Overseas Construction Recruitment: Is attracting international talent worth the effort?
Everyone in the New Zealand construction industry knows that finding skilled employees is a major challenge. And it looks likely to stay that way for the foreseeable future as companies compete for a small pool of local talent.
To get around this problem, several construction companies are actively searching in countries like the UK and South Africa - offering secure employment and the benefits of a Kiwi lifestyle.
But before making a jump into overseas recruitment, several factors need to be considered.
3 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
1. NZ Immigration Accreditation is mandatory.
A construction company must become an Accredited Employer via New Zealand Immigration before they can make an official offer to an overseas candidate.
2. How long is the Accreditation process?
Depending on what level of accreditation you’re applying for, New Zealand Immigration estimates it to take up to 10 working days to process compliant employers.
Click here to learn more about the Accreditation Process >
3. Allow 3 months to secure an overseas candidate.
When everything goes to plan, it takes around 3 months to secure overseas talent, submit paperwork and organise relocation. This timeframe won't suit positions that need to be filled immediately, but this overseas recruitment strategy is ideal for companies with a pipeline of future projects.
5 KEY BENEFITS OF RECRUITING OVERSEAS TALENT
Overseas talent bring new skills.
Overseas candidates who have worked on major construction projects in the UK, Europe or the Middle East are exposed to cutting-edge technologies and methodologies, i.e. they bring a new skill set that can add significant value.
Overseas talent is motivated.
We find that overseas candidates are extremely motivated to make the most of their move to New Zealand. This is a new beginning for them and they are committed to making it work.
Overseas talent stay in the job longer.
We find that overseas candidates often reward their employers with job loyalty. They appreciate the opportunity and are less inclined to move. When an employer assists with relocation costs, the job tenure is also longer too.
Overseas recruitment allows long-term planning.
An overseas recruitment strategy can be crucial for construction companies planning 3-5 years ahead - because they are proactively addressing one of the biggest challenges to growth - the lack of top talent.
Overseas recruitment reduces the need to 'carry' a salary.
Because there is such a shortage of local talent, companies often secure key staff well ahead of a project commencing - which means carrying the cost of this salary for extended periods.
From the UK to Auckland - Site Manager Success Story
Our placement of James, a Site Manager from the UK, is a great example of how overseas recruitment can work. After two initial Zoom interviews, we completed references for James and he was offered a Senior Site Manager position with a commercial construction company in Auckland.
He began to work through the visa process and necessary paperwork; and after signing his contract in March 2022, James started with his company in Auckland in late June 2022.
The industry knowledge and experience James has brought with him from the UK has been evident in the first few months in his new role, and he has quickly become a valuable asset to his current company. And needless to say the commercial construction company is over the moon with the placement.
If you'd like to know more about overseas recruitment, please get in touch with Michael on 022 368 6552 or email michael@inceptusrecruitment.com