You survived the interviews.
You deftly explained where you see yourself in five years.
You managed to sparkle even when you talked about your greatest weakness.
Now theres just one thing standing between you and your dream job: a credit check.
But what happens when you have a lacklustercredit score?
Will past missteps haunt your career prospects for years to come?
What Shows up on a Credit Check for Employment?
First the good news: Employers dont see your credit score when they run your credit.
Instead they see a modified version of your credit report.
Our team has compiled alist of creative waysyou can fatten your bank account this week.
This is a long list, so dont get overwhelmed.
Go ahead and start now, but be sure to bookmark this post so you might easily return later.
Well keep it updated as offers changes or expire.
The pull is whats known as asoft check, which has no impact on your score.
When Do Employers Do Credit Checks?
For a lot of applicants, a credit check is unlikely to be an issue.
Obviously, credit checks are most common for roles that involve handling money or sensitive information.
Did you know?
Employers usually do credit checks at the end of the hiring process.
The best way to do this is by obtaining a free credit report from all three bureaus atAnnualCreditReport.com.
However, checking your reports this frequently probably isnt necessary.
But when the report contains negative information thats correct, the proactive approach is best.
And no, signing up for a credit score monitoring service isnt enough.
Think of the credit score as your temperature.
If you develop a fever, it could be a sign of an underlying problem.
Obtaining your credit report is like getting lab work.
Its the only way to get to the root of the problem.
Finding a job is stressful enough.
Dont add unnecessary pressure down the line by neglecting to keep up with your credit report.
Robin Hartill is a certified financial planner and a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder.
She writes the Dear Penny personal finance advice column.
Send your tricky money questions to[email protected].
(Can you sense my millennial sarcasm there?)
You know which ones were talking about: rent, utilities, cell phone bill, insurance, groceries…
