Factors affecting the working competencies of fresh graduates for enterprices during the Covid - 19 pandemic, 2022

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MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING THE STATE BANK OF VIET NAM

HO CHI MINH UNIVERSITY OF BANKING

NGUYEN PHAM THAI CUONG

FACTORS AFFECTING THE WORKING

COMPETENCIES OF FRESH GRADUATES

FOR ENTERPRISES DURING THE COVID-19

PANDEMIC

GRADUATE THESIS

MAJOR: BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

CODE: 7340101

HO CHI MINH CITY, 2022

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MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING THE STATE BANK OF VIET NAM

HO CHI MINH UNIVERSITY OF BANKING

NGUYEN PHAM THAI CUONG

FACTORS AFFECTING THE WORKING

COMPETENCIES OF FRESH GRADUATES

FOR ENTERPRISES DURING THE COVID-19

PANDEMIC

GRADUATE THESIS

MAJOR: BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

CODE: 7340101

SUPERVISOR

Dr. PHAM HUONG DIEN

HO CHI MINH CITY, 2022

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ABSTRACT

Employability if the anxiety for almost all the graduates regardless of their majors. The

ability to find a job that fits their study discipline is highly concerned. Examining the

current recruiting practices of organizations, the majority of them will demand

individuals with excellent credentials and extensive work experience to readily adjust

to the environment's constant change. The sample size was 247 majoring in economics

and the data was obtained using an online questionnaire using Google Forms. For data

analysis, the quota sampling approach and structural equation modeling with SPSS

were employed. This dilemma has presented students with a significant challenge that

must be resolved as soon as they enter school; they must refine their talents and pack

their bags before leaving. learn. Improving the efficacy of education while still a

student is a crucial step in establishing a favorable impression in the eyes of potential

employers. To develop lessons for other students to follow involves a great degree of

modification, particularly in the setting of Covid-19.

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DECLARATION

I hereby certify that this is my research work and that the results given in the thesis are

honest and objective. The information sources cited in this thesis are explicitly

identified. I am accountable for my dissertation

Author Signature

Nguyen Pham Thai Cuong

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to take this opportunity to send sincerely thank for my advisors who have

helped me to complete this thesis. I would like to give my endless my heartfelt

gratitude to my supervisor, Ph.D Pham Huong Dien, with complaisance and

enthusiasm in her teaching profession, she imparts positive energy that nothing is

difficult, you just haven‟t made the effort to fully explore limits yourself. Her winged

comments and suggestions made me feel that I still need to improve my knowledges as

well as general views on my thesis.

Secondly, I would like to give express my deep gratitude to my brothers, sisters and

friends who were willing to spend their precious time to advise and complete the

survey so that I come to the final conclusion of thesis.

Last but not least, my family where ready to support me no matter what, they still

belive I can do it. Because that is what motivates me to strive, I always tell myself that

I must always work hard to not disappoint their expectations.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................... 1

1.1. Research Statement................................................................................................ 1

1.2. Research Objectives .............................................................................................. 2

1.3. Research Questions................................................................................................ 3

1.4. Research Subjects and Scope ................................................................................ 3

1.5. Research Methodology.......................................................................................... 4

1.6. Research significance ............................................................................................ 4

1.7. Expected Contribution........................................................................................... 5

1.8. Thesis structure...................................................................................................... 5

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................ 8

2.1. Concept and Definitions........................................................................................ 8

2.1.1. Working Competence ..................................................................................... 8

2.1.2. Fresh graduates............................................................................................. 10

2.1.3. Covid-19 pandemic....................................................................................... 12

2.1.4. Social cognitive theory ................................................................................. 14

2.1.5. The theory of planned behavior.................................................................... 16

2.2. Previous Empirical Studies.................................................................................. 18

2.2.1. The research of impact COVID-19 on graduates experiences and

expectations................................................................................................................ 18

2.2.2. The research of competencies for fresh graduates‟ success at work ............ 20

2.2.3. The research of enhancing graduates‟ employability skills through

authentic learning approaches.................................................................................... 21

2.2.4. The research of role of work experience on the future competencies of

graduates..................................................................................................................... 23

2.3. Research Hypotheses and Model......................................................................... 24

2.3.1. Research Hypotheses.................................................................................... 24

2.3.2. Research Models........................................................................................... 34

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY .................................................................................... 37

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3.1. Process of research ................................................................................................. 37

3.2. Research methods................................................................................................... 38

3.2.1 Qualitative approach.......................................................................................... 38

3.2.2. Quantitative approach....................................................................................... 38

3.3. Survey design.......................................................................................................... 39

3.4. Data collection ........................................................................................................ 41

3.5. Data Analysis ............................................................................................................. 42

3.5.1. Descriptive Statistics........................................................................................ 42

3.5.2. Scale test........................................................................................................... 42

3.5.3 Regression analysis ...................................................................................... 44

CHAPTER 4: RESEARCH RESULTS ............................................................................ 46

4.1. Descriptive statistic................................................................................................. 46

4.2. Testing the reliability of cronbach‟s alpha ............................................................. 48

4.3 Exploratory Factor Analysis.................................................................................... 51

4.3.1.Explored Factor Analysis for Independent Variables....................................... 51

4.3.2 Factor analysis for the dependent variable........................................................ 54

4.4 Correlation Analysis................................................................................................ 56

4.5. Regression Analysis................................................................................................ 57

4.5.1. Analysis the fit of model .................................................................................. 57

4.6. Testing differences based on Controlled Variables................................................ 60

4.6.1. One-Way ANOVA test of gender........................................................................... 60

4.6.2. One-Way ANOVA test of experiences............................................................ 61

4.6.3. One-Way ANOVA test of Qualification.......................................................... 62

4.6.4. One-Way ANOVA test of income ................................................................... 62

4.7. Result discussion .................................................................................................... 62

CHAPTER 5: IMPLICATIONS ...................................................................................... 65

5.1 Conclusion ............................................................................................................... 65

5.2. Implications ............................................................................................................ 66

5.2.1. Academic Implications........................................................................................ 66

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5.2.2. Practical Implications .......................................................................................... 67

5.3. Limitations and future research .............................................................................. 69

REFERENCES.................................................................................................................. 71

APPENDIX 1: QUESTIONNAIRE SURVEY................................................................. 76

APPENDIX 2: CRONCHBACH‟S ALPHA .................................................................... 82

APPENDIX 3: EFA Analysis Results .............................................................................. 89

APPENDIX 4: Pearson Correlation Table........................................................................ 92

APPENDIX 5: Examining the distinction between qualitative and independent

variables ............................................................................................................................ 94

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LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1: Theory of Social Cognitive ............................................................................... 15

Figure 2: The theory of planned behavior......................................................................... 18

Figure 3: Research Models................................................................................................ 33

LIST OF TABLES

Table 2. 1: Summarize the hypotheses and expectations expressed by the author........... 35

Table 3. 1: Coding the variables of the scale .................................................................... 39

Table 4. 1: Descriptive statistic about gender................................................................... 46

Table 4. 2: Descriptive statistic about experiences........................................................... 46

Table 4. 3: Descriptive statistic about Qualification......................................................... 47

Table 4. 4: Descriptive statistic about income .................................................................. 48

Table 4. 5: Summary Reliability Statistics of Cronbach‟s Alpha ..................................... 48

Table 4. 6: KMO and Bartlett‟s test of independent variables ......................................... 51

Table 4. 7: Eigenvalues and covariance deviations for independent variables................. 52

Table 4. 8: Rotated Component Matrix of Independent Variables................................... 52

Table 4. 9: KMO and Bartlett‟s test of dependent variable .............................................. 54

Table 4. 10: Factor loading for the dependent variable .................................................... 55

Table 4. 11: Total Variance of dependent variable........................................................... 55

Table 4. 12: Correlations Coefficient Pearson Correlations............................................. 56

Table 4. 13: Model Summaryb.......................................................................................... 57

Table 4. 14: ANOVA analysis.......................................................................................... 57

Table 4. 15: Coefficients Analysis for Independent Variables......................................... 58

Table 4. 16: One-way analysis of variance by gender...................................................... 60

Table 4. 17: T-test for Gender........................................................................................... 60

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SYMBOLS AND ABBREVIATIONS TABLE

Number Symbols Detail name

1 ANOVA Analysis of Variance

2 A Academic Outcomes

3 B Soft Skills

4 C Adaptability Skills

5 D English Proficiency

6 E Receptive Capacity

7 F Digital Skills

8 G Working Competencies

9 VIF Variance inflation factor

10 SIG. Significance level

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CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

1.1. Research Statement

The number of workers negatively affected by the Covid-19 pandemic has decreased,

and the number of persons entering the workforce continues to climb even while the

number of Covid-19 infections in the country approaches tens of thousands of cases per

day. Employment has expanded sharply about underemployment declined. The income

of workers has gradually improved. Despite numerous advancements, the Vietnamese

labor market still contains several unsustainable issues. The epidemic has profoundly

damaged the work of individuals, thus enterprises must immediately adopt into the

internet working environment. When it comes to earning a university degree, the

subject of employment for recent graduates is a source of stress for the majority of

students. When it comes to the actual recruiting of firms, the vast majority of them will

require people with high qualifications and extensive work experience who will be able

to quickly adapt to the constantly changing environment. This problem has provided a

significant challenge for students, one that must be addressed from the beginning of

their school careers. Students must have the necessary skills, expertise to prepare their

luggage before they leave the university to prepare for entering of company. Improving

the quality and efficacy of education while still a student is an extremely significant

step in establishing a positive impression in the eyes of prospective employers. This

chapter offers the rationale for selecting this issue, provides a summary of the study

objectives, research questions, methodology, and research scope, and concludes with

recommendations. The implications of the research for academics and practice is also

discussed in this section of the report. Finally, sketch out the general framework of the

study topic's presentation.