Frequently Asked Questions
What is Goose?
Goose is a platform for freelancers, and companies/organisations/institutes that hire freelancers to be able to source and share work quickly and painlessly.
Is there a membership fee to join Goose?
No, signing up is free! Once you're signed up, you'll have free and complete access to the platform via your dashboard.
What is meant by "a freelancer"?
This is a self-employed individual who works on a job-by-job basis for various clients.
What is meant by "a freelancer ally"?
This is an individual who's either unemployed, or employed (full- or part-time) by a company/organisation/institute, and knows freelancers in their personal network.
What is meant by "a company representative"?
This is a hiring manager who's employed by a company, organisation, or institute that work with freelancers, and posts open freelancer roles whenever necessary.
I'm new to freelancing, so I don't have any clients to input into the work experience section. Can I skip this part of the onboarding?
Yes. You'll have the opportunity to update this section whenever you need to via your profile dashboard.
I don't have anyone in my "network" because I'm new to freelancing. What do I do?
Yes, you have a network! Your network can include friends, family, or ex-colleagues. If they're note "freelancers," they'd be your "freelancer allies." Inviting them to join your network means you get access to connections they have at companies/organisations/institutes that hire freelancers.
Why am I asked to enter my previous or current client email as verification for my stated work experience, and is it public?
1. The email you input is not public in any way. We also don't store or use those client emails for any other purpose. 2. Our aim is to mitigate the chances of fraud/false claims of freelancers' work histories. As such, authentication who you've completed work for, is important.
How can I verify my work history if my contact at the company/organisation/institute no longer works there?
You can still enter the role. This won't, however, be indicated as "verified" in your profile. You'll also be able to include links to the work, if necessary, in any application you complete for an open role.
What happens when I enter an email to verify my work history, and are they required to "sign up" to Goose?
Firstly, no, they are not asked to, or required to sign up to Goose. Secondly, your contact will get a very short email asking them to confirm, via a clickable link, that you've worked for them for or between the dates you put in. They also have the option to "ignore" this request by doing nothing. This is the note that comes with the work verification request: "Hi there! This is a work authentication request. Please could you confirm that Tuleka Prah worked for you at Food Map from 10/2012 to 5/2018. If not, please ignore this email. Thanks!" Furthermore: 1. The email you input is not public in any way. We also don't store or use those client emails for any other purpose. 2. As a measure of mitigating the chances of fraud/false claims, we ask freelancers to verify clients included in their work history.