Credit History as job requirementHELP!!!! CAN ANYONE HELP ME???? It appears that I' ve lost the potential for several jobs due to credit history that was beyond my control. HELP!!! My work ethic is strong, this is the first time in 25 yrs that I' ve been unemployed. I' ve always had overlapping jobs and my shortest work history is 2 1/2 yrs. My last 3 positions were 6yrs, 11 yrs & 5yrs respectively (during which time I also held a extra part-tme job that lasted over 4 years). I' ve missed less than 10 work days in the last 20 years. I have an Associates Degree and am only 10 classes shy of my Bachelors in Business Management. The problem is that I have a Bankruptcy discharge on my credit history from 2005. The potential employers don' t want to hear the reason for the Bankruptcy was because my husband and I suffered 4 lay-offs due to company closures in a 3 year period of time (3 due to the economy and 1 to fire) and we took a 40% income loss in the process. During this time we took on extra part-time work and activities to try to make ends meet, not to mention cashing in my 401K, selling off all my valuables, company stock and profit sharing, and refinanced the house to use the equity to keep the wolves at bay. My husbands work ethic is as strong or stronger than mine plus military background. Before the lay-offs we had a 780 credit rating! and I' m slowly rebuilding it (up to 635 as of July 07). Now 3yrs later, I' m in the job market once again, due to the economy and yet another company downsizing. But this time my credit history is preventing me from finding a new job. When I try to tell them about the Bankruptcy during the 2nd interview or prior to their requesting a background and credit check, they tell me they aren' t interested in the reasons just the fact that it' s there. If I don' t tell them they then tell me that It' s an unacceptable employment criteria. I was even told by one company that "they don' t hire anyone with bankruptcy in their background" no matter what the reason ... Any insight on how to handle this...??? I' m at a loss. I' ve had 10 interview in the last 8 weeks and been denied consideration for 5 of those jobs solely based on my credit history. What kind of jobs are you apply for and with what kinds of companies? Although lots of companies do credit checks, the standards are different depending on a lot of factors. For example, if you' re in banking, that' s a problem. Likewise, credit companies and financial institutions of any kind regardless of the type of job you' re doing. It may be an issue if you have to be bonded (not sure if they consider that or not, but it could be one of the criteria). Other than that, I' d keep disclosing it whether they want to hear it or not. When they get to the point where it looks like they' ll run a credit check (so usually past the 1st interview), just tell them that you' ve had a bankruptcy due to both you and your spouse going through multiple downsizings and that you tried everything available before resorting to that option and that you' ve been steadily rebuilding your credit. If that cuts you out of the running, at least you' ll know then and there and not be waiting on it. All the best! First, take a look at the positions you are trying for. Are they in an industry or an area of any industry where you may have access to a person's financial record? Or the company's finacial status? If you are, then the company could be having a concern regarding your ability to work with that amount of money if you could not handle your own finances and make provisions for the future. I am NOT saying that company downsizing is your fault nor am I minimizing the company's short sighted attitude. Your undoubtedly much better off without these people in your professional life. As I see it, the only thing you can do short of just signing off on a credit check, keeping your mouth shut and possibly losing the job because you are not afforded the opportunity to explain is to keep explaining upfront. Your honesty, forthrightness and willingness to be upfront about your shortcomings will be appreciated by someone. Before you sign off on the credit check, ask the interviewer if you can explain a bankruptcy. If they say no, then do not sign, tell them that you appreciate their time and leave. If they say yes, then explain about the downsizing, the financial difficulties resulting in your income being cut by more than half and then explain the steps you are taking to getting your credit back on track despite the bankruptcy. Paying your mortgage and rent on time or possibly a little early, paying your phone bills, your cell phone, your electric, your heat, hot water. If you really feel that it will help you, bring a current bill that shows you are up to date on your payments to prove that you are really trying to change your actions.
I' ve been looking mostly in the Business Management, Financial & Insurance Industries because of my experience and education. I also have 15 yrs exp in the Manufacturing industry as technical support, sales and low level engineering type experience to fall back on so it looks like I' m going to be stuck in that realm for a while. It' s a shame that so many companies are so closed minded. In my last position, I handled and was responsible for 20k-40k cash on a daily basis even during the bankruptcy phase and my company didn' t hold it against me or loose faith in my abilities. It' s unfortunate they suffered from over extension due to rapid expansion and ultimately had to downsize, the owners had to absorb my position and duties. Trying to keep my chin up... keep telling myself that I was looking when I found that job, there will be others....but it' s hard...by nature I' m a workaholic. I don' t do unemployment well. There' s a big difference in being employed while going through a bankruptcy and trying to find a new job. If you' re employed with them, they know you and love you. When you' re applying they don' t know you from Adam and have the world to choose from. Also, it sounds like that was a small company. They make their own rules and can take a chance on an individual. You may have better luck with small and medium sized companies than with Fortune 500' s. I got knocked out by a large company for just this reason and I still say that our bumps in the road of life have NOTHING to do with our abilities and really would love to see this challenged and banned from being able to be looked at. It would be different if I had a criminal background that showed that I had fraud or embezzlement but to assume that I might be inclined to steal from an employer to cover my debts is totally and utterly ludicrous. | |
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