2023-09-06 
In a global competitive environment, hiring foreign engineers has become an important strategy for companies. The expertise and international perspective of foreign engineers can accelerate the growth of organizational diversity and creativity and open up new business opportunities.
While there are many benefits, there are some important things to keep in mind when hiring foreign engineers. In this article, I will try to explain them point by point!
Check visa and legal requirements
When hiring foreign engineers, it is essential to first verify legal requirements such as visas and work permits. Visa applications are usually handled by employers, but since the application process is complicated, companies need to cooperate.
Work permits may also be required separately from visas. Obtaining this permission usually requires having specific skills and experience. It is common for companies to help foreign engineers obtain appropriate work permits. Furthermore, because legal requirements vary widely from country to country and region to region, specific compliance requirements should be identified in each country’s immigration and labor laws. You should also understand tax rules and minimum requirements for international workers’ salaries. It’s important to understand these requirements in advance and move the hiring process forward.
Language and cultural adaptation
Foreign engineers often come from different languages and cultural backgrounds, and language adaptation and cultural understanding are necessary to ensure smooth communication and operations. Not only do they have to be familiar with their language and culture, but they also have to adapt to the language and culture of the country where they work. This is directly linked to the smooth operation of business.
Communication plays a central role in the work of engineering. We need a common language to share project progress, solve problems, and propose new ideas. However, if a foreign engineer does not yet fully understand Japanese, there will be many inconsistencies in the conversation, and it can be difficult to smooth the process. That’s why it’s important for hiring companies to provide training and support to help them learn Japanese.
Furthermore, Japanese business culture is generally ceremonial, with an emphasis on politeness and respect, and foreign engineers from different cultural backgrounds may take time to get used to Japanese workplace culture.
This can affect many aspects of the Japanese workplace, including work processes, communication styles, and working expectations. Employers are therefore expected to provide cross-cultural communication training and learn to understand and respect cultural differences.
However, these efforts to promote adaptation and understanding are not one-sided. The hiring company itself can also take a broader view by respecting and understanding the culture and perspective of foreign engineers, which will lead to greater innovation and productivity throughout the organization.
Global Recruiting and Networking
A global recruiting strategy is required to recruit foreign engineers. Local job advertising and recruitment platforms can be effective, but it’s also important to utilize international job sites. Now mainstream, Linkedin is a great way to look for talent with a global approach regardless of nationality, making resumes visible online. Dedicating recruiters who are familiar with different cultures and backgrounds is another way to efficiently hire people who fit your requirements.
Support for migration and settlement
It is also important to have a support system in place so that foreign engineers can move and settle with confidence. Help foreign engineers start their lives smoothly by providing housing and living conditions, information on local culture and life, and support with necessary procedures.
Promoting Diversity and Inclusion
Hiring foreign engineers also promotes diversity and inclusion. The coming together of people from different cultures and backgrounds creates new perspectives and ideas that can improve team performance. Be active in promoting diversity and an inclusive environment.
Assessment of technical skills and experience
Assessment of technical skills and experience is important in hiring foreign engineers. They are expected to understand the differences that come from different education systems and industry standards, and take that into account to properly assess the skills of candidates.
Salary and benefits adjustments
Market-competitive salaries: Companies must offer salaries that match their skills and experience to attract foreign engineers. This takes into account a number of factors, including the professional area of the engineer, the average industry salary, the company’s finances, and the cost of living in the city where they are moving. It is also important to have a bonus and incentive system to reflect their performance. Let’s look at the annual income level using the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) as an example.
Top IIT students typically earn in the range of INR 20 -30 lakhs (about 3 – 4.5 millionJPY) per year, while other IITs earn INR 10 -20 lakhs (about 1.5 – 3 million) per year. The highest annual salary package is usually above INR 1 Crore (about 15 million Yen) for the top IITs and between Rs 30 -70 Lakhs (about 4.5 -10.5 million Yen) for the annual CTC for other IITs. 1
In 2022, 960 IIT graduates received more than Rs 50 lakhs (about 7.5 million yen) per year. 2
The average salary received by students at IIT Madras campus placements from 2021 to 22 was Rs. 21.48 lakhs (about 3.22 million yen) per year, with a maximum salary of $250,000 (about 28 million yen).
Adjustments are important when it comes to hiring good engineers like this, because the salary base is also very high.
Comprehensive benefits
In addition to salary, it is important to offer an attractive benefits package for foreign engineers. These include health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, flexible hours, remote working options, and training and education opportunities. Migration-related benefits, such as language learning assistance, relocation assistance, and visa assistance, are also important, especially for foreign engineers.
Transparency and fairness
Salary and benefits decisions should be based on clear and fair standards. In order for foreign engineers to maintain trust and motivation in their organizations, it is important that they feel they are treated fairly. As such, they are required to transparently share details of their pay and benefits, as well as the basis for their decisions.
Managing Remote Work
Foreign engineers often choose to work remotely. So you need to think about managing remote work, whether it’s time zone differences, using communication tools, or managing productivity.
Ongoing education and career development
Foreign engineers need help adapting to new environments and cultures, as well as maintaining technical skills and developing careers. Companies can meet these needs by providing ongoing education and career development opportunities.
Hiring foreign engineers is an essential part of being competitive in a global business. With the above precautions in mind, you are expected to develop an appropriate recruitment strategy to maximize the potential of foreign engineers. With an emphasis on cross-cultural fusion and mutual understanding, let’s actively recruit engineers who will contribute to the growth and development of our company!
If you are interested in hiring students from the Indian Institutes of Technology(IIT) or foreign engineers, please make inquiries [https://beyond-t.jp/contact]
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