by Bryan Hyland, Commercial Director at Morgan McKinley
In a global economy, having a diverse workforce that can communicate with customers worldwide is more important than ever. With more than 23 languages accounting for over half the world’s population, multilingual recruitment is essential for your company to stay competitive.
Having multilingual staff on your team has many benefits, from tapping into new markets, to providing better customer service.
Here’s a closer look at some of the top reasons why you should consider recruiting multilingual talent for your business.
Increased market reach
One of the main benefits of having multilingual employees is that it allows you to reach new markets – ones that you wouldn’t be able to tap into otherwise.
If you have staff who can speak other languages, it opens up a whole world of possibilities in terms of who you can do business with. For example, you may be able to expand into new geographic regions or start selling your products and services to customers who speak other languages.
Improved customer service
Another significant benefit of having multilingual employees is that it can improve your customer service.
If you have staff who can speak multiple languages, they’ll be better equipped to deal with customer enquiries and complaints, as well as provide information about your products and services – crucially being able to ‘sell’ them. This can lead to more positive interactions with your business and improved customer retention rates since they will feel like they’re being taken care of and a valued customer.
Greater efficiency and productivity
The benefits of having multilingual staff also extends beyond just external factors.
When your employees are able to communicate with each other in their native languages, it can lead to greater efficiency and productivity in the workplace. This is because there is less need for translation and interpretation, which saves time and money.
Additionally, employees who share a common language tend to develop better working relationships, which can further improve workplace morale and performance.
Enhanced reputation and credibility
If you carry out multilingual recruitment, it shows that you are an internationally minded company that’s open to doing business with people from all over the world.
This enhances your company’s reputation and credibility which can not only make your business more attractive to potential customers and partners, but also help you attract top talent from around the globe.
5 top considerations when recruiting multilingual staff
If hiring multilingual staff is something you’re considering, there are a few things to keep in mind before making any decisions. Here are five of the top considerations for recruiting multilingual staff:
1. The level of proficiency required
Not all roles will require the same level of language proficiency. For some positions, it may be enough for candidates to be able to hold a conversation in another language, while for others, they may need to be fluent or near-fluent speakers.
Determining the level of proficiency required will help you narrow down potential candidates.
2. The languages required
Consider what languages are most important for your business needs. Depending on your market, you may require candidates to speak multiple languages or just one. You should also think about whether there are any local dialects that you’ll need to accommodate.
3. Salary expectations
Generally speaking, multilingual employees will command higher salaries than monolingual employees due to their skillset being in high demand. However, salaries will vary depending on the languages spoken and the level of proficiency required by the role, so it’s essential to do your research before making any offers to not only stay competitive but also to be fair to your candidates.
4. Cultural differences
When recruiting multilingual staff, you should be aware of any cultural differences that could affect the way they work.
This doesn’t mean that one culture is better than another, but rather that understanding different ways of doing things can help ensure smoother working relationships and more effective communication.
For example, in some cultures, a workday is split into different parts with short breaks in between, while other cultures may prefer to work for longer periods of time without a break.
5. Soft skills
In addition to language proficiency, you’ll also want to look for candidates with the right soft skills. Multilingual employees need to be able to work well with others, demonstrate problem-solving skills, and possess excellent communication abilities in both their native language and any other languages they are expected to use in their role.
By paying close attention to these five considerations when recruiting multilingual staff, you can ensure that you hire the best candidates for the job and take advantage of all the benefits that come with having a multilingual workforce.
Is it worth it to hire multilingual staff members?
Hiring multilingual staff can open up new opportunities in your business, help you reach more customers, and give your company an edge over the competition. So, whether you’re looking to expand your global reach or improve customer service, it’s definitely worth considering hiring multilingual staff members.
