Considerations for hiring offshore staff

What should you consider when you hire offshore staff?

When you hire offshore staff, look beyond cost savings and focus on people, processes, and long-term fit.

• Set up clear processes and documentation before you hire.
• Start with senior staff and a manager, then grow the team slowly.
• Treat your offshore team as part of the company.

Your staff is one of the most crucial parts of your business success. They do much of the work, handle back-office tasks, and streamline your daily operations.

They also take care of a huge chunk of your day-to-day work. So you should be careful when hiring an offshore team for your business. Meanwhile, good outsourcing partners take time to find the right staff and cut attrition.

Hiring the right offshore staff is a key success factor, says Staff Domain’s Co-Founder and Managing Director Justin Pavsic. He shared this with Outsource Accelerator CEO Derek Gallimore at the Outsource Accelerator podcast.

Hire offshore staff and save cost.

Most companies hire offshore staff to cut costs and save on resources. In fact, they often save around 70% this way. However, offshoring should do more than save money.

Many businesses fail at offshoring for one main reason. They focus only on savings, which then hurts the quality of work. As Justin noted, most firms “went that extra mile to save that extra dollar,” only to feel let down later.

So do not focus on savings alone. Instead, weigh the long-term value your team brings to your company and your in-house staff. This is one reason many owners weigh offshoring against other outsourcing models before they decide.

Build an offshore software development team

Offshore development offers a strong talent pool, lower labor costs, and modern tools. As a result, a partnership with a top offshore firm can help projects succeed and last.

Software teams are among the most commonly offshored functions. This is because the work needs skilled people and heavy resources when done in-house. Meanwhile, many large firms and startups stay competitive by offshoring developers from the Philippines and other countries.

Other things to consider when hiring an offshore staff

Justin explained that Staff Domain’s 10 success factors mostly revolve around people and people management. So companies should weigh the following factors when they build a team for any sector, such as business process outsourcing or recruitment process outsourcing.

Having processes and metrics ready

First, Justin suggests you build your “documentation process sooner rather than later.” Offshore teams love clear processes to follow. As a result, hiring gets easier, since you just walk new staff through each step.

Getting a senior staff

Next, it helps to hire and train senior staff first. As Justin puts it, a senior hire “becomes your cornerstone person to help you manage the rest of your team.” Senior staff learn your processes fast. So they can also train the rest of your team and improve communication.

Manager to manage operations

You should also hire a manager as the point of contact between you and your team. In addition, a manager sends you the reports you need, such as progress updates. So you always know how the team is doing.

Starting with a small team

The Staff Domain Co-Founder also suggests a staggered approach. First, start with a single hire to train and work with you. Then add more staff as your workload grows. As a result, you spread the work and avoid staff burnout.

Treating offshore staff as an extension of the company

Finally, treat your offshore staff as part of the company. As much as possible, help your in-house team feel at ease with the offshore team. Because of this, your team stays motivated. Through his study, Justin found that a holistic approach works better than a separate offshore unit. For more tips, see these best practices for offshore teams.

How to choose the right offshore staffing agency

Strong candidates bring drive and energy to build a great product or service. Still, you also need fair pricing when you pick an offshore staffing agency. So look for a partner that can:

• use modern equipment
• run effective project management
• bring technical know-how (if you seek developers)
• show deep knowledge of business functions and current practices

The agency you choose should know the local labor market well. In addition, they should guide you through the employment laws of that country.

A good offshore staffing team makes hiring abroad easier. Because they offer many services based on your goals, such as:

• Global employment outsourcing (GEO): Managing cross-border hiring, plus tasks like mergers and acquisitions.
• Recruitment process outsourcing (RPO): Covering workforce planning, talent analytics, talent mobility, and talent development.
• Managed workforce solutions: Ready-made support for hiring, onboarding, and scheduling.

Some providers also offer staff leasing as a simple way to scale. So your choice of partner is crucial to a smooth offshore hiring process.

Three excellent tools for offshore team management

Whether you run a startup or an established firm, an offshore team can help you grow faster. However, this is sometimes easier said than done. Management is the main challenge for most companies. After all, you cannot walk over to check on your team like you would in an office. So your staff need the right tools to work well.

GitHub

Developers use GitHub, a code hosting platform, to store, share, and work on source code. It is highly popular, with a huge global base of developers. As a result, you can manage repositories, track progress, and follow code changes.

Microsoft Azure

This tool is great for project management thanks to its smooth flow. It is a set of linked tools that developers use to track work, manage code, run builds, and handle testing. In addition, you get more features, such as:

• Application diagnostics
• Issue monitoring and reference checks
• Planning
• Online storage
• Access control
• API management

Zoom

This tool is great for communication and teamwork. Zoom is the go-to option for small to large remote teams. For example, it connects up to 1,000 people in video calls, shares screens, and records meeting transcripts. In addition, you can trade files, send messages, and start audio calls with your team.

How Staff Domain finds the right staff for you

One thing is certain: your team should serve customers and lift the quality of work, even from another part of the world. This takes time, money, and effort from your offshoring partner. So you get the best from your investment.

For Staff Domain, this means a careful approach to hiring offshore teams. They take time to learn each client’s needs and help them reach success. Justin noted that finding a suitable hire usually takes up to 21 days, from sign-up to final vetted candidates. As a result, they cut turnover and lift client satisfaction.

They also keep pricing clear, with separate invoices for salaries and fixed pricing for facilities. Because of this, clients get high-quality, affordable service. To hear the full episode, listen here. In addition, feel free to check out Staff Domain’s offerings by visiting www.staffdomain.com.

Hiring offshore staff FAQs

What should you consider first when hiring offshore staff?

Start with clear processes and documentation. As a result, new hires learn your operations faster.

Should you hire for cost savings alone?

No. Savings matter, but quality and long-term fit matter more. So weigh both before you decide.

How big should your first offshore team be?

Start small, often with one hire. Then grow the team as your workload rises.

How do you pick an offshore staffing agency?

Look for fair pricing, strong project management, and local labor market knowledge. In addition, check that they know local employment laws.

What tools help you manage an offshore team?

GitHub, Microsoft Azure, and Zoom are all useful. For example, they help with code, projects, and communication.