HCM City (VNS/VNA) -Most Asian companies, including those doing business in Vietnam, believe it isbecoming increasingly difficult to recruit international talent though 40 percent(75 percent in Vietnam) plan to increase their international headcount in thenext 12 months, according to a new report.

“How to attract and retain the right talent togrow your business internationally,” by London-based professional recruitmentfirm Robert Walters said the greatest challenges are due to the high salariesexpected by applicants despite lacking the skills required. 

Adrien Bizouard, country manager, Robert WaltersVietnam, said: “With this report, targeted at Asian companies looking to internationalise,we hope this serves as a strategic roadmap on how to equip Vietnamesebusinesses with the talent they need.”

In Vietnam, when asked “What are the top threereasons for leaving their previous Asian companies,” 57 percent of therespondents indicated low transparency in company decisions and changescompared to only 35 percent in Asia.

This was followed by the lack of professionaltraining and personal development programmes (55 percent). The third reason (53percent) was they could not see a progression in their careerpaths.  

Besides common motivating factors such as payand benefits or company reputation, promotion opportunity was by far the mostpopular response (63 percent) to the survey question on what motivatesinternational talent to work in an Asian business.

The report suggested that Vietnamese companiesshould build their employer proposition to attract talent by providing acompetitive salary range and highlighting their expansion strategies for thefuture besides identifying and promoting their advantages over Westerncompanies.

Vietnamese companies should build and maintain aunique company culture through fostering close relationships within the firm atall levels, and create a culture of collaboration and teamwork which could turninto an advantageous factor, it said.

“They should provide structured training andcareer development programmes that would support employees in professionallyshaping their careers with the option of implementing a job rotation programmeto allow staff to gain an overview of the business and variety of skills.”

Asian companies are growing in internationalstatus and changing the global business landscape: 40 percent of the companiesin the latest global FORTUNE 500 list are Asian, more than from any othercontinent.

The need for international growth was recognisedby a majority of the survey’s respondents, with 70 percent of Asian firms and67 percent of Vietnamese firms stating that they plan to grow theirinternational footprint within the next three years.

The report was based on interviewswith more than 5,000 HR professionals, hiring managers and candidates inChina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, and Vietnam.-VNS/VNA