Gathering information about applicants
It is important for you as an employer to hire reliable employees. And it’s understandable if you want to obtain as much information as possible about an applicant. For example, by looking them up on the Internet, or to screen them, which is even required by law for some positions. But these forms of gathering information can have a very serious impact on the privacy of applicants. That is why they are subject to strict conditions.
On this page
Looking up applicants on the Internet
As an employer, you may only look up an applicant on the Internet if you meet the following conditions:
- You have a very good reason for this. For example, because the information is important for the position. Looking up an applicant ‘just because’, i.e. out of curiosity, is not allowed.
- You are limited to searching for business information about applicants, such as their LinkedIn account. Someone’s holiday snaps are not likely to be relevant for a position.
- You let applicants know in advance that you may check them out on the Internet. For example, by stating it in the vacancy text.
- If you include an applicant’s information found on the Internet in the application procedure, you must give the applicant the opportunity to explain this information.
Note: These rules also apply when it concerns public information, such as a social media profile that is set to public. The fact that an applicant has made the information public themselves does not change this.
Screening applicants
Screening usually consists of checking the information on an applicant’s CV. For example, by calling the references provided by the applicant.
As an employer, you can also consult a blacklist, if your sector has one. This list shows you whether an applicant has previously committed theft or fraud.
Screening is required by law for some positions, such as jobs in childcare. In that case, you may ask an applicant for a certificate of conduct (Dutch: VOG). In addition, special statutory provisions apply to screening for positions involving confidentiality.