What is this world coming to?

Question

I would like to know what others think about credit worthy employment discrimination.

Is it fair to not hire a college student because of a low credit score that is due to student loans reflecting on his credit report?

Here’s my friend dilemma:

He graduated from a private University in 2004 with a Bachelors degree in Criminal Justice. He spent a year looking for jobs in his profession and was not successful at obtaining employment because of lack of experience in the field, language barrier (he resides in Miami, FL) etc.
The school did a very poor in finding a job placement, instead the counselor looked at him and said, and “You lack experience, and don’t expect to make more than $25,000 a year”. He was furious, upset because in his current position his making $30,000 a year while working two jobs. Since 2004 until current he sent out close to 250 employment applications, and only went to 25 interviews in his profession.
He’s now stuck with a $55,000 student loan with no job! His forced to take jobs like Administrative Assistant, Receptionist, Data Entry etc.

I would like to get others opinion on this situation:

What should he do?

Should I advice to change profession, and go back to school for something else?

Is school for everyone?

Is the educational system selling false dreams?

Would you recommend he moved to another state? (Since Spanish is a requirement for those that live in Miami, FL)

Answer 1

Anyone who has 25 interviews and comes up empty must have a bigger problem than a poor college placement bureau. WHY didnt he get hired? He better talk to a job counselor about his interviewing skills.

And, if he lives in Miami and wants to work in Criminal Justice, how could he possibly imagine that he wouldnt need to learn Spanish! I can't believe that. That was a a really dimwitted choice to not learn Spanish. And if he doesn't want to learn Spanish and can't find a job in his hometown, why is he still there? Are you telling us he would rather be a receptionist in Miami than a law enforcement person in some other place? If $25,000 is the starting salary then that's what he has to start at. Does he expect that they are going to pay him more just because he has a school debt. It pays what it pays, and he could have known that from the first day he was in school with a minimal amount of research.

He is not entitled to a job just because he finished school. He has to convince the employers that he is ready, willing and able to do what they need done. In Miami you say that includes language skills. OK, so that's a simple choice. Learn Spanish or get out.

But what else is he refusing to do? I think that this guy has way more problems than you have let on. Until he dedicates himself to being the person that the employer wants, he will be sitting on the sidelines. I don't have much sympathy, as is obvious. Seems like one more guy who thinks the world owes him something.

Answer 2

First off, yes, it is unlawful to discriminate based upon a person's credit (unless its a something directly related to it).
Second, not to sound rude but the problem may lay with your friend. It is NOT the school's responsibility to get students jobs, it is the student's. In almost any profession, there is the potential to intern at a company during their education at a college. Some colleges even offer co-ops.
However, if Spanish is a requirement in Miami for the job and your friend is not fluent in it, yeah it might be a good idea to move.

Answer 3

There a very good reason if your friend is looking for jobs in the law enforcement/criminal justice sector for not being hired because of his credit history. This a common practice for all law enforcement agencies at municipal, state, and federal levels. The reasoning being ... you don't want to hire someone who is ridiculously in debt because they will be more susceptible to ethical violations in order to remedy their situation.

Law Enforcement agencies made credit checks a part of their hiring process over 20 years ago when they noticed over 75% of the officials who were corrupt, taking bribes, and laundering money were the ones who were in serious debt. Personally, I think it is a good idea (in theory, not necessarily in practice). It may be unfair for some who would never do such a thing, but overall it keeps those who would fall prey to using their position under the color of authority to further their own interests.

As for salaries ... your friend really should have researched how much his degree would be worth before he completed it, and started looking for jobs. Not all degrees make the same amount of money. Thats really his fault ...

Answer 4

i wouldnt blame the educational system... just his school for horrible job placement.

and i would definetly not advise going back to school .. yet... while he's still swimming in dept.

yes school is for everyone, it's just how people handle the opportunies given to them (or how the opportunity played itself out) that makes a difference

and if he thinks moving would help him out... i believe he should. looks like that could help him out.

he should also do researching. find out what internships he can get into to get more experience in his field.

Answer 5

"Is it fair to not hire a college student because of a low credit score. . . ?"

Is it fair to refuse to hire anyone because of a credit score, ever? No; that's completely ridiculous.

There's a line in a Bob Dylan song that goes, "Twenty years of schooling, and they put you on the day shift".

I hate life.