Discover Germany | Special Theme | Germany’s Experts in Relocation Services and International Move Management
Compass team. Photo: Sinem Etürk, Copyright: Compass International
Compass International: the one-stop solution for the integration of international employees Stuttgart-based integration and relocation agency Compass International has been offering intercultural trainings as well as onboarding and relocation services for international employees for more than 20 years. Speaking to Discover Germany, founder and CEO Elke Müller explains why these services have recently become more important than ever.
cific study sessions, for example, on topics like rental law or data protection.”This way, Compass International invests three to five days annually for the internal education of their staff.
TEXT: SONJA IRANI I PHOTOS: COMPASS INTERNATIONAL
Power women
According to Müller, she and her colleagues advise less and less of the typical ‘expats’, who are working at a different location of their company for just a couple of years and then return to their home countries. “Instead, the number of international employees that we provide counselling for has increased significantly,” she explains.“We do notice that a lack of specialists is now the reality for many industries.” But whenever employees are recruited from abroad, and especially from non-EU countries, the employers are faced with many different questions and challenges. “There are still a lot of insecurities, especially in medium-sized companies,” em68 | Issue 73 | April 2019
phasises Müller. Compass International therefore offers its support – for example, by filling in paperwork, finding a place to live or the right childcare and schools for families.“But we also help our clients with getting international degrees approved or advise employees from non-member countries on visas and work permits.” Quality through qualification When doing this, the continuous training of the Compass International employees takes utmost priority. “It’s self-explanatory for us that we offer regular trainings to all our relocation consultants – both the employed ones and our 30 freelancers,” emphasises the company founder. “These range from intercultural trainings to spe-
Elke Müller is also part of a special women-empowering initiative that was founded in 2014 by the Federal Ministry of Economics. “The goal of our voluntary work is to motivative as many women as possible to become entrepreneurs themselves,” explains Müller, and adds: “I do hope that in a few years, more than 30 per cent of women are brave enough to start their own business!” www.compass-international.de
‘We integrate people.’ Photomontage: werdewelt, Copyright: Compass International