A study by the job portal Jobatus revealed that "checking social networks is increasingly common in the recruitment process".

Half of companies in Portugal (50%) say they check candidates' social media before hiring them. This is one of the main conclusions of the most recent study by the job portal Jobatus, which revealed that the same is true for organisations in Brazil.

The survey also concluded that companies that carry out this verification mainly use Facebook and LinkedIn to analyse the digital presence of candidates, according to NM.

The study, which is based on data collected from a sample of 10,000 companies in Portugal and Brazil, revealed, therefore, that "checking social networks is increasingly common in the recruitment process", being used by organisations to "evaluate candidates' personality, behaviour and communication skills".

Negative impact

Among companies that check candidates' social media, 75% say they have discarded candidates based on information found in their social media accounts. This trend can thus "have a negative impact on candidates who do not properly manage their online presence", explains Jobatus.

On the other hand, 25% of companies that check candidates' social networks say they find positive information that helps with their hiring decision. "For example, some candidates have experience in volunteering, participation in social projects or professional skills that were not mentioned in the resumes", explains the same source.