Employers need to globalise recruitment

International resourcing is not as simple as managing and recruiting expatriates or setting up a recruitment team in the home country. A recent CIPD survey shows that 15% of UK organisations are now targeting migrant workers from EU accession states, and a further one in ten (12%) are recruiting in foreign countries and bring workers over to the UK. A new research report, International, Recruitment, Selection and Assessment, from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) examines issues facing UK organisations sourcing internationally.

Paul Sparrow, Professor of International Human Resource Management, Lancaster University Management School, and author of the report, says:

ìThere are differences in countries across the globe in terms of culture, immigration rules and legislation in local labour markets. However, organisations can still co-ordinate recruitment processes across the various countries in which they operate through the brand values, performance management systems and selection and assessment activities.

ìInternational recruitment can provide major business benefits, such as overcoming skills shortages. But in order to achieve these employers need to create global HR processes so that the overarching business objectives, such as maintaining employer brand and building globally relevant skills, are achieved.î

The new report is based on case-study driven research that investigates the challenges associated with global resourcing within UK firms. These include the following:

Resourcing very specialist technical skills for deployment in overseas markets, and at the same time managing a strong employer brand.

Balancing diversity priorities and international recruitment with attracting high potential employees.

Frances Wilson, CIPD International Adviser, adds: ìEmployee output depends on loyalty, motivation and commitment. But the motivating factor may differ from country to country so it is important to incorporate local needs and cultural differences into global resourcing processes.î