Belo Horizonte (“Beautiful Horizon” in Portuguese) is the capital of the state of Minas Gerais. “BH,” as the locals call it, is one of Brazil's largest cities, with a population of over 2.7 million, not counting the many university students who pervade the city. While BH lies in the interior, far from the beaches, it's a vibrant city with its own personality, a mix of the old and the new. It possesses a diversified economy and is worth a look if you aren't yet decided on a destination. Home to several large universities, “BH” has a youthful energy, despite its long history. But if you'd like to work there, you're advised to begin your search for a job from abroad. You can begin by reviewing Expat.com's general guidelines for working in Brazil.
About Belo Horizonte
Belo Horizonte is Brazil's sixth-largest city. The Belo Horizonte metropolitan area is so large, it's the third-most populous metropolitan area in the nation. It should then come as no surprise that Belo Horizonte is Brazil's first planned modern city.
We mentioned that BH doesn't have beaches, but it's still stunning in terms of nature. Not only is the city itself built on beautiful hills, but there are also many mountains around the local area, as well as parks.
Like many other Brazilian cities, Belo Horizonte's hosted the FIFA World Cup a few times; in 1950 and 2014.
The economy of Belo Horizonte
Brazil has recently emerged from a recession, as well as the effects of the pandemic. Belo Horizonte, like most cities here, has also been negatively affected. The economy in BH isn't booming as it was a few years back, but certain sectors (such as telecommunications and biofuels) continue to perform well, and so there are opportunities available for those who qualify.
Minas Gerias has historically been one of the most important and powerful states in Brazil, both economically and politically. Agriculture (dairy farming in particular) has always been an important part of the economy. So has mining, from iron ore to manganese, to gold and gemstones. In fact, the state's name in fact translates to “General Mines”.
But the economy in Belo Horizonte today is principally service-based. Distribution and logistics, telecom, and IT are all important. Manufacturing, centered largely in the Contagem district, represents a strong minority component. Higher education is also very important to the city, with tens of thousands of students residing here.
Sectors with potential
Many large Brazilian and international companies are represented in Belo Horizonte. A few of the larger and better-known companies include Google, Oi (telecom), Fiat, and Toshiba. Telecom companies, such as Oi, Telecom Italia Mobile, and Vivo, have a strong presence too.
In recent years, there has been heavy investment in IT, with rapid growth in jobs in this sector, which represents one of the best options for those with the requisite technical skills. Growth industries also include biotechnology and biofuels, which receive heavy government support in Brazil.
Tourism, including business tourism for conventions and the like, also represents a significant minority component of BH's diversified economy.
In the area of education, there are two international schools located in or near Belo Horizonte: The American School of Belo Horizonte, and Rizvi, which has two campuses. Certified teachers or education administrators may find work with one of these.
Belo Horizonte is also home to a large number of private and public universities. It isn't easy to secure a teaching position at a university, but these can be good jobs if you qualify, with good salaries, benefits, and plenty of time off. You'll need an advanced degree, and preferably prior teaching experience.
Those with backgrounds in business, engineering, or IT will likely find the going easier. Note though that some knowledge of Portuguese is often required.
Writing a Brazilian resume
In most other cities, it's recommended that you write your resume in Portuguese since that's the official language of the country. However, considering that Belo Horizonte has a large student population, a flourishing tourism industry, and large multinational companies, you just might be able to get away with writing it in English.
In either case, you'll want to make sure your resume is no longer than two pages; make every word count. Start with your most recent relevant work experience, then go backwards. You'll also want to list your educational experience, starting with the most recent too. You can leave out your elementary school education here.
In addition to submitting your resume, you should also type up a cover letter for every application. This should be about a page long at the most. This is your chance to let the potential employer know why you want the job and how you'd be an asset to them.
Finding work in Belo Horizonte
With your resume all typed up, you now need places to send it off to. While it can be tough for foreigners to find jobs in Brazil, there are several ways you can increase your chances of finding employment in Belo Horizonte.
Here are some of the most common ways expats find work in BH.
LinkedIn is one of the best ways to find employment nowadays, no matter where you want to work. This is because it's a social media platform that links you to potential employers. It also lets you connect with people you already know so you can make use of their connections.
In addition to being a social media platform, LinkedIn is also a job search platform. Type in what position you're looking for up top (or leave it blank to find more options), and then set your location for Belo Horizonte. From there, you'll be able to browse a list of results. Click on the ones you're interested in to view the job descriptions.
You can then apply directly on the LinkedIn page. What's great is you can upload your resume so there's no need to type it up for every application. Once you've submitted your job application, the employer will contact you through the LinkedIn inbox or email if they're interested in proceeding with you as a candidate.
On rare occasions, you might be headhunted. Recruiters will approach you through the LinkedIn inbox with opportunities, especially if you've got an in-demand skillset. However, if you don't, be wary of these “recruiters”, as they're most likely trying to scam you.
In-person networks
Not only should you network online, but in person as well. If you've got Brazilian friends, or know people who live in Brazil, it's time to put those friendships to use. You should also try people who know Brazilians so you can extend your reach even further. It's always worth a try to get your foot in the door.
Government and firm websites
There are inter-governmental websites you can check, as they'll list jobs for qualified foreigners. You can also try your home country's embassy website; they'll have a list of multinational firms you can try.
A good idea is to try individual firm websites to see what openings they currently have. It'll be much quicker if you have a curated list from your embassy's website.
Brazilian newspapers
Browsing Brazilian newspapers can pay off since they still have sections for job openings. If you have a large Brazilian population where you live, it'll probably be possible to buy newspapers there. Or you can have your friends in Brazil check the newspapers for you.
Another possibility is finding the online versions of Brazilian newspapers. The digital versions will have the same content, but you won't have to travel to get it.
Employment and recruitment agencies
If you have some money to spare, then it can be worth your time and money to hire an employment or recruitment agency. These will be located in Belo Horizonte and they'll know the local industries and job openings, even before others do.
You can first try the above ways to find work in BH and if you're not having any luck, this might be just what you need to get things going.
Tips for job hunting in Brazil
Having knowledge of the Portuguese language will be a huge plus, so if you can, brush up on it before you even apply for a job. Also, if you've lived in Brazil for at least 10 years, or are married to a Brazilian citizen, and/or have a Brazilian-born child, it'll be much easier to find employment, as you won't be counted as a typical foreigner.
Usually, Brazilian companies have to prove they've tried hiring within the nation before they can hire outside of Brazil. And not only that, but their workforce must be at least two-thirds Brazilian. In addition, foreign certificates and titles aren't recognized in the country, so you'll have to start all over with Brazilian exams (in Portuguese) if you want to work in BH. As you can see, it'll be quite challenging to get a job through traditional ways.
What we'd recommend doing is working for a multinational company in your home country that has a branch in Belo Horizonte. At a later date, you can then ask for a transfer there, and you can circumvent all the restrictions above. For instance, all your certificates and titles will count, and the workforce will probably mainly speak English.
The work culture in Brazil
Most Brazilian offices follow Western work culture. So if you're familiar with that, then you're in luck. In the office, it'll be hierarchical, so you and everyone else will have defined roles, where lower employees answer to higher-ranking ones.
You should expect most workplaces to be formal and corporate. In this case, the employees should have good knowledge of English, as they'll have higher education. And the younger employees will be even more fluent in English since Brazilian schools have emphasized teaching English more in recent years.
As the workplace is formal and corporate, you should expect to dress professionally. Don't come into work dressed casually or looking unkempt, as Brazilians highly value appearances. Make sure you're dressed your best.
One thing you need to learn and accept quickly is Brazilian tardiness. While this definitely happens in social situations, it also happens at work. Your colleagues will regularly walk in 10 to 20 minutes late, and that'll be acceptable to your bosses. Of course, they'll still appreciate that you're showing up on time, so don't fall into this bad habit yourself.
You should also be prepared to form real friendships at work. Interpersonal work relationships are important, so it'll be frowned upon if you just put your head down and work all the time, without getting to know your coworkers. In addition to having conversations with them, you should also greet them each day with a hug. And if you're a woman, or the person you're greeting is a woman, then you should also exchange two kisses on the cheek, one on each side.
In general, the farther up north you go in Brazil, the more informal it'll be for both social and office settings. Belo Horizonte is considered to be in the southeast part of Brazil, so it'll be more formal than the north.
Living in Belo Horizonte
Belo Horizonte is not what you may envision when you hear “Brazil”. It's located far from the nearest beach. But Belo Horizonte has a vibrant nightlife, and locals often exclaim: 'Não tem mar, tem bar!' Roughly translated, this means: “There's no ocean, there's a bar!” And you'll find bars, clubs, restaurants, and pubs everywhere. As home to many universities, Belo Horizonte has a lively music scene.
Despite its lack of beaches, Belo Horizonte offers a lot of nature as well. The surrounding area has many rivers, hiking trails, and even caves for nature lovers.
Belo Horizonte isn't a terribly expensive city. Perhaps because of the large number of university students, there are many inexpensive spots for dining and drinking. Rent prices are reasonable; on average, they're lower than in Rio or São Paulo. However, finding lodging can take some patience, again due to the number of university students.
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