Background checks are a common feature of the hiring process for full-time staff. However, even if you’ve traded employee life for the freedom of working for yourself, you may still be subject to similar investigations. Many companies have started running checks on freelancers and contractors as well.
As remote roles become increasingly prevalent and diverse, more external workers are handling sensitive data, financial information, and client-level access. As a result, background checks are only going to grow in popularity. Here’s what you need to know to ensure you’re prepared if someone runs a check on you.
Do Freelancers Even Get Background Checked?
They do, and it happens more often than you might think! From startups to agencies and large enterprises, many organizations are being more cautious. This is especially true in industries like tech, legal, healthcare, or finance, where you may be working with sensitive files, logins, and restricted access systems.
This is less likely if you’re a creative, such as a writer, photographer, or graphic designer, though it’s still possible. It largely depends on the type of work you do and the company in question’s risk assessment strategy. They may also have to fulfil certain criteria to comply with client agreement terms, as well as their data handling and privacy policies. If you want to get ahead of the game, online services like this Winnipeg criminal records check can help you know where you stand and give you a chance to clean up any red flags.
What Does and Doesn’t Show Up
There are two main types of checks you’re likely to encounter as a freelancer: criminal background and social media. They look for factors like:
- Criminal records, including convictions, charges, and pending cases
- Identity verification
- Sex offender registry
- Drug-related pictures
- Hate speech, insults, and bullying
- Sexual content and explicit images
- Political speech
You can tell a lot about someone from their activity on social media, so it’s essential to make a good impression, and even more so when your business is based online.
Should You Run a Background Check on Yourself?
In some cases, it might be worth running a check to see what it brings to light. Surprises in this context are rarely fun. If you’re pitching for high-trust projects or big corporate clients, knowing exactly what they’ll find (or not find) can provide peace of mind. You could go even one step further and provide background verification documents as part of your portfolio or freelancer platform profile. It’s a small investment but a powerful trust signal, and could help set you apart in the red sea of remote workers.
Endnote
If you’ve never had a client ask for a background check, it might be that you’ve never undergone one, or you may not even have known about it! For companies hiring freelancers, everything from official criminal record checks to more informal social media ‘stalking’ influences their decision of who to bring on board. Knowing what they can and can’t see gives you more control of the situation. It’s not necessarily about having a squeaky clean background, but being honest, prepared, and professional when handling inquiries about your history online and offline.
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