To be completely honest, the phrase “as meninas do job” is a Brazilian Portuguese slang term that does not have a standard, professional meaning in the recruitment industry. In everyday Brazilian speech, it typically refers to female sex workers. However, if we interpret “job” as a casual term for a temporary or gig assignment, and “meninas” as young female workers, the phrase can be loosely understood as “the girls who work the gigs.” In a recruitment context, especially in Brazil’s informal labor market, you might hear this expression used to describe female freelancers or temporary staff hired for short-term projects. But I must stress that this is not a formal HR term.
If you are seeing this phrase in a job posting, a candidate’s profile, or a company’s internal communication, it is almost certainly a euphemism or a cultural reference that should be clarified. The safest approach is to avoid using it in professional writing because it can be misleading or offensive. For recruiters working with Portuguese-speaking candidates, it is better to use precise terms like “profissionais temporárias” (temporary female professionals) or “trabalhadoras por projeto” (project-based female workers). Misunderstandings like this can hurt employer branding and candidate trust.
| Slang Term | Proper HR Term (Portuguese) | English Equivalent |
|---|
| Meninas do job | Trabalhadoras temporárias | Temporary female workers |
| Meninas do job | Prestadoras de serviços | Service providers |
| Meninas do job | Profissionais autônomas | Independent contractors |
If you are a job seeker and see this phrase in a job description, treat it as a red flag. Legitimate employers use professional, respectful language. Always ask for clarification about the role and the working conditions.
