Hiring International Employees: 4 Tips

As an employer, you know the hiring process can be stressful. Finding the right person for a job requires time, energy, and plenty of logistics (and maybe a crystal ball, if you know where to find one).

When you want to hire international employees, the process gets even more complicated. However, don’t let the idea of going global intimidate you—it will all be worth it when you bring the perfect team member on board. Plus, we have a few tips to make the experience easier for everyone.

#1 Let Technology Go the Distance (So You Don’t Have To)

If there’s ever a time to be grateful for technology, it’s when you need to hire someone who lives halfway around the world. There have never been more options for conducting interviews virtually, and you can save your company a ton of money by cutting out unnecessary trans-Atlantic flights and hotel stays. 

Before you you start scheduling, check out these tips to help make your virtual interviews go smoothly:

• Consider time differences
• Make sure you have a reliable Internet connection
• Have questions prepared ahead of time
• Practice logging on beforehand 
• Have a backup plan for if you get disconnected

Some of these may seem deceptively simple for a technology whiz, but if you’re accustomed to old-fashioned, face-to-face meetings, there may be a bit of a learning curve.

#2 Determine Your Timeline 

As much as we’d love to tell you that you can snap your fingers and have the perfect candidate in the office by Monday, the reality is that the international hiring process can be a lengthy one. Determining your ideal start date and working backward is an effective way to map out a timeline that works for everyone.

Just make sure you factor in how long some of the paperwork and application processes can take—which brings us to our next tip (a flawless segue, thank you very much)… 

#3 Hire an Expert—Seriously, Do It

We can’t stress this tip enough: get a professional to handle the legal logistics of hiring an international candidate! 

The visa process is complex and can lead to serious legal consequences if it’s not handled correctly. Hiring a professional is an investment, but we promise it’s better than trying to decipher the ins and outs of immigration law using Reddit and wikiHow. 

Though you might not have an immigration lawyer on speed dial, you’ll be surprised at how many choices you have once you start researching options in your area. Hiring international employees may mean dealing with different legal parameters; make sure you have a team of deportation lawyers in the US you can rely on, tax professionals who understand filing needs for international employees, and other firms that can help you dot your i’s and cross your t’s. 

#4 Get Moving on Moving Logistics

The minute you expand your search to include international candidates, you need to start thinking about what kind of relocation package your company plans to offer. Being upfront about which expenses you will and won’t cover will not only prevent misunderstandings, but it will also help candidates decide to accept or decline an offer. 

Determine if your relocation package will include expenses like:

• Flights
• International movers
• A rental car 
• Housing
• A furniture stipend
• Necessary training or certifications

Although relocation packages can be costly, you should view them as an investment. Paying for an international candidate to relocate will ultimately be better for your business than hiring someone local who can’t fulfill your company’s needs. As they say, sometimes you have to spend money to make money!

Get Ready to Say, “You’re Hired!”We know this process can be stressful, but having the opportunity to hire international employees is exciting! You should view this experience as a chance to grow your business, make meaningful professional connections, and learn about different people and cultures. We can’t wait for you to extend an offer to the perfect international candidate.