Local vs. Offshore: Which One Is Right for You?

I get this question all the time. Here’s a rough guide for when to hire off-shore and when to hire local.

When To Hire Local

Local staff bring nuanced cultural understanding. They’ve grown up around the same influences that you have. This is essential for 

  • Strategy, 

  • Leadership and management around cultural issues, 

  • Particularly sensitive client communications (eg. trauma-related),

  • Copywriting.

There are exceptions to this. I’ve hired offshore copywriters, customer support people, managers and consultants. This is just a general rule of thumb. 

When To Hire Off-Shore

Offshore staff can deliver incredible results at a fraction of the cost of locals, especially for repeatable, time-consuming tasks. It’s common to bring in a highly skilled video editor from the Philippines at $20AUD an hour versus $60–$100 an hour in Australia, with the same level of quality. That’s not a small difference for a growing small business that needs dozens of hours of video content.

I’ve often found that offshore staff, particularly from the Philippines, bring a level of humility, patience, and dedication to detail that is genuinely exceptional. These are generalisations, of course, but they’re generalisations from years of real experience.

Not Sure Which? We’re here to help.

The key is matching the right type of hire to the right type of role. If you’re not sure which applies to your situation, that’s the kind of thing we can work through together.

Hiring well is a skill, and it takes time to develop. If you’re not sure where to start or you’d rather hand the whole process to someone who does this every day, that’s what Unicorn Staffing Agency is here for.

We find you the right person, support the onboarding, and we’re available to support you ongoingly even once the hire is complete.

If you’d like to find out more, let’s have a chat to discuss your next hire. We’ll advise you on what kind of person can serve your biz best. Click here to book in a call.

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