Talking about the international market often brings dreams to mind: earning in a stronger currency,
working for global companies, living outside Brazil, or landing a remote job abroad. But the main
message of this SouJava Sessions edition was clear: this path requires much more than desire.

An international career starts before the application. It begins with daily preparation: English,
LinkedIn, the right connections, technical foundations, communication skills, and maturity to
understand the risks behind each choice.

The international market may be closer than it seems, but it favors those who prepare before
the opportunity appears.

English is not a differential. It is a requirement.

The first point addressed by Thiago was English. For anyone pursuing an international career,
English is not a bonus. It is a basic requirement.

This does not mean speaking like a native. It means being able to communicate. Understanding a
meeting, explaining a solution, taking part in a technical interview, defending decisions, and
having a professional conversation.

In practice, a level close to B2 is often enough for many opportunities, as long
as the developer can understand and express ideas clearly. During a code challenge, for example,
solving the problem is not enough. You also need to explain your reasoning in English.

The advice is simple: bring English into your daily life. Read documentation, books, and articles
in English. Join international communities. Use AI tools to practice conversation. Change your phone,
computer, and tools to English. The more exposure you have, the more natural the language becomes.

Visibility creates opportunities

Another strong point of the session was visibility. Thiago reinforced a simple idea:
if you are not seen, you are not remembered.

For those seeking opportunities outside Brazil, having a LinkedIn profile in English,
well organized and with the right keywords, is an important step. But that alone is not enough.
You need to show up consistently.

Sharing learnings, projects, certifications, books, articles, event experiences, and open source
contributions helps build presence. It does not need to be something huge. Explaining a concept
in your own words can already create value for other people.

If you study microservices, talk about microservices. If you are learning modern Java, share it.
If you earned a certification, publish it. If you attended an event, tag the people involved.
Little by little, your name starts being associated with the topics you demonstrate knowledge in.

Networking is not adding people

Connection was another important pillar. And the message was clear: networking is not simply
adding recruiters on LinkedIn.

Real connection comes from interaction. Commenting on posts, joining communities, answering
questions, helping other developers, talking to recruiters, and following companies that hire
for the model you are looking for are ways to build presence.

Competence opens doors, but the right connections accelerate the journey. A referral can shorten
steps, increase trust, and put your name in front of decision-makers.

To make that happen, you need to be present before you need the job. Professional relationships
are built with time, contribution, and consistency.

Years of experience do not guarantee readiness

Thiago also brought an important warning about technical knowledge. Having many years of experience
does not automatically mean being prepared for the international market.

Someone can spend years solving very specific problems inside the same company and still struggle
to explain concepts, solve technical challenges, or discuss architecture in an interview.

The international market usually values fundamentals: object-oriented programming, good practices,
design patterns, data structures, algorithms, APIs, tests, architecture, system design, and the
ability to discuss trade-offs.

For more senior positions, topics such as scalability, cloud, Kubernetes, messaging, garbage collector,
security, observability, and distributed systems design may also appear.

That is why preparation needs to go beyond the stack used in your current job. You need to build
repertoire, practice interviews, solve challenges, create projects, and learn how to explain
technical decisions clearly.

International remote work: freedom with responsibility

The conversation also separated two possible paths: working remotely for companies abroad or
immigrating.

International remote work can be an excellent way to gain global experience without leaving Brazil.
But it also requires responsibility. Time zones, discipline, self-management, stable internet,
a proper work environment, accounting, taxes, health insurance, and emergency savings become part
of the equation.

International contracts can also end quickly. If the company goes through a layoff, your bills still
keep coming. That is why financial organization is not a detail. It is part of the strategy.

Working remotely for another country can be great, but it should not be treated as improvisation.
It is a professional choice that requires structure.

Immigration is not just passing the interview

When the topic moved to immigration, the tone became even more careful. Moving to another country
involves work, but it also involves life.

Documents, visa, housing, school, transportation, banking, taxes, healthcare, weather, culture,
food, distance from family, and adaptation for a spouse or children are all part of the package.

Thiago emphasized that he does not recommend immigration for very junior professionals. Not because
it is impossible, but because the risk is higher. If something goes wrong with the job, finding another
opportunity in a different country can be harder, especially with little experience.

For an international move, experience, technical maturity, and financial reserves increase safety.
Around five years or more of experience tends to open more doors and reduce risks.

Do not turn a dream into an illusion

One of the most important moments of the session was the warning not to romanticize life abroad.
Earning in euros, dollars, or pounds may look impressive when converted to Brazilian reais, but
expenses are also paid in the local currency.

Rent, electricity, transportation, groceries, taxes, heating, school, and healthcare need to be part
of the calculation. In Portugal, for example, challenges such as high rent, cold weather, humidity,
and homes that are not always prepared for low temperatures were mentioned.

This does not reduce the value of the international experience. It simply puts the dream in the right
place: it needs to come with planning.

Community is also part of the strategy

SouJava Sessions #006 showed that community is not just a place to watch talks. It is also an
environment to build visibility, practice communication, create connections, learn from people who
have lived certain experiences, and prepare better for future opportunities.

Joining events, interacting in groups, sharing learnings, and getting closer to people in the industry
can open doors that a cold application might never open.

Final thoughts

The conversation with Thiago Bomfim brought a very clear message: an international career is possible,
but it does not happen by accident.

It requires English, visibility, real connections, technical knowledge, maturity, financial planning,
and awareness of the challenges behind remote work and immigration.

For those who want to reach the international market, the best time to start is not when the job
opportunity appears. It is now: studying English, organizing LinkedIn, publishing in English,
strengthening technical foundations, joining communities, and building real professional relationships.

The international market does not belong only to those who live abroad. It belongs to those who prepare
to play at another level.

SouJava Brasília continues as a living movement: where knowledge, technology, and community come
together to shape better professionals and build more relevant solutions.