Hiring process question.

LPN-n-2005 · Jul 26, 2004

it really boils my blood for employers to use credit checks to automatically judge someone. that is straight up discrimination. some people have made bad choices like me in my young adulthood about credit but i am one of the best workers out there. i rarely call in and bust my buns to get the job done. i could see a credit check if you were going to work in a financial institution like a bank but not to work in hospitals wiping butts.

EricG · Jul 26, 2004

Personally, I think that a good interview, good references, and an honest approach about whatever credit issues you may have will be the way to go. If it is something significant like a bankruptcy, let them know about it upfront. Noone likes surprises in the process of being hired I would guess?

Sheri257 · Jul 26, 2004

it really boils my blood for employers to use credit checks to automatically judge someone. that is straight up discrimination. some people have made bad choices like me in my young adulthood about credit but i am one of the best workers out there. i rarely call in and bust my buns to get the job done. i could see a credit check if you were going to work in a financial institution like a bank but not to work in hospitals wiping butts.

Well, look at it from their side. If you don't know someone, and you've probably had some bad experiences with employees in the past, maybe you would want to run a credit check, or any other resource available, to determine whether this person is going to be a good employee.

I've had some credit problems in the past. And, quite frankly, I screwed up. My fault. I've busted tail to clean it up, but I don't blame a prospective employer for holding it against me. It is a reflection of how I've handled things, both good and bad.

:coollook:

Altra, BSN, RN · Jul 26, 2004

i could see a credit check if you were going to work in a financial institution like a bank but not to work in hospitals wiping butts.

Hope my future job and yours will include more than that ... :nurse:

Employers are hiring the whole person, not just the skills to complete a task.

llg, PhD, RN · Jul 26, 2004

Personally, I think that a good interview, good references, and an honest approach about whatever credit issues you may have will be the way to go. If it is something significant like a bankruptcy, let them know about it upfront. Noone likes surprises in the process of being hired I would guess?

I totally agree with this post. If you simply made a few bad decisions and have since "cleaned up your act" or remedied whatever needed to be remedied, an employer will most likely take your more recent, good judgment and positive behavior into consideration.

If you know there is something bad in your history, the best approach is almost always to bring it up first and provide them with the updated information about how you have straightened things out. The worst thing to do is to lie about it or try to cover it up. If an employer finds out that you have been less-than-truthful, they often take that as a reason for automatic termination on the grounds that you can't be trusted.

llg

mariedoreen · Jul 26, 2004

I've never heard that your points go down when someone checks it.

Evidently it has a negative impact if your credit is checked too often. I don't know if that's too often by "anyone" or if they consider the sources.. ie do you have the mercedes dealership and 10 department stores and 5 major credit cards and the yacht club checking you out in the space of 30 days? If so, yeah, it can have a negative impact!

EricG · Jul 30, 2004

Just a quick follow up to this since some may be concerned. :) I spoke to HR nurse recruiters from 2 significant hospitals in my area and the quotes were:

"We don;t run a credit check, it is just language we have to add to the application."

"Anyone that would not hire you based on a poor credit history or prior bankruptcy should be ashamed of themselves."

They actually said not to even mention anything about it BUT that is for the individual to decide.

SoulShine75 · Jul 30, 2004

Whats this? I thought they needed YOUR PERMISSION to run a credit check on you??? Every time they check, your points go down. They can't do that without your permisiion, can they?

Anytime someone runs your credit it takes a couple of points off, excluding yourself of course.

SoulShine75 · Jul 30, 2004

Also, I don't believe most people actually run the credit checks. It might just be a standard they have to follow, such as a criminal background check. Maybe they're looking for financial criminals or something. ie..frequent backrupters, etc...

Here is my advice to you....(just for you own personal peace of mind) Get a copy of your credit report, there are a few companies. If you're credit has been checked by anyone in the last month or 2 you can get a free copy by calling or writing the company. Try Equifax, they're well known and everyone goes through them generally. If it hasn't been checked you have to pay, not sure how much though. It can't be more that $20-$30 I'd assume. :uhoh21: Look over it!!!! Companies don't report a lot, such as pay-offs, payments, etc. I once had a bank not report any of my car payments to the credit co for 2 YEARS! It looked as though I hadn't made any payments in forever, and obviously I did. I paid off the car! That could have helped me out credit wise if they'd reported it. Also, if you have some outstanding debt you can "argue" the bill so to speak. If the particular co., credit card, whatever, doesn't respond back to the credit place within 30 days they take it off of your credit forever. A lot of people do this if the debt is old, years or something, and most companies have many other people to worry about like people who are in thousands of dollars with them. They might not bother to even argue it and let it go. Once you actually look at your credit report and go over EVERYTHING on it and understand it you'll feel better. Everyone makes mistakes when they're younger. Some more than others. The important thing is that you get educated about what is on your credit report. If a company doesn't hire you because of previous financial situations then they are only hurting themselves because they need people like you really bad right now. I wouldn't necissarily bring it up to your prospective employer, just try and make a great 1st impression..just incase :rotfl:

Good luck to you!

HisTreasure, BSN, RN · Jul 31, 2004

The whole credit thing is sticky with me. I commend the people with pristine credit, however most people (especially straight out of college) simply do not have an outstanding credit score. One of the problems with America today is we are credit happy. Anyone can get credit, but a lot of people are simply ignorant to the problems that credit can cause, and we abuse it.

My credit is horrendous. In part because I was a spoiled college freshman who's parents decided they would no longer support my Victoria's Secret and Abercrombie habits (so, I obtained credit cards I couldn't pay off). However, it is also in because when my marriage was brand new my husband and I couldn't afford a decent apartment on our own (neither could my sis-in-law) so we did a rooming situation with his sister who moved out prematurely, and left us out to dry with a $1000 rent and a brand new baby. Even though I was a SAHM sans income, I was married and over 18 so I had to sign the lease also. All that being said, I am a very responsible person. Responsible with the finances now, responsible with school and church, responsible with my family. I have a strong work ethic and a definitive sense of employment loyalty.

I have not had anything in my name since, but those things are still on my credit. NO ONE can tell an individual by their credit because a credit score is simply NOT an accurate testimony to ones' character or employability.