Figures from the survey suggest that candidates who switched jobs last year could command an average 10-20 per cent salary increment. And this trend is likely to continue in 2014.— Photo tapchidep

HCM CITY (Biz Hub) — Companies in Viet Nam this year will focus on improving skill sets of staff by using internal programmes, a survey from an international recruiting company has found.

According to the Robert Walters' annual Global Salary 2014, companies face recruitment pressure because of a small pool of highly qualified staff.

"As companies continue to compete for top Vietnamese talent, the shortage of candidates and lack of skills in niche areas pose recruitment challenges," Jon Whitehead, country manager of Robert Walters Viet Nam, said at a conference early this week in HCM City.

"Employers are likely to focus on training and development programmes for existing teams in order to nurture talent internally," he said. "Attracting overseas Vietnamese back home is another viable option as such candidates are valued for their international exposure and expanded portfolio.".

The survey points out that 3.5 out of 5 respondents are looking to switch jobs this year, with top reasons being salary increases and lack of career progression in current job.

According to Whitehead, the outlook is fairly positive this year with multinationals converting representative offices into wholly-owned businesses and subsidiaries.

"Companies will have to be more flexible in their hiring requirements and consider candidates with broadly matching skill sets," he said.

Figures from the survey suggest that candidates who switched jobs last year could command an average 10-20 per cent salary increment. And this trend is likely to continue in 2014.

The entrance of new Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) businesses in Viet Nam may also potentially lead to an increased demand for qualified professionals for sales and marketing positions.

Hiring for procurement specialists is likely to increase due to growth within industries such as garment manufacturing, electronics, electronic equipment and FMCG businesses.

In addition, internationally-recognised certifications such as ACCA, CIMA and CPA are gaining value in Viet Nam, and will be an added advantage for accounting and finance candidates looking to move to another job. — VNS