Your credit score and job prospects…why it matters

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Your credit score and job prospects…why it matters

June 10, 2009 – 10:00 am – No Comment

Credit makes the world go around, at least in our capitalistic country. It seems these days there isn’t much that you can do without it; including landing a job.

It might sound crazy to you, because it definitely sounds crazy to me, but when you apply for a job and agree to a background check, the potential employer can also check your credit history. To me, this is not any potential employer’s business. What credit follies I may have made in the past I am obviously trying to rectify by getting a job and it will be very difficult for me to fix anything without a job.

Thanks to a steadily declining job market, credit scores are on the decline. People are getting behind on credit card payments, going into foreclosure, and filing for bankruptcy protection. So finding a job with a bad credit score is a double edged sword.

According to those who are for the credit score check prior to hiring an employee money problems could mean that the person has a disorder in their life that could lead to poor work habits, including employee theft. These same people said that those with great credit histories are less likely to have poor work habits and be trustworthy as well as reliable.

I, as well as some experts, think there is no clear link between a credit score and history and the job that an individual can do. I am not saying that there is something wrong with having a pristine credit history, just that you can’t count out those who don’t. Credit reports simply don’t account for layoffs, the overall economic conditions regarding unemployment, and things like medical bills or identity theft.

There is someone I know who is the best person with money. He actually is the biggest saver I’ve ever met. Unfortunately, through a couple of bad business deals and poor judgments of character, this man’s credit fell to a very low number. These kinds of things stay on your credit report for seven years for the most part. Think about it, if you can start your credit history when you’re 18, do you think you’re the same person at 25? How about the difference between 23 and 30?

I think that if an employer is going to check an applicant’s credit history, perhaps he or she should give the applicant the chance to explain blemishes on their credit report rather than just judging that applicant for things that may be nearly a decade old. Even though I would still not agree with the practice, I think that this would at least give the applicant a chance to explain the situation instead of just being thought of as a “bad prospect” to a potential employer.