Hiring & Recruiting in Portugal
Capital
Lisbon
Official Language
Portuguese
Currency
Euro
Payroll cycle
Bi-weekly
Quick facts about Portugal
Bordered by Spain and the Atlantic Ocean, Portugal is quickly becoming one of Europe’s most important hubs for startups and tech. With an economy that keeps growing, Portugal is a popular destination for digital nomads and workers at major tech companies, including Microsoft, Amazon, and Google.
In recent years, Portugal has invested heavily in foreign companies that are hiring and recruiting talented workers across the country. This policy change has made it a bit easier for companies outside of the country to hire internationally. Lisbon’s tech scene is booming, with major companies like Microsoft attracting talent from across the globe.
The key to finding a job in Portugal is building your personal rolodex. Networking in-person, online and via social media platforms play a crucial role in the recruitment process for both employers and employees.
Here’s everything job seekers and employees need to know about the recruiting process in Portugal.
Recruiting in Portugal: What employees need to know
Portugal’s job markets in IT, marketing, and other tech sectors are the best options for foreigners trying to find a job in the country. After a recent recession, Portugal has tried to make the job market for foreigners more accessible and user-friendly.
Although Portugal has made a lot of strides in trying to make it possible for foreigners to find jobs internally, the Portuguese language barrier makes it difficult for expats. Further, Portugal has one of the highest unemployment rates in the European Union. Foreigners who are willing to learn Portuguese, as well as those who are able to speak English, Spanish, and/or French, will be competitive in the local job market.
Potential employers will look closely at your past experiences, so having a strong and short CV is one of the first steps in landing an interview. Further, you will need to tailor your CV in a manner that is similar to the way they expect CV’s to be laid out. You should include information in the following order:
Personal details including your name, nationality, and current place of residence
Professional and any other relevant experience
Education and other qualifications
Having your CV set up in a manner that meets employers’ expectations will help you stand out, even as an expat.
Finding a job in Portugal as a foreigner
Having a strong networking base will make it easier for you to find a job. Try to network with other employees at the company you are trying to apply to or build relationships with other people living in Portugal who are working in the same field.
Portugal has a lot of job opportunities in the IT and tech fields, so using job boards to find open roles in these areas is a great way to begin searching for a job. Further, there are many opportunities for remote work in Portugal.
The country is one of the first to offer a visa for digital nomads, so you might be able to move to Portugal if you have a remote job with a company that is based elsewhere.
Hiring in Portugal: What employers need to know
Using social media and job boards like Indeed have become another advantage for employers looking to hire foreigners.
You can interview the employee in English. However, it is important to hire people who either speak multiple languages or are willing to learn a language. Language incentives are a big benefit for hiring employees in Portugal, because it allows your employees to deal with a wide-range of cliente.
Most importantly, having a clear written contract that is agreed upon between employer and employee ensures that both parties are protected. The contract should outline all of the employee salary, benefits, and compensation information, as well as termination requirements.
In Portugal, employees are covered under collective bargaining agreements and at-will employment is strongly discouraged. Once you hire an employee, their position is considered long-term.
Anti-discrimination laws in Portgual
Employers looking to hire within the country should be aware of Portugal’s strong anti-discrimination laws and ensure that they are properly interviewing employees to avoid discrimination. Portugal also has many laws that heed on the side of employee protection. Drafting strong employment contracts is a must.
Employers cannot discriminate during the interview process or once hired. Each employee is protected by the following:
Gender identity
Family situation
Age
Sex
Parentage
Marital status
Origin or social conditions
Political or ideological beliefs
Religion
Disability
Genetic heritage
Affiliation with a trade or union
Reduced work ability
Employers should avoid asking too many personal questions during the interview process. Answers to personal questions cannot be used as a reason for not hiring a potential employee.
As an employer, you are able to give your potential employees assessments during the interview process that asks questions like, “What does a hard work week look like?” and “What does being a team player look like to you?” However, these questions must solely revolve around how the employee views the work and not focus on any of the mentioned protected areas to avoid future legal action.
Why companies partner with Via
Many growing companies want to hire talented employees in Portugal, but want to go about the process in the correct manner. Using an EOR service like Via expedites the process and ensures that companies follow all hiring and employment laws.
With Via, we help you hire, onboard, and pay remote employees across the world. As your employer-of-record abroad, we take care of the local human resources (HR) logistics, such as salary, payroll, benefits, paid leave, and tax deductions. Maintaining compliance is our responsibility. You simply focus on building your team and running your business.
