Entering the Business English major at Ton Duc Thang University, Son Chu’s career trajectory took an unexpected turn upon encountering Simpson Strong-Tie Vietnam during his internship search. As a Talent Acquisition Intern, he navigated recruitment tasks, embracing challenges and growth opportunities. Despite initial struggles, Son found support within his team, embodying SST-VN’s ethos of inclusivity and empowerment. This experience not only refined his professional skills but also deepened his connection to the organization’s core values, amplifying his sense of belonging and purpose.
Embarking on my journey as a Business English major at Ton Duc Thang University, I have had many opportunities to pursue language-related career paths. Yet, life has a way of presenting unexpected opportunities. While browsing for an internship for my graduating subject, I heard for the first time about Simpson Strong-Tie Vietnam.
And to be honest, at that time, it didn’t match my future career aspirations at all. Little did I know, this encounter would spark a newfound passion for talent acquisition, shaping my career aspirations. As an intern in Talent Acquisition at Simpson Strong-Tie Vietnam (often abbreviated as SST-VN internally), most of my tasks and projects are related to recruitment and human resources. From sourcing candidates to conducting interviews and facilitating onboarding procedures, each task presented an opportunity to learn and adapt. Being included in the Annual Report was a significant achievement for me. It felt rewarding to see my contributions recognized within the organization. The biggest challenges while interning at SST-VN are fast-paced adaptation and unfamiliarity in this field. It can be said that my time at SST-VN was the first time I had ever been a part of the international operations of a company and experienced the priorities of a fast-paced business environment, which were completely different from my experiences at university. Working in a company meant I would have more responsibility, multitasking, and interpersonal skills to handle. However, it has turned out to be a hugely valuable opportunity to become more proficient in my work skills.
It took several weeks to grasp the company culture and begin to connect with the people at first. Lately, however, I’ve gained a much clearer understanding of my roles and responsibilities and a stronger sense of connection at SST-VN. One of the best things here is the team, with their belief in “never leaving anyone behind.” I can thoroughly feel this sense of support when I continuously make mistakes during work (disregarding the tasks, being too focused on one specific task, resulting in missed deadlines, etc.). In such moments, instead of facing criticism, I’ve experienced patience, constructive guidance, and trust from my colleagues. Their willingness to offer assistance and encouragement, even in the face of setbacks, has been invaluable in helping me learn and grow professionally. As a result, I feel more empowered to fix my mistakes and move on to more challenges. Moreover, I really feel connected to Simpson Strong-Tie’s core value #5, “Everybody Matters.” As a newly-graduated student, I can’t believe I got to participate in all kinds of events, receive gifts, and take courses even though I was just an intern.
As I reflect on my journey from graduation to internship, I am filled with gratitude for the invaluable experiences and insights gained along the way. This transition has not only broadened my horizons but has also reaffirmed my passion for talent acquisition as a career path. Moving forward, I am excited to continue my professional development, armed with the knowledge and skills acquired during my internship at Simpson Strong-Tie Vietnam.
I would like to take these last few words to express my heartfelt gratitude to Simpson Strong-Tie Vietnam, especially to all my mentors, connections, valuable advice, growth perspectives, and inclusion.
Thank you guys so much. <3
