Whoops! Just When You Thought Your Job Hunt Was Safe!
Your job hunt could be in jeopardy. Not because your resume may
contain a few untruths. Or because your references are less than
enthusiastic. Or even because you have some skeletons buried in
your work history.
No, no, no. Your problem has nothing to do with your boss'
report about you. It's your credit report!
You read right. Increasingly, employers are obtaining copies of
your credit report to see how responsible you are handling
money. This critical information is factoring into their overall
impression of you.
According to an article on The Wall Street Journal Career
website, a survey by The Society for Human Resource Management
found the 35% of employers checked credit reports. That was in
2003. It's even higher today.
There are no laws preventing employers from investigating your
credit report and using the information to make a negative
decision about you.
So, what can you do? Know your rights and fight back! Here are
some important tips that put the ball in your court:
1. Check your credit report before applying for any jobs. If you
find a mistake, contact the credit agency. They're required to
investigate any disputed items.
2. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, a prospective employer
must obtain your permission in writing before accessing your
credit report.
3. If an employer denies your employment application they must
give you a copy and tell you how you can dispute inaccuracies
with the credit bureau.
4. If you DO have a credit problem, the best course is to
address it yourself right upfront.
5. Be prepared to demonstrate your strengths, capabilities and
assets that overshadow your credit report.
We know from studies we've done that, in the final analysis,
when all is said and done, an employer is going to hire you
because he/she likes you. That's right! An employer will always
pick someone, not because of a work history and job credentials,
but because he/she sees you fitting into the team.
That's good news that overrides any and all potential negatives.
And the moral of the story is to work on and practice your
face-to-face communication with a prospective employer.
The other good news is that there's a fabulous job search
program that can have you meeting face-to-face with a
prospective employer in as little as 14 days!