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This chapter details the experience of João Siquerolli, a Brazilian professional who made the decisive move to Ireland, covering his motivations, the preparation required, and the insights he gained about the professional market.

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Chapter 10: The Brazilian Pivot—Launching a Career in Dublin

The Decision and the Strategy

João Siquerolli is a Brazilian professional who has been living in Ireland for approximately three years. His decision to leave Brazil was driven by a desire for a better quality of life and a need for change.

• Motivation: The seed was planted when many of his family members moved to the US, sharing their experiences abroad. This, combined with the realization that coming to Europe was easier due to his Italian passport, made Ireland a logical choice, even though it wasn’t a well-known country in Brazil.
• The Financial Goal: João’s preparation was highly tactical. He decided to save enough money to cover his expenses for six months. His thought process was: “I should be fine somehow… I have enough money for at least six months, so I should be fine. Somehow I’m going to find a job”.

The Preparation: Skills and Mindset

João came to Ireland with self-taught English, having learned primarily through translating lyrics and watching YouTube videos. His first conversation in English was his first job interview.

• The Recruiting Reality: Knowing his English needed work, he actively engaged with recruiters before leaving Brazil, even receiving an early offer (which he declined). He realized the market was moving fast and that he needed to be ready.
• The Mental Breakthrough: Initially, he was afraid and constantly doubted his decision. However, after breaking up with his girlfriend, he saw an opening: “There’s nothing else holding me back here… I’m free to go”.
• The Final Night: The night before leaving was emotional, but he was so “sure [he] was doing the right thing” that he moved past the fear, focusing on the freedom and the goal.

The Dublin Market: Speed and Opportunity

João found the job market in Dublin to be incredibly dynamic and different from Brazil.

• Recruiter Proactivity: In Ireland, recruiters are very active and often come after the candidate, a contrast to the Brazilian system where candidates have to seek out opportunities.
• Rapid Employment: After arriving, his job search was quick, resulting in his first job offer within a week.
• The Total Package: While comparing offers, João learned that the benefits are highly competitive, with companies frequently trying to “raise” the offer with more paid time off (PTO) and stock options. He learned to weigh these non-salary benefits against the base pay.

Advice for Future Expats

• Embrace Reading: João advises reading local news and local social media groups (like on Facebook) because it gives the most accurate sense of what living in the city is truly like.
• Acknowledge the Difficulty: The accommodation situation in Dublin is “awful” and expensive, so a lot of planning is required.
• Culture: He finds the Irish people to be “very welcoming” and friendly, which makes the adjustment easier.

“Failure isn’t fatal, but failure to change might be.” —John Wooden