I’ve been managing teams for over 15 years, and I’ve come across the term “fazer terrinha” from a few Brazilian colleagues. It’s a slang phrase that essentially means doing a side job or moonlighting while still employed full-time. The word “terrinha” (little land) here refers to a small, separate piece of work – often informal or under the radar. In recruitment, this concept matters because it can affect candidate reliability, productivity, and even legal compliance.
When I’m screening candidates, I now ask about their current workload and whether they have any secondary engagements. It’s not about forbidding side hustles – many people need them for financial reasons. But undisclosed “terrinha” activity can lead to conflicts of interest, especially if the side work is in the same industry. For example, a software developer who builds apps for a competitor after hours could compromise our intellectual property.
From a talent acquisition standpoint, we have to balance trust with transparency. I’ve seen situations where an employee’s side job drained their energy, causing them to underperform during project deadlines. In our company, we updated our code of conduct to require disclosure of any external work that might create a conflict. We also found that offering competitive salaries and flexible hours reduced the need for employees to seek extra income.
If you’re a recruiter, understanding “fazer terrinha” helps you ask the right questions during interviews. For instance, you might ask: “Do you currently have any other professional commitments outside this role?” Not as a gotcha, but to gauge transparency. The key is to normalize the conversation – many candidates will be honest if you approach it professionally.
Below is a quick look at how side jobs can impact recruitment metrics based on a small internal survey we ran last year:
| Factor | Without side job | With side job (disclosed) | With hidden side job |
|---|
| Average retention (12 months) | 85% | 78% | 62% |
| Average performance rating | 4.2/5 | 3.9/5 | 3.1/5 |
| Conflict incidents reported | 2% | 5% | 18% |
The data is clear: hidden side work correlates with lower retention and performance. So as a recruiter, I’d rather know about a candidate’s “terrinha” upfront so we can manage expectations – or decide if it’s a dealbreaker.
