Do you own or run a small business that’s expanding and are considering hiring international workers? Maybe you’re not quite sure your business is big enough yet for making this important step. Here are some of the unique benefits when you hire international employees for both small and growing businesses, along with what you can do to determine if your business is ready to include foreign workers.
Benefits for Small Businesses and Growing Business When You Hire International Employees
1. Fills Job Shortages and Gives a Wider Pool of Talented Workers
One of the main perks of hiring international workers is that it fills vacancies for highly-skilled American workers. Consider that there aren’t enough high-skilled specialists in many industries, which include technology, science, mathematics and engineering fields.
Therefore, if you lack a supply of qualified American job applicants for filling your needed jobs, then it makes good sense to hire internationals. What’s more, adding international employees to your workforce can give you a wider pool of talent.
2. Builds a Richer Workplace Culture and Adds Diversity
When your employees come from different cultural backgrounds, you can receive the benefit of having various international viewpoints as well as their global ideas. This can lead to your company enjoying a better reputation, which can result in people with higher skills seeking positions at your business.
Having a workforce consisting of employees who share the same culture and backgrounds can stifle creativity. But by bringing in people from different cultures, your workforce can be more innovative and creative. As a result, your small business can expand and bring in more customers from various cultures.
3. Breaks Language Barriers for Global Business
Another benefit is that international hires can be a huge asset in breaking the language barrier, regarding global business. When conducting business with other countries, it’s imperative to have workers who can both speak and understand the language as well as know your foreign markets. What’s more, international hires know the different cultural details of their countries, along with what it takes to seal or stop a deal.
What You Can Do to Gauge if You Need to Hire International Workers
1. Predict the Growth of Your Small Business
Probably, the first step you need to take when deciding if your small business should hire international employees is to project the growth of your company. Don’t try to first grow your company and then hire. Keep in mind that it can take months of even an entire year for a new hire to become acclimated to your culture. Instead, it’s better to take on foreign employees before your small business starts to take off. You want your business to be able to handle a spurt in growth and not have to spend a lot of time in helping your international workers to adjust to your culture.
2. Notice the Workloads of Your Employees
One of the main signs that your company may be large enough to hire international employees is if your workers are overburdened with work. If the increase in work seems to be permanent rather than temporary, then it’s a good idea to include international employees.
Look for employee burnout. Do your employees suffer from fatigue and irritability? Are you seeing more people absent from work? What about workplace accidents and a drop in work quality? These could all be “red lights” of an overworked staff.
3. Listen to Your Customers
Besides noting the performance and workloads of your employees, it’s just as important to listen to what your clients are saying. For example, are your clients regularly requesting larger than normal orders that your small business is unable to fulfill? This can suggest that there’s a greater demand for services than what your business is able to provide. Are some of your clients from other cultures? If so, this can mean the time has come for your business to expand to include international workers.
4. Determine the Number of International Customers You Serve
Where is your small business located? Is your company located in an area with a large population of international people? For example, consider the advantages of hiring Spanish-speaking international employees for a business situated in a location, such as Miami, Florida.
Other Considerations and Warnings When You Hire International Employees
- Before hiring international employees, be sure to talk with your other employees for their input.
- Ensure that all the required legal forms are completed. Also, stay complaint with all laws and regulations regarding hiring foreign workers.
- Do not discriminate, making sure that everyone is treated fairly. In other words, your international hires should be treated the same as your American employees. Keep in mind that you could be sued for discriminating against internationals.
Questions? To learn more about how to hire international employees and other hiring tips, contact us.
