08 Jan Prepping Up for Global Realities in Mobility

Many world events in 2016 caught companies and their global recruiting and mobility managers by total surprise. Response time was slow and uncertain, as some took a “wait-and-see” approach while others tried to make sense of the situation in order to plan more productively for the long term. Brexit was one game-changer that left almost everyone reeling; President Donald Trump’s victory was another. While technological development is always welcome, the effect of smart machines on employment is being treated with more than the usual caution.

To minimize the impact of the unexpected, California Corporate Housing takes a look at the most-anticipated global developments in 2017 as predicted by leading media outlets. Global mobility specialists who are tasked to find competitive foreign talent, while maximizing every resource at their disposal, should take note.

Expand recruitment base: Millions of women marched last January 21 for policies that benefit women and men, which may spark more marches — with more people joining in. Meanwhile, Pope Francis has issued a dire warning to watch against the rise of demagoguery and extremist leaders who would resort to protectionism and militancy to assuage their countrymen’s fears against terrorism and economic uncertainty.

The government has not yet defined U.S. immigration limits or requirements, but tech talents and those with advanced degrees may not be affected as much. Still, global mobility specialists should start expanding their recruitment base beyond the familiar and check out talent hubs in regions that the current administration regards as allies. Another option would be to look for local hires who live in other U.S. states.

Protect your database the ‘primitive’ way. If the accounts of Yahoo, Twitter, Facebook, and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg can be hacked, then no one is safe, let alone companies and organizations. A.T. Kearney projects that the most sophisticated cyber hackers will turn their focus to the vast infrastructure of a major global power and its institutions. A wide-scale attack could cause power failure, internet disruption, and operation disruption. Everything and everyone in an affected area could stop and stand still.

It’s time to create your own little haven of security in case of impending cyber disaster. Continually backup your data. Store copies outside the internet — yes, that means files stored in hard drives or their printed versions. Yes, it’s time to go back to a primitive, non-techie kind of contingency. Have a backup to your backup.

Watch how the import-export business is doing. Fortune says that despite the new administration’s’ promise to decrease imports and trigger the increase of exports, the opposite will happen. Consumer spending and a growing trade deficit will open a sizable window for inexpensive foreign products, while the entry of American goods into international markets will lessen. Still, we’re talking about goods. Global mobility specialists need to keep eye on these promising regions as potential sources of recruitment. A trickle-down economy’s effects can include the emergence of industries, a boost of entrepreneurship, and the growth of skilled talent that the U.S. may need to keep its status as the leading economy in the world.