Why do employers require a credit check? What exactly are they looking for?

Question

Why do employers require a credit check? What exactly are they looking for? Will a recent bankruptcy keep me from being hired?

Answer 1

Employers conduct employment background checks to verify the integrity of job applicants and employees for hiring, promotion, reassignment and retention decisions.

Answer 2

Each employer has differing criteria that is used to make hiring decisions. A credit check can reveal a potential problem employee if there numerous medical bills on the credit report, or the person appears to be drowning in revolving charge account debt, or there have been issues bank cards. Generally, a clean credit record is a good pointer towards an "average" prospect with no unusual financial issues.

Answer 3

They are looking at a prospective employee's credit history with the hypothesis that if one is irresponsible in his/her handling of credit, then they will potentially also be irresponsible at work, and should not hired. A recent bankruptcy may or may not count against you depending on the reason for it. For example, if a child's illness caused you to have big debts that drove you into bankruptcy, and you explain that, most employers would be very understanding. On the other hand, it you got into debt due to excessive gambling, most employers would decide to look at other candidates.

Answer 4

Any person considered for employment with a good credit history is statisicly going to be a better employee and an asset to the company. In other words, if you can't or won't pay your own bills, meet your responsibilities, why would anybody hire you to help them meet theirs.

Answer 5

Responsibility with your personal life is an indication of your work ethic.

If a top level employee they want to see if you might be persuaded to sell company secrets for a price, because you are in desperate need of money to pay debts

If you are in a position where you handle money or have access to monies they want to make sure you are not going to pilfer the funds.

If your BK is due to medical expenses you will get a better chance at a pass on having the BK count against you.

If you ran up credit cards you didn't or haven't paid off it will hurt more.

Answer 6

They are looking for stability and responsibility. The second part of your question will depend upon the circumstances of the bankruptcy. For example, if it was due to massive medical bills following an illness or accident, that's one thing. On the other hand, if it was due to excessive gambling debts, that's another.

Answer 7

If someone has had problems with debts, gambling, or something like that, you wouldn't hire this person to work with money in your company.

Same can be said of people who change companies every few months, they want to know why.

Employee theft is a huge problem in any company.

Answer 8

More than likely an employer is running a check with one of the myriad of "specialty" CRAs--not Equifax, Experian or TransUnion.

There are literally hundreds of "specialty" CRAs. Here are a few of the more commonly used ones.

http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/debt/20061117_specialty_consumer_reporting_agencies_a1.asp

Answer 9

They aren't usually looking for honest mistakes like bankruptcy. They are looking for unusual extravagance, very high debt, and living well beyond your means... as a life style. The reasoning is that that kind of debt may lead to theft and dishonesty against the company.

Answer 10

Could, they feel that if you are unable to pay your bills, you are unreliable or irresponsible.
I don't agree, but I think that's the way it is.

They have to have you sign a Fair Credit Act waver however.

Here is a web-site that will spell out the Fair Credit Act Report for you.
http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/031224fcra.pdf