Recently, there have been some changes to how and when you
can recruit international employees to UK-based businesses. As of the 1st
of January 2021, hiring employees from outside of the UK changed due to the end
of the Brexit transition period. Now,
there is a points-based immigration system to the country, meaning that
international employees you can hire are different, as is how you can
effectively recruit internationally. Here are our top tips for hiring
international employees in the current climate.
Advertising Internationally
Before considering some of the logistical issues associated
with hiring international talent, you must first ensure that your international
job advertisements are suited to the staff you wish to target.
Your job advertisements will need to be tailored to the
demographic that you wish to recruit. Targeted marketing of vacancies will need
to take language and cultural aspects into account when hiring employees
abroad. While you may want to write the copy for your adverts in-house, they
must read well for those that are not native English speakers.
There are professionals who will help you to ensure that
your copy reads well in a foreign language and is also appropriate. Brightlines Translations provides
translation services written in an understandable and natural manner. This
will improve the response rates to your recruitment drive and increase your
organisation’s credibility on an international level. Prospective employees are
less likely to have a high opinion of a company if job advertisements contain
syntax or grammatical errors, so using a professional translation service is
advised.
Points-Based Immigration System
The UK has recently adopted a points-based immigration
policy that has made the international recruitment of staff a more complex
subject than it once was. You must know the rules and regulations when hiring
from abroad. Generally speaking, the new immigration laws apply to EU and
non-EU citizens, except for those coming from the Republic of Ireland, who are
exempt.
Under the new rules, you will need to apply for a sponsor
licence from the government to allow international employees to re-locate to
the UK. This process is done online via a government website and is essential
for recruiting from abroad.
Additionally, applicants are required to reach 70 points
from the following list to re-locate to Britain. An offer from an approved
sponsor, a job of an appropriate skill level, a salary of £26,000 or more, a
job in a shortage occupation and a PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job
are worth 20 points. The individual speaking an appropriate level of English, a
salary of £23,040 – £25,999, and a PhD in a subject relevant to the job are
worth 10 points each. Lastly, while not worth any points itself, there is a
minimum salary requirement for international employees of £20,480 that needs to
be met for an employee to be considered for work in the UK.
Your Responsibilities as an Employer
Hiring someone who you know lacks the required immigration
permission is a criminal offence. Ultimately, if you are found to be in
contravention of the new rules on immigration, you can face up to two years in
prison and an unlimited fine.
Therefore, you have a legal responsibility to comply with
the rules surrounding immigration when you are hiring talent from abroad. The
punishments associated with the crime are designed to discourage employers from
ignoring the rules to exploit vulnerable employees or undercut competing
businesses.
The Internet is a Powerful Recruitment Tool
When recruiting internationally, your best option will
likely be to use the internet as a platform for spreading information about
vacancies. This is an especially valuable tool in the early stages of
recruitment as it is, generally, relatively low-cost compared to other options
and is typically more time-efficient.
When using the internet to advertise vacancies in your
company abroad, you should consider the most
popular platforms for job-hunting in the different areas you plan on
advertising in. Other countries will have different preferences when it comes
to online job boards, so while it might be a good idea to advertise on Indeed
in the UK, this may not apply to different regions of the world.
Additionally, video conferencing technologies like Zoom and
Microsoft Teams have made international recruitment much more effective in the
interview stages. Using modern technology, it is now possible to remotely
conduct most of the hiring process, reduce costs, and improve efficiency for
both your business and prospective employees.
International Hiring is Changing
In conclusion, the process of recruiting international
employees and them re-locating to the UK has changed dramatically in recent
months. The implications of Brexit on the hiring process have significantly
altered who you can employ from abroad and what positions you can likely fill
with international candidates. Overall, your company has a legal obligation to
comply with immigration laws when recruiting from abroad.
Suppose you and your prospective employee meet the desired
criteria. In that case, international recruitment through the internet can be
an effective way to find new talent to facilitate your company’s growth.
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