Hiring international talents could benefit your company. Why?
AIESEC in Denmark
We recruit the right young talent abroad for startups and companies. Creating young leaders in Denmark since 1948.
You may have considered hiring international talents, but I wondered if it was worth it. With the developments in communication technology that has led to a rise in remote work, and now that visa and traveling are no longer challenges because employees can work from anywhere in the world, we see more international employments occur every day.?
There is no denying that the whole process is still quite a task. Regardless, you should definitely do it. The benefits outweigh whatever disadvantages there are. Why should you??
First of all, you get a culturally diverse team. This alone makes it all worth it.?
Cultural diversity has to do with the existence of various cultural or ethnic groups. Recruiting talents from other parts of the world asides from the country you’re situated in gets you a team of individuals representing a range of varied backgrounds that would result in a mix of different viewpoints and perceptions — ultimately, a more culturally informed workforce.?
What this does is that it fosters a space of inclusion. This brings a positive attitude to work where no one would feel like they do not fit in. It breeds a supportive and respectful working environment that creates a safe space for employees. A culturally diverse organization holds more appeal to prospective employees and would be considered trustworthy due to its acceptance of various cultures. A study by Glassdoor showed that nearly one-third of employees and job seekers would not apply for a job when the company lacks diversity in its workforce.?
Having a diverse workforce will do so much for any company, and there are facts to back it up. Research has shown that companies that identify as more diverse and inclusive are 35% more likely to outperform their competitors (McKinsey). They are also 70% more likely to capture new markets (HBR) and 87% better at making decisions (People Management). Essentially, a culturally diverse workforce will bring about higher revenue for the company.
The business case is clear: it is in our interest to fish in the broadest talent pool. It’s a talent issue. We need to get the right people and don’t want to miss out on appealing to a broader community section. (Jo Ward, Head of Talent and Resourcing, Nestlé)
Other benefits of hiring international talent include the following:
Access to Specialized Skills
This is a significant benefit of hiring international talents. Some countries lack certain skill sets or do not have them in good numbers. This may be because they have focused on some other skills or don’t provide enough opportunities for people to learn those skills. Therefore, removing limits and taking recruitment outside the country gives you access to a pool of global talent and skills that may be lacking. Rather than settle for what you have in your location, expand your search — look abroad and get the best talent for your company.?
Even when the skills you are recruiting for are not lacking in your geographical location, it is still advisable to cast your net wide and recruit from a wide range of options. That way, you get the best talent not based on location but from an international selection.?
领英推荐
Creativity and more Varied Perspectives
People from the same cultural background tend to think similarly due to similar experiences. Therefore, employees recruited from the exact location would come from the same viewpoint when thinking up ideas. However, when teams are a mix of cultures from different nationalities, viewing issues from varying perspectives, there would be a wide range of ideas from challenges and experiences the employees have encountered in their various environments. This would bring about more efficiency in decision-making because when problems are brought up — solutions will come from different angles. It also drives creativity and innovation when teams discuss their ideas and combine them, resulting in novel ones.
Improved Productivity
An international workforce is more efficient in meeting customers’? needs. This is because customers are not homogenous, and so is the workforce. They are as diverse as the customers and are more capable of providing appropriate customer service.?
A lot of international employment these days is remote. Therefore, companies implementing asynchronous work to accommodate the time zones of their workers is expected. It benefits everyone. Workers are able to work according to their own time, and it also enables the company to stay productive nearly around the clock, especially if the time difference is a lot. This means that while some employees are off work, others are working. That way, the company has workers to attend to issues that may arise at practically anytime.
Access to International markets
Hiring international talents gives companies a broader reach in the global market. They more easily gain insights that are crucial for expanding their market overseas. With employees in multiple countries, such a company would have an advantage in having access to those markets. They can comfortably get reliable information about the culture and practices of whatever country they want to expand to with employees and can better explore the market correctly.?
When companies do not understand the market they are moving into, they are hardly guaranteed success. Still, with employees that know those countries well, they can gather all the information they need and learn all that the market requires before they actually make a move.?
These are only some of what you can gain when you bring international talents into your workforce. Having read all these, you should no longer think about whether it is worth it but plan how to go about it.?
In AIESEC, we understand what our members need, especially Gen Z and Millennials. Suppose your company or organization is looking for talent-sourcing solutions, especially to seek young international talent for your company or young volunteer for your organization's cause. In that case, AIESEC is here to help you to find the best candidates for your needs.?
Our Global Talent program is designed to connect companies with our young talented people worldwide to fulfill your business needs with international students and recent graduates, while our Global Volunteer is designed to support NGOs delivering impact by bringing youth volunteers to social impact projects in your local that contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals.
Are you interested in talent sourcing with us? Contact [email protected] for more information about it.
This article is written by Philomena Enob Aseme, a Blog Writer for AIESEC in Denmark.