Career without Borders: designer talks about his international career
Chat covered the opportunities of working in technology
A chat about career possibilities outside Brazil brought together IMPA Tech undergraduates after classes on Wednesday (11). Mexican graphic designer Francisco Rodarte, who specializes in motion and front-end design, talked to the young people about the challenges and opportunities of international work in the technology field. The meeting, promoted by the NCE (Careers and Internships Center), was conducted entirely in English.
With eight years’ experience in the corporate market, Rodarte currently works at Nutanix, a B2B data software developer in the United States. Previously, he worked as a Content Creator Designer at Samsung Mexico, also in the B2B sector, serving major brands from different segments, such as Zara, McDonald’s and Dunkin’ Donuts. He holds a master’s degree in Motion Graphics from the Barcelona School of Arts and Design.
During the presentation, Rodarte, who considers himself a generalist, defended the importance of interdisciplinary thinking. “You have to be creative to solve problems. This is one of the things that challenges students, but creativity is everywhere,” he said. According to him, the work must also be collaborative, bringing together the technical and creative areas. “The designer and the developer don’t exist without each other. We need to work together. I can create beautiful interfaces, but the user experience needs to be functional.”
The speaker also advised the students on the importance of being ready for new professional opportunities. “When I went to the US, it wasn’t easy. It was a difficult decision to leave the stability of my country, but I faced the challenge. Study English and be ready for the opportunities that arise,” he said.
For student Daniel Couto, the chat was inspiring. “Expanding my career to other countries has always been a goal. I learned a lot about looking for and taking advantage of every opportunity and the importance of continuing to improve myself and learn new tools. The fact that the talk was given in English was even more immersive, and it was easy to follow,” he said.
Among the topics covered, Rodarte highlighted the importance of soft skills in the professional environment. “They are just as important as hard skills. If you can’t communicate clearly, your idea won’t be effective. Part of my job is to justify what I’m doing, so I need to use my social skills. To do this, it’s essential to practice and apply the feedback you receive on a daily basis,” he explained.
The designer also spoke about the possibilities of professional expansion through remote work and the use of recruitment platforms. “It’s very important to be disciplined and organized, because all you need is a computer and good Wi-Fi. LinkedIn is a great gateway. There are lots of opportunities, but it’s like a numbers game: you need to be persistent and study the vacancies you’re applying for,” he said.
Student Manuela Ronconi also identified with the topic. “It’s always enriching to hear the testimony of someone who works in the corporate world. I liked his story, especially because he’s a Latino working in the international market, just like us. His story inspired me and showed that we can’t close doors, but rather take advantage of the opportunities that arise,” she said.
