External locus of control: talent acquisition implications for the hospitality and tourism sector postcovid 19

Abstract

Purpose – This paper is presented through the lens of Social Cognitive Theory (SCCT) (Lent et al., 1994), and seeks to examine the role of parental influence and internship programs on Job Pursuit Intentions (JPI) in the Vietnamese Hospitality and Tourism industry. Methodology/Design/Approach – Data were collected through a survey of fourth-year Hospitality and Tourism students at six universities in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Student responses to a series of prepared questions allowed structural relationships to be developed between key variables, which were illuminated through the deployment of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) using Smart-PLS. Findings – The study found that parental support and internship programs significantly affect JPI. This research also revealed the potential for using SCCT in JPI examinations. Further, it indicated that the relationship between parental support and JPI and the relationship between internship programs and JPI are moderated by External Locus of Control (ELOC). Originality of the research - This research deploys a novel application of SCCT within a collectivist society with Confucian values in the context of JPI amongst Vietnamese hospitality and tourism students. It further gives insight for human resources departments of H&T foreign brands and universities on how to better target student and graduate recruitment.