At one of Vietnam’s largest technology companies, knowing how to use a chatbot is no substitute for demonstrating practical AI skills. FPT Corporation has added an AI skills assessment to its entry-level recruitment requirements, putting applicants’ ability to use the technology at work under greater scrutiny.
The change, announced Oct. 14 and introduced in 2026, reflects FPT’s emphasis on practical AI application over basic familiarity with the tools. However, the company has not disclosed the test’s format or scoring criteria, leaving candidates with limited guidance on how to prepare.
FPT shifts hiring toward practical AI skills
FPT Chief Human Resources Officer Chu Quang Huy said entry-level recruitment focused on English proficiency, logical reasoning, and general aptitude assessments 10 to 15 years earlier. The new requirement adds practical AI application skills, although the company has not detailed how it fits into its current screening process.
At FPT Leader Talk 2026, Huy explained that using chatbots for research, writing, or presentations does not necessarily demonstrate workplace competence. According to FPT’s Oct. 14 announcement, the company wants employees who can integrate AI into workflows, improve productivity, and deliver measurable results.
FPT AI Transformation Director Nguyen Xuan Phong identified three capabilities for future workers: domain expertise, AI fluency, and human judgment. These involve understanding business problems, evaluating AI-generated results, and taking responsibility for decisions.
Other employers are examining workforce capabilities at a more detailed level. Workday recently introduced task-level workforce analysis to help organizations identify responsibilities AI could automate and skills employees need to develop.
FPT has not confirmed that Phong’s three competencies form separate sections of its assessment. It also has not published the test’s duration, permitted AI tools, or grading rules, or specified whether requirements differ across business units.
Vietnam’s employers face a growing AI skills gap
FPT announced the requirement at an event jointly organized with Foreign Trade University, connecting recruitment expectations with how Vietnamese universities prepare graduates.
The institutions established a partnership in 2023 and expanded their collaboration in August 2026 to include AI research and talent development. Foreign Trade University Vice President Nguyen Minh Hang also emphasized integrating AI into subjects such as economics, finance, business, and law.
Vietnam’s growing AI adoption is adding pressure to develop workplace skills. AWS-commissioned research found that 26% of Vietnamese businesses had adopted AI, although most adopters were still experimenting with the technology.
A September 2026 ManpowerGroup survey of 285 Vietnamese employers found that 57% reported increasing entry-level recruitment compared with 2025. Among information-sector employers, that proportion reached 77%, despite persistent skills shortages.
Similar workforce changes are emerging elsewhere in Asia. In India, AI hiring grew 16% year over year in June 2026 even as overall IT recruitment declined.
FPT’s move brings practical AI proficiency into entry-level recruitment at one of Vietnam’s major technology companies. The company has yet to disclose how candidates will be assessed, leaving open whether its new requirement can reliably identify applicants ready to use AI on the job.
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