Do a quick tour of any HR or recruiting website, and you'll see at least one mention of the "gig economy." Recent research shows a growing number of Americans – almost a third – consider themselves independent contractors or freelancers. And the vast majority of those workers became free agents by choice, not because of economic conditions or layoffs.

What this means for employers is that a growing body of experience and skills is available on a contract basis from these workers. That's a huge boon for employers, but it's not without some pitfalls.

Hiring an independent contractor could be the perfect solution to your hiring woes, but you need to be just as diligent in screening these types of hires as you are traditional employees. In this slideshow, eaHELP's President Tricia Sciortino has identified the top five things to look for when hiring independent contractors.