An internship provides an excellent opportunity for young adults to learn about different careers and get an up-close look at what they entail before they make a decision for their future.
In Brazil, as in many parts of the world, internship culture is very common across a variety of professions, from sales to engineering. Many colleges even require students to complete an internship before they can graduate.
Because internships are so popular here, there are lots of ways for students and young adults to explore their chosen career path, from online internships to hands-on opportunities.
Read on to learn more about how to get internships in Brazil, both as a local and as an international student. You’ll also find a list of the best internships to consider applying for in 2021 and 2022.
Internships are common in Brazil, but many of them are also quite competitive, especially when you’re applying to work at a major corporation. If you want to increase your chances of being selected for a specific internship, be sure to follow this advice:
1. Get Familiar with the Rules and Regulations
One of the first steps to take when trying to land an internship in Brazil is learning what an internship in this country entails.
The rules and regulations for internships in Brazil are standardized and guarantee certain minimums and maximums when it comes to hours worked, benefits offered, etc.
The following are some examples of what you can expect when it comes to internships offered in Brazil:
- Interns are not allowed to work for more than 6 hours a day
- Interns are granted 30 days of vacation time within a 365-day period
- Interns receive all bank holidays off, as well as federal and state holidays and election days during election years
- Interns receive a transportation stipend to help them cover all monthly transportation costs
- Interns receive an expense stipend ranging from 0 to 2.000 BRL
2. Know Where to Look
- GrabJobs: GrabJobs has an easy-to-use platform that allows you to search for internships in specific areas and narrow down your options based on the criteria that are important to you
- Vagas: Vagas is a general employment search website that many Brazilians use; it includes search options for internships, specifically, and makes it easy for you to sort through your options based on needs and interests
- Estagio Trainee: Estagio Trainee is a search platform dedicated to helping seekers find internships and employee training programs that align with their needs, interests, and goals
3. Draft a Bilingual Resume
In Brazil, those who are applying for internships must submit a resume in Portuguese if they want to be considered.
If you want to submit resumes in both Portuguese and English, though, this can increase your chances of being selected for the position. This can be especially helpful if you’re applying for an internship with a company that does a lot of work with English-speaking people.
4. Tailor Your Resume to the Company
In the same way that you should tailor your resume to the company when applying for a job, do this for internship applications as well. This will help the people in charge of hiring to see why you’re a good fit.
When drafting your resume, highlight the experiences (jobs, volunteer gigs, etc.) that best align with the kind of work the company does and the kinds of responsibilities you’ll be expected to carry out as an intern. Review the listing thoroughly so you know which keywords to use and which skills to showcase.
5. Brush Up on Your Language Skills
When applying for internships in Brazil, generally speaking, the better your language skills are, the greater your chances are of being selected. Brazilian professionals typically want to work with interns (and employees, for that matter) who are well-rounded and fluent in Portuguese and English, as well as other major world languages (Spanish, French, Mandarin, etc.).
6. Put Together a Portfolio
In addition to a well-written resume, you can also increase your chances of landing an internship if you have a portfolio that showcases your work. This provides a more tangible example of what you’ll bring to the company and verifies that you truly know your stuff.
7. Practice Using Key Terms
Get comfortable using key terms that show you have a deeper understanding of the company and the industry in which you’ll be interning. Then, practice incorporating those terms into your conversations so you can use them during the interview.
This tells the people in charge of the selection process that you already have knowledge and experience in the field. It also shows that you are eager to learn and have been doing some studying or practicing on your own.
8. Reach Out to Smaller Companies
In many cases, you have a better chance of being selected for an internship at a smaller company than at a major global organization.
These companies tend to have fewer applicants than major businesses, which makes them less competitive. Furthermore, they may also provide more opportunities for interns to learn the ropes and potentially get hired for a full-time position one day.
9. Rehearse Before Your Interview
If you’re lucky enough to be called in for an interview for a particular internship, make sure you dedicate some time to rehearsing beforehand.
Work with a friend or family member to go over frequently asked questions and work on your “elevator pitch” for yourself. This can help you to feel less nervous and more confident when the big day arrives.
10. Always Follow Up
Finally, don’t forget to follow up when your interview is over. This shows that you are a professional who is enthusiastic about potentially being selected for this internship. It can also help you to separate yourself from other applicants who may not have thought to take this extra step.
Reach out with an email to let the interviewer (or interviewers) know how much you appreciate being considered and how eager you are to hear from them soon.
How to Get an Internship as an International Student in Brazil
As an international student in Brazil, you may have to jump through some extra hoops to land an internship. Here are some bonus tips to keep in mind that will increase your chances:
1. Know Brazil’s Visa Requirements
- Passport
- Completed Vitem IV application
- 2” x 2” professional passport photograph
- Copy of outbound ticket and booked itinerary
- Proof of financial capability (bank statements, a letter from the sponsoring institution if applicable, etc.)
- Letter from the education where you’re currently a student
- Birth certificate
- Proof of jurisdiction (residence in a specific area)
- Police clearance issued within the last 60 days
2. Start Your Search Early
It typically takes more work and time for international students to qualify for, be accepted to, and start participating in internships in Brazil.
Because of all these factors, you need to start your search early. The sooner you find a good internship, apply, and handle all your visa requirements, the more likely you are to be accepted into the program.
3. Understand Resume and Cover Letter Requirements
Make sure you draft a resume and cover letter that align with Brazil’s specific application requirements.
Your resume and cover letter should be submitted in both Portuguese and English. If you don’t speak fluent Portuguese, make sure you have someone who does review your resume and cover letter to ensure everything is written and formatted correctly.
Keep in mind, too, that Brazilian Portuguese is a bit different from the Portuguese spoken in Portugal, so it’s best if you find someone who is familiar with the Brazilian style to help you out.
4. Be Open to Volunteer Opportunities
You may have a hard time finding paid internship opportunities in Brazil as an international student. This doesn’t mean you have to give up your dreams altogether.
Instead, consider looking into volunteer opportunities. This might include humanitarian volunteer trips or internships for those interested in teaching English.
Volunteer internship opportunities still give you a chance to learn about Brazilian culture and spend time in a new place, and many of them provide lodging, food, etc. so you don’t have too many expenses while you’re there.
5. Start Practicing Your Portuguese
Finally, if you’re going to be pursuing an internship in Brazil, you ought to start brushing up on your Portuguese. You’ll need to use it when you get there, even if you’re interning with other English speakers.
It’s never too early to start practicing. Keep in mind, too, that the more you know now, and the more confident you are using it, the more desirable you’ll be to companies seeking interns.
18 Best Internships in Brazil in 2021 and 2022
It doesn’t matter if you want to find a gig as a communications intern, a sales intern, or anything in between. There are tons of options available, including online internships and remote internships, throughout Brazil.
Listed below are 18 of the best internships in Brazil, broken down by industry.
Communications Internships
- SAP iXp Intern – Talent Acquisition: This internship gives you a chance to work on various recruiting and HR-related projects
- Intern Brazil Journalism Internships: Intern Brazil offers journalism internships to those interested in communications and media distribution
Medical Internships
- Nik|Las Medical Internship: This program offers rigorous, 6-week internships for students interested in plastic surgery and tropical diseases
- Medopolo Medical Rotation Internship Programs: For med students looking to intern abroad, the Medopolo program is a great choice
- Intern Brazil Health and Medicine Internships: Intern Brazil offers a variety of healthcare-related internships for those who want to pursue (or learn more about) a career in medicine
Engineering Internships
- UF in Brazil Engineering Internship: For those who want to become chemical or biomedical engineers, this program is an excellent option
- Colgate-Palmolive Soap Industrial Engineering: If you want to intern with engineers at a prestigious, global company, this internship is a good pick
Marketing Internships
- Procter & Gamble Marketing Internship: This internship in Sao Paulo provides another opportunity to learn from and work alongside professionals at one of the world’s largest companies
- Salesforce 2021 Marketing Internship Program: Salesforce is another global company looking to recruit new, talented, and eager-to-learn marketing interns to help with event planning, digital marketing, and more
- Red Hat Software Marketing Internship: Red Hat Software is looking for a marketing intern who can assist with the development and execution of various marketing plans and support the marketing team with everyday organization and administrative tasks
Software Engineering Internships
- JobScore Software Engineer Internship: JobScore is seeking an intern who can read, write, and test code, be a creative problem-solver, and work alongside (and learn from) members of the company’s senior software engineering team
- Amazon Services Software Developer Intern: If you want to intern for a major company, it doesn’t get much bigger than an internship with Amazon; this is a great option for those who want to learn about software engineering and development from some of the world’s most renowned experts
Finance Internships
- Bloomberg Data Automation Internship in Finance: This is a good option for those who are interested in finance and tech; they get to experience internships in two high-profile fields at the same time
- Bank of America 2021 2H Brazil Core Finance Internship Program: If you want to intern with a major financial institution, this internship with Bank of America’s office in Sao Paulo is a great choice
- Goldman Sachs Student Internship: This internship with Goldman Sachs is another great option for those who want to work with and learn from professionals at a well-known and well-respected financial institution
Sales Internships
- Procter & Gamble Management Internship Program in Sales: If you want to work with a big company like Procter & Gamble while improving your sales skills, this is the perfect internship to consider
- Puratos Global Graduate Trainee Program – Sales Track: This is a good sales internship for those in search of a long-term internship program with direct mentorship from an experienced sales professional
- SAP iXp Intern – Services Sales: SAP iXp is looking for sales interns who can assist with lead generation, the development of new sales initiatives like digital and social selling, and the organization of sales campaigns
Get Ready to Land Internships in Brazil
It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for remote internships or in-person opportunities. There are tons of options available throughout Brazil.
If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed by your internship in Brazil (whether you’re a local or if you’re applying for internships as an international student), keep this information in mind. It’ll help you to find the right openings that align with your interests and goals while also increasing your chances of being selected for internship opportunities throughout the country.
Do you need more help finding internships in Brazil? If so, check out our free search tool today. At GrabJobs, our goal is to make it easy for you to narrow down your options and choose the right fit as quickly as possible.
