Are you considering building a global workforce but unsure how to go about hiring employees internationally? With the advancement of technology and rise of remote work, many businesses are building global teams to get a competitive edge in their industry and market.
In terms of function, global teams are especially common in marketing, advertising, human resources and customer service departments. Those businesses that dive into global employment enjoy benefits such as diverse perspectives, enhanced creativity and innovation, improved productivity, reduced costs, and increased earnings. Having employees in different time zones can mean extended business hours, and an opportunity to expand into global markets.
If you haven’t yet hired on an international level, it might feel like you’re entering unknown territory. The good news is that Gusto has partnered with Remote, a global human resources platform, to make global hiring a seamless experience for entrepreneurs in the U.S.
Read on for five steps to take as you launch into global hiring.
1. Define the role and who you are looking for in a candidate
Don’t leap into hiring employees internationally with only a general idea of the type of person you hope to find or the position you are looking to fill. Your experience will be easier—not to mention faster, cheaper, and ultimately more successful—if you first clearly define who you want to hire and for what specific role.
Let’s start with a job description. Regardless of whether you’re hiring for an existing role or a creating a new one, there are several items that you’ll want the job description to address:
- Tasks and responsibilities
- Compensation and benefits
- The type and level of experience required
- The number of years of relevant experience needed
- Desired skills and qualifications
And, since we are talking about hiring international talent, these additional questions can be useful in defining your ideal candidate:
- Do they need to be proficient in English and any other language?
- Are you looking for previous experience working in cross-cultural teams?
- Are there certain hours or times of the day when you want them to be available?
- What additional qualifications would be compatible with your company culture?
Your responses to these questions will help develop a job description that attracts your ideal candidate on a global level. You can also check out other successful international job descriptions, in your industry and more broadly.
2. Select appropriate geographical locations for hiring
Just because you can recruit in a particular part of the world, doesn’t mean it’s the best choice for your company. Consider the following factors when determining where to hire employees internationally:
- Local laws regarding employment
- Work permits
- Visa requirements
- Time zone differences
- Cultural nuances
- Cost of living
- Benefits expected in that region
The latter two are especially pertinent for businesses looking to be competitive in a global hiring market. For example, if you are a business located in Texas, the cost of living for your local employees will likely be much lower than that of a remote employee you hire from Hong Kong. Understanding and addressing these differences can go a long way toward a successful international hiring experience.
There may also be benefits such as home office supplies, mental health support, and wellness perks that aren’t required in certain countries but that top talent would expect to find in an employee compensation package.
3. Decide if you will need flexible hiring options
It might be that the role you’re looking to fill can benefit from an alternative hiring arrangement. Consider whether or not it makes sense to hire an independent contractor instead of a full-time employee. A contractor can free up managerial time and other resources. They can also add important skills and talents to your team at a lower cost and with reduced training and onboarding time. And the best news is, Gusto can help you do this.
4. Take advantage of recruitment options focused on hiring employees internationally
If one of your goals for global hiring is to leverage a larger talent pool, you will need recruitment strategies that cast a wider net than those used for domestic hires.
The first step in creating a global recruitment strategy is to identify platforms that specialize in international job searches.
Gusto offers its Applicant Tracking System, which provides recruitment-to-onboarding support to meet the needs of your small business. We work with your favorite job boards like Linkedin and Zip Recruiter to help you manage job posts and candidates all in one place. A job board with a global reach makes a big difference in connecting with workers living abroad.
You can also use recruitment agencies with expertise in international hiring processes. Remote offers its own Recruiter Network to help you build a global team for your small business.
5. Engage in effective video interviews
You may not be in the same room with international candidates, but you can still be face-to-face during interviews. If you worked through the pandemic, you are likely no stranger to video conferencing software. It’s now time to make these programs a critical part of your global hiring strategy.
Using video instead of an audio call or email is beneficial for businesses of any size. Video allows you to assess the candidate’s communication skills, non-verbal cues, and rapport with you and your team members. It also helps shed light on their language proficiency and how well they adapt to cultural barriers.
To best assess important characteristics and other job factors, carefully consider your interview questions. With global interviewees, it’s helpful to ask scenario-based questions about things like cultural differences, time zone differences, and differences in work styles. Their responses will help you gauge how well they problem-solve, adapt to change and work with diverse teams.
Grow your business with Gusto Global
Today’s cutting-edge remote work options mean businesses are not limited to local talent. You can confidently grow your small business on a global scale — with Gusto helping you every step of the way.
Take advantage of our automated and customizable Applicant Tracking System, which we’ve seamlessly integrated with our comprehensive HR system. This sophisticated technology makes it easier to find and hire top talent for your business and provides things like offer letters and onboarding checklists. Once you’ve found the perfect candidate, you can pay global contractors quickly and affordably, directly in Gusto, or hire, pay and manage full time global employees through our EOR Services, powered by Remote.
