Bad Credit affecting ability to find a Good Job?

Question

Long story short, my soon to be ex husband ruined our credit. I had no knowledge of his actions as I had no access to any bills, accounts or funds. Now we're divorcing and because my (his) credit is awful I am having a hard time finding a good job.

What are my options?

Answer 1

One option you have is to get current copies of your credit reports if you don't have them. Take copies of these with you to job interviews. If the employer requests you sign a document permitting them to pull your credit, briefly explain to them that your credit was damaged due to a divorce. Then tell them that you are in the process of rebuilding your credit and their inquiry will take 3 to 12 points off your credit score (these are actual numbers); therefore, you don't want your credit pulled.

You can then offer them a copy of the reports you brought with you. This may also give you an opportunity to explain negative items on your report; an opportunity you may never get if they just pull your report and take it for what it is after your interview.

Lastly, take a sharpie or magic marker and black out your account numbers. If you're not offered the job, your information will sit in a file for a couple of years, and you have no idea who has access to it. With the constant threat of identity theft, you have to protect your information. Good Luck!

Answer 2

The first thing that you will want to do is to get a copy of your credit report. This will tell you WHY you have bad credit. For example, what agencies have reported delinquency. Many times if you contact an agency that has reported something on your credit, and that debt has been paid, they will remove it from your report if requested to. Even if they debt has not been paid there are a couple things that you can do. You can usually make agreements with companies that if you either begin to make scheduled payments, or pay off the balance in full, they will remove any complaints from your credit report.

Secondly, you should not carry too many credit cards. The more liabilities you have under your name the worst off it makes your credit look. Have only one or two Major cards. Store credit cards are not necessary. Also, to build your credit make small purchases on the card and pay every month as scheduled. Even getting a small personal loan or Checkbook Line of Credit will help to increase your credit if you make the payments on time each payment cycle.


As far as getting a job with poor credit.... if a potential employer brings up a poor credit score explain to them the situation and offer to bring in proof of improvement. This will usually settle them down ;)

Answer 3

First, have a heart to heart with him to see IF you both still want to divorce. If there is no way to save the marriage, then make sure that you have a good attorney...as well as some time to rest, because this will be an emotional blow to you that has a lot of stress attached (children visitation, child support, division of assets).

Your attorney should be able to secure a letter which could be sent to your creditors and your credit files explaining the situation(s) from the divorce. Yes...some companies do require credit checks as a part of employment, especially in the more sensitive employment areas because it determines if an employee may be 'compromised' by bribes, etc.

Make sure that you have a good attorney and they can advise you on what you need to do to 'restore' or 'protect' your financial health.

Answer 4

Until you are able to correct your credit history, you should apply for jobs that do not need to review your credit reports for hiring. Yes, you could explain your situation with a prospective employer, but honestly, the employer doesn't care to have knowledge of your personal business.

Answer 5

Immediately get your name of these accounts if possible. Secondly, get credit in your own name, even if you need to use a secured account.

Check with your divorce attorney, and see if you can get your husband to assume the cost of the bills that he ran up.

In your application, put down that if they run a credit check that you have such a bad record due to the divorce and your husbands recklessness. In other words, beat them to the punch. That is worth brownie points.

Good luck.

Answer 6

Make use of the 100 word statement on your credit report - see link below which explains. It is important to get hold of your credit report - then follow the tips to fix things the free and legal way.

Answer 7

Try and find someone who will listen to you instead of just seeing it in a credit report so you can explain.

Answer 8

About the only thing I can suggest is to address the issue in an interview - any background checks would normally not happen until after that - and be honest about what happened, that you didn't know about it.

Good luck.