Prospective Employers performing credit check for employment? How common?

[Jmiami]

I was just reading one of my nerdy financial type books and for hoots thought I'd shoot the thought out there...

How many of you were required to pass a credit check by your prospective employers before you were formally offered a position?

I was reading about how sometimes folks have poor credit ratings due to medical bills or other things outside of their control unlike a poor credit rating that is due to being irresponsible and spending beyond their means. Yet, their report is still viewed as derogatory regardless of how the debt is structured because it is probably only a score being pulled and not an in depth analysis being performed of the report.

Do you feel new grads may or may not be impacted in finding gainful employment upon graduation if they have a poor FICO score in this very competitive job search climate that Nursing is in right now?

[ckh23, BSN, RN]

They may. It really depends on the employer if they run a credit check. If they do than if they have bad credit it will probably be viewed negatively.

In my opinion these checks for employment are bogus, whether it is nursing or some other profession. All it really takes is for one to get sick and it will bankrupt them, especially if they need an extended stay in the ICU and they do not have health insurance.

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

Most hospitals do a credit check now or at least say they do.

[elkpark]

From posts on this site over the last few years, it appears that this is a growing trend. Certainly, in the current employment market, many employers can afford to be a choosy as they like, and they are legally entitled to use whatever criteria they like to "thin the herd" of applicants as long as they are not violating federal or state labor and employment laws.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

A credit check has been part of the employment process for every job I've held, in and out of health care, since the late 1980s.

It's not the FICO score itself that employers are interested in, but credit reports are an efficient, low-cost way for an employer to verify other information you have provided on your application like current and past addresses, employment, and a "big picture" of your finances.

[MtnRN]

I heard though they look at as a means of whether or not you are likely to steal or divert drugs. Which is totally incorrect in my opinion. I have just recently gone through a divorce, lost my job ( due to my high integrity standards), and have no income at present and am struggling to make ends meet. Just because I am behind on my bills and TRYING TO FIND A JOB TO GET MY BILLS CAUGHT BACK UP does not constitute me as a bad employment risk, but a good one since I NEED TO WORK to get back on my feet!!!