US Recruitment by non-American Companies: What’s happening during the Coronavirus Crises?

(Spoiler:  More than I thought)

Are non-US companies still recruiting US employees?

My boutique search firm recruits US employees for non-US Companies – and the Coronavirus took us by surprise. Until recently, the US unemployment rate was at an almost all time low of 3.6% and the biggest problem we had was finding candidates willing to talk.

Then Coronavirus hit. US unemployment skyrocketed.  Major industries including hospitality and tourism have completely shut down.  Layoffs are rampant. 

So I presumed that things may be quiet for a while and I started reaching out to some non-US clients to see how their US business was doing. I was pleasantly surprised by some of the replies:

Feedback from some of our clients

It seems that many of our clients are doing far better in the US market than I expected. Here are a few examples of what I heard:

The Good News

- MEDICAL DIAGNOSTICS: The CEO of a medical device company told me they have been working on a remote examination system. Timing is perfect for its introduction. He wants to talk about recruiting a US sales manager and sales team for this new line. 

- NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS: Our client, a manufacturer of nutritional supplements, reported that their US business is exploding. The CEO said their biggest challenge is to meet demand! They plan to expand into a new market soon and want to discuss the recruitment of a senior role.

- TECHNICAL DISPOSABLES:  A long term recruitment client produces technical disposables used in hospitals. The President told me business has been strong for several years – and currently business is up even more. They are planning growth initiatives for mid-year.

- WATER / WASTEWATER TECHNOLOGIES: Our client, a manufacturer of products sold to US water utilities reports consistent sales growth and plans to expand its US sales team.

- NONWOVENS: Our client is a manufacturer of technical materials used to produce wet wipes. Demand is unprecedented due to Covid 19. 

The Bad News

The head of a consumer products manufacturer said US sales are way down. The CEO of a technology company selling a premium consumer electronics device has downsized key members of staff. A SAAS (Software as a Service) company head said use of his software has diminished while people are working at home – he has already seen customers cancel the service. New leads are minimal. A high-tech start up looking to raise money has found that investors are no longer willing to talk.

Opportunities to find great US employees

Despite some of the good news shown above, many US companies have downsized. We are getting calls from sales, business development, marketing and other business leaders seeking new opportunities. Some of these people turned us down in the past as they perceived working with our non-US clients as “too risky” in their view. The tables have now turned and they are chasing me.  

Non-US companies who currently have US employees may want to consider looking for “upgrades” - you might find more qualified employees than you could afford in the past. Other companies – US or non-US based – who are planning new initiatives should consider at least connecting with new candidates whom they may want to hire over the next few months.

Opportunities currently exist to enhance your human capital in the US. Smart managers are taking advantage of this window of opportunity.

Chuck Klein is Managing Partner of Amcon Recruitment, a boutique executive search firm that recruits top American talent for non-US companies. He is also the author of "Marketing to America", Financial Times/ Prentice Hall. Feel free to connect on Linkedin: https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/amcon and www.amconmarketing.com or call me at: 773-741-3269

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