Hiring offshore team members has become a strategic advantage for many businesses with access to a larger pool of skills and experience at a significantly lower cost. However, interviewing offshore candidates requires unique considerations to ensure you identify the right talent while navigating cultural and logistical nuances. Here are ten tips to help you conduct successful interviews with offshore candidates.
1. Understand Cultural Context
Cultural differences can influence communication styles, work ethics, and expectations. Spend some time researching the cultural norms of the candidate’s country to foster a more productive and respectful conversation. For example, direct communication may be valued in some cultures, while others may favour a more reserved approach.
The Sri Lankan culture is quite reserved until a relationship has been established. Once this bond is built Sri Lankans can be extremely extroverted, but it takes time to build this rapport. We recommend starting an interview with more general questions such as where a candidate studied at university and what interests them most about their field of expertise before jumping into technical questions.
2. Clarify Time Zone Logistics
Scheduling interviews across time zones can be challenging. Use scheduling tools to propose times that accommodate both parties. Be mindful of public holidays in the candidate’s country to avoid rescheduling issues.
Dijital Team takes all the hard work out of managing logistics by scheduling interviews that align to your time zone, so you do not have to skip dinner with the family to conduct an interview.
3. Use Reliable Technology
Technical issues can derail an interview, specially when connecting across borders. Ensure both parties have access to reliable video conferencing tools and test them beforehand. Platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Google Meet are widely used for international interviews.
Dijital Team concierge service is there to help when the technology gremlins create unexpected problems. We make sure that everyone can connect to the interview using Microsoft Teams and nobody is on mute and are monitoring in the background if there are any glitches to make sure the interview is seamless.
4. Prepare Clear Job Descriptions
Offshore candidates often apply for roles with specific skill requirements. Provide a detailed job description and explain how the role fits into the broader company structure. This helps candidates better understand expectations and determine if they are a good fit.
As part of our Dijital Team process, our Customer Success team takes the time to understand your specific requirements and build a detailed job description for you that outlines all the skills and requirements for the role. That way you do not have to stare at a blank piece of paper and wonder what to write.
5. Assess Communication Skills
Strong communication is essential when working with remote teams. During the interview, evaluate the candidate’s ability to articulate ideas clearly, ask questions, and provide thoughtful responses. Consider conducting part of the interview via written communication to assess their written proficiency.
Dijital Team undertakes a thorough screening process to ensure that any candidate you interview has top notch English communication skills. A tip we have seen work well is at some stage during the interview, turn the camera and microphone off and communicate via Teams Chat to validate not only verbal skills but also written skills.
6. Focus on Problem-Solving Skills
For offshore roles, specially in technology or project-based industries, problem-solving skills are critical. Include scenario-based questions or real-life challenges related to the job to gauge how they approach and solve problems.
Sri Lankans are well recognised for their ability to navigate and solve complex problems through a culture of ingenuity and resilience that has been created through the many historical challenges the country has faced. Dijital Team can help you accelerate growth with a team that has a wide range of knowledge and experiences.
7. Verify Technical Expertise
If the role requires specific technical skills, include a practical test or live demonstration. For instance, ask a software developer to solve a coding challenge or a designer to critique a sample project.
Dijital Team has a two-step process to validate technical skills to ensure any candidate you interview is the crème de la crème. The first is an online skills assessment followed by a technical interview with an internal Subject Matter Expert and only if they make it through this rigorous process will they be presented to you.
8. Discuss Availability and Flexibility
Time zone differences often require flexibility. Discuss the candidate’s availability for meetings or overlapping work hours and ensure it aligns with your team’s needs.
Dijital Team designs and builds your team in Sri Lanka based on your specific working requirements. Typically, this means the team members start at 8:30 am in your local times zone but it can be at any time of the day or night depending on your operational requirements. We make sure that the team member can support these requirements sustainably for you over many years.
9. Emphasise Company Culture
Remote and offshore workers can feel disconnected from your company culture. During the interview, highlight your company’s values, mission, and how you foster team collaboration. This will help candidates understand your expectations and assess their cultural fit.
Dijital Team helps to extend and foster your culture whether that is Friday pizza or crazy sock day, and we take care of all the organising for you. In addition, we provide an extensive list of team member benefits that we provide in our fully inclusive pricing.
10. Evaluate Adaptability to Remote Work
Working remotely, especially in an offshore capacity, requires adaptability and self-discipline. Discuss the candidate’s experience with remote work setups, their preferred tools and workflows, and how they stay motivated and organised. Candidates who demonstrate strong adaptability are more likely to thrive in an offshore role.
Dijital Team makes sure that every team member has everything they need to be successfully working offshore from high-end equipment and robust security controls to ongoing support.
Final Thoughts
Hiring offshore talent offers numerous benefits, from cost savings to accessing diverse skill sets. However, the success of these hires often hinges on how well the interview process is conducted. By following these ten tips, you can identify candidates who are not only qualified but also aligned with your company’s goals and values.
Looking to build a world-class offshore team? Contact Dijital Team for expert guidance on hiring and managing offshore talent.