Outsourcing and offshore hiring are not new concepts. However, with the pandemic changing the entire dynamic of remote work, they have opened up ways to harness potential resources from around the world.
Offshore hiring involves employing talent from outside the locality of your organization. These candidates have already been vetted for their skills by third-party agencies.
This hiring method comes with its own advantages and setbacks, just like everything else. When you manage the process efficiently, all parties can stand to benefit.
Here is why you should explore offshore recruitment
Cost efficiency
Hiring at a global scale involves recruiting people from different economies. Competitive remuneration for someone with the experience and qualifications your company is looking for varies from region to region, meaning it might be more cost-effective to hire a candidate from another country.
Recruiting remotely can also save your company money on equipment, utilities, infrastructure, and benefits that are normally given to in-house employees.
You can also take advantage of tax exemptions that some countries offer.
Resource efficiency
When you remove border restrictions from your recruitment process, you widen your talent pool to candidates all over the world. This increases the odds of finding the perfect candidate for your job. Hiring through a third-party agency can give you access to experts in the field, which ensures that the job is in good hands.
Hiring from regions with an abundance of candidates can help you address the talent shortage within your organization. Moreover, you can help your in-house team free up their time and focus on more lucrative tasks that cannot be outsourced.
Inclusivity
When you hire offshore, you automatically diversify your team. This brings a set of diverse perspectives to the table.
Global presence
You can increase the global awareness of your organization by recruiting talent from around the world. This establishes a local presence and opens up business opportunities with an international clientele.
24×7 availability
With employees working in different time zones, your organization can function continuously, even at times of crisis.
Improved scalability
Hiring for contract and freelance jobs through a third-party agency makes it easy to scale your business based on your needs. It also makes it easier to let go of contract workers, in comparison to permanent hires, when they are not meeting expectations.
Some setbacks to consider while recruiting offshore
Offshore hiring can be exceptionally lucrative when you are proactive and take steps to avoid a few hassles.
Language barriers
English is widely spoken around the world, but some accents and dialects might still be misunderstood. When there is miscommunication, there is inadequacy in team collaboration, and this affects overall work output.
Conflicting traditions and culture
The needs and perspectives of someone halfway across the world can be very different from those of your in-house team. This means that you also have to be prepared for a completely different calendar and holidays.
Lack of control
Offshoring might not be for someone who feels the need to micromanage work. Otherwise, advancements in technology have made it extremely easy to delegate work from anywhere.
Time zone delays
Working across time zones comes with the consequence of delays in approving and coordinating work. However, this can be managed easily with a clear process in place.
Security
There can be critical consequences for sharing sensitive information outside your organization. It is vital to abide by applicable laws and be careful about what work can be outsourced and what can be taken care of in-house.
Is offshore hiring for you?
Offshore hiring has undeniable potential that could be highly effective if utilized well. It also comes with setbacks, but having a clear idea of the goals for your business and being more systematic about resource and work management can make it exceptionally lucrative.
