Contracting in Brazil

[Fred Bloggs]

Not Brazil, but a true story this. I had to leave a certain asain country at short notice a while ago. I had quite a few thousand in local currency that I could not change so I put it in a parcel and hid it under my shirt, I had little in the way of options really. I got searched by the airport customs people on the way through the airport and he felt around my shirt and pointed at the bulge under my shirt. I took the parcel out and he pointed to me to open it (he had no english language) but in a moment of inspiration I thought to myself that he'd be embarrased if I pushed it in his hands and told him to open it. Anyway, it worked like a charm, he gave me the parcel back and ushered me through. Very, very close escape. Bad news though was the bank shafted me on the exchange rate when I converted it to £'s. Oh well.

[redgiant]

I think I feel qualified to answer this. I spent a year and a half with my Brazilian wife there in Sao Paulo.

Basically, it's all about who you know not what you know. No one trusts anybody, so why should they trust a CV that could be full of lies, better a recommendation from a friend or friend of a friend.

They style of working is very oriented to the US working practices (long hours). Although the wages can be good, if you land on your feet, Sao Paulo is becoming a very expensive city to live in.

Also not many people speak English, unless you're in the Oil industry, so you won't be considered unless you have fluent Portuguese.

Plus you'll need a permencia visa to work there unless a company will sponsor you (v. remote)

Also trying to take money out of the country is difficult (ex-president's brother favoured method was in $100 bills in his underpants until he was caught passing through security).

So, basically, don't bother.

Thanks for the advice. I have a few contacts over in the south of the country so will see what they come back with.

Smuggling money out of the country in your pants is a good one ... I don't think I will ever look at a $100 bill in the same way again

[Antman]

I think I feel qualified to answer this. I spent a year and a half with my Brazilian wife there in Sao Paulo.

Basically, it's all about who you know not what you know. No one trusts anybody, so why should they trust a CV that could be full of lies, better a recommendation from a friend or friend of a friend.

They style of working is very oriented to the US working practices (long hours). Although the wages can be good, if you land on your feet, Sao Paulo is becoming a very expensive city to live in.

Also not many people speak English, unless you're in the Oil industry, so you won't be considered unless you have fluent Portuguese.

Plus you'll need a permencia visa to work there unless a company will sponsor you (v. remote)

Also trying to take money out of the country is difficult (ex-president's brother favoured method was in $100 bills in his underpants until he was caught passing through security).

So, basically, don't bother.

[redgiant]

What is the IT contracting market like in Brazil and where are they usually advertised? Also has anyone done any work out there recently?

With the World Cup and the Olympics on the horizon I would imagine that demand is picking up slowly.