I have training, experience and motivation. And now, Portugal?

“If knowledge were a guarantee of opportunity, LinkedIn would be the new dream job bank.”

Portugal is undoubtedly a charming country. It has cream pastries, good schools, postcard beaches and a climate that makes us forget that the rest of Europe wears three coats while here we still walk in t-shirts in October. But when it comes to the labour market... well, then the sun doesn't shine that much anymore.

If you have a solid professional background, quality academic training and some ambition in your pocket (in the PDF curriculum), it is likely that you have asked yourself the same question as me: Why is it so difficult to find an opportunity to match in Portugal?

The "lack of opportunity"

According to the most recent data (and regrets in cafes and WhatsApp groups), the Portuguese market has difficulty keeping up with the pace of qualification of its professionals. There are good courses, decent universities, and a generation that studied, worked and even did an MBA on weekends. The problem? The number of qualified vacancies grows at the pace of a turtle on vacation.

Meanwhile, those who have plenty of talent are knocking on the door of the same companies, receive proposals for "curricular internships" at the age of 40, or hear that mythical phrase: “Your profile is excellent, but right now we are looking for someone with less experience... and less salary.”

When the resume scares more than impresses

For those who, like me, have gone through areas such as management, finance, purchasing, team leadership and even the creation of digital projects, it seems logical to think: "There is certainly a company in Portugal looking for all this!". But the reality is different: many businesses still don't know they need you - and others prefer to keep everything as it is, even if "as is" is 10 years af the innovation.

The market, unfortunately, still values the "known" instead of the "qualified". And this can be frustrating for those who are not starting, but also have a lot to build.

But not everything is Fado

There is light at the end of the tunnel - and it's not just that of the 25 de Abril bridge. Portugal is trying to reinvent itself. There is an incentive for entrepreneurship, start-ups, the green and digital economy. Small innovation centres are emerging in Lisbon, Porto and even in Braga (yes, Braga is fashionable!). And this is where your profile can shine.

People with strategic thinking, real experience, business vision and leadership capacity are scarce. The secret is not to expect the market to "discover" you - but to make it see you.

Reflections for those who are in the same boat (or plane)

If you are in this phase of "too qualified for the available vacancies, but too young to give up", here are some suggestions with humour and honesty:

• Adapt the speech, not the value: speak the language of the market, but do not erase your brightness to fit an outdated job description.

• It shows results, not only diplomas: Portuguese companies value proof of delivery. It's not enough to have an MBA, you need to show what you did with it.

• Be strategic with networking: Portugal is small, but good conversations still open more doors than a thousand automatic applications.

• Undertake, if applicable: sometimes, creating your own opportunity is the fastest way to prove your value to the market (and to yourself).

• Take humour with you: because in this country, where strong coffee and sarcasm go hand in hand, good humour is still a valuable skill.

Portugal has potential. You have potential. The market is not always up to par, but it is changing. And change, albeit slow, needs professionals like you - experienced, committed, creative and ready to contribute with more than a beautiful CV.

If we are together on this journey (with or without a signed contract), we can at least laugh a little, learn a lot and never stop trying.

Because those who have luggage don't get lost. It may take a while to arrive, but you get there.