I had an initial screening call with a DataArt recruiter. The conversation was friendly and the role itself sounded very aligned with my background. However, during the discussion about the engagement model, several red flags appeared for professionals contracting from Brazil. They require exclusivity, full-time dedication, fixed daily availability and a collaboration structure that is interpreted under Brazilian labor law as an employment relationship, even if the agreement is signed as a contractor. Because this creates legal and tax risk for anyone working from Brazil, I decided not to move forward. The recruiter was professional throughout the process.

The process began with a quick message from a recruiter, followed by a standard screening call with a second recruiter where we discussed my background and experience. So far, all normal. However, things quickly became uncomfortable. After already confirming I had permanent residency and full work rights in Brazil, I was asked again via email. Then came a follow-up asking for my citizenship - which felt unnecessary - and finally a request to send the scan of my government-issued ID, before even reaching a second-round interview. This was a highly sensitive request at a very early stage, and when I asked why this was necessary so soon, I received vague responses implying that the document was required to "avoid any obstacles later in the process", and "once the process is advanced, it becomes very difficult to revisit". Despite polite follow-ups on my end, no specific explanation was ever given. Additionally, there was confusion about whether the role was internal or for a client: the role was described as "internal" at a call, but the emails implied the existence of some other "client" - no explanation as well despite a follow-up. That mismatch, combined with the document request and lack of transparency, ultimately made me withdraw. Takeaway: I’ve participated in many hiring processes (local and international, including big multinational companies), and this was the first time I was EVER asked to provide a government ID before background check, let alone after a casual 30-minute hiring screen. If you're considering applying, I’d recommend asking upfront about the scope of the role (internal vs. external) and how your data will be handled. For DataArt - trust and mutual clarity are absolutely essential, and unfortunately, this process undermined both. You cannot demand a candidate trust you with sensitive personal information while avoiding their questions and intentionally staying vague.