Selection Measures for Expatriates

Expat assignments can be incredibly useful, if done correctly. However, 10-20 percent of expat assignments fail due to various difficulties \u2014 adjustment, preparedness, family issues, etc. There are many ways to mitigate this failure rate, include training and development, proper preparation, support throughout the assignment \u2014 the one this thesis evaluates is proper selection measures for choosing an expat going abroad. Selecting the right candidate is the first step in the battle and if this is done correctly, it increases the likelihood that the expat assignment will be successful. Here we evaluate three selection measures: job performance, resiliency, and employee readiness. Included are interview questions with raters, as well as comments from current/past expats and managers of expats. If the three characteristics are well assessed for, a better selection for an expat can be made, thus increasing the probability of a successful assignment.