Looking for work (Returning from Sao Paulo)

Looking for work (Returning from Sao Paulo)

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alross1212

Original Poster:

28 posts

97 months

Thursday 14th April 2016
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Hi everyone,

I will try to keep this as concise as possible. I have just turned 31 and for the past 4 years I have been living and working in Sao Paulo, Brazil. In this time I have been advising UK and Brazilian companies about entering each others respective markets. Either through import/export or via Foreign Direct Investment. I have also assisted existing international companies in Sao Paulo with international negotiations / business development.

Before moving to Brazil I worked for PWC in their International Research Unit for projects in partnership with Forbes US and Starbucks US. This position was based in my home city, Belfast Northern Ireland. Previous to PWC I was a regional manager for a small local wine and beer distribution company.

My reason for leaving Brazil is the increasingly worrying security and financial situation. It is looking more likely every day that the government will be overthrown in an undemocratic way. The financial situation is getting bad as inflation grips the country. Also the security situation has always been bad but there is a growing sense that things are worsening. All in all its time to move back to the UK ASAP.

I have been looking for work since January and I have had the most luck in Business Development Manager positions. I had 2 interviews for BDM positions in January (both based in the UK). Both were wanting a BDM with Brazilian experience and fluent Portuguese. The jobs were well paid with a basic of 50k a year. However both jobs were scrapped as the businesses saw what was happening to the market in Brazil and got cold feet regarding doing business there. This sucks for me but I understand their concerns.

Currently I am honestly looking for any position that pays 25k+ a year to get me out of here as soon as possible. This is not me being greedy either, my wife is a non-eu citizen. The govt passed a law which states that if my wife is to move to the UK with me then I must prove that my yearly earnings will equal 25k a year. This is with her already working FOR the British Govt in South America in a trade diplomacy role in the British Consulate. Hows that for a stupid draconian law?!

Now I am getting a bit frustrated, since those 2 interviews I have applied to a lot but not heard much back in a couple of months. I was primarily looking at Northern Ireland to be close to family again but now I am getting to the point where I am willing to move anywhere just to get out of here! Any advice or recommendations would be much appreciated!!

Here I will paste the brief cover letter I have been submitting; (I can also email across a CV to anyone who wants to have a look)

Dear HR Team,

I am a Northern Irish business executive with extensive international experience within the Business Development environment. The past 4 years has seen me being based in Sao Paulo Brazil, which is the business and financial capital of Latin America. Here I have been advising clients on how to successfully navigate Business Development related issues specifically focused on businesses wanting to enter either the British or Latin American market, through import/export or via Foreign Direct Investment.

Before moving to Brazil I was hired by PWC in Belfast to be part of their International Research Unit, where I was part of a team that conducted and analysed market research and data for a number of North American companies including Starbucks US and Forbes US. This role was 100% target orientated and I always hit or exceeded my agreed targets.

I am a hugely motivated individual who is not afraid of taking on a challenge and jumping in to the deep end. I have just arrived back in Northern Ireland in order to continue my career a bit closer to my family and I am looking to start a new position immediately.

I hold a UK passport, full clean UK driving licence and I am fluent in corporate Brazilian Portuguese.

Kind Regards,

TurricanII

1,516 posts

197 months

Thursday 14th April 2016
quotequote all
I personally would want to customise each cover letter to mention the key elements that have been asked for in the job advert.

Can you work for your current employer but be based in Northern Ireland?

Have you contact with any of the businesses you have worked with that have moved into the UK Market? Could you find a role with one of those? Have a look through your LinkedIn contacts

alross1212

Original Poster:

28 posts

97 months

Thursday 14th April 2016
quotequote all
TurricanII said:
I personally would want to customise each cover letter to mention the key elements that have been asked for in the job advert.

Can you work for your current employer but be based in Northern Ireland?

Have you contact with any of the businesses you have worked with that have moved into the UK Market? Could you find a role with one of those? Have a look through your LinkedIn contacts
Hi there,

Yes I tweek the cover letter to each specific job but the one I shared is the base before tweeking. I do have some connections from previous jobs. One wants to hire me but they need someone to leave first, so theres no knowing when that will happen. I am currently self employed in Brazil, I have my own small business offering management consultancy. Its just me but its the best way to gain employment here (protectionist national tax reasons means being hired as a consultant is more likely). Business was good here but due to the breakdown of the economy here there is not much trade between the UK and Brazil. So my connections regarding this are not hiring. Its also the reason my two interviews fell through.



alross1212

Original Poster:

28 posts

97 months

Saturday 16th April 2016
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bump

rog007

5,748 posts

223 months

Saturday 16th April 2016
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Happy to feedback on your CV if you PM me and may also have a couple of ideas for you too.

alross1212

Original Poster:

28 posts

97 months

Sunday 17th April 2016
quotequote all
rog007 said:
Happy to feedback on your CV if you PM me and may also have a couple of ideas for you too.
Hi Rog,

I just sent you a PM!

Alan

edc

9,231 posts

250 months

Monday 18th April 2016
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alross1212 said:
Dear HR Team,

I am a Northern Irish business executive with extensive international experience within the Business Development environment. The past 4 years has seen me being based in Sao Paulo Brazil, which is the business and financial capital of Latin America. Here I have been advising clients on how to successfully navigate Business Development related issues specifically focused on businesses wanting to enter either the British or Latin American market, through import/export or via Foreign Direct Investment.

Before moving to Brazil I was hired by PWC in Belfast to be part of their International Research Unit, where I was part of a team that conducted and analysed market research and data for a number of North American companies including Starbucks US and Forbes US. This role was 100% target orientated and I always hit or exceeded my agreed targets.

I am a hugely motivated individual who is not afraid of taking on a challenge and jumping in to the deep end. I have just arrived back in Northern Ireland in order to continue my career a bit closer to my family and I am looking to start a new position immediately.

I hold a UK passport, full clean UK driving licence and I am fluent in corporate Brazilian Portuguese.

Kind Regards,
I would remove the "Northern Irish" business executive, it doesn't really add anything. At the end of first paragraph you may want to precis some of the types of clients you have worked with: brand names, turnover, market segment etc. I would also punctuate with a final sentence on the success eg additional revenue or EBIT these new operations have generated.

In your second paragraph you mention targets. What were they? Revenue, new clients, new markets entered?

In your last paragraphs i would simply write "I am now in Northern Ireland ..." and tell the reader explicitly what roles you want.

slow_poke

1,855 posts

233 months

Tuesday 19th April 2016
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I've emailed you - but you'll need to check it pronto and reply to me even more pronto.

alross1212

Original Poster:

28 posts

97 months

Tuesday 19th April 2016
quotequote all
slow_poke said:
I've emailed you - but you'll need to check it pronto and reply to me even more pronto.
Got the email, I have just replied too.

slow_poke

1,855 posts

233 months

Tuesday 19th April 2016
quotequote all
alross1212 said:
slow_poke said:
I've emailed you - but you'll need to check it pronto and reply to me even more pronto.
Got the email, I have just replied too.
Yup. No need for pronto so, but expedite over the next day or so would do.

slow_poke

1,855 posts

233 months

Tuesday 19th April 2016
quotequote all
alross1212 said:
Currently I am honestly looking for any position that pays 25k+ a year to get me out of here as soon as possible. This is not me being greedy either, my wife is a non-eu citizen. The govt passed a law which states that if my wife is to move to the UK with me then I must prove that my yearly earnings will equal 25k a year. This is with her already working FOR the British Govt in South America in a trade diplomacy role in the British Consulate. Hows that for a stupid draconian law?!
Just a passing thought on this - If you are from NornIron you may qualify for dual citizenship with the Republic, or you may qualify as a citizen of the Republic through other avenues. Immigration law might then treat you differently, as an arriving EU citizen with a non-EU wifey, rather than as a UK national with a non UK, non EU wifey.

Indeed, depending on when you married or how long you've been married, wifey may herself now qualify as an Irish Citizen and thusly gain automatic entry to UK/EU.

Worth checking into anyhoo.

alross1212

Original Poster:

28 posts

97 months

Tuesday 26th April 2016
quotequote all
slow_poke said:
alross1212 said:
Currently I am honestly looking for any position that pays 25k+ a year to get me out of here as soon as possible. This is not me being greedy either, my wife is a non-eu citizen. The govt passed a law which states that if my wife is to move to the UK with me then I must prove that my yearly earnings will equal 25k a year. This is with her already working FOR the British Govt in South America in a trade diplomacy role in the British Consulate. Hows that for a stupid draconian law?!
Just a passing thought on this - If you are from NornIron you may qualify for dual citizenship with the Republic, or you may qualify as a citizen of the Republic through other avenues. Immigration law might then treat you differently, as an arriving EU citizen with a non-EU wifey, rather than as a UK national with a non UK, non EU wifey.

Indeed, depending on when you married or how long you've been married, wifey may herself now qualify as an Irish Citizen and thusly gain automatic entry to UK/EU.

Worth checking into anyhoo.
Yes I am from NornIron! Me and my wife have looked at all the options and their are a few loopholes. One is to work in another European country for 3 months then move across. That activates the move as an EU citizen therefore following my EU rights. You can literally work in Starbucks in Amsterdam for 3 months and that will bypass the UK law. However with my wife already being employed by the UK govt in a diplomatic role it is best for her career if we do things by the book. As soon as I get work she can start the visa process and do an internal move.

The law is a real pain in the arse. Im not telling potential employers about it. All I am saying is that we have just relocated and leaving it at that. I will actually be in NornIron from tomorrow night. Having feet on the ground in the country can only help the job search. I did a rather disastrous skype interview from Brazil. The internet connection was awful!!

iphonedyou

9,234 posts

156 months

Tuesday 26th April 2016
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Nothing to add other than good luck, OP.

We're relocating back from London in two weeks time after four years away and expecting a fairly huge culture shock. Imagine Sao Paul is a whole other ball game (though probably positive, going by what you've said!)