I Hid My Overseas Degree While Working In Vietnam 

At my previous workplace, whenever someone asked where I had graduated from, I deliberately mentioned the Vietnamese university I attended for a year before studying abroad—not the U.K. university where I had invested billions in earning my degree.

An overseas education was once one of the biggest advantages in Vietnam’s job market. It promised access to better opportunities, higher salaries, and stronger career prospects. Yet in recent years, many overseas graduates came back and realised their hard-earned degree is no longer a “golden ticket”. Vietnam’s market has changed, and an overseas degree has become something some graduates even hesitate to talk about.

When reality mismatched with expectation

It is undeniable that my overseas degree made the job application process much smoother. I graduated with a degree in Broadcast Journalism from the U.K., and it helped me secure interviews with nearly every newspaper and television station I applied to in Vietnam. Eventually, I landed a reporting position at one of the country's leading national newspapers.

That was when reality hit.

I realised my skills didn't fully match what the job required. While my colleagues who had graduated from local journalism schools were already familiar with the newsroom, had built professional networks, and understood how reporting worked on the ground, I struggled to apply many of the skills I had learned overseas. Much of my training had been designed for a different media landscape. Even my greatest strength, English, offered little advantage. In Vietnamese newsrooms, strong reporting skills matter more, while English is often valued as a tool for translation rather than for writing or editing.

From being seen as someone with great potential, I gradually became the one perceived as "slow" and faded away in the newsroom. That was when I realised an overseas degree had given me a label and the social expectation, without teaching me how to live up to either. Over time, whenever I met my colleagues, I deliberately left my overseas degree out of the conversation instead of mentioning it with pride.

The mismatch between expectations and reality has left many returning international graduates struggling to navigate Vietnam's job market. Research on International Graduates Returning to Vietnam in 2019 found that many graduates returned with high expectations for their careers, with some hoping to earn between US$800 and US$1,000 a month. Many also sought positions at FDI and MNC companies to pursue better pay and career prospects.

The reality, however, was very different. Among the 202 overseas graduates surveyed, 72% reported monthly salaries of around VND7 million (approximately US$280), while only 48% earned about VND13 million (approximately US$494). Many respondents also expressed dissatisfaction with their salaries, compensation packages, working environments, and the overall level of professionalism in their workplaces.

From businesses’ perspective, companies are more and more prioritising experience over qualification." In the past, an overseas degree could help candidates make it to the final rounds. Today, it just encourages employers to take a closer look at their CVs," said Dr. Tran Thi Yen Anh of Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

Dr Yen Anh also noted that many returning international graduates are reluctant to apply for entry-level positions, as they often perceive such roles as "too basic" and not commensurate with the time, effort, and financial investment they made in studying abroad.

"However, when they apply for more senior positions, their lack of practical experience often becomes a barrier, preventing them from meeting employers' expectations. This reflects a significant gap between holding an international degree and being able to perform effectively in the local workplace. Ultimately, the issue is not where you studied, but the value you can create after returning home," Dr Yen Anh told Sinh vien Viet Nam.

Is overseas education still necessary?

If somebody asked whether I regret studying abroad, my answer would be no.

Studying abroad taught me skills that I still use every day. It taught me how to think critically, do research, learn independently, and, more importantly, how to adapt to unfamiliar situations and solve problems on my own.

Those skills helped me bridge the gap between what I had learned overseas and what my job in Vietnam actually required. Over the next six months, I relearned the reporting skills I needed and gradually adapted to the newsroom. As I settled into the role, I was able to contribute not only my English but also the analytical and research skills I had developed abroad. Over time, my work was recognised by my editors.

In practice, there are several reasons why overseas graduates continue to be valued by recruiters, even if not as highly as they once were. According to Le Dinh Hieu, a doctoral researcher at Johns Hopkins University, Vietnamese graduates returning from overseas still possess significant advantages.

Overseas students are exposed to modern technology, new ways of working, and international standards used by leading companies around the world. When they return home, they bring back new knowledge and fresh perspectives that can help Vietnamese organisations grow and innovate.

However, it required overseas graduates to shift their mindset from assuming they already have an advantage to proving their real value to the job market. Le Dinh Hieu pointed out that many returning graduates often assume their local colleagues to be “wrong and outdated”, not matching the international standards they bring back. In fact, Vietnamese companies understand their own context much better, including the local workforce, business conditions, and customer needs and preferences.

On the other hand, Mr Hieu emphasised that Vietnamese companies should also respect the differences of overseas graduates. While they are often given high expectations at work, they still need time to adapt and learn.

At the same time, companies also need time to learn the knowledge and experience these graduates bring back. This ongoing two-way learning process helps businesses benefit from their international exposure, while also helping returning graduates integrate more smoothly into the local work environment.

In the end, an overseas degree is not worthless, and studying abroad remains a valuable journey even for those who choose to return and contribute to Vietnam. With a proactive mindset and a strong willingness to adapt to the local environment, overseas graduates do not need to hide their degrees but to use them meaningfully to contribute to Vietnam’s development.