Bad Credit: No Job for One Year

Dear C.J.,

I have been reading some of the blogs I found when Googling, “What type of jobs can I get with bad credit?” I have the same situation as most of the people that have written to you. I have been out of a job for over a year now. I am in the process of filing for bankruptcy.

I have also read that if employers do run credit checks on you and you have bad credit, it may be the reason they turn you down. It also said that it is against the law to base hiring on that so therefore the employer just uses a general let down like: other candidates more closely fit what we are looking for.

So my question is: How do you know if you were qualified for the job, especially if you felt you did good at an interview, scored well on the tests, etc., if they do not specifically tell you why you were not considered? Can you ask them for constructive criticism?

I would have liked to have known whether I needed to polish up on something specifically or was it my bad credit?  Also, once you file bankruptcy does it improve your chances of getting a job that does credit checks since you have officially been relieved of your debts?
 
Any insight to my questions are very much appreciated.
 
Thanks,

Esther

Esther,

It’s hard to know the real reason for not getting hired. It’s even harder to get a busy person to invest 30 minutes out of their day to give you good feedback unless you make it very simple for them to.

The further you get down the interviewing process and the more personally connected they feel to you, the more likely it will be that they will make the time. It’s worth a shot. It may be helpful to help them quickly answer the question by framing the possibilities. For example, you could send an email (see below):

Sample Email

Thanks so much for having me come and interview last week. I really enjoyed everyone I met and was disappointed to hear your decision. I am a firm believer in personal growth and learning and would appreciate any ideas you have on how I could improve my interviewing skills. I could either call you at a convenient time to chat for 15 minutes or, if easier, I have a couple of questions you can respond to below.

Relative to other candidates my experience level was:

1 (low experience) ----------------------------------------------5 (highly experienced)

Relative to other candidates my scores on test were:

1 (low scores) ------------------------------------------------------5 (high scores).

Relative to other candidates my interview answers were:

1 (confusing and off track ) ------------------------------------------------------5 (clear and on track).

I don’t have any experience about the secnd part of your question about bankruptcy. I found a good article that may provide some guidance and it touches upon bankruptcy: http://jobsearch.about.com/cs/backgroundcheck/a/background.htm

Best wishes,

C.J.

Comments

[C.J. Liu]

I think one way you can handle this topic is by asking employees next steps in their process in terms of logistics. That would be a discrete way of finding out.

It seems like there are jobs that don't require credit checks. Do you have any interest in applying for those? For some the 2 year gap in your resume may have an impact as well.

Make sure not to degrade or frame your situation as "shoddy" and in a "plight" in your mind. Compassion to yourself is key. You've had a tough run as have lots of other folks. If you view yourself negatively, it drags your overall confidence down and that is often not attractive to an employer. Even if you don't say it, they feel it. Hold your head up high. Assume the best. You made a mistake, you learned from your mistake. You are good person with skills to offer. It's now time for you to forgive yourself and let go of the past :)

[unemployable]

What bloody business is it of any employer? The credit rating system is as sociable as the race identity system initiated by the Nazis (which is still in use as ethnic monitoring).If employers were meeting a social responsibility they would be paying living wages but the economy is more precious than the people. If people are poor or unable to pay it is because they are excluded from having money or acceptance and approval by a system which uses goal posts. If employers are prejudiced against that as well as age, weight, race, class, etcetc I am amazed that they ever manage to conceed to employ anyone. They then moan about a skills shortage - well duh!! Face it there are too many people and not enough paying jobs to go round no business production or support for innovation,...and lots of very big heads in a shallow sand pit. Its over people, the economy is dead long live the economy. RIP

[beegirl]

Hi there,

I have a question. I have a similiar plight regarding credit checks; I've been unemployed unsteadily for almost two years now, so, suffice to say my credit is shaky at best. I have been having a problem obtaining a job because of it, I'm sure that is the reason. It's gotten to the point that whenever I actually get called for an interview, I'm discouraged. What I'd like to know is-is it proper "interview ettiquette" to inquire of an employer if they run credit checks? I would really feel awkward explaining my shoddy financial situation to them-is there a tactful way to go about this?

Many thanks in advance!