As businesses become more global, many companies are choosing to hire marketing professionals from outside the United States.
This can be a great way to support your marketing department especially if things are crazy.
However, there are also some potential drawbacks associated with hiring abroad that should be taken into consideration before making a decision.
To help weigh the costs and benefits, we will explore the pros and cons of hiring marketing professionals outside of the United States so that you can make an informed decision about your staffing needs.
Let’s dive in to hiring outside of the USA – the pros and the cons.
PRO: Access to a larger pool of talent
Expanding your hiring pool from locally to internationally can really help your company, as it gives you access to a larger and more diverse pool of potential employees than ever before.
Not only does this increase the chances of finding the perfect candidate for any position, but it also allows you to benefit from different perspectives and cultural experiences that may offer new insights into your main or supporting industries.
Furthermore, international hires often come with language skills that can be an invaluable asset when dealing with customers in other countries (which in and of itself is both another ‘con’ and ‘pro’, as we’ll explore later on).
In any case, expanding your search beyond local borders is an attractive option if you’re looking for a large pool of top-tier talent without having to sacrifice quality or experience.
CON: Language and cultural barriers
One of the biggest issues is language and cultural barriers which can make communication difficult – and understanding job requirements even more so.
This can lead to misunderstandings between employers and employees, as well as delays in projects due to miscommunication or lack of clarity on expectations.
Additionally, international hires often come with different sets cultural ways of doing work than those found domestically, which could mean that you will need to provide training on your company culture in ways that will help your overseas hires feel more at home.
You may also need to provide cross-culture training for your local employees, to help mitigate any challenges in communications with your international employees before they even come up.
Knowing that these difficulties exist and taking steps to build a process to help overcome any language or cultural barriers must be taken into consideration when deciding whether or not hiring marketing professionals from outside the United States.
PRO: Potential to save costs
Hiring marketing professionals from outside the United States can help your company save money, as wages and cost of living are often lower in other countries.
This means that you could very well be able to get more bang for your buck when it comes to hiring these talented individuals, versus those of the same talent level that live locally, with a higher cost of living.
If you have the infrastructure to assess different currencies and exchange rates prior to making a job post, your company may be able to further reduce costs associated with hiring abroad by taking advantage of your assessments.
Being able to save on costs, while still getting the same or better work produced, will only help your business grow.
CON: Difficulty monitoring progress remotely
Of course, as we’ve learned even in this “virtual world” of ours, one of the potential drawbacks to hiring marketing professionals from outside the United States is that it can be difficult to monitor their progress remotely.
Since they are not coming into the office and do not live locally, you could find that you have less control over how and when work is completed.
If so, this makes it harder for you to be able to keep track of what’s being done, as well as ensuring that deadlines are met on time and quality standards are maintained.
Additionally, communication issues due to language and cultural barriers, like we discussed early, may also impede progress if left unchecked by failure to monitor comms more closely.
As a result, you’ll likely want to take extra steps in order to ensure that overseas employees are held accountable for their work in order for them to reach their full potential.
PRO: Opportunity for cultural exchange and learning about other markets
Another benefit of hiring marketing professionals from outside the United States is that it can be a great way to break into new markets.
Not only do you have the talent there, but international hires often come with language skills which can be an invaluable asset when dealing with customers in other countries.
Perhaps countries where you do not yet have market presence, but you desire to expand there one day.
Furthermore, by having employees from different cultural backgrounds you are provided with unique perspectives and insights that may help your company gain a better understanding of the local market conditions in this new area.
This knowledge could prove invaluable for developing effective strategies for reaching new audiences or launching products in foreign countries.
Which is why expanding your talent search beyond local borders can open up opportunities that would otherwise remain inaccessible to you and your company without already established overseas contacts or resources.
CON: Possibility for compliance issues related to labor laws, taxes, etc. in the country of hire
When hiring marketing professionals from outside the United States, it is important to be aware of the potential for compliance issues related to labor laws and taxes in the country of hire.
You’ll have to work with HR to take any extra steps needed to ensure that your overseas employees are abiding by local regulations and filing any necessary paperwork with the country’s government.
This can include getting familiar with different tax systems, understanding visa requirements, and researching any restrictions on foreign workers.
Failing to do so could lead to costly penalties or even legal action if not handled properly.
Additionally, similar to another ‘con’ in this list, you should also consider how differences in language or cultural norms may affect communication between you and your international hires which could further complicate matters when it comes time for payroll or other administrative tasks.
As such, navigating the labor laws and tax laws of another country can be a tricky endeavor but one that you and your company will have to undertake to make sure all your bases are covered when recruiting abroad.
The Big Decision
As we’ve seen, while there are some risks that come with hiring marketing contractors from outside the USA, there are also some great potential rewards.
If you think this is the right option for your company and marketing department, make sure you follow all the relevant laws and keep communication channels open.
But always consider all your choice carefully when preparing to bring in any marketing specialist.
This will help everything go smoothly and give you a better chance of success!
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