My company disqualifies valedictorians who don't speak English from first round of interviews

A job interview. Illustration photo by Pexels

I have worked in IT in Vietnam for 16 years, and every day I interact with and work alongside foreign clients and colleagues. Therefore, English is a crucial requirement for the job.

In our company’s hiring process, we do not consider the candidate’s alma mater or their level of expertise. Whether they are an expert, a novice, or a valedictorian of their school, if they cannot write and speak English, they are eliminated immediately after the first interview round.

In contrast, some young employees under 30, who have studied IT for four years but cannot code, were hired due to their IELTS scores of 8.0, and they earn a comfortable VND80 million (US$3,216) per month.

I believe that English is not as daunting as it may seem. Proficiency in English is not for standing out or demanding higher offers, it’s simply about not being left behind in the modern world. While this may vary in different fields, in IT, not knowing English means you cannot thrive.

Many people may say: "There are plenty of people who don’t know English but are still rich." However, have you ever wondered if those wealthy individuals want their children to learn English, or if they prefer their children not to learn English so they can be rich like them?

Certainly, many factors contribute to why one person may be wealthier than another. However, I believe that proficiency in English provides a significant advantage and opens up many more opportunities compared to lacking this skill.

I also have a cousin who is not proficient in English and did not complete university, although he later pursued a degree. His lack of higher education was not due to a lack of desire to learn, but rather a lack of means at the time. Despite having overcome these challenges and built substantial wealth, he has never underestimated the value of education. If he lacked something in his own life, he ensured that his children had it.

So, do you think English is important or not?