Corporations often offer pre-decision assistance, too. This may involve a “look-see” trip (preliminary destination visit) by candidates before accepting the position to assess if culture and lifestyle elements are a good match. Cultural mismatch can be a key contributor to a costly international relocation failure and many companies are strengthening candidate selection practices before sealing the deal.
Many companies offer basic language and cultural training for their globally mobile workforce. But it likely doesn’t include such practical aspects as local real estate purchase and rental practices, legal and negotiating customs and financial and tax aspects of these activities. Could you offer advisory services for corporate or non-corporate markets as a value-added feature or separate service? Relocation department staff are well situated to facilitate understanding of local real estate practices and customs and to influence the success of inbound corporate assignments and non-corporate purchase transactions.
Personal Intercultural Development
You may have a natural affinity for working with certain cultures and maybe you’ve already established yourself as a ready resource for a foreign national segment. But if you have interest in further enhancing knowledge and skills, there are good resources available.
WERC offers the Global Mobility Specialist (GMS) designation, a series of three learning modules that provides an overview of global mobility issues. It includes international policy components and their application, assignment types and strategies, and there is substantial content on intercultural challenges and how to conduct global business successfully.
NAR offers the Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) designation. In addition to a five-course study program, it includes membership to a professional network of other NAR CIPS practitioners. The courses focus on the critical aspects of transnational real estate and transactions such as world regional market conditions; currency/exchange-rate issues; cross-cultural relations and tax issues. Optional course selections are designed for real estate trends and cultural influences of specific global regions such as Europe, APAC and the Americas.
The addition of cultural competencies reflecting local foreign nationals (i.e., specific nationality focus or language fluencies) and an awareness of local clients’ policy assistance needs for inbound assignee move types can position your business to grow along with increased international activity in your market.
Peg Guinta, CRP, is Projects Director for RIS Consulting Group.
