“Working with a global employment company helps manage payroll and legal matters easily.” - Olga Shatokha, Bee's Knees Co-founder.
We spoke with Olga Shatokha from Bee's Knees about hiring remote workers. She shared trends they’ve noticed and gave advice for growing businesses.
Bee's Knees helped Printify grow its team quickly by offering flexible working options like remote work. This approach proved to be highly attractive for enhancing work-life balance.
A key to their success is having access to a broad range of talents worldwide. Olga believes global hiring is the best strategy as it offers a variety of talents without location constraints.
She clarified a misconception: "Companies often hire from countries where wages are lower to save costs, but they should avoid underpaying employees based on local standards".
We learnt from Olga that partnering with a global employment company, like Teamed, can simplify payroll and legal processes. Teamed’s flexibility and personal touch make it a preferred choice, ensuring employees are happy and secure.
In my opinion, the best choice a company can make is to opt for hiring globally - then you don’t need to compromise on the location.
Full Interview
What is Bee's Knees’ primary focus, and how does it distinguish itself from other similar agencies?
At Bee’s Knees we’re focused on hiring for a range of roles in tech, mainly engineering and product. While we work with different types of companies, we pride ourselves in successfully filling in multiple roles for startups.
Everyone on our team has previously worked in-house at startups and product companies. For example, I worked for 3 years at Pipedrive where I hired 150 engineers, and then helped Printify scale from 80 to 300 people within a year.
Such backgrounds give us an understanding of how to look for not just great talent, but also a great culture fit.
Besides that, both me and my co-founder love to be hands-on - our clients always have either of us as their point of contact.
We source beyond LinkedIn - there’s also Github, Stackoverflow, Meetup.com and other sources.
Last but not least, each candidate undergoes a customized screening call with us before we send them our client’s way.
What are the most in-demand skills for roles in AI?
First of all, proficiency in machine learning, deep learning, data science (big data technologies, cloud computing platforms) and programming languages like Python is foundational.
Additionally, specialized skills in areas such as natural language processing (NLP), computer vision, and reinforcement learning are highly sought after. A solid understanding of statistics, probability, and domain-specific knowledge enhances an AI professional's ability to develop effective and context-aware AI solutions. Also, ethical considerations and bias mitigation techniques are becoming increasingly important in AI development, emphasizing the need for a skill set that includes ethical AI expertise and problem-solving abilities.
The AI field is dynamic, and the specific skills in demand evolve over time. Staying updated with emerging technologies, industry trends, and regional job market demands is critical for the candidates.
Companies often seek international talent to address specific skill gaps, such as expertise in emerging technologies, languages, and cultural insights that may not be available in the local talent pool.
What drives today's top tech talent?
Today's top tech talent is driven by a combination of factors. Here are some key drivers:
1. Tech professionals seek opportunities that allow them to solve complex problems and work on innovative projects that have a real impact, especially if we’re talking about the impact on society and the environment.
2. Tech talent is drawn to organizations that provide opportunities for learning new technologies and tools, as well as room for career growth.
3. Top candidates want to work in environments where they can contribute to cutting-edge solutions and use the latest technologies. They are attracted to companies that prioritize innovation and encourage creativity.
4. The COVID-19 pandemic has shifted attitudes toward remote work. Many tech professionals value flexibility in their work arrangements, whether it's remote work options or flexible hours, supporting work-life balance.Tech professionals often seek alignment with a company's culture, mission and values. They often prioritize workplaces with DE&I programmes.
5. Competitive compensation packages, including salary, bonuses, and benefits, remain important.In uncertain times like the market is experiencing now, job security is a key consideration. Tech talent seeks stability and may prioritize industries or companies with a track record of resilience.
Individual preferences can vary, and what drives top tech talent differs from person to person. However, employers looking to attract and retain tech talent should consider these factors.
What is the most common use case have you experienced with clients who are looking for talent internationally? Do you see new use cases in the future?
Companies often seek international talent to address specific skill gaps, such as expertise in emerging technologies, languages, and cultural insights that may not be available in the local talent pool. As organizations expand globally, they often need employees with local knowledge and market understanding to facilitate their growth and operations in new regions.
Moreover, companies often hire internationally to cut costs. Take Portugal, for instance; salaries there are generally lower compared to the UK or the US. However, it's essential to be mindful of local market norms and avoid underpaying employees, as unfortunately, we've seen instances of this lately. I even posted about this issue on LinkedIn to raise awareness.
Hiring internationally can bring different backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints to the team, fostering innovation and enriching the organizational culture. With the rise of remote work and the flexibility it offers, companies can tap into a global talent pool without the need for physical relocation, making it more accessible and cost-effective to bring in international talent to meet their specific needs.
Hiring internationally can bring different backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints to the team, fostering innovation and enriching the organizational culture.
In which countries do you typically find the most and the best tech talent?
Every company defines “best tech talent” differently, and I believe that every country has great tech professionals. At Bee’s Knees, our expertise covers most of Europe, Canada and the Middle East.
However, our strongest knowledge is in Portugal and in the Baltic countries due to the fact that I lived in both locations and have a strong network of candidates and clients there.
In my opinion, the best choice a company can make is to opt for hiring globally - then you don’t need to compromise on the location.
How does Bee's Knees typically address global hiring challenges, and how does it resolve them?
One of the challenges when hiring globally, is understanding a new market. For that, we do market mapping: a process of thoroughly researching and understanding the talent landscape for a specific job role or industry. It involves creating a structured plan that outlines potential sources, competitors, and target markets. This tool provides us with a roadmap for sourcing candidates and making informed decisions throughout the hiring process.
Besides that, it is important to partner with a global employment company to address any payroll and legal topics the client might have. Teamed is our choice due to its flexibility and human touch.
Highlights from Olga
- The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how we see remote work. Many in tech now see the value in having flexible working options, like working from home or having changeable hours, which helps in balancing work and life.
- Companies often hire from around the world to save money. However, it's important to consider the usual pay rates in each location to ensure that employees are paid fairly.
- When a company hires people from various parts of the world, it brings a mix of backgrounds, experiences, and ideas. This diversity encourages new thinking and adds value to the company's culture.
- The best approach for a company is to be open to hiring from anywhere in the world. This way, there are no limits based on location.
- Working with a global employment company is vital to manage payroll and legal matters effectively. We've selected Teamed because they are flexible and offer a personalised service.
What's next?
Many experts in tech recruitment suggest looking globally for talent because it helps businesses. But, it can be tough when growing companies don’t value top talent in countries where living costs are lower.
It's good to have advice from top professionals. They tell us the newest ways to find people who value flexibility, compensation packages, new ideas, variety, and a balanced life.
Luckily, we have recruiters like Olga today who work hard to find the best person for each job, no matter where the candidates are located, and appreciate the candidates' skills to create trust between everyone
At Teamed, we know this is important, which is why we join forces with Bee's Knees. So, whenever Olga employs someone in a country where her client isn’t officially based, we handle everything, like local rules, paying wages, contracts, and more. It's as simple as that.
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