Finding a job is tough enough today. Unfortunately, some employers make it even tougher by asking to look at your credit history. As if that should make a difference when you’re applying for a job in, say, teaching or nursing, or if you want to oversee computer networks or – umm – even write for a web site.
Certainly, checking your credit is justifiable if the job is in accounting or finance, or in the financial services industry. Companies, after all, don’t want people with financial problems watching over their assets. But is it really necessary to base a hiring decision on how much credit card debt the job applicants have, or whether they were late with a mortgage payment, or fell behind on medical payments because they had no health insurance - since they have no jobs?
Some employers will argue that running a credit check gives them an idea of the candidate’s honesty and sense of responsibility. Really?!? They could find out that and even more by calling references and doing a web search. Or is that just too hard and time-consuming?
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