What can my company do to promote success on international assignments?

There are a number of ways companies can support employees while they are on assignment. Consulting Services Specialist Gina Grover discusses a few in this Relo Tip Tuesday.

***

Complete transcript: “Hi, I’m Gina Grover, and welcome to Relo Tip Tuesday. My question is, “What can companies do to promote success on an international assignment?”

International assignments can come with a hefty price tag. So it’s important that you are doing everything possible to set the relocating employee and their families up for success.

The first step in any relocation is of course selecting the appropriate candidate for the business need. You need to consider both the technical job requirements and any specialized skills, such as languages, that the position might require. Once you have picked the right candidate, you might want to take a look at using a formal candidate assessment tool. These assessments are often done online and can help identify a candidate’s suitability to an international assignment. They can highlight important factors in an employee’s personality, their family situation or potential cultural differences that could impact their productivity in the host location or the family’s ability to adapt.

Cultural training is a key aspect of any international relocation. Many companies offer this benefit, but it’s important to encourage your employees to fully take advantage of it. Cultural training will help employees adapt to the host location by identifying potential cultural differences, like the importance of hierarchy in the host location or what to expect in business negotiations. These training sessions also help employees develop the mindset and the skills necessary to conduct business successfully across borders. And when considering cultural training, don’t forget to include the family.

Families are essential to a successful relocation. In fact, family concerns are the number one reason that assignments end early. So, when building a benefits package, be sure to fully evaluate the needs of the relocating employee’s family. This could include things like spousal support to help the partner find a job or get professional certifications in the host location, or education assistance to help place the children in the best possible learning environment.

Keeping these things in mind, you can lay the groundwork for successful international assignments. Thanks for watching.”