Unless you have a background in petroleum or chemical engineering or have one doing your due diligence then I would suggest that you walk away from this area.

It sounds like you have a solid foundation with your professional background in media production and your voice-over business.

It's just I came into this with a background as a classroom teacher and high-stakes language exam coach and I really didn't understand the immense help that my experience managing the student-teacher relationship has given me in learning how to manage the landlord-tenant relationship.I also had no clue how much of a leg up that same experience had taught me to deal on a personal basis with public officials such as magistrates, code enforcement officials, court clerks, and of course law enforcement officials, here in PA most notably our state constables.The last thing that really helped has nothing to do with me.

The tests they do involve making contact as different people of different backgrounds to determine if they are treated differently from one another.

Gen Z Is Dominating Their Parents in Homeownership

I believe Zillow will even take applications and screen/background check applicants for me.

That being said, regarding best and worst ways: some of the people I look up to the most in our industry traditionally have quite diverse backgrounds.

What's your preferred method for Background/Credit checks and Applications?

Background check:  I always perform a background check. 

There are gurus all over the place with absolutely zero resume/background that are charging $10K/pop for info...which many are willing to pay.