Attracting Talent in a Flat World: Ngo The Cong Speaks at HRA

On May 31, 2025, Ngo The Cong (Kelvin Ngo) joined as a guest speaker at a seminar hosted by the Human Resources Association (HRA), presenting on “Strategies for Finding and Attracting Talent in a Flat World.” In a post-event thank-you letter, HRA introduced him as a senior talent acquisition expert at Vingroup.

His talk was part of the seminar “Adapt & Be Agile – Reshaping Recruitment Strategy Through Technology Adoption and Enhanced Candidate Experience.” According to HRA, the program attracted nearly 120 attendees, including senior HR professionals, managers, and business leaders.

When the talent market extends beyond borders

The “flat world” theme places talent acquisition in a broader context: companies are no longer recruiting solely within a familiar market—they also need to understand shifts in labor mobility, technology, and evolving career expectations.

The presentation referenced the global labor-market landscape, the impact of globalization and AI, and trends affecting recruitment such as remote work and waves of layoffs. This context led back to a practical question: as the market changes, how should the way companies approach and persuade talent change as well?

From a business perspective, this suggests that a strong job description is not enough. Employers need to understand what candidates are weighing, which opportunities truly fit them, and why they should choose one company over many possible paths.

Business and marketing thinking in talent attraction

One point HRA highlighted in its thank-you letter was the segment on the recruiter’s mindset in the new era, emphasizing the application of business and marketing thinking to talent attraction.

From a practical standpoint, this mindset points to three things companies should do:

• Clarify the value of the career opportunity: candidates need to understand the role, scope of contribution, and growth prospects—not just a list of requirements.
• Understand the people you want to attract: motivations for changing jobs, expectations, and concerns should be heard before making an offer.
• Ensure consistency across the candidate experience: first outreach, information sharing, and feedback throughout the hiring process all contribute to building trust.

These are practical takeaways developed from the talk’s theme, not verbatim quotes from the presentation.

Three real-world scenarios and a professional discussion

According to HRA’s thank-you letter, Ngo The Cong shared three real-world scenarios from recruitment projects he was involved in. HRA noted that these cases delivered valuable lessons and became a highlight of the seminar.

The letter also praised his storytelling approach and his ability to synthesize key terms, helping participants absorb the content in a complete yet concise way. Beyond the presentation, HRA noted that his contributions in the expert panel discussion added perspectives on talent-attraction strategy and execution.

These observations underscore the value of connecting hands-on experience with discussion within the HR community: moving beyond a high-level topic to provide material that helps practitioners reassess their own approach.

Talent attraction starts with understanding

Drawing from the talk’s theme, one direction worth considering for companies is combining technology with human understanding. Technology can support sourcing, information processing, and broader reach; the fit between candidate and organization still needs to be clarified through high-quality conversations.

In a more connected market, attracting talent is therefore not only about finding a matching résumé. It is also the ability to present a meaningful opportunity, listen to what candidates care about, and deliver a hiring process that feels credible.

Recognition from HRA

In a thank-you letter signed on behalf of the Association by Nguyen Thi Bich Lien, HRA President, HRA acknowledged Ngo The Cong’s participation as a guest speaker and his contributions to the seminar’s success. The Association also expressed its hope to continue receiving his support in future programs.

The May 31, 2025 session offered an opportunity to bring real-world talent-attraction experience into dialogue with the HR community around an increasingly important issue: how companies can reach the right people, communicate the right value, and build trust in a labor market that continues to change.

---

Event information and acknowledgments source: HRA’s thank-you letter sent to Ngo The Cong after the May 31, 2025 seminar; backdrop content and event photos provided by the author. The practical perspectives in this article are an edited compilation, not a transcript of the talk.