Recruiting internationally? Think about educational needs too!

Recruiting internationally isn't what it used to be. A few years ago you could still impress with simply a hefty salary, but these days expats have higher expectations, from educational options for the family to growth opportunities in their own career. The better you respond to this, the more attractive you become as an employer. In this blog you'll find out how to use recruiting in education smartly as part of your international recruitment strategy.

How to make education the deciding factor for expat families

Expats without children? Find more tips below!

For many expat families, the range of schools in the region is an important factor they need to consider when taking on a new job. Parents want their children to settle in smoothly and their school career to be interrupted as little as possible, with education that fits their international lifestyle. International schools offer standardised programmes that are recognised worldwide, so children can continue their education without interruption. That gives the family some peace of mind during a relocation and plays an important role in a candidate's decision whether or not to accept an offer.

Flexible education

Thanks to digitalisation, educational options have broadened. Schools that offer online programmes can keep teaching pupils, even during a move. This flexibility takes a worry off the parents' minds: they don't have to look for a new school nearby, and the learning process carries on undisturbed.

The social side counts too

It's not just about good education. Besides continuity in their school career, expat parents look for a safe and inclusive learning environment, where their children can develop socially and culturally. Think of support with integration, language support and an environment where they can easily make new friends.

A warm welcome for the whole family

International education, flexibility and the social side are all factors your international candidate looks at. If you want to recruit expats, you can respond to this smartly as an employer or recruiter by actively including these elements in your recruitment strategy in education. For example by mentioning educational options, offering help with finding a suitable school and including this support in the employment conditions. By making this clear in your vacancies and job interviews, you show that you're thinking along with the candidate and their family. That's how you increase your appeal as an employer for international talent.

Give your expat a strong start and grow towards success together

Professional growth and personal development matter to every individual. Learning needs such as training, courses and the growth opportunities that follow make it more attractive for candidates to accept your offer. Because don't forget that international candidates need more than just fun Friday afternoon drinks. As an employer, you can stand out when recruiting internationally by offering job-specific training or courses that help expats quickly feel at home in their new environment and work culture. Language courses matter too: they help expats learn the language faster, so they can communicate with colleagues and express themselves more easily. Offering this shows that you value their career development and are investing in their future, and those happen to be exactly the things that motivate them to stay with you.

More educational needs means more opportunities for recruiters

With the growth of international recruitment and the arrival of more and more expats, the demand for international and multilingual education is growing, as is the demand for trainers. This increases the need for teachers who can teach in several languages and educational coaches who can give international pupils one-to-one support with specific learning needs. On top of that, teachers need to be trained to teach diverse, multicultural classes effectively. Educational needs like these create opportunities for recruiters in recruiting multilingual teachers, educators who train teachers to teach diverse classes, and trainers who support expats with job and language training. So in the end there will be a greater need for specialist professionals in these areas, and recruiting in education will become more and more popular.

In short: don't lose sight of expats' educational needs

Whether it's families looking for suitable education for their children, expats who want to keep growing professionally or the rising demand for specialist training professionals, as a recruiter you can make a difference in all these areas. By actively including expats' educational needs in your recruitment strategy, you show that you look further than just hiring an employee. That's how you increase your appeal when you recruit international candidates, and build a stronger position as an employer.

Want to shine even brighter as an employer? We can help you with that! With our targeted job marketing campaigns, we make sure you stand out to the talent you're looking for, also when you want to recruit expats. Get in touch and we'll look at the possibilities together.