Expatriate Selection: An Empirical Study Identifying Significant Skill Profiles

Effective selection procedures constitute an important factor in increasing expatriate success. However, research lacks findings regarding which skills to screen in international selection processes and whether to base expatriate selection on a culture-specific or culture-general skill profile. In an attempt to gather such evidence, an empirical study was conducted in the United States and Germany. Managers in both nations judge intercultural communication skills and intercultural sensitivity to be important intercultural competencies. Moreover, culture-specific skills seem to be required when engaged in both a U.S. and German working context. Recommendations for complementing culture-general and culture-specific skill profiles are discussed. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.