A commonly observed difference amongst cariocas, and newly arrived foreigners integrating into the lifestyle of Rio de Janeiro, is the definition of oneself and their value in society. In many countries outside of Brasil it's commonplace for conversations to consist of introductory topics revolving around careers - In overhearing these discussions one might listen to questions such as 'what do you do for work,' or 'what company do you work for?' within the first few minutes of dialogue.

In Rio de Janeiro people constantly change hats in the workplace. It's rare for cariocas to define themselves by one skill or career choice. It is completely normal for a local to own a shoe company, and work as a free lance photographer on the side. Another example might be a website editor who also teaches private language classes. Rio de Janeiro's society is very fluid and fluctuates according to the skill sets of its work force. Cariocas stay relevant by adapting their skills to available job opportunities.