What Gets Checked in a Background Check

Why background checks matter

Background screening is now routine hiring practice. A 2022 PBSA survey found that 94 percent of US employers ran at least one type of background check on candidates.

In the last decade the scope of these checks has expanded. Credit reports, driving histories, drug tests, and criminal records still matter, but recruiters now spend real time on social media. One CareerBuilder study found that 70 percent of hiring managers look at social profiles and 54 percent have rejected candidates for questionable posts. That means your online presence is part of the formal vetting, not an optional side search.

Main items that employers verify

• Identity and right-to-work status: name, date of birth, address history, and immigration paperwork
• Criminal records: county, state, and federal court databases for convictions, pending cases, and warrants; local laws set look-back limits
• Social media footprint: recruiters review Facebook, LinkedIn, X, Reddit, and forums for hate speech, threats, illegal activities, or excessive negativity
• Employment history and references: job titles, dates, duties, and supervisor feedback; any fabrication can trigger rejection
• Education and professional licenses: degrees and certifications confirmed with schools and licensing boards
• Credit reports: pulled for finance, security, and leadership roles to gauge fiscal responsibility; requires written consent under the Fair Credit Reporting Act
• Motor vehicle records: driving violations, license suspensions, and accident history checked for roles involving vehicles
• Drug testing: about forty percent of employers test all hires; additional screening for safety-sensitive position

Why social media checks can sink an offer

Social content is archived forever unless you remove it. A single problematic tweet may surface years after posting. Algorithms make it easy for third-party screeners to flag keywords, images, or hashtags that violate company values. With rapid turnaround times, you may not even have a chance to explain before your application is denied.

Unlike credit or criminal reports, social media screenings do not require explicit consent in every jurisdiction.

That means hiring teams can search your name, scrape public posts, and build a dossier without notifying you. You need to manage your digital footprint proactively. You should be clearing your social media profiles before you apply for any jobs.

Speed up the cleanup with Redact

Manual deletion can take days if you have thousands of posts. Redact automates the heavy lifting and gives you full control over what stays and what goes.

• Bulk delete by keyword, date range, or content type across Facebook, X, Reddit, Discord, and more.
• Preview mode shows exactly what will be removed before you press delete.
• Selective wiping keeps positive posts and removes risky material in minutes.
• Full account wipe provides a clean slate if you are changing careers or need a fresh start.

With Redact you can bring your social profiles in line with company standards long before the background check runs. That leaves you free to focus on interviews, confident that your online presence supports your professional story.

Redact supports dozens of major social and productivity platforms. You can try it free for deletions on Discord, Twitter, and Facebook, and Reddit.