Navigating Remote Opportunities: Safeguarding Your International Career Journey

There has been an increase in international companies giving South Africans opportunities to work remotely, which has enabled South Africans to work from home, earn a decent income while gaining international work experience.

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Unfortunately, like anything in life, there are always good and bad experiences. As a recruiter, not only have I also had a negative experience with an international employer, I have spoken to countless candidates who have had bad experiences, which in some cases has left them jobless.

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Before your interview, do your due diligence. Make a list of questions to ask the interviewer. Consider scenario-based questions and be confident when you raise these, any company that shows irritation with a candidate doing their diligence when considering an opportunity, should be considered a “red flag”, as the kids say.

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Always remember that an interview is an opportunity for both the candidate and the employer to find out more about the other.

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Consider taking the following into account:

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1.?????? Their Digital Footprint:

·?????? Research is your best friend!

Start with a Google search of the company, including their location.

Visit their website and their LinkedIn profile for an overview of their operations and presence.

Review any other websites that come up, perhaps their business registration in the area, any news articles etc.

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·?????? Employee reviews!

Platforms like GlassDoor and Indeed provide insights from current and former employees. Note any recurring issues and bring these up during your interview to assess the employer’s response.

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·?????? Client/customer reviews:

Every country uses different platforms for their customer/client reviews: Google reviews, Meta, Trustpilot, Yelp are all examples of such platforms.

You will be able to establish whether this company is established, what their clientele is saying about them and if they responding to these reviews – how they engage with them.

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·?????? LinkedIn, a deeper look:

It is worth reviewing their LinkedIn profile, viewing their current staff and taking note of the following:

-??????????? How long have they been employed at the company?

-??????????? Where are they based?

-??????????? How many local employees do they have?

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View their previous employees, note all the same as the above. Most importantly, how long were they employed by the company for?

If they are local, consider reaching out to them, introduce yourself, explain that you are considering working for this company but would like some insight on their experience and ask why they left. South Africans are nice people and we do tend to have each other’s backs. Generally, someone will warn you if there was anything to be concerned about.

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2.?????? Their physical footprint in the country:

-??????????? Do they have offices in South Africa?

-??????????? Do they have plans for offices in South Africa?

While this shouldn’t be a determining factor unless you specifically looking for a hybrid opportunity.

You can be reassured to know that due to their commitment to an office, there is less chance of them spontaneously deciding they will be pulling the plug on their SA team.

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3.?????? Their Financial health:

-??????????? If the company is publicly traded, review their financial statements and quarterly reports.

-??????????? If the company is a start-up, investigate their funding rounds and who their investors are. Established investors can be a good sign of stability.

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4.?????? Their clients & partnerships, if applicable:

A well-known, established client list can indicate stability and trustworthiness. Likewise, partnerships with reputable companies would also be a positive sign.

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5.?????? Job Security:

-??????????? Ask about the company’s future projects and their pipeline to gauge long term job security.

-??????????? High staff turnover rates can be seen as a red flag.

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6.?????? Find out how you will be employed:

Independent contractor vs. permanent employee.

While either method has many pros and cons, it is worth knowing how the company employs their SA employees to ensure that you are prepared in advance before receiving and potentially accepting an offer.

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7.?????? Lastly, trust your instinct:

If you have a gut feeling about the opportunity or the company, trust your gut!

Take a step back to reflect on what is making you feel this way, what is holding you back from taking the opportunity. If it has more to do with your own concerns and less to do with the company, then this is something you will need to address with yourself, ask your support system for their input and what their thoughts are.

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While the prospect of working for an international company from the comfort of your home in South Africa is appealing, it’s essential to approach these opportunities with a discerning eye. While we will never be able to confidently foresee whether an opportunity will turn into a good or bad experience. The above measures should be able to help you make a well-informed decision.