Will Bad Credit Effect Job Opportunities?

Black Jade, BSN, RN · Nov 17, 2010

I don't think it will affect your job opportunities, but it will affect if you want to rent an apartment or buy a car, etc... Are you able to work full-time until Fall? Maybe you can work per diem as a CNA during school and just pay the minimum amount each time on your credit cards. Better to do that than accumulate the interest everytime you are late on your payments.

caliotter3 · Nov 17, 2010

Employers who do credit checks as part of the application process typically use them to verify previous addresses, but I would not go out of my way to develop poor credit records with the credit reporting agencies. Maintain your income and pay your bills on time. You will be hurting yourself if you don't.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Nov 17, 2010

Depending on the job you're going for, it is possible that it could affect your job hunt. But according to the FTC website, if something in your credit report prevents you from getting hired, the employer must notify you of this and show you the report. For those who are curious: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt053.shtm

So it may affect it, or it may not. Better to avoid potential problems altogether and keep a good credit rating by paying your bills on time.

lifelearningrn, BSN, RN · Nov 17, 2010

Definitely keep your credit up.. it's really hard to rebuild after screwing it up. Student loans are low interest.. perhaps you can take out a couple loans, pay off the credit cards and you won't have to worry about paying the loans back until you graduate.

Yes, you'll be getting loans to pay off others in essence, but you'll be trading high interest for low, and you'll save your rating.

Good luck!

dthfytr, ADN, LPN, RN, EMT-B, EMT-I · Nov 17, 2010

Some employers farm this work out to independent companies. They'll check your credit, criminal history, driving record, shoe size, anything that helps them build a bigger picture of the kind of person you are. They're looking for patterns. An occasional boo boo here and there are no problem. If your last 3 husbands all committed suicide by stabbing themselves in the back several times then throwing themselves in front of traffic, that might be considered a pattern. (Stabbed in the back 7 times. Worst case of suicide I've ever seen!).

lifelearningrn, BSN, RN · Nov 17, 2010

(Stabbed in the back 7 times. Worst case of suicide I've ever seen!).

I'd be questioning the MEs credentials after ruling something like that a suicide! :eek:

happy2learn · Nov 17, 2010

As someone who let go of their credit card payments, got in way over my head, and am now in the middle of a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, I would strongly encourage you to keep up with your payments. It is not easy to rebuild yourself after you mess it up.

They always say people shouldn't work full time or even part time during clinical, yet I know plenty of people who do. I know one who goes to nursing school Mon-Fri 8am-5pm, and works 12 hour shifts on Sat & Sun. I also know another person who works 24 hours a week and goes to nursing school full time. It is possible and it would truly benefit you to consider this. At least even part time.

As far as it affecting your job opportunities, well, from personal experience, no. But it will have a negative impact on every other area of your life.

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · Nov 18, 2010

yes!!! if you try to work for facilities that receive federal payments, it will affect your job prospects. my current employer will not hire and will fire people with bad credit, are in default on student loans, are in the rears on child support payments, etc.

ckh23, BSN, RN · Nov 18, 2010

Depends on the employer. Some of them run a credit check along with their background check. However they do have to get your consent to run either.

BMNurse85 · Nov 18, 2010

I was told that jobs look at your score because it gives them an example on how they are with money. This same person told me that out of the people chosen only the ones who had a good score made it. This is for the police dept

happy2learn · Nov 19, 2010

yes!!! if you try to work for facilities that receive federal payments, it will affect your job prospects. my current employer will not hire and will fire people with bad credit, are in default on student loans, are in the rears on child support payments, etc.

that must depend on the facility because i just got hired at a hospital that receives federal payments and as i stated, i am in the middle of a chapter 7 and was in the middle when they did the background check.