When you are recruiting overseas hires these outcomes are even more important as the cost and effort involved is significantly higher. And it may seem that the problems can also be greater. 

Performance issues may be more complex; fitting into the team may be more difficult; and if things are tough your new employees may consider returning home –or worse if they don’t feel returning home is an option they may stay and impact on the performance and morale of the whole team.

So what can we do to assist the adjustment process? Research shows some factors consistently predict cultural adjustment which in turn predicts high performance and remaining in the position.  

Role Clarity –how clearly and consistently is the role defined in the recruitment and on-boarding phases and does that match with reality? This means clearly written and valid Position Descriptions. It means interviewers pitching the job at the real level neither over nor under inflating the extent or impact of the role. And it means the new recruit having the authority and responsibility as promised when they come on-board.  

Partner Adjustment – is the partner of the employee adjusting well in the new location? This is a harder area for the employer to assess or assist with. Some organisations have found newcomers meetings helpful encouraging new arrivals to meet and build connections. Training or coaching which discusses the cross cultural adjustment issues for the whole family and the career or life-style issues facing the partner is essential in this area.

Interaction Skills –Can the new employee get on well with the locals at work? Communication skills, language ability and cultural awareness are needed by the new recruit to interact well. 

So if you want that new recruit from overseas to perform well and stay with you, these are the critical areas to focus on. 

Trisha Carter is a registered Organisational Psychologist specializing in Cross Cultural issues. She has worked in HR in both larger organisations and a smaller consulting firm and has a background in management and workplace training. Trisha is the Managing Director of Trans Cultural Careers and has a Masters Degree in Organisational Psychology.