How to work for an international company without leaving home?

Some careers already offer foreign opportunities under a 100% home office regime and flexible workload

A little over two years ago, when the Covid-19 pandemic devastated the world, the Brazilian job market had to reinvent itself through a regime that, until that point, was not very popular in the country: the home office. People started to work directly from their homes, and the success of the adaptation showed companies that, in many cases, it is even more advantageous for both sides to work remotely than to go to the office every day.

However, the popularization of the home office also reduced any territorial borders in the labor market, allowing many professionals to work in companies that are not located in the state where they live and, in some cases, not even in the country. The international market saw an opportunity to recruit workers from all over the world, including Brazil, because, in addition to the possibility of everyone working from home, the regime also rules out a series of bureaucratic processes, such as the need for a passport, work visa, fluency in native language, etc.

For the professional, it is also advantageous, since the hours are usually flexible (due to the time zone issue) and payment is made in the currency of the country of origin, which can be in dollars or euros. With the current exchange rate, it ends up being a very profitable job for Brazilians, who in the conversion get an excellent salary in reais.

Como trabalhar para uma empresa internacional sem sair de casa? - image
Como trabalhar para uma empresa internacional sem sair de casa?

expanding opportunities

Practically any profession that can currently work from home in Brazil can also do this internationally. However, most of the opportunities are in the technology sector, for IT (information technology) professionals. With the role that digital took on in people's lives during the pandemic, the demand for skilled labor grew at such a fast pace that the number of vacancies ended up surpassing that of professionals available on the market.

With the devalued real and the urgency to find qualified professionals, Brazil ended up becoming one of the main targets of companies headquartered in the United States, Canada, Portugal and China. For the institution, it is advantageous, because it is possible to reduce the remuneration by up to 50% than what would be paid for a native professional; however, in the conversion, this amount would be more than double a standard salary in Brazil, so it ends up being equally beneficial for the service provider.

In addition, it is also an excellent opportunity for workers to enhance their curriculum and stand out in the Brazilian market. Most international companies do not offer stable employment relationships, that is, most hire professionals on a service provision basis or as a freelancer. This allows the person to seek other opportunities to supplement income, working in parallel in more than one place. With international companies in the portfolio, it is easier to get ahead of the competition.

Many face the possibility of working abroad as a form of exchange, even without leaving home. The person has the chance to experience a new work culture and improve their understanding of another language. All this can even serve as a starting point for those who want to live outside Brazil. With this closer contact with another nation and with a salary in foreign currency, the person has more security to make this transition, without major fears of not being able to adapt or sustain himself in another country.

Tips for interested parties

The international home office is not something so new in the market, and, before the pandemic, it was already a trend, but today it is much easier to find opportunities compatible with different levels of qualification. Vacancies range from operational positions to management roles, but it is important to be aware of the requirements as many management positions may require a move to the host country in the future. It is necessary to assess whether you are willing to deal with this possibility, as it is a highly bureaucratic process.

The moment is very favorable for those who want to face this challenge, especially professionals trained in distance learning computer science or face-to-face, which have a greater variety of opportunities in the international market. However, it is also necessary for the professional to be prepared, after all, providing services to a company in another country involves a series of issues that are not part of the day-to-day work of Brazilians.

First, it is essential to know the local language at a level that is at least advanced, as there will be constant contact with that language, either through messages or direct conversation. Investing in language courses is important, and the sooner you do it, the better, as it takes time to adapt to a new language. To expand opportunities, the ideal is to reach a level that is close to fluent in at least two languages: English and Spanish.  

Contact with these jobs will also help improve your skills in the language in question, but not everyone has the same ease of learning a new language, so it is important to start this process as soon as possible. Another important point is to seek to learn about the culture of the company's country, as this defines the way people interact with each other and even how they work. Being aware of local customs helps you fit in better with teams and not look like a complete stranger, something that can be common within a foreign environment.

Those who wish to use this opportunity to live abroad in the future also need to pay attention to other details. Networking never ceases to be something important in the job market, which is why it is always worth trying to get as close as possible to managers and guarantee a support network when you are living in the country in question. Pay close attention to all the trends and skills that are on the rise in that market and try to adapt your resume accordingly, because, in addition to all this, you also need to dedicate yourself to continuing to seek professional qualifications, mainly through study.

Keeping all this in mind and, above all, being patient enough, it is possible to start your international career without leaving your home.