After completing my final internship in my senior year of university, I graduated and began preparing for a brand-new journey. For most fresh graduates, the biggest obstacle in job hunting is the lack of work experience. During my final months at university, I proactively honed my skills by attending soft skills courses, particularly in Human Resources – focusing on Compensation & Benefits – and Excel training, lasting for about three months. Once I graduated, I finalized my application documents and submitted them to STADA Pymepharco. Choosing to start my career in Ho Chi Minh City and at STADA Pymepharco was the first turning point in my life.
I officially began my journey at STADA Pymepharco on October 22, 2022, as an HR Admin. This marked a pivotal transition from theory to practice, where I had the opportunity to engage with real-world challenges in a corporate environment. As someone naturally reserved when it came to public speaking, I once wondered, “Can I overcome this communication barrier?” And the answer turned out to be yes. I gradually expanded my communication abilities and integrated well with colleagues at the company.
In addition to my core responsibilities as an HR Admin, I was also given the chance to help organize various internal company events such as the 2022 Year-End Party, Christmas 2023, and Tet 2024. This was a completely new area for me – from brainstorming concepts to event execution, everything felt unfamiliar and at times overwhelming. However, thanks to my youthful enthusiasm and improved confidence – especially after working on my communication skills – I stepped out of my comfort zone and willingly took on these challenges. Of course, not everything went smoothly at first. Each event came with unexpected issues related to logistics and technical setup. After each one, I took time to reflect on where I had been overly confident and drew lessons for the future. From then on, I made it a priority to meticulously check all aspects of the event – stage, technical setup, logistics – well in advance, which led to much smoother execution.
Then came a major transformation – not just for the company, but for me personally. Transitioning into a multinational working environment was a true milestone, especially for someone fresh out of university like myself. Everything was new and a bit overwhelming: higher expectations, clearer deliverables, and greater efficiency demands. New processes and regulations were introduced – more structured, more detailed, and with clear improvement objectives, requiring strict compliance. At first, I was uncertain, but with a growth mindset and support from colleagues, I gradually adapted. What once felt like intimidating changes became the catalyst for my enhanced productivity, better organization, and more mature professional thinking. I’m not sure when it happened, but I eventually embraced these changes and felt truly grateful for their positive impact.
Over a year passed, and work continued as usual. But deep inside, I began to discover a clear passion: I realized how much I enjoyed working in people-related roles and longed to explore a new specialization. I waited and hoped for a chance to internally transfer – and thankfully, the opportunity came. After five months in a temporary role, I was officially entrusted with the position I had long aspired to: C&P Business Partner Specialist. It was a milestone that marked a significant leap in my career journey.
At the beginning of this new role, I was completely like a blank slate. There were moments when I felt overwhelmed by the tasks given to me, unsure of the correct approach – especially since this role deals directly with people. A flood of HR-related issues would land on my desk daily, requiring immediate attention. My professional knowledge, soft skills, and ability to solve problems were still underdeveloped, and I often struggled to find direction. But one of my strengths was recognizing challenges and identifying what I needed to do to overcome them. During one of my most disoriented moments, I received heartfelt advice from a colleague I truly respect and trust. She had left a strong impression on me from the company’s “Growth Mindset” training, through the metaphor of the “Mirror and the Window”. I looked into the metaphorical mirror and recognized the gaps I needed to work on.
From that point on, I began studying the SuccessFactors system, researching current labor laws, and focusing on improving my soft skills. Bit by bit, I began to grow – surpassing the limits I once thought I had. Looking back now, I have strengthened my ability to problem-solve, and my communication in HR situations has become much more flexible. I’ve also had the chance to get involved in HR projects and work in-depth as a Culture & People Business Partner – a role I earned by overcoming personal limits and embracing growth. Today, I feel more mature and grounded. I have long-term career goals in the labor market and, most importantly, I have gained recognition and respect from my valued colleagues.
Tran Thi Ngoc Anh – C&P Business Partner Specialist
Culture & People Department, STADA Pymepharco
