In the midst of the Republican Party's race to select its presidential candidate, we have seen lots of personal "dirt" unearthed. Infidelity, corruption, and questionable financial deals are among the few issues that have been raised. It begs the question, does your personal life really impact your ability to secure a job? As the GOP canididacy - and every day life - has proven, your personal life does make a difference in your employability.
Credit Score
On the surface, one might think a low credit score would not impact your ability to land a job. However, did you know that it is very difficult obtain a government security clearance with a bankruptcy or even a low credit score? The same holds true in banking, finance, and the insurance industry. Employers often look at your credit score as an indication of your ability to make decisions and hold responsibility.
Online Presence
In an earlier blog post I discussed how to manage your online presence. If an employer is conducting a search of your name, what will they find? Pictures on facebook of you drinking heavily or participating in illegal activities are a definite red flag to employers. However, they will also look at comments you make on blogs and on social media sites such as www.twitter.com and www.facebook.com to get a sense of your values and beliefs.
Consider the types of pages, businesses, and causes that are among your "likes" on Facebook. Are any of these organizations controversial or indicative of your religious or sexual preferences? These types of personal beliefs should be kept just that - personal. Remember that when you post something online, it stays there for other people to find, so beware!
Convictions
Everyone makes mistakes in their life. However, some are more costly than others. If you have been convicted of a felony in your life, you need to be ready to counteract the negativity that will follow. Try to offer a simple straightforward explanation of the conviction followed by the changes you have made in your life since the conviction. Read this earlier blog post for more information.
Showing posts with label credit checks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label credit checks. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Employment Credit Checks and Your Job Search: an FAQ for You
According to a recent report by the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM), 60% of employers run some kind of credit check on their new employees. For those that are struggling to make ends meet in the down economy, this news can be out-and-out scary. Below is a brief FAQ of information and resources to help you be a more knowledgeable applicant.
Why do companies run credit checks? The arguments for running employment credit checks are protection and personal judgment. In businesses where the primary function is handling sensitive client information (such as document shredding companies) or handling cash (such as banks or credit unions), proponents claim they value the information to assess the decision making ability and responsibility of the candidate. As the SHRM report cited above states, employers generally conduct credit checks for financial/fiduciary positions (91%), senior executives (46%), and those with access to high-level employee information (36%).
What do businesses look for in the credit checks? EmployeeIssues.com has a comprehensive breakdown of what is included in an employee credit check, including bankruptcies, child support payments, and loan and credit card accounts with payment histories. Not every report contains all of this information. The SHRM report also notes some interesting employee credit check data, such as only 11% of businesses consider foreclosures when hiring and no businesses considering medical debt. However, there have been reports that, in contrast to the data from SHRM, job seekers have been denied jobs based upon medical debt and foreclosures. This is why many states are passing legislation to protect those who have fallen on hard times.
What can I do to improve my credit report? This website offers excellent advice on how to improve your credit report, beginning with requesting a free annual copy from all of the major credit bureaus. You can use the report to look for significant errors including incorrect late payments and to insure the correct amount of outstanding debt. General advice from experts to maintain excellent credit include always paying you bills on time, working directly with your creditors if you get behind on your payments, and paying off your debt instead of moving it to lower-interest credit cards.
While employee credit checks are only part of a company’s hiring decision, it’s in your best interest to stay credit-vigilant when searching for a job and do your best to rectify any negative situations.
Why do companies run credit checks? The arguments for running employment credit checks are protection and personal judgment. In businesses where the primary function is handling sensitive client information (such as document shredding companies) or handling cash (such as banks or credit unions), proponents claim they value the information to assess the decision making ability and responsibility of the candidate. As the SHRM report cited above states, employers generally conduct credit checks for financial/fiduciary positions (91%), senior executives (46%), and those with access to high-level employee information (36%).
What do businesses look for in the credit checks? EmployeeIssues.com has a comprehensive breakdown of what is included in an employee credit check, including bankruptcies, child support payments, and loan and credit card accounts with payment histories. Not every report contains all of this information. The SHRM report also notes some interesting employee credit check data, such as only 11% of businesses consider foreclosures when hiring and no businesses considering medical debt. However, there have been reports that, in contrast to the data from SHRM, job seekers have been denied jobs based upon medical debt and foreclosures. This is why many states are passing legislation to protect those who have fallen on hard times.
What can I do to improve my credit report? This website offers excellent advice on how to improve your credit report, beginning with requesting a free annual copy from all of the major credit bureaus. You can use the report to look for significant errors including incorrect late payments and to insure the correct amount of outstanding debt. General advice from experts to maintain excellent credit include always paying you bills on time, working directly with your creditors if you get behind on your payments, and paying off your debt instead of moving it to lower-interest credit cards.
While employee credit checks are only part of a company’s hiring decision, it’s in your best interest to stay credit-vigilant when searching for a job and do your best to rectify any negative situations.
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