Benefits of hiring international employees

Access to a larger talent pool

Finding talent that can immediately fill the role your company needs may be challenging, especially in the tech field. Remote work has opened the hiring doors for all companies, and competition is at an all-time high.

By expanding your search to include international job seekers, you're increasing your chances of finding the right candidate who can make an immediate impact on your business. Countries are producing top talent that you won't be able to find at home. Opening up your business to international employees will help you fill the gaps in your business structure.

Global diversity leads to greater innovation

People who have grown up with different cultures and experiences can bring a new perspective to your company. This is especially true for businesses that are looking to be innovative and create new products or services.

By hiring international employees, you're increasing the diversity of your workplace, which can lead to greater creativity and innovation. New studies show promise that diversity can unlock innovation for market growth.

Flexible workforce

Your company and local workers are on the same schedule every day of every week of every year. Although you have optimized your operation for full productivity, hiring international employees allows you to have a workforce that is working when you're not.

This can be beneficial for companies that want to provide 24/hour customer support or need to complete tasks outside of normal business hours. By hiring international employees, you can offer your customers the service they need without overworking your local staff.

Find highly specialized workers

The United States has an abundant amount of talent, but they aren't always specialized in the areas your company might need. For example, the STEM field in America is in a major shortage compared to much of the rest of the world.

If your company isn't finding the right talent for a highly specialized role, you may need to look internationally. By expanding your search, you're increasing the chances of finding a candidate who has the specific skills and experience to help your company distinguish itself from the rest.

International recruitment strategies

Now that you're aware of the benefits companies receive from looking at international employees, it's time to start your global search. Here are some international recruitment process strategies that will help you find the best talent from around the world.

Research each market

Every country in the world is going to have unique differences and nuances. Doing general research on the international recruitment process isn't going to be enough to prepare your company for what's ahead.

To give yourself the best opportunity for success, you'll need to take the time to research each market. This means looking at the culture, business practices, and expectations of each country.

By taking the time to research each market, you'll be able to create a recruitment strategy that is tailored to that specific area. This will help you avoid any missteps or misunderstandings and help international employees feel comfortable transitioning into their new roles.

Accept cultural differences

Making a small comment or gesture in an interview or job application may not seem like a big deal to you, but it could immediately offend your potential employee.

When you're recruiting internationally, it's important to be aware of the cultural differences between each country. What may be considered polite in one culture could be seen as offensive in another.

To avoid any misunderstandings, take the time to learn about the customs and etiquette of each country you are looking at. This will help you create a respectful and positive relationship with your potential employees.

Stay compliant with local regulations

Just as every country has its customs and cultural differences, laws, and regulations are just as unique.

Not complying with local laws and regulations puts your company at risk of heavy fines from both your home country and the country you are recruiting from. This includes things like work visas, taxes, and employee benefits.

Working with a service like a global employment platform will help you stay up-to-date on all compliance laws without your company spending its own time and resources doing so.

Streamline the onboarding process

The process of hiring international employees can be long and arduous if you don't have a streamlined onboarding process in place.

Creating a seamless experience for onboarding not only makes it easier for your employee, but it takes the burden off your staff to manage the entire process. This includes things like preparing all the necessary paperwork, setting up their workstation, and having a point person they can go to with any questions or concerns.

Processes involved in international recruitment

If you've followed the strategies above, you should be fully prepared for compliance in another country and have an understanding of the candidate you are looking for. Now, it's time to learn the international recruitment process of hiring an employee so your company can get started.

Establish work arrangements

Remote work can blur the lines of what companies have traditionally relied on for work arrangements. That's why your company needs to set new definitions of what the work environment looks like for your international employees.

Specifying the number of hours they will be working, vacation days and any other benefits or perks your company offers will help make the transition process easier for everyone.

Gather all documents

International countries have requirements that will need to be met if your business wants to avoid fines and penalties. It's best to start collecting the necessary documents as soon as possible so you're not scrambling at the last minute.

This includes things like work visas, passports, and birth certificates. If your company is unsure of what exactly needs to be collected, working with a global employment platform can help take the guesswork out of it.

Put out a job description

You'll want to develop a job description that doesn't just explain what your company needs but also follows the new country's regulations. Look for specifics on anti-discriminatory hiring practices, educational requirements, and any other legalities that may be required of the role you are hiring for.

By combing your company's needs with the local compliance laws, you'll be able to develop a well-rounded job description that attracts the best talent.

Screen candidates

Screening candidates can be complicated for international employees. You'll want to use channels your company is familiar with but also inclusive for everyone. The screening process must also follow all anti-discriminatory laws and practices in the country you're hiring from.

This includes using social media, job boards, and even personal connections. By diversifying your screening process, you'll be able to find the best talent for your company no matter where they are in the world.

Conduct an interview

Conducting interviews with international candidates can be done in a few different ways. Video calls and phone interviews work well, but scheduling can complicate matters. Varying time zones and customs may prevent you from being able to speak with certain candidates.

That's why it's important to be flexible in your scheduling and use tools that allow your candidates to choose times that work for them.

Create an employee contract

To officially bring on your new employee, you'll need to create an employment contract. This should include all the details of their job and compensation, including any non-monetary benefits your company is offering. It's important that both parties sign and date the contract so there are no misunderstandings down the road.

What you need to know before choosing a global employment platform

By offering solutions that are cost and time-effective, global employment platforms like Skuad free up all the time and energy your company would otherwise spend on hiring and recruitment.

With Skuad, your company can employ contractors and full-time employees in over 160 countries without going through the complexities of setting up a required legal entity or a subsidiary. By using global employment and payroll platform like Skuad, you can onboard international employees in minutes, run global payroll securely and accurately, comply with local employment laws and tax regulations, administer benefits, and more.

Skuad handles your entire employment lifecycle so your organization can scale business operations with an efficient HR administration, less cost, and reduced effort. To know more about Skuad, book a demo today.