3 Things You Need to Know if You’re Going to Recruit International Talent
Finding the right people for your business is never easy, particularly if you’re searching in a relatively limited talent pool. That’s why it can be worth looking overseas for talent. If you’re considering adding some international talent to your team, here are three things you need to know.
1. It Can Boost Your Business
The main reasons business owners start to expand their horizons and search for international talent abroad are expansion and evolution. Bringing over talented workers from overseas can improve a business in various ways. Non-native employees bring with them the experience of working in foreign markets which can provide valuable insights if you’re looking to enter new countries.
International recruits can also provide fresh perspectives based on their experiences in other countries. You may also be able to hire talented people at a fraction of what it would cost to hire an equivalent person based in the UK. Put simply, if you can find the right people, bringing people over from another country can help your business in a variety of ways.
2. Paperwork is Mandatory
If you want to recruit international workers, be prepared to fill out some forms. While it would speed up the process significantly if you could offer someone a job, send them a plane ticket and give them a desk, there are various checks and balances you need to carry out before you can employ people from overseas. Firstly, you need to become an approved business by obtaining a sponsor licence from the Home Office.
Secondly, you can only hire individuals who qualify for UK Work Visas. A common option is the Skilled Worker visa which allows foreign workers to be employed in the UK for up to five years initially, provided they meet the eligibility requirements. As a business owner, you need to know the basics of and, in turn, enlist the help of experts. Immigration lawyers such as Reiss Edwards can assess your business and the legal status of potential candidates. They can also help with the paperwork, so you don’t fall foul of the law.
3. Don’t Allow Cultures to Clash
The final thing to know if you’re going to recruit people from overseas is that working practices are different around the world. Some people don’t follow the same 9 to 5 routine we do in the UK. For example, people in Belgium don’t expect an employer to contact them outside of working hours. In France, the working week is, typically, 35 hours and people expect a minimum of 5 weeks of holiday time a year [2].
Therefore, you need to ensure your business is flexible. Be prepared to change certain working practices so recruits can assimilate easily and efficiently. There needs to be some give and take, of course. However, with a few tweaks, you could make the working environment better for foreign workers which, in turn, makes things better for everyone. Recruiting people from overseas isn’t straightforward, but, when it’s done right, it can take your business to the next level.
