Excerpted from the Brazil Career Guide

In Brazil, networking is often as important as having a good résumé. Many Brazilians conduct business only through personal connections, and a good referral from a credible source counts for a lot in Brazil; it may be the deciding factor in securing a job. Accordingly, jobseekers should expect to network in order to gain employment and should seek employment recommendations through friends, colleagues, professional associates and industry contacts.

Pre-Interview Preparation

It is advisable for a candidate to seek out information about the company and the position before the interview in order to evaluate if it is appropriate for his or her profile. Don’t be limited to the company’s website. Search online magazines and newspapers and, if possible, talk to someone currently working at the company. Some information considered important to know prior to the interview includes the size of the company, number of employees and how long it has been in business. Other important information would be who the main competitors are, what the company’s products and services are, and an understanding of the company’s culture and values.

Interview Conduct

First impressions are of vital importance in Brazil. Even though there is not a strong tradition of arriving on time in Brazil, (and even though the interviewer may or may not be on time), it is very important to be punctual for an interview. In fact, it is considered a good practice for the candidate to arrive 15 minutes early. Use this time to mentally review some important career points and be prepared for the interviewer’s questions. Also, become familiar with the environment, people and the company’s atmosphere. Relax and concentrate. A delay of 15 to 20 minutes before starting the interview is quite normal.

The Interview

Interviews can take quite a long time, up to two hours in some cases, so it is important to keep a reasonably free schedule on an interview day. There is a good chance of proceedings going over time, as additional tests may be applied before or after the interview, such as language, psychological or logic tests. Occasionally a candidate may be asked to stay for a second interview with another interviewer (possibly a director or manager) if the first interview proves successful.

Post-Interview

After the interview, send a message of appreciation (by email) thanking the interviewer for the opportunity to be considered for the job. Most companies in Brazil do not provide feedback, rarely divulge the results of tests (language tests, logic tests, psychological/graphology tests) and may not even call to inform the candidate he/she has been eliminated from the process.

This is just a short sample of what you’ll find in over 100 pages of information in the Brazil Guide.