Latest procedures for implementation for official recruitment examination in Vietnam

Latest procedures for implementation for official recruitment examination in Vietnam​ (Image from internet)

On November 06, 2024, the Ministry of Home Affairs of Vietnam issued Decision 785/QD-BNV on the announcement of administrative procedures as prescribed in Decree 116/2024/ND-CP amending and supplementing Decree 138/2020/ND-CP on recruitment, usage and management of officials and Decree 06/2023/ND-CP on assessing the quality of incoming officials.

Latest procedures for implementation for official recruitment examination in Vietnam

Step 1: Applicants submit the Application Form for the exam in accordance with the Recruitment Announcement of the competent recruiting authority.

Step 2: Check the Application Form. No later than 15 days or no later than 30 days in cases where the number of applicants is 500 or more, from the deadline for submitting the Application Form, the Recruitment Council completes the eligibility check of the application to verify the conditions and standards of applicants, and announces on the information portal or website the list of candidates meeting the eligibility and standards to take the exam. If eligible, candidates may proceed to round 2. If not, the Recruitment Council must notify and clarify the reasons.

Step 3: Organize the official recruitment examination:

The official recruitment examination is conducted in 2 rounds as follows:

* Round 1: Computer-based multiple-choice test

- Round 1 scheduling: No later than 30 days or no later than 45 days for cases where the number of applicants is 500 or more, from the deadline for submitting the Application Form.

- Round 1 content includes 2 parts. Specifically:

+ Part I: General knowledge, 60 questions on general knowledge about the political system, organizational structure of the Communist Party, the State, political-social organizations; state administrative management; officials, civil service. Duration: 60 minutes;

+ Part II: Foreign languages, 30 questions based on the foreign language requirements for each job position. Duration: 30 minutes. Positions not requiring foreign language skills are exempt from Part II.

+ The results of round 1 are determined by the number of correct answers for each part; candidates answering correctly 50% or more of questions in each part qualify for round 2. Results are announced to candidates immediately after the test concludes. There is no re-evaluation of results for round 1.

* Round 2: Subject-specific professional test

- Round 2 scheduling: No later than 10 days from the conclusion of round 1.

+ In cases where the professional subject is chosen as a written test

Completion  of  grading  and  publication  of  results  on  the  authority’s  information  portal  no  later  than  15  days  after  the  written  test  ends.  Notification  of  re-evaluation  applications  is  also  made.If  there  are  1000  or  more  candidates  in  round  2,  the  Chairperson  of  the  Recruitment  Council  may  extend  grading  time  but  not  exceed  30  days.  Re-evaluation  application  deadline  is  5  business  days  from  the  result  announcement.If  re-evaluation  is  requested,  it  must  be  completed  no  later  than  10  days  from  the  re-evaluation  application  deadline.If  using  computer-based  written  examinations,  results  are  announced  immediately  post-exam.  No  re-evaluation  is  conducted  for  computer-based  exam  results.

+ In cases combining written and interview tests

Written  examination  procedures  are  as  previously  mentioned.  The  Recruitment  Council  determines  whether  to  conduct  interviews  immediately  post-written  test  or  after  obtaining  written  test  results  (including  re-evaluation,  if  applicable).No  re-evaluation  for  interview  results.In  computer-based  written  testing,  interviews  for  candidates  meeting  passable  written  test  scores  must  be  held  no  later  than  5  business  days  from  test  completion.

- Round 2 content specifics:

+ Test format: Written or combined written and interview.

For written tests: Exam content: Assesses knowledge of Communist Party guidelines, policies, law about the recruitment sector, professional competence, implementation skills of candidates as required for the position.

Duration: 180 minutes (excluding copying times). Depending on the nature of the agency, written tests may be conducted on computers, with 60 to 120 questions (multiple-choice); time linked to total questions, minimum 90 minutes, max 180 minutes. Written test grading scale: 100 points.

For interviews: Evaluates competence: thinking, communication, problem-solving, learning, development, expression, attitude, and other skills as job requires.

Duration: Maximum 30 minutes. Interview grading scale: 100 points

In cases combining written and interview formats, total scores are converted to a 100-point scale, with written contributing 70%, interviews 30% (rounded to two decimal places).

In varied requirements of expertise for different job positions within one recruitment cycle, the Recruitment Council must prepare different subject-specific tests matching job requirements. Any higher requirement by recruiting authority over defined content or duration for subject-specific examinations must be noted in the Recruitment Plan.

Step 4: Approval and announcement of official recruitment results

No later than 5 business days from the completion of round 2 scoring (including re-evaluation, if any), the Recruitment Council summarizes results and reports to the head of the competent recruiting agency. The head approves the results no later than 5 business days upon receipt of the summarized report.

Within 2 business days of approving successful candidates, the Recruitment Council publicly announces on the information portal and sends acknowledgment notification to successful candidates with details on completing recruitment documentation.

Step 5: Completion of recruitment documentation

- No later than 20 days from publicizing the successful candidate list, candidates must complete recruitment documents and submit to the competent authority.

Recruitment documents include:

+ Copies of diplomas, certificates (excluding IT, foreign language certificates) as required by the recruiting authority in the Recruitment Announcement;

+ Copies certifying priority objects, diplomas, certificates for foreign language exam exemption (if applicable);

+ Results of official entrance quality assessment (if applicable).

- Candidates failing to complete recruitment documents or engaging in fraudulent applications may have their recruitment results annulled by the head of the recruiting authority.

Applicants engaging in fraud or using non-conforming documents are publicly notified and barred from applying in the following recruitment cycle.

Step 6: Recruitment decision and job commencement

- No later than 5 business days after the deadline for completing recruitment documents, the head issues recruitment decisions and notifies successful candidates. The recruitment authority must request the legal bio-data from judiciary authorities.

- Successful candidates must report for duty within 30 days of the recruitment decision, unless otherwise specified, or upon agreement for extension by authority.

- Candidates not reporting for duty within stipulated time, or determined ineligible by judicial records, will have their recruitment annulled.

- Upon expiry of reporting time, authority publicly notifies and contacts candidates with next-in-line results for documentation, final recruitment decision no later than 15 days from point b of this step.

In case of ties among adjacent candidate scores, the head of the recruiting authority makes the final decision on successful candidates.

See more details in Decision 785/QD-BNV effective from November 06, 2024.

>> CLICK HERE TO READ THIS ARTICLE IN VIETNAMESE