International transfers

Gain international experience
Four steps for going abroad

Gain international experience
Get to know new markets, people, and cultures, gain international experience - Behr encourages its employees to take up temporary employment abroad. Whether at Behr South Africa, Behr Japan or Behr America - temporary employment abroad is an opportunity to experience the working environment at one of Behr’s international subsidiaries or joint venture companies, further educate yourself, and set a new course for your career. This applies not only to employees from Germany, but to all employees at Behr locations worldwide.

In principle, international transfers can take place on all levels within the company: in plants, development, and administration. Large international development projects could require a longer stay abroad. For example, if a product line is being introduced at a plant in India, machine technicians also go abroad as so-called expatriates.

Generally, a stay abroad lasts between one and three years.

Approximately 1% of our entire staff is working at international Behr locations throughout the world.

Four steps for going abroad
Temporary employment abroad at Behr occurs in four phases:

1. Search and selection phase
The qualities, character, and personality of the employee play a large role here. He or she should be flexible and open to different cultures, lifestyles, and work models. A good knowledge of English is a requirement.

2. Preparation
During this phase, we prepare the employee and, if desired, his or her partner for the stay abroad. In addition to language instruction and intercultural seminars, the employee can get to know the on-site conditions during a visit-and-observe trip. A preliminary talk provides information on special local features: How does the health care system work? What is the school system like? What has to be taken into account for tax returns?

3. Deployment on location
The employee will be shown the ropes on location by their new supervisor. The employee will also maintain contact with the HR department in Stuttgart to clarify any organizational questions. Former managers are also available to assist the employee in technical and professional matters.

4. Return
Approximately one year before returning, the employee discusses the new challenges they would like to take on after the stay abroad with his or her supervisor and the HR department in the home country .