How could International Recruitment Benefit your Business?

The world has become a much smaller place. We regularly engage with family, friends and colleagues across the globe, in real time, using technology that works nearly as well as being in the same room. Yet often, businesses tend to have a very regional focus to their workforce and hiring strategy.

Research from EY indicates that by 2020 there will be a decline in surplus talent, save for a select few emerging economies, and highlights the need for businesses to ‘think and act globally, looking beyond their traditional boundaries for top talent’.  Broadening the mind to the skills and experience available across different markets can add considerable value. Given the current skills shortage within the UK, focusing a talent search overseas can give access to a much wider talent pool, with a better range of skills, making it more likely that you are able to hire the right person for the role, and your business.

For companies looking to expand into new territories, recruiting workers from the region can be a huge asset to their skilled workforce.  The benefits range from the obvious e.g. location and language, to the more specific e.g. understanding customer service expectations, or the ins and outs of business etiquette.  An individual or team based on location are more aware appropriate business trends, and tones for messaging. They are more likely to understand preferences of the locals.  Ultimately, their skills, background and familiarity with the region become your key assets.

As well as helping to establish new markets, hiring internationally can also take you one step closer to creating a global workforce.  Even if you don’t intend to establish a chain of global offices, by recruiting from different countries, you are creating a diverse group of people to work with.  Diversity can be a catalyst for productivity and creativity, which is good for any business.

Increasingly Livingston James has been engaged on a large number of international searches. We have placed individuals in executive positions in the USA, India, Asia, Germany, Belgium and Turkey, and are currently engaged on assignments across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

For those clients interested as to how we run these global searches from our headquarters in Scotland, you can read more in our blog entitled The Ins and Outs of International Recruitment.

For a discussion on international recruitment options, contact [email protected]