The New Reality of Global Hiring
A senior software engineer in San Francisco commands $200,000+. The same skill set in Buenos Aires? $60,000-80,000. In Lisbon? $50,000-70,000. In Manila? $30,000-50,000.
This isn't about exploiting wage differences—it's about accessing talent that was previously unreachable while providing life-changing opportunities in local markets.
Why This Works Now
Remote Work Is Mainstream
The pandemic proved that distributed teams can be highly effective. Companies no longer need to convince skeptics—remote work is proven.
Global Talent Quality Has Risen
Educational access, online learning, and global tech companies have raised the bar worldwide. Top developers in Nairobi or São Paulo are as skilled as those in Silicon Valley.
Tools Have Matured
Modern collaboration tools—Slack, Notion, Linear, Figma—enable seamless remote work. Time zones are workable with the right processes.
Candidates Want It
Top global talent increasingly prefers remote work over relocating. They can earn well while staying connected to their communities.
Where to Find Great Talent
Latin America
Countries: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Chile
Advantages:
- Similar time zones to US
- Strong technical education
- Cultural affinity with US companies
- English proficiency growing rapidly
Roles: Engineering, design, customer success
Eastern Europe
Countries: Poland, Ukraine, Romania, Portugal
Advantages:
- Strong STEM education tradition
- European time zones (work with both US and Europe)
- Many English speakers
- Established tech sectors
Roles: Engineering, data science, QA
Southeast Asia
Countries: Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia
Advantages:
- Excellent English (especially Philippines)
- Large talent pools
- Significant cost savings
- Strong service orientation
Roles: Customer support, operations, design
Africa
Countries: Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Egypt
Advantages:
- Rapidly growing tech ecosystem
- Young, ambitious workforce
- Time zone overlap with Europe
- Untapped potential
Roles: Engineering, customer success, sales
Getting Compensation Right
Pay Well by Local Standards
The goal isn't to pay as little as possible—it's to access great talent at rates that work for your business while being generous in local context.
A $50,000 salary might be low in San Francisco but could be top 1% in many markets. Pay accordingly.
Benefits Matter
Beyond salary, consider:
- Health insurance (often not employer-provided)
- Professional development budget
- Equipment allowance
- Coworking space membership
- Paid time off (more than local minimums)
Annual Adjustments
Cost of living changes. Currency fluctuates. Review compensation annually and adjust to remain competitive.
Avoiding Common Pitfalls
The "Cheap Labor" Mindset
If you're hiring globally primarily to save money, you'll get what you pay for. Hire for quality; savings are a bonus.
Ignoring Time Zones
A 12-hour time difference requires intentional process design. Async-first isn't optional—it's survival.
Legal Complexity
Employment law varies wildly. Use an Employer of Record (EOR) service until you have significant presence in a country.
Cultural Blindness
Different cultures have different communication styles, holidays, and expectations. Learn and adapt.
Making Global Teams Work
Hire for Remote Skills
Not everyone thrives remotely. Look for:
- Strong written communication
- Self-direction
- Proactive information sharing
- Comfort with async work
Invest in Tools
Your global team needs great tools:
- Collaboration: Slack, Notion, Linear
- Time zones: World Time Buddy, Calendly
- Video: Zoom, Loom
- Documentation: Notion, GitBook
Build Culture Intentionally
Remote culture doesn't happen by accident:
- Regular all-hands meetings
- Annual team gatherings
- Non-work Slack channels
- Virtual social events
Trust by Default
Micromanagement kills remote teams. Hire great people, set clear expectations, and trust them to deliver.
The Ethical Dimension
Global hiring done right is win-win:
For Companies:
- Access to world-class talent
- Sustainable cost structure
- Diverse perspectives
- Follow-the-sun coverage
For Workers:
- Competitive wages by local standards
- Career growth opportunities
- Work without relocating
- Access to global companies
The key is mutual value creation, not exploitation.
Getting Started
Start Small
Hire one or two global team members before building an entire distributed team. Learn what works.
Use Specialized Platforms
General job boards don't work well for global hiring. Use platforms designed for remote/global talent.
Partner with an EOR
Employment law is complex. Let specialists handle compliance while you focus on hiring great people.
Plan for In-Person
Even remote teams benefit from occasional face time. Budget for annual gatherings.
Ready to explore global talent? RealHires connects you with pre-vetted candidates from around the world—each with a video introduction so you can assess skills and communication before hiring.