Multi-level challenges in talent management in a post COVID-19 future: Examining the banking sector in Vietnam

The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant impacts on the Vietnamese banking sector, leading banks to search for talented employees who can support their business and develop this competent workforce. However, there is currently a lack of research examining the effects of multi-level challenges on talent management (TM) and their on-going changes within the post-pandemic context in the Vietnamese banking industry. This research’s objective is to address this gap by exploring the challenges faced by TM practices in the banking industry with the consideration of the COVID-19 pandemic’s influences. The study used a qualitative approach and purposive sampling method with 20 semi-structured interviews conducted with bank managers from various types of banks. Saturation was achieved in 17 interviews. For better robustness, 3 further interviews were conducted, where similarly, no emergent themes were revealed. Thematic analysis was afterwards employed to examine interview data. The findings revealed different multi-level challenges for TM, including talent mobility, digital transformation, competition for talent between banks, changing customer demands, limited resources, and individual talent expectations. This research would contribute to the theoretical development of TM and contextual impacts on TM, and pave the way for comparison with similar industries in terms of TM related issues.