Obtaining business universities Wealth Master’s degree in business management, Thithuifiona Nguyen (Phoung Nguyen) decided to stay in Latvia. Currently, she works in a reinsurance brokerage company and dreams of her own company, which would introduce Vietnamese people to education in Latvia. What were the reasons for moving to Latvia, how easy is it for a foreigner to find a job in Latvia and what is her five-year vision? A Turiba graduate from Vietnam answers these and other questions.
What do you do after graduation? What is your daily work like?
I work in the reinsurance brokerage company Lloyd`s. My main duties are preparing contracts, discussing current issues with Vietnamese clients, issuing invoices. I really like the current work environment, my colleagues who are very kind, nice and helpful.
What excites you in the field of reinsurance?
My work environment is very healthy. I have a wonderful CEO and manager who teach me something new every day. I have seen how the reinsurance market changes due to losses, inflation, politics, government regulations. This work is also related to Vietnam – my homeland. I can talk and discuss with Vietnamese customers every day to get more business. In addition, I am very happy to be able to travel several times a year to visit clients in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Singapore.
What were the reasons why you chose to study In wealth?
In the future, I see myself as an entrepreneur. Business high-school Wealth is one of those universities that successfully develops business management. In addition Wealth is focused on practical learning. During the two years of study, I had the opportunity to practice in companies for two semesters, which gave me a lot of practical experience.
How difficult or easy was it to start life in Latvia?
Although I had no experience living abroad, it was very easy to start living in Latvia. The employees of Turibas supported me in various ways – provided all the necessary information, offered free airport pick-up, a handbook intended for foreign students, dormitories, helped me get a Latvian phone number, arrange a temporary residence permit, and open a Latvian account.
What was the biggest culture shock when you started studying in Latvia?
The biggest culture shock for me was that it is necessary to make an appointment to receive service at the bank, hospital, immigration department, even a beauty salon. In my homeland, it is completely different. There is no need to register to receive this type of service, I can come to the branch and receive the service immediately.
How did your studies affect your career?
Studies In wealth have given me confidence in my professional career. I have acquired soft skills (presentations, communication, teamwork), English language skills and professional knowledge, which are very useful for career growth. Thanks to these skills, I can develop better in my career, especially in the field of insurance and reinsurance.
If you had to remember one thing from the entire study process and time in Turi, what is the most vivid in your mind?
The wonderful classmates and teachers remain the most memorable of all the study time I spent in Turība. I started my studies during the Covid-19 pandemic. We didn’t have the opportunity to study in person and I studied online from Vietnam for the first semester. They are different time zones, but somehow I managed to organize it all. My classmates and lecturers and I tried to get used to technology, studying online, sometimes some technical problems arose, but they were solved professionally. Together we survived the pandemic and had some great study moments.
Where do you find inspiration?
I have three-year and five-year plans. When I focus on achieving them, motivation and inspiration also arise. After completing my bachelor’s studies, I worked for three years in my homeland. However, not seeing growth there, I looked for an opportunity to improve abroad. Currently, I am most inspired by completing my master’s degree in Turkey, because by obtaining an international master’s degree and working in an international environment, I officially became an “international” person. My current plan is to create a small company that would introduce and promote Latvian education to Vietnamese people, so that, in cooperation with universities, I would be able to advise and motivate Vietnamese students to choose to study here. I would love to share my study stories with people, especially Vietnamese people.
Do you see yourself in Latvia even after five years?
Yes, I see myself in Latvia even after five years. I would like to gain more international work experience in insurance and reinsurance. I would also like to get a B1 Latvian language level, which has really inspired me to communicate with local people and try to better understand Latvian culture, so that I can more successfully promote Latvian education to Vietnamese people and see how the number of students in Latvia is growing.
What is your favorite place in the world?
This is going to be a very strange answer from me, but my favorite thing to do is to travel and visit, not to stay for long periods of time. If I had to name a place close to me, I would say Maya Bay, Koh Phi Phi, Thailand. I am a big fan of beaches and sea places. I like to swim, sunbathe and enjoy seafood. In my opinion, Maya Bay is a stunningly beautiful destination. It is a sheltered bay with rings of white sand surrounded by mangroves and high limestone walls covered in thick foliage. It features colorful corals as well as exotic fish in clear water. This place is a holiday paradise.
Was it easy for a foreigner to find a job in Latvia?
It depends on skills and knowledge, on what a person can offer employers. Of course, it also depends on the demand of employees in different industries. I have realized that the IT, finance, food manufacturing, banking, logistics, digital marketing and medical industries have higher hiring requirements. I would say that Latvia is quite open to new workers and it is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Therefore, there are more job opportunities for foreigners. It is our duty to study hard, work hard, gain more experience in order to be convincing in job interviews.
What have you adopted from Latvian culture in your everyday life?
I work in an international environment, but my main office is in Latvia. It is interesting that Latvians speak both Russian and Latvian fluently. Sometimes we cook together, I really like some Latvian desserts – sweet curd pie, bubert, honey cake, nuts, “Cielaviņa” cake. In addition, I am used to having to apply in Latvia to receive services. Finally, I have realized that the local people are very reliable and trusting.
2024-04-06 21:02:25
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