Return on Investment (ROI) is key for a Global HR team managing expat employees on international assignment. Rates of expat failure can be as high as 40%, depending on the industry. As investment in an assignment can be more than $300,000, failure is expensive in both financially and timewise.
Preparing expatriates for foreign assignment begins as early as the selection process. Research by Cut-e shows the ability to excel at a role may not be enough for expat success. The most accomplished new expats have a range of soft skills including:
Ensure candidates demonstrate these and similar traits with practical examples at interview stage.
Preparation is key when any employee is moving abroad to work. Global HR can support the employee by developing thorough pre-assignment training. This should help:
This is particularly useful for those working abroad for the first time. Ideally pre-departure training covers topics like:
One of the leading causes of expat failure is the unhappiness of an expat’s spouse or family. Ensure the expat and their family has practical support from HR in the destination country. This should cover elements like:
Interviews with expats in Personnel Today highlighted the importance of information, contacts, and processes fitting together, so settling in is easy.