To APAC and Beyond: Expanding Your Recruitment Business Overseas

ThinkstockPhotos-128013001Choosing to expand your recruitment business overseas is a big step and it can be daunting but you’re in good company. Our Australian Recruitment Trends Report found that a huge 64 percent of large agencies are looking to expand into new offices in the APAC region and beyond in 2015. This is due in large part to the booming APAC recruitment industry of which 62 percent of agencies are expecting to increase their revenue by over 10 percent this year alone. Whilst expanding overseas can be extremely profitable, it’s important to ensure, among other things, that the timing and location are right for your company.

Here are some tips to help you on your way to international success:

Timing is everything

Expanding a business overseas is one of the biggest decisions a business owner can make so don’t be rushed into it. Just because the competition is doing it, that doesn’t mean that you should be too. What matters is that the timing is right for your business.

Ask yourself: Is the market ready for your offering? Does the demand outweigh the cost of expansion and what will the return on investment look like long term? If you’re unsure of the answers to either of these then it could be a sign that the timing just isn’t right.

Location is key

So you’ve decided the timing is right but how do you go about choosing a location? There are a couple of things that will help you make this all-important decision.

You’ve already got clients there. Moving to a territory where you already have clients or strong interest from perspective clients makes the move overseas a lot less stressful. But make sure you use this existing client base to your advantage by creating content such as case studies to introduce yourself to other similar company’s in the area.

You’ve identified a leader. Having someone in mind to head up your new office and represent your company’s presence in your chosen location can be a huge weight off the mind when it comes to picking a location. This person, if willing to move, will take the pain out of your move and ensure your expansion gets off on the ground quickly.

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Proceed with caution!

Once you’ve got the timing right and you’ve identified your ideal location what are you waiting for? Hold your horses! Despite the urge to jump head first into your new business venture you must proceed with caution.

Think about trailing your decision before you whole-heartedly commit to it. Rather than making a huge financial investment by purchasing costly office space, test the location with a rental or flexible working space. It’s a great way to explore your location without making a long-term commitment, after all you might find that your ideal location actually lies on the other side of town. This approach will also help you ensure you’ve got all your day-to-day business services like payroll and contract finance in place and that you’re happy with them.

Armed with this knowledge before expanding you’ll save a lot of time and money and be well on your way to delivering great service from day one in your new location – wherever that might be.

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Peter Markland

Peter Markland
Peterk Markland is APAC regional director, Bullhorn.

Peter Markland

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