In almost every state in the nation, financial and accounting executives are grappling with an increased need for bilingual workers.  Demand is primarily increasing within financial services, pharmaceutical, technology, and life sciences sectors, according to Chris van Someren, president, Global Markets, at Los Angeles-based Korn/Ferry International.  His company specializes in executive recruitment. 

Whether you’re trying to meet the needs of immigrant customers who do not speak English, or because increasing globalization has made it difficult to do business in one language, the temporary staffing industry may be your best tool for recruiting top bilingual workers.  Here’s why:

• As the U.S. population diversifies, you’ll want to stay ahead of the competition as you market to different ethnic groups.  If you want to attract and market to the Hispanic population, you need Spanish-speaking staff.  It’s that simple.
• Reputable Professional Employer Organizations assist with “testing” to help you make sure that applicants who say they are bilingual, really are.  For example, is your Spanish-speaking candidate proficient in business or technical vocabulary?
• On the flip side, a PEO can verify that a candidate who speaks Spanish fluently also has the skills necessary for the position
• PEOs work constantly to collaborate with firms that have access to employees with unique language skills.  If you need an accountant who speaks Mandarin Chinese, you can spend hours beating the bushes, or you can let your PEO do the footwork.
• You may have a short-term language need.  If you have a temporary need to communicate with a Brazilian company, it doesn’t make sense to have a full-time Portuguese-speaker on the payroll. 
• If your PEO supplies a worker who happens to be the perfect fit, permanent placement options can allow you to hire that worker full-time.

One of the associates at HR Outsourcing, Inc. can meet with you briefly to discuss your company’s unique language and communication needs.  Please call today.

Source:  Teiseira, Julian.  “More Companies Recruit Bilingual Employees.”  Employment Management Today. Fall 2004.  Vol 9, No. 4. www.shrm.org/ema/EMT/articles/2004/Fall04teixeira.asp