Topic: Work or study
- What is your area of specialization?
→ I major in Data Analytics, one of the megatrends these days amongst university students. I learn how to “read” data to understand current market trends and provide insights to businesses so they can run more efficiently. Sometimes, it is just overwhelming because the market changes all the time! - Why did you choose to study that major?
→ Everyone is talking about the use of data in business so I chose this major thinking I would have great job opportunities in the future. To be honest, my parents tried to talk me out of studying this subject because they didn’t think I was brainy enough. But they are now convinced by my excellent performance at school. - What was your favorite subject as a child?
→ I had a knack for art subjects, and my favorite was Literature. I received many compliments from my middle school teachers and attended several national-level essay writing competitions. I’ve always enjoyed jotting down my thoughts and reading in my free time. - Do you think your country has an effective education system?
→ It’s hard to tell, but I think it is to some extent. What I mean is that Vietnamese students are generally better at Math because we get to learn a lot more advanced concepts than kids in the US or other western countries. But most of us Vietnamese are worse at expressing ideas because we were taught to follow rather than to raise opinions. - What do you do?
→ I’m currently a flight attendant and have worked for Vietnam Airlines for over 2 years. I used to be an English teacher because I majored in pedagogy at university but then opportunity came my way and I decided a career change would probably do more good than harm. - What are your responsibilities?
→ My main responsibility is ensuring the safety, security and comfort of passengers. Normally, I’m in charge of providing excellent customer service, like making passengers feel welcome, and I must always maintain a professional attitude at all times. - Why did you choose to do that type of work (or that job)?
→ I’d never imagined myself becoming a flight attendant, not even in my wildest dreams. At first, I thought it’d be nice trying out something new, stepping out of my comfort zone, but I soon grew to like it and realized this could be my lifelong career. - What do you like and dislike about your job?
→ What I love most is the chance to travel to different places, which is something I didn’t get to do much as a kid. Not to mention, I get paid hourly plus a base salary, so I make quite a generous salary, enough to support my family. However, I’m away from home most of the time, especially on holidays, so I do miss out on a lot of bonding time with my loved ones.
