Hi everyone. I'm in a mild panic. I found a new job and was given an offer pending a background check. That is no big deal, I'm squeaky clean. But she mentioned that they check credit too so now I'm worried. My credit is not so hot because combined with having typical ADD financial "quirks" and a serious, serious car accident two years ago, my credit isn't so hot anymore. I did tell her that I was recovering financially from a car accident and have a lawyer and she said her husband had the same experience many years ago. But, I'm still worried.

How much do you think credit counts on employment?

Depends on the type of employment
If you work in a financial institution or in the financial department it might weight a little bit more.( I heard of people that had been ofefered a job only if they paid their collections- the job was in a bank). Otherwise they might look for bigh things only like liens, public records and so....or it might be just a formality-my husband's company has credit checks from tiem to time and he did not get fired yet- and his credit used to look NASTY -could not buy a chewing gum on his credit.

Hmmm...good point. This is a software company. It's probably more to make sure my record is clean of arrests and stuff. I guess if my credit is an issue, the job wasn't meant to be right? Trying to keep perspective. Thanks for the replies. :)

Unless it's a financial type of job, you probably don't have to worry too much. Usually they're just looking for criminal history. A few late payments or whatever shouldn't hurt you.

This is a huge concern for me as well. About 4 years ago, a went through a series of events that wrecked me financially. I had no choice but to file bankruptcy.

I have been in my current job for 4 years, and am ready to move on, but since I filed, I think more and more companies are checking credit reports and using this as a proxy measure of a potential employee's reliability, and overall character.

To me, this is an outrage. :eek:

Generally I dont think employers are doing background checks on you to see if you pay your Target card on time....I think its mostly a criminal thing. I would think it is best just to be honest...and definitly dont LIE about your credit history. its acceptable to " not mention' things but to blatently lie is no good. Typically jobs dont care if you have a bad credit history, assuming you do plan to pay it off etc.The only problem would be is if you are a perpetually "problem" person who literally HAS to be taken to court in order to force you to pay something off you should have done long ago.....