Attracting and retaining talent is a challenge for all major international professional services firms. As competition for the best continues to rise, many firms need new incentives, like professional development opportunities to encourage employees to remain with them.

A constructive way to improve retention is to offer a secondment programme, either with related companies in your sector or through membership of a global network.

Business differentiator

The advantages are not limited to employees. In-depth international knowledge can provide a firm with a valuable differentiator. Clients with an international focus increasingly require global market knowledge and understanding.

Secondments vary in structure. RSM International’s can last between four months to three years, depending on the needs of the secondee and the member firms involved. But arranging an international secondment can be complex and time-consuming. RSM has a dedicated senior director to ensure the objectives of a secondment are clearly defined and can be measured, assessed and evaluated.

For smaller firms, basic guidelines can help ensure success. Setting formal secondment criteria and minimum levels of experience for secondees is recommended.

If you belong to a global network, ensure that all member firms understand and support the guidelines so that all eligible staff have an equal opportunity to participate and the programme benefits the whole network.

Timing is important. Busier periods can vary between regions, so a seasonal secondment can maximise a secondee’s professional experience.

Accountants looking for a new challenge are ideal for international secondment. It allows them to develop their expertise in a specific area and transfer their honed skills back to their original company.

Notwithstanding the importance of creating formal secondment guidelines ac ross a firm, each request should be assessed individually to establish the potential benefits and challenges for both firms and the secondee.

Moving to a new country and a new firm at the same time can be a daunting experience. A liaison point provides support to both the secondee and the receiving firm.

Ready for relocation

In addition to ensuring your secondees are proficient in the main language of the country they are going to work in and providing them with information about the firm, location and culture of the region can greatly enhance the chances of a successful secondment.

A carefully planned and well-organised secondment can provide unparalleled opportunities for firms keen to expand, develop and retain top performers.

In addition, firms will benefit from developing highly skilled employees with in-depth technical knowledge and first-hand experience of providing services to clients in multiple locations.

Vital questions

By exposing first the host organisation and employee, then the seconding employer, to different work practices, external secondments can benefit all three parties. However, all three must be clear about their responsibilities.

Specific questions that need to be answered prior to a secondment, include:

Source: CIPD

Warren Gurtman is senior director of international secondments at RSM International

For more go to www.rsmi.com