⚖️ Remote work freedom | Destination Brazil (Part 2) OoO

Hey – Welcome Back!

It’s part 2 of our Brazil episode, and I’m here in the largest city in the Americas to continue my mission to meet remote workers of all shapes and sizes.

Last week, I got a massive dose of caffeine and tips from one of Brazil’s top rated gig freelancers. I’ve returned this week to dial down the coffee and dial up the insights, with two experts who have some amazing insider knowledge to share.

🧲 Gui recruits talented remote workers from all over the world

🏢 Renilce runs the most popular coworking spaces in downtown São Paulo

I can’t wait to find out more about what makes Brazil such a remote work powerhouse.

It’s episode 33 of Out of Office and I’m on my way to meet Crossover’s very own test architect – the man who designs and builds the recruitment process pipelines.

Let’s find out how he makes the magic happen –

Gui Colombo: Head Hiring Honcho

Gui has just moved into his dream home with his partner and their dog, Mikey.

He’s been back in Brazil now for a year and a half, after working abroad in Paris. Like many remote workers before him, Gui realized that he didn’t need to be overseas to find exciting work opportunities.

So, he’s living in his old hometown of Piracicaba, in southeast Brazil.

This small city runs along the Piracicaba River and is known as one of the most scenic regions in São Paulo.

It’s beautiful here! 😱

Gui’s Mission: Super Hiring Pipelines

Hiring remote workers isn’t easy. A lot goes into the process for each company. Gui hopes that more Brazilians will apply for Crossover positions.

“Our region – Latin America – is underrepresented.”

He wants you to see the benefits of landing a job with Crossover.

💵 The dollar is a strong currency in Brazil (around 5 real to the dollar)

📈 There are lots of great opportunities for Brazilian remote workers

Bottom line: Gui hopes for more Brazilian presence in Crossover.

Did you know: Brazil has a population of over 216 million people.

It’s his mission to make the company better-known in the region. But there are hurdles to overcome.

🤔 People don’t really know Crossover or the companies it recruits for

🥺 They believe working remotely has limitations

😕 There are misconceptions about working as an independent contractor

“Crossover is a recruiting company that hires for multiple companies and offers amazing opportunities for remote workers.”

Gui’s Reasons for Remote Work

There is a lot to gain when switching to remote work with a company like Crossover. For an expert like Gui who works remotely and hires people who do, there is no greater career advantage.

🌎 Work in a global culture from your own home

💫 Incomparable work opportunities from different customers

🤑 Amazing pay that gives you the power to build the life you want

The entire compensation package from Crossover is paid in cash and allows you to make your own choices, it’s a game-changer.

💥You can find out more about open roles at Crossover here.💥

Speaking of game-changers, the next one on our list is the creation of co-working spaces. These remote work havens have done a lot for socially inclined Brazilians.

Now people who need to hop on a professional Zoom call, have a place to go when they live with a roommate who has questionable trumpet playing etiquette. 🎺

I arrived at Bendito Co-working in São Paulo, just off the bustling main road.

I’m here to meet an expert who runs some of Brazil’s finest co-working locations -

Renilce Moretti: Working Remotely Together

Renilce is the General Manager of three co-working locations in São Paulo. She has unique insight into the day-to-day behaviors of Brazilian remote workers.

According to her, many remote workers get tired of working at home alone, especially young men and women. 💁‍♂️🙋

They lack:

👁️‍🗨️ A private space of their own

💻 The ability to work without interruption

🧏‍♂️ People around them who provide encouragement, advice and social interaction

These remote workers love to work from home, but they also love to go out. Having a co-working location nearby is ideal because it helps them be more productive and focused on their work.

I told Renilce how I felt about the word ‘remote’ meaning isolated – after all, if you do remote work correctly, there’s no need for isolation – you can still get quality social time in.

And she agreed.

🤩 People need co-working locations because they need to see people

🏦 They used to have offices nearby that have now closed

🍹 They want to visit their favorite places – restaurants, cafes and bars

When your only coworker is a judgmental houseplant, it’s easy to see why you’d want to get out.

Fridays are especially busy at Bendito, because people want to have happy hour together. And at the end of the day, there’s opportunity to network which can be good for business.

“People are learning how to work remotely, taking their private life, their work and quality of life into account.”

🕓 Saving time in traffic, even if it’s an hour or two, results in more time for you.

Renilce is convinced that it’s a learning process for everyone – to find that healthy remote work balance.

One in a Brazilian: The Remote Work Trendsetter

One thing is apparent - the world can learn a lot from Brazil. These were people who knew how to work remotely, in a way that made the most sense to the individual.

🎫 There are programs in Brazil for example, that allow companies to buy office passes for their employees. Instead of working at the office, they get to work from home, or at a co-working location of their choice.

Many Brazilian companies shut their office doors for good during the pandemic. These office passes act as useful lifelines when employees want to meetup or get out of their homes for a while.

Before the pandemic they always had the same people at Bendito, now there are different people every day.

This is a testament to how well Brazilians have adjusted to remote work, and integrated co-working spaces into their lives. 

Renilce told me that her clientele consists of totally remote workers, and hybrid workers who live far from their offices. Clearly, these locations are vital in Brazil.

The Future of Work: Far From Remotely Social

We started to wind down, but there was one more question I had to ask. I wanted to know where Renilce saw the rise of co-working spaces progressing now that remote work was our new normal. Her official verdict?

“Hybrid has come to stay.”

As most companies continue to debate about remote work, many people have moved back to their original cities. They want to be close to their families because it improves their quality of life.

As for remote work setups? A bad one doesn’t mean that the person is a bad worker – or that they’re not smart, or don’t care. Good remote workers can have great setups wherever they are now.

🚀 Remote workers are more productive

😎 No offices mean no office overheads and companies save money

💰 This money can be reinvested in better resources for employees

Go Remote or Go Home: Either Way We Win

There you have it!

Three incredible Brazilians whose lives have been changed by remote work.

🔥 César showed us the value of hustling hard to get great reviews

👩🏻‍💻 Gui gave us a peek under the hood of Crossover’s promise to help talented people access the best remote jobs in the world

🏡 Renilce reminded us that working remotely doesn’t mean working from home, it means finding what works for you

The rumors are true! You can hate your apartment and still be better off working remotely than staying at your office job. At the end of the day remote work can be done anywhere – from home, from a co-working spot, or a local café.

The beauty of remote work is that it frees you from being in the same place every day. Even when that place is as incredible as Brazil.

📢 Apply to Be My Next Guest!

Are you my next remote work guest? Whether you work from home or travel the world from one co-working location to the next, I’m searching for the next group of top tier remote workers with stories to share.

⚡Get featured on Out of Office!⚡

If you have an incredible remote work story to tell, and something interesting for us to do together in your country, please apply! I’ll reach out to everyone who does, and will choose the stories our community will value the most.

🚁 Next week – I’m heading to Chile for the most uplifting episode of Out of Office yet! Hope you’re not afraid of heights!

That’s all for this week - and remember, the future of work is Out of Office.

Andrew