You’ve polished your resume, submitted the application, and landed the interview. Then your prospective employer tells you there’s another step in the hiring process: a background check.

What are they going to see?

Will they check your criminal record? Can they look at your social media? And is there anything you should review before they do?

An employment background check can include more than many applicants realize. The good news is that you don’t necessarily have to wait until an employer asks to start preparing.

Understanding what may be reviewed, including your criminal record and publicly available online presence, can help you approach your next opportunity with greater confidence.

What Is an Employment Background Check?

An employment background check helps employers verify information provided during the hiring process and assess information relevant to a particular role.

Depending on the employer, position, and industry, screening may include:

Not every employer conducts every type of screening, and requirements can vary depending on the position.

That’s why understanding what may be reviewed before you apply can help you avoid unexpected surprises later in the hiring process.

Can You Run a Background Check on Yourself?

Yes. You can take steps to understand some of the information that may be associated with you before an employer requests screening.

For example, you can obtain your own criminal record check and review your publicly available online presence through a social media check.

Taking these steps ahead of time can help you better understand the information that may be reviewed and feel more prepared when your next opportunity arrives.

So, where should you start?

How to Prepare for an Employment Background Check

1. Get Your Criminal Record Check

A criminal record check is one of the most common screening requirements applicants may encounter.

Depending on the opportunity you’re pursuing, having your criminal record check ready ahead of time may help you:

  • Prepare for application requirements
  • Confirm the information associated with your check
  • Meet application deadlines
  • Be ready when screening is requested
  • Speed up the hiring process

If a prospective employer or organization requires a criminal record check, completing yours ahead of time means you’ve already taken an important step in preparing for the process.

2. Understand Your Digital Footprint

Your resume tells employers about your professional experience. Your publicly available online presence can contribute to the impression you make outside of it.

Over time, your digital footprint can grow through public posts, comments, photos, shared content, profiles, and other online activity associated with your name.

The challenge is that most people don’t regularly stop to consider what that footprint looks like to someone seeing it for the first time.

A social media check can provide a structured review of publicly available online information associated with you. This can give you greater insight into your digital footprint before you move forward with a new job or professional opportunity.

3. Know What Employers May See Online

One of the most common questions applicants have is:

Can employers see my social media?

Publicly available online information may be visible to employers or organizations during the hiring process.

A social media check focuses on publicly accessible content rather than private messages or restricted profiles. Depending on your privacy settings and the platforms you use, publicly visible information could include:

  • Profiles
  • Posts
  • Comments
  • Photos
  • Shared content
  • Other public online activity

Understanding what is publicly visible can help you make more informed decisions about your online presence rather than wondering what someone might find.

When Should You Prepare for a Background Check?

Background screening isn’t limited to one type of applicant or opportunity.

You may encounter screening when you’re:

  • Applying for your first job
  • Starting a new job
  • Making a career change
  • Applying for a volunteer position
  • Pursuing a professional licence
  • Applying for a government role

The exact screening requirements will depend on the organization and position.

The important thing is not to assume that preparing for a background check starts only after someone asks you to complete one.

Understanding your own information ahead of time can help you approach the process with greater confidence.

Why Review Your Criminal Record and Social Media Together?

A criminal record check and social media check provide insight into two different areas that may be relevant during the hiring process.

A criminal record check provides information about your criminal record, while a social media check helps you understand publicly available online content associated with you.

Together, they can give you a broader understanding of information that may be reviewed as you pursue your next opportunity.

Instead of waiting until an employer requests screening, reviewing both can help you prepare ahead of time and reduce uncertainty about what may appear.

Triton’s Criminal Record Check + Social Media Check Bundle brings both checks together, making it easier to take these steps before your next opportunity.

Get Ready Before Your Next Opportunity

Preparing for a job involves more than updating your resume and practicing interview questions.

Understanding your criminal record and publicly available online presence can also be an important part of getting ready for the hiring process.

Whether you’re applying for your first job, changing careers, volunteering, or pursuing a professional opportunity, knowing what information may be associated with you can help you move forward with greater confidence.

Explore Triton’s Criminal Record Check + Social Media Check Bundle and take the next step in preparing for your next opportunity.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Platforms Are Reviewed in a Social Media Check?

A social media check reviews publicly available content across a broad range of online sources.

Platforms scanned may include:

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • X (formerly Twitter)
  • LinkedIn
  • TikTok
  • YouTube
  • Reddit
  • Other publicly available online sources

What Types of Content Are Flagged During a Social Media Check?

Social media screening is designed to identify job-relevant risk factors found in publicly available online content.

Examples of content that may be flagged include:

  • Hate speech or discriminatory language
  • Sexually explicit material
  • Threats of violence
  • Illegal activity

What Information About Me Is Public Online?

What is publicly available depends on your privacy settings, the platforms you use, and the content you have made public.

Public profiles, posts, comments, photos, shared content, and other online activity may be visible to others, including prospective employers.

Because this information can change over time and may exist across multiple platforms, a Social Media Check provides a structured way to review publicly available information associated with you.

What Does My Online Footprint Say About Me?

Your online footprint is the collection of publicly available information associated with your name across the internet.

Because your digital footprint evolves over time, it can be difficult to know exactly what is visible or how that information may appear to someone encountering it for the first time.

Reviewing your public online presence can give you greater insight into the impression that information may create.

Can Old Social Media Posts Affect My Career?

Older posts, comments, photos, and other publicly available content may still be accessible online.

Every employer has different hiring practices, so you shouldn’t assume that a particular post will affect an employment decision. However, publicly available online content can contribute to the overall impression someone forms when reviewing your online presence.

Understanding what is publicly visible can help you approach future opportunities with greater awareness and confidence.

What Is Included in Triton’s Bundle?

Triton’s bundle includes a Criminal Record Check and Social Media Check, giving applicants a convenient way to review both their criminal record information and publicly available online presence as they prepare for employment and other professional opportunities.