Can Bad Credit Keep Me from Being Hired?

According to a recent survey by VISA, 80 of Americans did not know that bad credit can affect their chances of getting a job. What many people do not realize until they experience it firsthand is that employers have the right to refuse to hire job applicants because of their credit histories.

Employers who investigate your credit reports as a part of the employment process argue that your credit history is a good predictor of your judgment, character, work performance, and reliability as an employee. Some consumer advocates argue against this and feel the practice is an unfair method of discriminating against job applicants. Regardless of which side of the story you agree with, the fact remains that the information contained in your credit reports could have bearing on your being hired for a new job.

Tory Johnson of Good Morning America recently authored the article How Bad Credit Can Affect Job Prospects in which there are a number of good tips to keep in mind when applying for a new job. First among these is finding out if the employer will be requesting a copy of your credit reports. Prospective employers are required by law to get your permission before conducting a credit check so look through the fine print of any employment application. Is it usually in the fine print where you lend your consent upon signing the application.

If you have great credit, you probably won't have anything to worry about. If, however, your