I think I know why I can't get a job:(

[MomRN0913]

I recently downgraded my status at my job because it was killing me. I also have an per diem job as an inservice nurse. I would really like part-time hospital work again for benefits and steady income.

My resume is decent, 5 years ICU background, 7 years total as a RN. I do have a dicey period where i made the biggest mistake ever and left my job to become a NM of a new facility which only lasted 6 months (wouldn't sign a non compete agreement) and then I had a 5 month unemployed period, then I got another job for 6 months because I needed work, but the commute was too long, then I got the job that I was at for a year and only downgraded my status.

But I don't think that's why no hospital is calling me back. I think it's my freakin credit score!!!! I am divorced. We short-sold our home. My credit stinks. I am trying to recover but it's hard. My dad pointed it out and then I realized as I filling out yet another application, it asked for permission to check my credit score. Sure I won't get called on that one.

I can't figure out how to recover. I won't get into my woe-me story, which I have gotten into before. But crap, this divorce has messed up EVERYTHING!

But why are employers checking credit scores? How is it relevant to my skills as a nurse? There are so many reasons one could have a bad credit score. Most of the time it has nothing to do with irresponsibility.

Vent Over.

[klone, MSN, RN]

Have you requested a copy of your credit report to see who has been accessing your records? Any queries on your report will show up, and it will say who requested it.

It costs money to request a credit report, and employers generally do not get a report on someone (if they do at all) unless they've already been through the interview stage, have called references, etc.

FWIW, we had a house foreclosure two months before we relocated to a different state, and I didn't have any troubles finding employment. Granted, prior to the foreclosure, my credit score was over 800, so it only went down about 200 pts. Do you know what your FICO currently is?

Anyway, you recover by building your credit back up, paying down your debt, making sure you make all payments on time. After 7 years, your short sale will drop off, but even with that on your record, as long as you don't have too much debt and you're not late with payments, your FICO shouldn't take too much of a hit.

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

This past weekend Suze Orman talked with a lady who couldn't get a corporate credit card due to her credit report. She suggested getting several secured credit cards from credit unions in the range of $300-$500 and paying them off monthly to rebuild her credit. Stick with credit unions or banks for the secured credit card because there out cut-throat loan shark credit cards out there like the one the lady had with 59% interest rate if the balance wasn't repaid monthly. You need to pay your utilities on time because these report to the credit bureau. If you aren't being hired due to your credit you will know because you have to sign and give them permission to check your credit. Also the employer is supposed to send you a letter telling you that they didn't hire you due to an adverse credit report. Of course they don't always do this. In fact yahoo.com just had an article about this problem just the other day.

If they do ask you to sign for a credit report I would address the situation and tell them the reason your credit is bad is due to a divorce and your home being underwater due to the national or regional (Nevada, Florida, California etc) economic collapse. Suze always recommends being proactive about your credit situation with employers if credit is brought up honestly explain the reason. Many companies are doing credit checks, but not all do. Also some states have outlawed the practice of using credit checks for employment.

Obviously look over your credit report and get your credit scores by the three companies. You can get a free report from www.annualcreditreport.com but you still have to pay for the credit score. Its best to check out all three. Also check out the book Your Credit Score by Liz Weston to learn more about how to fix your credit score over time. It's possible you could also improve your credit score by being linked as an authorized user of someone with good credit like a family member. They were talking about stopping this, but I think its still a way to bring up one's credit score and Suze in fact suggested the lady have her fiance add her as a authorized user to improve her credit score if he had good credit!

Liz Weston has other good books the best Deal with your debt, explains how to use debt for maximum flexibility and how best to pay it down safely. She has other money books as well. A great budget book by now Senator Elizabeth Warren who helped bring the National Consumer Finance Bureau into existence is All Your Worth. It recommends a budget of 50% needs, 20% savings or debt repayment, and 30% wants. She also explains what to do in a financial emergency and when and how to consider bankruptcy.

I hope this helps. Good luck with the job search. There is a lot of competition as well some places are getting 100+ applicants for a job so it might be about more than credit. Don't give up, remain persistent and eventually you'll get a job.

[llg, PhD, RN]

I doubt your credit score is the problem ... not unless you are getting interviews and everything seems to be going well until just before the time of the official job offer. As a previous poster said, employers don't spend money of getting credit reports on a candidate until they are in the final stages of the hiring process. They are not wasting money checking the credit reports of people they haven't even interviewed.

While you are an experienced nurse, there is also that "rough patch" in your work history that raises concern. That is much more likely to be the cause ... unless there are other issues that are also working against you, such as the type of job you are applying for, other aspects of your application, etc. Focus on addressing all of those things to get interviews ... and then address the credit problems up front to demonstrate that you have your financial situation under control now that the divorce is over, and they won't be a problem in the future.

Good luck to you!

[MomRN0913]

Thanks everyone. I think it's a combo of things. I've downgraded what I am looking for. I want to go back to a regular old staff nurse part time. I really didn't think that would be an a issue. I really thought trying to go back that would be easy.

I have nothing against my listen e, have been terminated once for not signing a non- compete, which when I had gotten to the interview point, all had understood and said they didn't blame me. I've burned bridges with no one except maybe that job.

Yes, I "only" have my associates.

Well, my dad is sitting down with me tomorrow and is going through my credit report.

I'm just down and out, I feel like a failure. I also know I shouldn't have left my ICU job. I beat myself up for it, but I was thinking about when my daughter reached kindergarten. And I was offered an$25k pay raise as a single mom I couldn't turn down.

I know I'm an idiot for leaving though. I even went back to my old hospital where I have many close friends and all gave HR a heads up and they won't return my calls. ***** Something is going on and I need to get to the bottom of it......

[calivianya, BSN, RN]

It's always hard to go back once you've held a higher position. My dad's not a nurse, but that happened to him - he was a higher-up in a textile company for a while and when that moved to Mexico, no one would hire him because he was overqualified. He finally managed to get a job five states away because his brother pulled some strings at a country club that he frequented; if it hadn't been for that, my dad would likely never have worked again. Employers are really hard on people who are "overqualified" for a job, so your brief higher position could be part of your problem now though it's unlikely because you weren't there for long.

It could also just be that you've had so many jobs recently. Employers could see you as someone who just job hops and isn't looking to stay anywhere awhile, which is unfair but that's how it goes. Either way, I wish you luck in your search!

[avaloncar, BSN, RN]

It is funny, I just had this conversation with my mother this morning. We came to an agreement that they want to see how responsible you are in paying your bills and dependable you are. But in your situation and many others, sometimes it is out of your hands and not purposeful. I am so sorry that that happened to you.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

Hire on at a temp agency and you will soon find a new employer.